can anyone suggest....

[Ladybird310]

Can anyone suggest what the best site to use might be for building your family tree, when family members are predominantly from Scotland & Ireland.   I have most of the (limited) info I've gathered so far on GenesReunited - but the search engine on there isn't really yielding anything more - mainly geared towards English & welsh records.   Have also had a look at ancestry.co.uk as I thought that might be a better source for Irish ancestor info - flagging up 1 maybe so far...   I understand that I probably need to do lots of alternative researches, and I'm at that start of a long journey - it would be good to have the info in the most appropriate place.   Hope to hear your ideas.  Thanks.  Ladybird 

[MonicaL]

Hi Ladybird 

How far back have you managed to go on your Scottish side?

There is a guide here on RC for background on Scottish research www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,24468.0.html. It is harder to research for the 20th Century, get's easier (to a point) the further back you go!

Monica

[Ladybird310]

Hi Monica,

I have found my great grandfather - William Gourdie - b 26/11/1892.   I can't find details of his marriage to Ellen, who's surname may have been Strachan or McGuffin???

William's father - I can't find - other than on William's birth certificate.   His name was John Gourdie (he may have had the middle name 'Kinsman', which my grandad also had.    John married Maria Ojeda from Spain - they married in Gibraltar according to William's birth certificated, and came to Bellshill.   

I'd love to find John & Maria, and go further back 

Thanks for your reply.   Angie

[genjen]

John and Maria are in Lesmahagow in the 1901 census. Have you seen the entry for them?

I can't see the original image but An*****y has them transcribed as Gowdie. If you buy some credits on Scotlands People, you will be able to get at the image.
Or I can post details if you need them.
Jen

[MonicaL]

Hi Angie and Jen 

This looks like Maria's death entry on Scotlands People, www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk:

1951   Maria Josefa Gourdie/ Ojeda, 94, died in TARBRAX, LANARK   

This certificate is available to view on line at SP as it is before the cut off for on line images of 1958 for deaths. The certificate will give you her parents' names and confirm whether John husband was alive or deceased at the time of her death and his occupation. Also address at death and who reported her death.

All of the above info will help. Even with my own Spanish Mama, I have no idea how to trace records in Gilbraltar but hopefully someone can help in this area.

Monica

[genjen]

They obviously took a circuitous route home because their first three offspring were born Gibraltar, Dublin and Kildare. I now have them in Lesmahagow in 1891 so I think that the best bet is most definitely a few credits for SP. You can then get at that death entry as well.

Regards,

jen

[MonicaL]

Re the surname of William's wife Ellen, I can only see one death for an Ellen (searching *el*en to pick up on variants) near Williams birth year +/- 10 yrs:

1978   Alice Helen GOURDIE/ STRACHAN, age 84, in GLENROTHES, FIFE

With that first name of Alice, might explain why you have not been able to find the marriage:

1918   William Gourdie and Alice E Kennedy STRACHAN in BELLSHILL   , LANARK

Monica

[MonicaL]

Jen, from the 1891 entry, John looks to have been in the army. Explains the stay at Gilbraltar and the children's birth places I would imagine.

Monica

[genjen]

Yes, I hadn't noticed that but it would certainly explain why he was in so many places. The transcription looks a little strange.
"Soldier Col Sugt Vol Ins" - Presumably, Colour Sergeant, but I'm not sure about Vol Ins? Any ideas?