Roderick ROSS born abt 1877, Stornoway

[carriesa]

Hi all,
This is my first post so I hope I get things right!
I am trying to find some birth details for my great grandfather Roderick ROSS.
I have looked on Scotlands People but can't find anyone of the right age or place.
He registered as a chemist and druggist with the Natal Pharmacy Board in 1905, married Maria Gracie WILSON in Durban, RSA in 1907 and died in Durban in 1962.

From the census records I have the following:

1901 living in Largs, Ayrshire age 25, chemist and druggist, born Stornoway

1891 living in Newton Street, Stornoway, Roderick ROSS, grandson, age 14, chemist apprentice, born Stornoway
         with him is:                                       Betsy MCLEOD, head, age 78, living by private means,born Stornoway
                                                                  Christina MCKENZIE, daughter, age 47, living by private means , born Stornoway
1881 living in Inaclete, Stornoway,   Roderick ROSS, Grandson, age 4, born Stornoway
                                                          Elizabeth MCLEOD, head, widowed, age 68, housekeeper, born Stornoway
                                                          Henrietta MCLEOD, daughter, unmarried, age 25, domestic servant, born Stornoway

Who were his parents??? He named his eldest daughter Henrietta, so was she named after his mother?
I am stuck and I don't know where else to look. I can't find anything of use on IGI except for a possible birth of Christian(?) MCLEOD in 1841 to parents Allan MCLEOD and Elizabeth MCLEAN.
Any help would be appreciated.
Many thanks
Carriesa

[Gadget]

Hi Carrie and welcome to Rootschat 

From the information that you give, i would suggest that his mother might  be  Henrietta Mcleod, aged 25 on the 1881 census.

If this is the case, then he might well have been registered as Mcleod rather than Ross. I've checked on SP and there are 6 Roderick M*cleods registered Stornoway 1875-1878

It was often the case that children would use the father's surname whether or not the parents were married.

Do you have any extra information from his marriage/death records in SA?

Regards


Gadget

[carriesa]

Thanks so much for the prompt reply, Gadget.

Unfortunately in South Africa, the death notice is often completed by surviving relatives so the information is often incorrect or omitted if they don't know.
Nothing was filled in for him under parents and a date of birth wasn't given.
His marriage certificate is just as unhelpful, as there is no DOB or place of birth column. He got married on the 10th of July 1907 at the Greyville Presbyterian Church to Maria Gracie Wilson of Durban. His residence was given as Utrecht, Natal where he apparently owned the local pharmacy.

It also seems quite a step up that he became a chemist as his grandfather, Allan McLeod, on the 1851 census is listed as a shoemaker and his great grandmother Henrietta McLennan (McLean depending on where you look) was a pauper whilst living at Inaclete.

How and why he decided to leave Stornoway and travel so far will probably remain a mystery.
Thanks for your help and I will keep you posted once I have bought some more credits on SP.
Regards,
Carrie

[Gadget]

Sadly, Henrietta MacLeod died on 17 March 1887, 3 Newton Street, Stornoway. Aged 31, single and a domestic servant.

her parents were Allan Macleod, master shoemaker, deceased and Elizabeth m.s. MacLean.

Cause - Pneumonia, 20 days

Informant - Catherine McKenzie, sister


Gadget