I'm in need of some Scottish assistance

[JohnSteel]

I have a certificate of Robert Steel's ( b 1801 Dryfesdale, Dumfries  d 13 Sept 1869) death. It lists his mother maiden surname as Rae.  It lists her name, what appears to be Jack Steel. I have looked in the records and there are some Janet Rae's, but that seems to be a stretch. Any thoughts?

[Little Nell]

Similar post here:

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,485294.0.html

with some replies already.

[KirstyG]

Hi John

I see that the certificate was signed by his son. The information given on these documents is only as good as the memory of the person giving it.  You might have to look elsewhere for possible candidates and then see if the names could possibly be what is entered on the death certificate.

Do you have the birth entry or marriage record for Robert? Although his marriage would be well before statutory registration (about 1820 given the ages of his children in the 1841 census) they can sometimes contain a lot of information.

Do you know where Robert is buried? He might be on the same headstone as his parents. Memorial Inscriptions from many burial grounds have been published by Family History Societies around the country. There are also some good websites you could try. There should be links around Rootschat to useful resources.

Kirsty

ps. It does look to me to be Jack. Possible it was a pet name? or short for Jaqueline/Jacobina?

[MonicaL]

I am curious about the naming of first (?) born daughter to Robert and wife Janet McCormick in 1824, Mary BARTON Steel. Next born daughter Elizabeth after Janet's mother?

Monica

[MonicaL]

On http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#start there are the following entries:

To parents John Steel and Mary Barton:

Agnes Steel chr. 08 May 1774 in Dryfesdale
Isobel Steel chr.30 Jun 1776 in Dryfesdale
John Steel chr. 15 Dec 1778 in Dryfesdale

Not sure if connected. Also not sure whether the above christening entries would include an occupation for father John that could help.

Like you Kirsty, wondering whether a wrong name may have been given for Robert's mother.

Monica

[KirstyG]

If Robert Steel had registered the death of either of his parents that could give confirmation. It could be an expensive mistake though if the correct certificate is not the first one found.

edit: also chances are they died before statutory reg. so no cert.

Kirsty

[MonicaL]

Fifer has come up with a good result on the deciphering board that Nel has already linked above http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,485294.0.html

He has found an entry for a Robert Steel, father John (no mother's name included which is a pity) christened in Dryfesdale on 11 Jan 1801 - good fit 

I am now wondering whether the John, son of John and Mary (Barton) may be the missing link to Robert? Hard to say as we are missing some key data still 

Monica

[JohnSteel]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for the replies. I do have the birth certificate, it lists John as a blacksmith and Robert was a blacksmith as well as some of his children and grandchildren. I have not been able to find a marriage certificate.  Mother was not listed on birth Certificate. I have subscribed to Ancestry.com and have searched Scotlands People. I have looked for females during this time span in dryfesdale and have found Janets, Jeans, Janes, a Jeills and a Julina.  I have searched names that start with other letters than J and have not had much luck.

On Ancestry.com, I have contacted a distant relative. On her tree, she lists Mary Barton as the wife. She said she came to that conclusion based on Scottish naming practices. She had ltttle to no documents on her tree to support lineage. I have not heard from her in 6 months and by her age she may have passed away.  I suspect as Monica does, that Mary Barton's son John is Roberts father. I do not know where Robert is burried.

Once again, thank you for your input.

John

[sancti]

Here is the family on 1841 census

Robert Steel 40
Janet Steel 38
Mary Steel 17
John Steel 10
Robert Steel 8
James Steel 6
Janet Steel 4
Thomas Steel 1

There is no John Steel (Blacksmith) on the census and I can't see a candidate for his wife of the correct age. The informant, Robert may not have known his grandparents if they died when he was young or even before he was born.