NEW-Mosman/Mossman

[Andee]

I am new at this so pls be patient   I have been working on the Mossman line for over 20 yrs-am now back to finding our line in England, although I believe it is more Scotland.  Our Arch(ibald) Mossman was 6 weeks old when his father George died.  A: b 18 Jan 1771) G: b-Berwick Upon Tweed, d-4 Mar 1771.  Believe George is buried in the cemetery at the Holy Trinity Church in Berw Up Tweed.  Any idea who I can ask to get me a picture of his gravesite?  Have no info about Arch's mother except her name was Eleanor.  Am told George's father was "John of Scremerston".  Some of our family has been told we descend from the John and James Mossman (1530-40ish) line - but others have tried to say we come from Ireland or Australia.  I have no reason to doubt either, but my gut instinct tells me it is the John/James line.  What would be your directions to find out more about John (the goldsymth for the crown) and his son James, who owned the Knox House (which was at the time named the Mossman House) who was hangit for his allegiance to Mary Queen of Scots, although I have also been told they were counterfeiting money in the castle when they were overrun.  I need direction to uncles, brothers, nephews, etc, to trace down the lines.  I was in Berw & Edinb in 1995, but due to my gross o/, I did not walk the church cemetery or was I able to talk to the genealogist in Berw.  I just don't know who/how to contact to know what to do.  What we DO know stops back at George Mos(s)man's death in 1771, apparently in Berwick Upon Tweed.  George's wife, Eleanor, remarried after his death (she also died in Berwick).  Archibald was "a Freeman in Berwick on 13 Jan 1792 and was admitted to the freedom as being the eldest son of George.  The 1796 roll of Freemen stated that Archibald was a butcher and by this time living in America, indicating he would have had to have been in Berwick in 1792 in order to claim the Freedom, and then left England."  Many have read the Mossman books by Mr Mossman, but he has been proven wrong regarding our Archibald, so I worry there could be other errors as well.  Pls pardon my abbrev due to length - help - if I could swim that far I would leave for Great Britain tomorrow
Andee

[Little Nell]

Welcome to RootsChat 

Presumably you have read this thread:

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,450931.0.html

Berwick upon Tweed is in England, as is Scremerston.  It is possible that there may be no headstone on the grave and without one, the exact site may be hard to pinpoint.   Northumberland & Durham FHS sell MI transcriptions on CD, book and microfiche.

http://www.ndfhs.org.uk/Sales/prices/NI_20.html

I personally think it is better to trace backwards from a known point, rather than trying to bridge a gap, especially when the gap is two centuries.  Too much room for false trails and mistakes. 

Nell

[Andee]

Thank you so much for your response!   My son-in-law was stationed in London in 1999ish so I visited there.  My daughter and I drove to Berwick Upon Tweed but I had come unprepared to do genealogy work - still can't believe I did that!  We didn't find the "town?" of Scremerston so didn't investigate our Archibald's grandfather, John.  I had, one time, thought about the fact there may be no headstone for George M., but as I was desperately hoping to find one, dismissed the thought from my head .  I had seen the posting line you sent me but had lost it, so thank you for sending it!  I will look into the MI listings for the Holy Trinity church.  I think maybe I just need to go back to the genealogist lady in Berwick and see what she can offer RE John, George, and Archibald.
Thank you again for your help!  Andee

[Templar75]

Hi Andee,

                   please check out the earlier posting I answered, you will get the details there here is the link.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,450931.0.html

I have also attached a photo.

Remember that Berwick on Tweed is in England not Scotland it changed hands a few times but was finally declared as being part of England though that could change, I believe that Parliament have papers on the go deciding if they will hand it over to Scotland or not.

Cheers.

Archie.

[GR2]

George (d. 1771) must have been a burgess/freeman of the town if his son was made one as his son. Have you looked for an entry in the the roll of freemen for George to see if it gives his father? I would endorse the earlier advice not to get bogged down with the Edinburgh family of Mossman. Concentrate on all the local evidence you can find first and work back.

Graham.

[Templar75]

Sorry Graham but I don't have the resources to search for what you are looking for, you would be far better with a local genealogist.

Archie.

[Andee]

Graham - no, I haven't looked at the roll of freemen - how do I find that?  And Archie, I love the photos of the Holy Trinity church!!!  Apparently I didn't get a posting you sent before that.  You guys are so great!!
Andee

[GR2]

Your original posting quoted a source which gave details from the roll of freemen of Berwick. Assuming your source for that is correct and hasn't just made it up, these records must survive. Perhaps if you posted a query about the Berwick freemen's records on the Northumberland board someone local to that area could help you. They may have been published as many of the rolls for Scottish burghs have been.

Graham.

[Andee]

Thanks for your reply - I haven't worked on this for awhile so I'm not sure what I have/had right now.  Hopefully I will get back to it quickly! 
Blessings,
Andee