Thomas Matthew/Mathew

[Niknak13]

I am trying to trace any info at all on my great great great grandfather, Thomas Mathew. He was born in Markinch in Scotland in 1780 and was married to Christian Todd (who could have been Christina Todd). They had 2 children as far as I know - Thomas and Alexander. Alexander, born 1821, was my great great grandfather and he was married to Elizabeth Mitchell - all born in Markinch. They had 9 children, all born in Markinch. Their son, Alexander Matthew born 1860 was my great grandfather and he married Isabella Thompson. They moved to South Africa where they had 8 children. Does anyone have any information on Thomas Mathew, Christian Todd, Elizabeth Mitchell or Isabella Thompson? Regards, Nicky

[Morganllan]

Hello 

Did the family move to England? If they stayed in Markinch, Fife you would be best to ask a moderator to move this to the relevant Scotland Forum.

(Click on link report to moderator, at bottom of my post to ask for this to be moved)

[OneBigFamily]

Hi Niknak13

I have found another child for your couple through a birth record on Pilot IGI:
John Mathew
Birth Date: 26 Oct 1822
Birthplace: MARKINCH,FIFE,SCOTLAND
Father's Name: Thomas Mathew
Mother's Name: Christian Tod
Collection: Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950

I took an interest in this post because I have some Matthew research and I know of the family who I show below, where the John Matthew, also from Markinch, married an Ann Christie in 1835.  They moved to Ferry Port on Craig and settled there for many years:
1851 Scotland census in Spean Hill, Ferry Port On Craig, Fife, Scotland
 John Matthews born in Markinch, Fifeshire, Head, aged 66, occupation "Gardner"
 Ann Matthews  Dysart, Fifeshire, Wife, 46, Gardners Wife
 Elizabeth Matthews  Ferry Port On Craig, Daughter, 14, Scholar
 David Matthews  Ferry Port On Craig, Son, 12, Scholar (a person with this name was witness at my John's grandson's James's marriage in 1898).
 Robert Matthews  Ferry Port On Craig, Son, 10, Scholar
 Edward Matthews  Ferry Port On Craig, Son, 8, Scholar
 Andrew Matthews  Ferry Port On Craig, Fifeshire, Son, 6, Scholar
 Thomas Matthews abt 1847  Ferry Port On Craig, Son, 4

[OneBigFamily]

Now my problem:

"My" John Matthews, born in Markinch, Fife, the gardener, appears to have had a son John (presumed son at the moment) staying with him in 1841. The ?son John Matthew though, was shown as born abt 1829 in England and he was obviously born before the marriage of John to Ann Christie in 1835.  Relationships were not indicated in the 1841 census.

1841 Scotland census at Scots Craig in Ferry Port On Craig, Fife
 John Mathues born in  Fife, Scotland, 50, Gardener   
 Ann Mathues born Fife, Scotland, 35 
 John Mathues born England, 12 
 Elerbeth Matheus born Fife, Scotland, 5  (baptised Elizabeth Robinson Matthews on 24 Nov 1836)
 David Dougal Matheus born Fife, Scotland, 3 
 Robert Matheus born Fife, Scotland, 1 

I have no means of checking the orginal census to double check for errors on the page concerning the presumed son John and his age.  All attempts of mine to research what happened to the son John (through the censuses) have led no-where.

[OneBigFamily]

Now getting back to your "branch" NickNak...
This seems to be your Christian, Thomas, Alex and John...

1841 in Markinch Village in the county of Fife, Scotland
Christian Mathew aged 50, born Fife, Scotland (so born abt 1790)
Ann Mathew 20, Fife, Scotland (so born abt 1820)
Thomas Mathew 20, Fife, Scotland (so born abt 1821) occ: Shoe M I
Alex Mathew 18, Fife, Scotland (so born abt 1823) Ag Lab
John Mathew 15, Fife, Scotland (so born abt 1825) Linen H L W
Isabell Mathew 14, Fife, Scotland (so born abt 1826)
Betty Pierson 80, born in Scotland, (so born abt 1760) *

Here we have a Betty Pierson - and my guess is that might be a sister of  Thomas's mother's.  I have considered so far that the parents of "my" John Matthew born in Markinch were James Mathew and Janet Pierson so this find looks like a slightly possible link with "my" John Matthew to your Thomas.

You might not be aware NickNak, that in this approximate era, in Scotland, when wives became widows, they sometimes took on their maiden-names again.

[OneBigFamily]

Its a bit late now.. so I'll have a look another time at the 1851 and 1861 for your Alexander - these might confuse things tho, because the Alexander Matthew in the 51 is listed as son in law to an Ann "Dalrymple" in whose household he is listed, plus another Ann Dalrymple listed there too...

[OneBigFamily]

The only Alex~ Matthew~ I can find in the 1851 Scotland census born in Markinch...

1851 at Balbernie Burns in the parish of Markinch, Fife, Scotland
Ann Dalrymple born in Balbernie Burns, Fife, aged 57, so born abt 1793, female, occ Ag Lab, Head
Ann Dalrymple 24 born in Balbernie Burns, Fife, aged 24, so born abt 1826, occ: Paper Finisher, Daughter
Alexander Mathew born in Markinch, Fife, aged 30, so born abt 1820 occ: Paper Maker, Son In Law.

[OneBigFamily]

1861 at Brunton Gate in the Village Of Markinch
Alexander 'Mathew' is a Paper Mill Worker aged 37, alledgedly born in Kettle, Fifeshire, and married to an Elizabeth Mathew aged 36, also born in Kettle.
They have 3 children there; Thomas (5) David (3) and Alexander (1).

Marriage of Alexander Mathew to Elizabeth Mitchell took place in Markinch, Fife on 29 May 1852 - Pilot IGI. 

You could try looking up the marriage record at http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ although I cannot guarantee what information would be recorded in it, as statutory recording of marriages only started in Scotland in 1855.

[OneBigFamily]

Hi again NickNak

I have had a look at trees on Ancestry.com / Ancestry.co.uk and there is a tree for your Alexander (born abt 1823 Markinch) there - it has a few photos too!  I will send the owner a link to your query here, toute-suite. 

Here is one of the pictures - it is of Alexander Mathew born abt 1823 and his wife Elizabeth: