No trace of my Crighton ancestors after 1865

[alcrighton]

Hi Elsie Ellen,

The only Margaret CRIGHTON I have in my tree is my gg Grandfather's sister, born in Glamis is 1826.  It appears as if my ggg Grandparents moved to Dundee in the late 1830's and only their youngest son John (b. 1839) appears to have been born in Dundee.  I haven't found any links to Wilson or Oliver although I haven't traced my family tree very far sideways. 

I think the latest date for a possible link between our two families would have to be through a sibling of my 4xg Grandfather John CRIGHTON, born Airlee, Angus 1799.  The sibling's I've found through the IGI are (Christenning dates in brackets):

Issabel (1783)
Elisabeth (1784)
Agnes (1785)
Margaret (1787)
William (1797)
George (1800)

There may have been more as the gap between 1787 & 1797 is strange.  These are all records extracted from the old parish records so maybe the file is not complete?  These records have been transcribed as CRICHTON but it seems that variations in spelling were pretty common in these records.

Let me know if you're able to make a link between any of these and your Margaret.

Regards,

Al

[alcrighton]

I ordered the death certificate for my ggg Grandfather Alexander Nicoll CRIGHTON who died in Bootle in 1900 and the information has filled in quite a few blanks although has alas, still not helped me find out any more on the whereabouts of my elusive gg Grandmother Matilda.

Alexander's death was reported by his Daughter-in Law, Annie CRIGHTON of 100 Bedford Road, Bootle.  This is the same address as the 1901 census entry that Paul & Annie found for a CRIGHTON family which I hadn't been able link to my own (page 2 of this thread)!  Now I know that the head of household, John CRIGHTON must have been my gg Uncle, Matilda's younger Brother and he was born in France around 1867 - about 2 years after Matilda (born Dundee).

My g Grandmother must therefore have gone to France with her family before she was 2 years old.  Where she went after that until she signed my Grandfather's marriage certificate in Marylebone in 1923 still remains a mystery.

Any more ideas anyone?

Regards,

Al

[liverpool annie]

Looks like John thought it was easier to marry his landlady 
1891

Crighton, John L 23 Boarder (Where Born - British Birth Country - France) Bootle
RG12/2971 Folio 40 Page 13

Annie 

[alcrighton]

Looks like John thought it was easier to marry his landlady
1891

Hi Annie,

We CRIGHTONs always seem to take the easy route, I married my Bank Manager! .  I assume John's landlady was the widow Patterson - I'll have a look at the census entry.

Just had a look at the BMDs and hey presto:

Marriages March Quarter 1892 West Derby 8b 654

John CRIGHTON
Annie PATTERSON

So younger brother John was back in the UK by 1891 but I suspect that Matilda & James were still in France.  I've been mulling over this new information and three new leads occur to me:

- In the 1901 census entry, there is a Christine CRIGHTON listed as John's Step-Mother.  It looks like his Mother Matilda must have died (probably in France) and his Father Alexander re-married.  Something to follow up here to find out more about Alexander's movements
- I'm going to have a look at the overseas births to see if I can find John and his niece Matilda.  Could give me a clue as to where in France they went
- Alexander was a Power Loom Overseer on his marriage certificate from 1860 and a Cotton Weaver (Supervisor) on his death certificate from 1900.  And since his son John was a Marine Engineer, I'll see what I can find out about cotton weaving in France near the sea!

Any other ideas would be grately appreciated.

Al

[liverpool annie]

You're not as green as you're cabbage lookin' - Crighton!!

1. So do you think the John D Crighton is the young soldier?
2. He had a brother William in the Army - we looked for Crighton not Patterson !
3. I don't think Christina was Alexander new wife - she was 20 years older than Matilda - I think she was Alexander's MOTHER hence John's GRANDMOTHER!!(1901 census)

Annie

[liverpool annie]

Al!

Heres something interesting - it appears there is only 1 John D Crighton in the medal cards !!

Medal card of Crighton, John D
Royal Army Medical Corps
1838
Private
Royal Army Medical Corps
1838
Private
Date
1914-1920

http://tinyurl.com/88wwb

http://www.1914-1918.net/ramc.htm

Annie 

[alcrighton]

Annie!

1. John D CRIGHTON was the young soldier's cousin:  John David CRIGHTON, (born Mar Q 1897, W. Derby 8b 462), son of John (born 1867, France).  John (my Grandfather, born 1900, place & Father unknown), son  of Matilda CRIGHTON (born 1865, Dundee).
2. William the Soldier & Musician was definitely a CRIGHTON although was probably my Grandfather's half brother.  He was born in Marylebone 1st July 1894 so Matilda was in London in 1894 but I suspect she returned to France.
3. If you look at the census image, Christina is recorded as "S. Mother" to the head of household.  She was 56 in 1901, some 20 years younger than Alexander so she has to be his second wife rather than his mother!

There are 3 Matildas in this story so it gets a bit complicated!

1.  Matilda JACKSON (b. 1833, Scotland) married Alexander CRIGHTON (Dundee 1860)
2.  Alexander & Matilda had 4 children that I know about:  3 born Dundee; James (1862), Isabella (1863), Matilda (my g Grandmother b. 1865) and 1 born in France; John b. 1867 - the head of household in the Bootle census entry from 1901
3.  Matilda, the 15 year old niece of John in the 1901 census is most likely James's daughter although she could have been an illegitimate daughter of one of his sisters.

I think my next step has to be trying search the French records for signs of James, the death of Matilda (1.) as well as my elusive g Grandmother and my Grandfather.  I've already done a bit of looking around and the on line records at least are very patchy and even the official ones are arranged by Departement.  I'll therefore need some idea where in France to start looking.  Since Alexander was in the textile industry, the Pas de Calais looks to be the most promising starting point.

How did you go about researching your French ancestors?

Any hints would be gratefully received.

Cheers,

Al

ps  Just seen your info on the medal card - looks like it could be my Grandfather's cousin.  How did a Marine Engineer end up in the Royal Army Medical Corps! 

[liverpool annie]

Al!

Just as an aside - on the image I saw for 1901 - Christina looks like she is recorded as "G mother" - which looks like the transriber thought also!

Christine Crighton 56 Grandmother, Grandma Scotland Bootle cum Linacre
RG13/3459 Folio 12 Page 16

I'll look later at the other stuff - when things are a little quieter around here!!

Annie 

[alcrighton]

Just reluctantly shelled out 6 quid at Scotlandspeople and hey presto:

Marriage 1888, Edinburgh:

Alexander Nicol CRIGHTON
Christina MICHIE

So Alexander was back in Scotland by 1888 and Christina from the 1901 was his second wife!

Having trouble with ActiveX on my PC at the moment so I can't see the image (although I've paid to!  ).

Cheers,

Al