George and Harry Donald

[enfrance]

Working my way - with masses of help from Rootschat - has become a labour love due to all the detail in the Scottish records. Presumably these days they would have been called jobsworths! Much of what we've found will be a revelation to my Wife's relations.

The big mystery is why Horatio moved so far North from the East End to Aberdeen. The only clue so far is that his father was a Customs Officer and perhaps he was transferred to the land of the whiskey. Horatio may have moved alone as he was lodging with the Wyness's in Skene in the 1841 census. Is there something about Skene to attract someone like Horatio? To answer my own question, I've just Googled Kirton of Skene and found that it is/was a small farming community, so no particular things like gold mines to attract a young man. Or as my wife suggests, she knows her family , that he was hiding from something

Mind you, I'm still having trouble finding Horatio's parents, Charles and Racheal, marriage. Presumably just before 1806 when their eldest son, William was born.

flst, can I assume that there is a real chance of a memorial inscription? This would assume that they would spend money on the stone and then have it engraved. This is not something many of my relatives - Southerners - would have indulged in. Fascinating stuff.

Mike

[AMBLY]

Ambly, you got your wish! Horatio did die in 1855.

That is good luck  (from Mike's point of view, rather that poor Horatio,  or Ann's, left with 2 youngsters and a new born    ). Hopefully, the death certificate gives the maiden name of Horatio's mother....

The IGI, gives up another child:
Chas. DONALD b 24 Sep 1804, chr 1 Oct 1804, St Mary-St Marylebone Rd, St Marylebone
parents: Chas DONALD & Rachel (extracted record). The original document has no further information than that.

Cheers
AMBLY

[Piglet01]

As so much work has been done by others, being a local thought I'd do my share.  Mike didn't advise if he'd downloaded the deathe ntry.  I've just done so.

Shows that Horation Donald, aged 43 years,  a farm labourer married to Ann Watt died on 29 Jan 1855.  Died at Crombie Cottage, Blackhill, Parish of Skene.  He'd lived in the parish for 6 years.  had 2 sons george 5 years and Robert 3 years.

Parents:  Charles Donald and Rachel Donald, maiden name Rabbit.  The maiden name, as the entry is of good + quality.

Informant was Robert Watt, brother in law.

Initial cause of death has been crossed out and now looks to be pneumonia of the right lung.

Regards, Steve 

[enfrance]

Ambly, for a change I'd found Charles but I still haven't got Charles' and Rachel's marriage but it looks like Piglet has cast some light on it. I didn't know that the mother's maiden name would be shown in the death entry.

Piglet, I've sent you a PM. According to the other information, poor Horatio and Ann had a son John, just before he died. And he is shown as a lodger with the Wyness family in the 1841 census but in Leddach, Skene which presumably is another parish. I am assuming that Ann Watt was a local girl.

Being new to the Scottish system it seems I should be looking for the death entries as well as the births and marriages for the most information. Presumably this is also a good confirmation of the various references.

Regards,

Mike

[flst]

I agree that the Scottish records are definately a good source of information.Remember that the death certificates are only as reliable as the informant's knowledge of the deceased! Mistakes can be made especially regarding parent's names.
There is a memorial.The link that ev gave was for the index of memorial inscriptions. The book will have the full transcription & will also include a plan of the graveyard showing the grave's location.You could put in a request in the Aberdeenshire look up's or how about purchasing the book? It can be bought off the A.N.E.S.F.H.S.'s website.
flst

[enfrance]

Ambly, I wonder if you could explain about the IGI you refer to.

I've been using ScotlandsPeople which is fine but it would be excellent and cheaper if I could find the records I need elsewhere - IGI? - and then pay for copies of the registrations etc.

Mike

[flst]

If you go to http://www.familysearch.org you'll be able to do a search.Remember that the I.G.I. is an index. It's a useful finding tool but scotlandspeople is the place to go if you need to read the original record.This is especially necessary if the people mentioned have a common surname. There may be more than one person in the parish with the same name.Also some  will only state the father's name. The actual record may state his occupation & address.Hope this helps,
flst

[enfrance]

Just to make sure I've got this. FamilySearch is actually the interface for the IGI and when we use FS we are in fact referring to the IGI database?

If you don't ask . . . . . 

Thanks flst.

[flst]

I use familysearch to view the I.G.I.online. I have also viewed the I.G.I. at local libraries where they are in microfiche form. I.G.I. stands for International Genealogical Index. You need to look at the Old Parish Records (on scotlandspeople) to see the original record. Hope this clarifies things!
flst