Search variables give only one result, but it can't be them.....I think!!??!!

[iain2210]

Searching today for the marriage details of William Duncan and Elizabeth Burgess.

Both these names come from the Marriage Certificate of their son, who is undoubtably confirmed as my Great Grandfather.
The son was married in 1909, and has listed as his parents William Duncan (Seaman, Merchant Service) and Jessie Duncan (m.s. Burgess), both deceased. Both names crop up again on the son's Death Certificate in 1957, his mother listed as 'Elizabeth'.

I have done a search on Scotland's People, firstly on the Statutory Records. A search for 'William', 'Duncan' and 'Burgess' (all with Surname varients), '1855 - 1909', 'All Records', 'All Districts' brings up just one result. Expanding it a wee bit with a wildcard search on 'Burg*' brings up the same one result.
I also checked the Old Parish Records. From 1538 to 1854 there is only 1 incidence of any DUNCAN marrying a BURGESS anywhere in Scotland, or at least one that was recorded. That was in 1717, John to Agnes. Once again surname varients was applied.

Brilliant. It's looking good for the one result found in the Statutory Records to be the people I'm after, especially when the lady in question turns out to have the forename 'Betsy', an alternative for Elizabeth.

However (of course!), the people in question are from Orkney. Not in itself a problem, but this William Duncan is listed in the 1841 Census right through to the 1911 census, all the time being a shoemaker, which doesn't leave much time to be a sailor and die before 1909.

I suppose it could have happened before 1855 and not have been recorded, but the family were from the Dundee area, and I would have expected to find it. (The O.P.R.'s for Dundee marriages do exist for the time frame in question, at least as far as I can make out!)

So, am I missing something obvious and does anyone have any suggestions what my next step/s could be?

Thank you...

[CaroleW]

Hi and welcome to Rootschat

What was the sons name and how old was he when he married?

What was his occupation on the marriage cert

Where was he born

Where did he marry?

 

[iain2210]

Hi,

Son's name was William.
Married at age 28.
Occupation: Coal Miner
I haven't managed to track down his birthplace yet, although it may have been Dundee.
He was married at 12 Newton Place, Newton, Cambuslang on the 26th March 1909.

[GR2]

Finding the birth certificate is the first thing to do. If a census tells you he was born in Scotland and where, check for a birth certificate both under Duncan and under Burgess in case he was illegitimate.

[CaroleW]

Hi

I would recommend you search the 1911 census to find him and his wife as that will give his birthplace

With his father being a seaman and his mothers name varying between Jessie and Elizabeth - there is no obvious match on the 1891 census

[iain2210]

Thanks both, I shall check the 1911 tonight.

Hopefully he was legitimate, as it has caused a dead end in the past on my mothers side.

Frolicking farm labourers and all that! 

[iain2210]

Turns out he was born in Forfar, Dundee. Have to digest that now.....

[portybelle]

Do you have his birth record? I'm going to the Records Office tomorrow and could have a look for his birth if you like as well as his parents marriage.

[Forfarian]

Turns out he was born in Forfar, Dundee. Have to digest that now.....

That, of course, means Dundee in the county of Angus a.k.a. Forfarshire or County of Forfar. Not the burgh or parish of Forfar in the said county.