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

[iain2210]

Thank Forfarian....I have just this minute realised that that is probably the case. So...Dundonian as first thought then......

Portybelle, I'll have a look, but it may be to late for you.....many thanks for the kind offer either way...

[Gali]

Just in case it helps anyone, he's in already in Cambuslang on 1901 census entry:

William Duncan, 12 Montgomery Place Cambuslang, Coalminer
Boarding with the Hunter family
born 1880, Dundee

[iain2210]

I'm just searching back through the years...and just got that. Thanks!!
The 12 year old daughter of his Landlord eventually became his wife, and my great grandmother.

I am finding the next step hard going......the 1891 Census.

It is family lore that the Father, the William at the head of this topic, was a sailor who died young, possibly after drowning on a boat on the Tay. A fire onboard is mentioned too....but of course this could be nothing more than unhelpful wild conjecture.

It could of course also mean that as a 12 year old himself, William, who I am lookiing for on the 1891 census, is the same William Duncan to be found at 16 Nelson St, Dundee.

Must find what happened to Elizabeth Burgess too....that would certainly help...if she's not on the scene in 1891 then poor Willaim could have eneded up anywhere.

conjecture, conjecture...

[Gali]

I'd say not 'your' William at Nelson St Dundee in 1891 ... the lady Robina, also at that address in 1891 is that William's mother and they are living together in 13 Derby St, Dundee in 1901 ... not in Cambuslang

[portybelle]

I'm afraid your William remains a man of mystery Iain! There are too many William Duncans across Scotland to check them all out but  I looked at all the William Duncans or Burgesses born in Orknery, Dundee and Forfar from 1875-1885 and couldn't find one with even vaguely the right names of parents.

I also couldn't find a marriage for his parents. There were five Duncan/Burgess matches came up from 1855 - 1890. None had the right combination of names with your Orkney couple being the closest. I looked to see what children they had just in case but no William.

So, sorry but your search goes on.

[Forfarian]

FWIW, if his mother's name is Jessie on his marriage certificate and Elizabeth on his death certificate, then Jessie is more likely to be right, because the information on the death certificate obviously wasn't supplied by William himself, whereas the information on the marriage certificate was. So it does look as if you are looking for an illegitimate birth, since there is no record of a marriage of Jessie Burgess to William Duncan.

[iain2210]

portybelle, thank you so much for taking the time to try and help a stranger who was stuck.

I'm still stuck, but I'm further forward, if that makes sense! Sometimes it's just as important to rule things out as in.    (PM sent by the way...)

Forfarian, that makes sense....

[Rosinish]

Hi,

No fun when we come up against "road blocks" but has anyone given thought to the fact that the registrar may have mis-heard Bessie as Jessie - not impossible and worth thinking about?

Annie.