Resarch in Dundee - where to start?

[jonn]

Really depends on what you have.

Ie. James Lawrie, married Margaret Machray. 10 Feb. 1844. Strachan, Kincardine.

Alexander Lawrie, was born 25 May. 1849. Laurencekirk, Kincardine. to those parents. That fits with the 1881 census i provided earlier for Alexander, and Henrietta.

The 1881 census for Laurencekirk, Kincardine, Address,
2 High Street,

Margaret Lawrie, Head, W. aged 60 years, F. born Kincardine ,
Elizabeth Lawrie, Daur, Dressmaker, U. age 25 years, F. born Garvock, Kincardine,

This is Alexander's, widowed mother and his younger sister.

You will find loads of different spellings of Laurie, Machray, etc. but a lot of information on the families on Familysearch, and Scotlandspeople.

Regards,
Jonn.

[Beavances]

Hi John - thank you for these details. I know you have found the right details because Margaret's surname (Machray) was later added to her grandson as a middle name. I will have another go with Family search and will probably add a bit more money to Scotlands people so I have as much as I can before my trip.
Thanks you for the information you have found and for steering me in the right direction

[jonn]

Hello,

If you go to family search, put in surname field La*rie, then in birth place Scotland, then in parents names, James La*rie, then mother name Margaret M*ray, then country Scotland, this will cover all the variations for the required surnames.

The results will mostly be in Kincardine, do not be put of with the variations of surnames you will note the birth of young Elizabeth, matches with the exact place of birth on the census 1881 with her mother.

Margaret Machray Laurie, died 1890. aged 69 years. Laurencekirk, Kincardine.

Regards,
Jonn.

[scotmum]

beavances

Not sure if you are aware, but the Dundee newspapers, from 1800s to mid 1900s, are available on FindMyPast or British Newspapers Archive (subscription services). They can be a mine of wonderful info, and it can be worthwhile searching using addresses without surnames too, as sometimes you pick up entries that may have been missed if surname spelling was not as expected.

[Beavances]

Thanks Jonn and Scotmum _ I used the your search method suggested for Family search and found the family - and children we were unaware of. Also noticed another Alexander Laurie (Lawrie) which got me wondering if I had indeed got the right family but used the newspapers search and found the death of the right Alexander Laurie which gave his age at death as 96 so was able to check back and confirm that it was the right family. Can't believe how much information I now have in such a short time - great!

[Beavances]

Hi just wanted to let all of you who answered my plea for help regarding for my trip to Dundee just how incredibly helpful your ideas and advice turned out to be. We started by visiting the Verdant works which gave a very good background information about the jute mills - hadn't known much about this at all. Also visited the local library and met a really helpful librarian who could direct to the right sort of records to find out about one of the people we were researching; he managed to dig out company reports which gave details of how much each shareholder had in the company, dates it was formed etc. Also because of his local knowledge helped us to find where our man had worked. we were then able to go and see the premises (amazingly just round the corner form the library!) Also spent a profitable morning in the local FHS office, everyone was helpful and we found some BMD details and all the census details up to 1901. Also searched local newspapers and then with all this information went to look at some of the houses the family had lived in. I know we were were lucky that several are still standing. Although, sadly one - on Somerville Place West, had along with any other houses that had been there had gone. For me seeing the properties and places linked to ancestors, looking at the areas etc  is the real icing on the cake of family research. So thank you all! A really worthwhile trip for us. Having your ideas and suggestions meant we could hit the ground running and accomplish so much. Thank you all.   

[scotmum]

What a great update - glad to hear that you had a fruitful and enjoyable visit.