Henry William McKenzie born 1869

[Forfarian]

I found a Wm 1837 of Boharm married in 1870 another Marg Hay born 1848 and they had Jane in Huntly in 1871, Mary 1874 and Elizabeth 1881

Could you possibly be confusing William Mackenzie, who married Margaret Hay in Boharm in 1870, with William Gordon, probable brother of Ann Gordon, who married a different Margaret Hay and lived at Drumgrain in Inveravon?

In any case, according to the 1871 census, William Mackenzie, husband of Margaret Hay, was born in Cairney, not Boharm, and he was 30, so (assuming that his age is correct) he was born in 1840/1841, not 1837.

As the only thing about him that matches is his name, I think you can safely dismiss him.

Your William Mackenzie was baptised in January 1824, so he would have been 47 on the date of the 1871 census. There are 1,309 William M(a)ckenzies in the 1871 census in Scotland. Of these, 44 were born in 1824 plus or minus two years. I have looked at every single one of these 44 William M(a)ckenzies and none of them was born in CIA or anywhere close to it. Therefore (barring deficiencies in the census and in the transcription I am using), your William M(a)ckenzie was not in Scotland on the day of the 1871 census.

There are also 10 in England, of whom there are 3 aged 47 and born in Scotland: one each in Liverpool, Shrewsbury and Croydon.

In 1851 there were 89 William M(a)ckenzies born 1824 plus of minus two years. I baulked at 89, but I looked at all of the 49 born 1824 plus or minus one year. Of these, none was born in CIA. The only one who could possibly be yours is the one in Shrewsbury, who was a draper and tea dealer's assistant.

So I took a look at the 1861 census for Shrewsbury, and the household consisted of
William McKenzie, 37, draper and tea dealer
Ann McKenzie, sister, 20, house keeper
John McKenzie, brother, 18, draper's assisant
all born Scotland.
So I am pretty sure that these are the family of your William Mackenzie.

In 1871 William is listed with his wife Charlotte but no children. William Mackenzie married Charlotte Sears in King's Norton in 1870. Therefore I think you can almost certainly eliminate William as a potential father of your Henry. Certainly not a legitimate father.

I can't (so far) find John in 1871 or later.

[Penberthy]

This is my epilogue for Henry who has told a few porkies and may not want to be found. Maybe he wants to be a Gordon, naming his son Gordon Hector, and mother Ann Gordon.  I have searched many Ann Gordons - found 2 marriages to McKenzie, but no success, then I decided to search Jean Ann McKenzie who he said was his sister at New Street Culsalmond by Huntly.  No New Street but a New Road in Huntly so a wild goose chase.

I then looked for a William McKenzie near Huntly and found Wm McKenzie of Cairnie by Huntly born 1837 on 10 May (Henry’s birth date by coincidence) who married Margaret Hay in 1870.  They had a Jane (Jean) 1871, Mary 1874, Elizabeth 1881 and no Henry, but suspicious because looking into it I found that his wife is a cousin to Margaret Hay who married William Gordon born 1811 who is brother to Ann Gordon of CIA.  The Hay girls fathers James and John going to John Gordon and Jean Bain.
I have been looking for the birth dates of children of Wm Gordon of Drumgrain, Inveravon but cannot find the three Christina m Robertson, John and William in 1851 Census.
What I did find was an Alexander born 1851, but then a strange one Wm Ann McKenzie Gordon born 1853 a daughter.  As a long shot maybe she had Henry in 1869.  It seemed to be their practice not to register names.  Wm lived with his sister Elspet until 1899.
I may get into the army papers one day, but doubt if they will tell me more.  I think he lied re birthdate but came back to his real one.

I believe that someone in this family had Henry, but I will never know.  Family like to keep in touch, especially the Hay cousins, and I am sure Henry rode his horse visiting these families.  It is what I want to believe anyway.  He left on his own to start a new life, so many worries and untruths which is sad.

I really appreciate the patience and help along the way, but if no definite certificates it is impossible. Diane