RITCHIE OR RICHARDSON, PARISH OF CAIRNIE

[abrach1]

I am just looking for some advice/opinions please.

My 3 x great grandmother Mrs Margaret Robson nee Mellis died at Alehousehillock in the Parish of Cairnie on 3rd January 1865 aged 68. Her death certificate gives her parents names as James Mellis and Margaret RITCHIE.  She was born on 6th February 1796.

Other children born to James Mellis and Margaret RITCHIE were -

Isobel Mellis born  1789
Anne Mellis born  1798
Janet Mellis born 1801

In his book "The Parish of Cairnie" by James Pirie, published in 1906, he mentions the family of William Mellis and his wife Jane Norrie. He states that they had a son, James Mellis born in 1757 who married Margaret RICHARDSON and that this couple had a daughter Janet Mellis born in 1800 who married Robert Shearer.  Janet Mellis wife of Robert Shearer died on 25th October 1850 aged 50, so no death certificate for her but the Cairnie OPR record the baptism of Janet Mellis on 20th August 1801 and give her parents names as James Mellis and Margaret RITCHIE.

The OPRs also show the children of James Mellis and Margaret RICHARDSON -

Jean Mellis born 1787
Christian Mellis born 1791
William Mellis born 1793.

My question is - is it possible that Margaret Ritchie and Margaret Richardson are the same person OR  has the writer James Pirrie confused two different families?

I found a death in Keith of Mrs Ann MacIntyre  in 1888 aged 89 whose death certificate gives her parents names as James Mellis and Margaret RICHARDSON - could this possibly be the Anne Mellis mentioned above whose mother was Margaret RITCHIE ?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
abrach 1

[Forfarian]

It's certainly possible, as there are respectable gaps between all the baptism dates.

Have you looked at the originals of all the baptisms to see if the parents' place of residence is mentioned, and if so whether it is the same?

[abrach1]

Thank you Forfarian - I should have thought of checking the original baptisms for the Richardson entries. They are indeed at the same place - Gingomires - so Margaret Ritchie and Margaret Richardson are the same person.
abrach1

[Forfarian]

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