Baxter and Lindsay Families Scotland

[Linz05]

Hi 👋

I am looking to further research the Baxter and Lindsay families in Scotland. I have reason to believe two of my maternal ggg grandparents were from traveller families - I was told this by my Gran and in the course of my research I have found evidence of members of both extended families marrying into well known traveller families eg Marshall, O’Neil, Townsley and Whyte BUT I haven’t really found much about my actual direct ancestors being travellers.

My ggg Grandmother was Mary Baxter b. approx 1832 Lanarkshire to John Baxter - Ayr 1806- 1883 and Elizabeth Jamieson - Stirling 1808-1862

My ggg Grandfather was Alexander Lindsay b. approx 1828 Carluke/Glasgow. I don’t have any confirmed parents for him.

I’m not sure how much info is required in a first post but I would be grateful for any help or tips, thank you 😊

[Little Nell]

Welcome to RootsChat.

Have you found your great grandparents on the census at all?

Assuming that they complied with the law and registered births and deaths that took place  after 1855 when civil registration began in Scotland, there might be a way to move backwards with Alexander's parents.

Scottish death certificates post 1855 should show the names of the deceased's parents.  So I would suggest that you look for Alexander's death certificate to give you a clue on his parents.  I say 'should' since the name may not always be known to the informant.

Also Scottish birth certificates for 1855 are very informative - date and place of parents' marriage is usually included.

Visit www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk to search and view certificates.  Its is a pay per view site.

Nell

[Linz05]

Hi Nell,

Thank you for your reply. There are no parents named on Alexander Lindsay’s death certificate 😔

I do have some Census entry’s for both grandparents - but without knowing who Alexander’s parents were I can’t confirm if any of the 1841 or 1851 entries are his - it’s not a massively uncommon name either. First one I’ve found for him is 1871 and then every Census until his death.

I have Mary on the 1851 Census, nothing for 1861 but I then have her from 1871 on. I have death certificates for both her parents. No parents named on her mothers but her fathers parents are named (he died in a poorhouse and the Governor has filled it in so I’m not sure how accurate it is).

And yes, on their children’s BC I have found information about Alex and Mary’s marriage but a different date and location each time 😂

[Neale1961]

My ggg Grandmother was Mary Baxter b. approx 1832 Lanarkshire to John Baxter - Ayr 1806- 1883 and Elizabeth Jamieson - Stirling 1808-1862

Can you please let us know where your information comes from.

There seem to be conflicting records.

According to the 1861 census in Hoddam Dumfriesshire (Ancestry transcription)
John Baxter born abt 1801 Kelton, Kirkcudbright – travelling tinsmith
Elizabeth Baxter, born abt 1799 Cathcart Renfrewshire – travelling tinsmith
Anne Baxter, born abt 1836 Mauchline Ayrshire ( I assume daughter of the above)
Alexander Baxter born abt 1857 Lanarkshire (there are a few prison records for him in the 1870s)
Joseph Baxter born abt 1860 Berwick on Tweed.

I think this may be the family in 1841 – lodging in tents
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5a1421f3f4040b9d6e0bb2ba/john-baxter-1841-ayrshire-ochiltree-1800-?locale=en
The wife and mother here may be Ann Watson - at least according birth cert for Alexander, b 1857.


There are 1861 Dumfries prison records for John Baxter ( a tramp and tinsmith) born 1800 in Kelton, Kirkcudbrightshire.  And again in 1864, with same birth information.
Regular prison records for him in 1846, 1849, 1850, 1851 & 1859 - all have born in Kelton, 1800-1803

[Neale1961]

- but without knowing who Alexander’s parents were I can’t confirm if any of the 1841 or 1851 entries are his - it’s not a massively uncommon name either. First one I’ve found for him is 1871 and then every Census until his death.

In 1851 census Alexander Lindsay is in Sterling prison.
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59058078e9379091b15116c7/alexr-lindsay-1851-stirlingshire-stirling-1830-?locale=en

This could be him in 1841
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5a1521bff4040b9d6e2e4f39/alexander-lindsay-1841-midlothian-canongate-1830-?locale=en

OR another possibility for 1841
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5a140522f4040b9d6ee9e470/alexr-lindsay-1841-aberdeenshire-aberdeen-1830-?locale=en

[Linz05]

Hi Neale, thank you for replying.

Most of my info comes from Scotlands People and Ancestry.

On the 1851 Census I have -

Tinwald House, Dumfries

John Baxter - 1806 Ayr
Elizabeth - 1808 Stirling
Maria - 1828 Ayr
Mary - 1835 Ayr
Ann - 1842 Ayr
Anthony - 1849 Crawfordjohn
John - 1851 Dunscore, Dumfries

Anthony and John are the children of Maria and (another) John Baxter - possibly a cousin?

I also have the various prison records which I’m aware state Johns birthplace as Castle Douglas on a lot of them. I really should have put both places in my OP.

Ann Baxter in the 1861 Census is not their daughter, she is their Daughter-in-Law, Ann Watson (Abt. 1836) wife of son John Baxter (Abt. 1830). Alexander and Joseph are her children with John Jnr. I haven’t found anything really about her prior to this other than her parents were Joseph Watson and Betsy Adams, and I believe she had a sister, Margaret (Abt. 1827).

The 1841 Census link you have given for the family looks promising so I’ll have a good look at that, thank you.

[Linz05]

Alexander Lindsay in the 1851 prison record is someone who I’ve considered as a possibility. His wife, Elizabeth Rennie (also present in Stirling Prison at the same time for the same crime) is in the Dumfries area after 1851, as is Alexander but they no longer appear to be together so it’s a possibility that he was then with Mary Baxter.

The first entry you’ve linked for 1841 looks the most promising but again, doesn’t tell me whether they were a Traveller family or not. I have Alex, Mary and some of their children on the 1881 census at Larbert Fairgrounds, living in a caravan but that’s all I’ve found to connect Alex so maybe he just wasn’t a Traveller 🤷‍♀️