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Author Topic: Robert Duncan- St Ninians  (Read 492 times)

Offline Darren1

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Robert Duncan- St Ninians
« on: Thursday 13 June 24 18:58 BST (UK) »
Hi all,

Feel like I am going slightly insane trying to figure this out! So where the hell to begin! My ancestor, Robert Duncan and his (supposed, found no marriage record!) wife Christian Wordie had six children together between 1686 and 1699, John, Margaret, Christian jnr, Janet, Thomas and (another) Christian jnr.

Robert is recorded on Christian Wordie or Duncan's Warrant of Testament and Will dated from 1735 (suggesting Christian died shortly before). Robert I suspect died around 1726/27. Certainly their is references to him as a Portioner in Cairnock, St Ninians as well as being a Capper there.

Now this is where it gets even more confusing! Robert Duncan married Margaret Din in 1688 Fintry, Stirlingshire and had six children together between 1688 and 1706, Janet, Andrew, James, Jean, Mary and Christian.

Can we assume that both Robert Duncan's are the same man? I can't imagine him being a bigamist in such a rural area as this and Christian was definetely alive when he was having children with Margaret Din! Unfortunately attaching digital facsimiles is too large for this server. However Robert seems to have a Will for 1727 and Christian 1734.

Therefore, can anyone help me figure this out?!

Thanks in advance!

Offline Forfarian

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Re: Robert Duncan- St Ninians
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 13 June 24 19:41 BST (UK) »
Quote from: Darren1 on Thursday 13 June 24 18:58 BST (UK)
Can we assume that both Robert Duncan's are the same man?
No. The indexes at Scotland's People suggest the exact opposite.

These look like two different Robert Duncans. One married to Margaret Din(e) with children in Fintry/St Ninians in 1691, 1697, 1700, 1703 and 1706, the other married to Christian Wordie with children born in 1686, 1688, 1689, 1691, 1696 and 1699, also in St Ninians.

The absence of a record of the marriage of Robert D and Christian W does not mean that they were not married. There are many events of which no record survives.

What evidence do you have to suggest that they are the same person? Have you looked at the actual baptisms to see what they tell you?

Never trust anything you find online (especially submitted trees and transcriptions on Ancestry, MyHeritage, FindMyPast and other commercial web sites) unless it's an image of an original document - and even then be wary because errors can and do occur.

Offline Darren1

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Re: Robert Duncan- St Ninians
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 13 June 24 20:08 BST (UK) »
Oh believe me I have picked away at this from every angle!

I have found conflicting evidence through his Will in 1727, his children baptisms, marriage entries and Christian's Will in 1735. All refer to him being a portioned in Carnoch, St Ninians.

Offline Darren1

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Re: Robert Duncan- St Ninians
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 13 June 24 20:24 BST (UK) »
Look it would be easier to email the facsimiles to whoever! This website, rather pathetically, can't attach items over a certain size!

Offline Darren1

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Re: Robert Duncan- St Ninians
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 13 June 24 20:27 BST (UK) »
I appreciate that Robert and Christian may not have necessarily had their marriage recorded, however I have been researching family history for over 20 years now and with what I have read through both parties Wills and their children's marriage entries, I have never been so confused about one family! Therefore, I thought it might be something that you lovely people might be able to assist with, perhaps I'm wrong! I don't often reach out on this website, but any advise or help would be appreciated!

Offline Forfarian

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Re: Robert Duncan- St Ninians
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 13 June 24 20:30 BST (UK) »
Quote from: Darren1 on Thursday 13 June 24 20:08 BST (UK)
I have found conflicting evidence through his Will in 1727, his children baptisms, marriage entries and Christian's Will in 1735. All refer to him being a portioned in Carnoch, St Ninians.
So what is that evidence?

There could easily have been two portioners with the same name if they shared ownership land left by a grandfather after whom both were named.

I'm sure we would all love to try to sort it out, but in the absence of the evidence it's a bit difficult :)
Never trust anything you find online (especially submitted trees and transcriptions on Ancestry, MyHeritage, FindMyPast and other commercial web sites) unless it's an image of an original document - and even then be wary because errors can and do occur.

Offline Darren1

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Re: Robert Duncan- St Ninians
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 13 June 24 20:38 BST (UK) »
Please see above message regarding attachment sizes! In the meantime I give up, thank you all (!)
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