William Scott 1757-1826

[danielr]

I completely understand that I am in the "best of luck" era of records, but I fear I am currently caught in a game of tennis between Ancestry and FamilySearch.

I am looking into a relative far up my tree: William Scott (1757-1826). He was married to Mary Lee, and had 8 children: William (about 1787), John (about 1790, d.1790), Mary (about 1791 - my ancestor), Joseph (about 1794), John (about 1799), Elizabeth (about 1801), Isabella (about 1804), and Isaac (about 1806). Most of these christening documents list MMN, all with matching abodes, some with relative names & child numbers.

Now, my issue is, William is linked to both Scotland and Northumberland. FamilySearch had a christening document from November 1757 claiming that he was christened in Midlothian, Scotland, parents Wm. and Mgt. However, the christening records for Isabella and Isaac state "Pa of Allendale. Ma of Whitfield". There is a March 1757 christening in Allendale, also for a William, son of Wm. and Mgt. Christening records for Margaret (1760), Jane (1763), and Elizabeth (1765) have matching details.
FindMyPast is saying Scotland, Ancestry's trees are saying Northumberland, and Ancestry's hints are saying both.

I may have to admit defeat and accept that I'm at the top of this side of the tree for now, but would love some tips on how to proceed - or if I'm blind and there's something I've missed. Thanks!

[rosie99]

Are you referring to trees on familysearch or parish register images

[AlanBoyd]

This is presumably the marriage:

Whitfield, Northumberland
Church: St. John (Holy Trinity after 1859)
Denomination: Anglican
24 May 1783
William Scott (of the Monk, Allendale parish, bachelor) married Mary Lee (of the Hope, this parish, spinster), by banns
Witnesses: John Scott; Hugh Bell

They were actually fairly close neighbours (1.6 miles as the crow flies, probably less than a 2 mile walk.)

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15.2&lat=54.88958&lon=-2.37334&layers=257&b=osm&o=100

Start at The Hope. Just to the south is Carr's Burn (stream). Follow the burn to the east, past Carr's Mill to the confluence with the River West Allen at Hitch Haugh. Immediately to the east is Monk Cottage. Follow the river a little way to the north, past Monk Wood, and you will see Whitfield Hall on the west bank of the river and a farm called Monk on the east bank. I suspect that the farm was William Scott's abode.

[Tickettyboo]

link to the BT image of the marriage
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6D3Q-7D8?

Boo

[AlanBoyd]

According to a transcript at FindMyPast:
Margaret Scott bapt St Cuthbert, Allendale, 9th January 1760,
daughter of William and Margaret
residence Monk

Added:
same residence, Monk, for Elizabeth, bapt 1765
also Jane 1763.

All of the records for William Scott 1757 Allendale St Cuthbert, son of William and Margaret that I can see either have no residence or have “Housty”. Housty is a farm about 4 miles east of Whitfield.

[danielr]

Apologies, have been very busy as of late so have only had time to respond now.

The images were parish register images.

Ahhh, good spotting with the abodes, Alan - and thank you very much for the deep research. So I must have the wrong year of birth (assuming he is not the Scottish William Scott)?
Just found a 1774 burial record for a William Scott, residing at Monk, Allendale Parish, which could be the father.