MacKenzie, Lothians, USA

[AnCreag]

Hi, I've hit (another) stumbling block and am looking for a bit of advice as to where to go next.

I have a GGG Grandfather Roderick MacKenzie who marries Margaret Young in Falkirk 1843. They appear to have emigrated to the USA as their two sons Roderick and James are listed in later census as being born there. Margaret however has returned to Scotland (Leith) by the time of the 1851 census and married to an Alexander MacKenzie (originally from Gairloch/ no marriage cert that I can find).

I'm trying to find out what happened to Roderick, I can't find out anything definitive about him. Family story has him coming from the Heights (outside Dingwall) but the 1843 marriage cert only states they were both of the parish of Falkirk. Can't find any reference to them on passenger lists to the USA and don't know where to look for American records.

Thanks

[ciderdrinker]

Hello
I've not got the US side but what about the nephew with Margaret on the 1851 census?
John McKenzie born 1843 Wick.
His baptism seems to be
John 22.8.1842 Wick s of John Mackenzie and Isabella Phimster.

From the census we know John came from Gairloch born c 1805

John MacKenzie 21.8.1804 s of Murdo and Katherine Mckenzie nee Mackenzie tenant Sand
brother Roderick 1.2.1811 of Northandale tenant
Sister Anne 19.1.1817 2nd Coast.

I may be totally off but  Roderick wouldn't be outrageously old when he married in 1842.

Just in case it helps
There is a marriage 3 Feb 1845 at Dingwall Alex McKenzie and Margaret McKenzie .
A very tight squeeze.

Ciderdrinker

[AnCreag]

Oh, thanks ciderdrinker, it all helps! I came across John's name on the 1861 census but thought the entry said he was born Buckhaven, looking back on it now it looks like Buckhaven, Wick, I'll attach the original shortly.

Now my Roderick is consistently referred to as carpenter/ joiner on marriage/ death certs of his children so I wouldn't expect to find him as a tenant, presumably in the 1841 census? I'll delve further into it though.

Think the date for the 1845 Alex and Margaret wedding is too tight as Roderick's son Roderick appears to have been born in the USA in 1846. There are no official docs though so you never know!!

[AnCreag]

1861 census

[eilthireach]

Oh, thanks ciderdrinker, it all helps! I came across John's name on the 1861 census but thought the entry said he was born Buckhaven, looking back on it now it looks like Buckhaven, Wick, I'll attach the original shortly.

Now my Roderick is consistently referred to as carpenter/ joiner on marriage/ death certs of his children so I wouldn't expect to find him as a tenant, presumably in the 1841 census? I'll delve further into it though.

Think the date for the 1845 Alex and Margaret wedding is too tight as Roderick's son Roderick appears to have been born in the USA in 1846. There are no official docs though so you never know!!

There is no Buckhaven in Wick or even in Caithness. Buckhaven is in Fife. However, there is a Broadhaven in Wick. According to the Gazetteer for Scotland it was a hamlet that now forms the eastern part of Wick. It was originally known as Boathaven. Quite possibly the census enumerator heard Boathaven but he already knew of the place called Buckhaven and so recorded the stated place of birth as Buckhaven.

[Forfarian]

I don't suppose that Alexander in 1851 could be an enumerator's error for Roderick? Have you checked the original of the census to see if it's a transcriber's error?

[Forfarian]

In that 1861 census are two sons, Alexander and John, aged 5 and 3, born Leith.

See screenshot, and note that Alexander was born in 1855. Therefore his birth certificate will tell you not only when and where he was born, but also when and where his parents were born and when and where they were married.

[Neale1961]

Posting 1851 census for the record (see below)

From census - Alexander McKenzie born Gairloch (Ross) abt 1821

There is a death in Leith South in 1860 for an Alexander McKenzie – no age or MMN recorded in SP index.

FamilySearch gives his death date as 8 March 1860, his birth around 1821, and name of father as John McKenzie. (So this might seem a match for the man in the 1851 census)

One wonders if Alex McKenzie was related to Roderic McKenzie - a brother? Or cousin?

[Neale1961]

The 1855 birth of the un-nammed female (Isabella) might be the most useful record to obtain.

BIRTH
Margaret McKenzie born abt 1852 (didn’t find baptism)

DEATH
Margaret McKenzie died 14 Sept 1856 (age 4), South Leith, Midlothian
Parents - Alexander McKenzie, Margaret Young McKenzie

--------------------------------
BIRTH
Un-nammed female born 20 Feb 1855, Leith, Midlothian
Parents – Margaret Young and Alexander McKenzie

DEATH
Isabella McKenzie died 12 Jun 1856 (age 1) North Leith, Midlothian
Mother - Margaret Young McKenzie. Husband Alex McKenzie

---------------------------
BIRTH
Alexander McKenzie born 17 September 1856 South Leith, Midlothian
Parents - Alexander McKenzie, Margaret Young McKenzie

DEATH
Alexander McKenzie died 20 Aug 1862 South Leith, Midlothian
Parents - Alexander McKenzie, Margaret Young McKenzie

------------------------------------------

BIRTH
John McKenzie born 12 Jun 1858 South Leith, Midlothian
Parents -  Alexander McKenzie, Margaret Young McKenzie