MacKenzie, Lothians, USA

[Neale1961]

A possible for Roderick McKenzie in 1841 census Falkirk
Working as a “wright”, also used to refer to a worker of wood
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59057843e9379091b14b9486/roderic-mckenzie-1841-stirlingshire-falkirk-1816-?locale=en


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

I assume you have the 1841 census for Margaret Young in Laurieston, Falkirk
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59057896e9379091b14bc337/margaret-young-1841-stirlingshire-falkirk-1820-?locale=en

Margaret baptised 28 Nov. 1819 Falkirk, the daughter of James Young and Agnes Lawrie (married in 1819)

The Young family is still at the same address in the 1851 census.
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/590580ebe9379091b1515460/james-young-1851-stirlingshire-falkirk-1791-?locale=en


Death certificate for Margaret (widow)
19 October 1864  Leith South
Spouse Alexander McKenzie (blacksmith),
Father James Young (mason)
Informant - James McKenzie

[Neale1961]

Married 1842 Falkirk  >  son born abt 1844 America  >  son born 1846 America  >  back in Scotland for 1851 census.
That is a rather quick turn around. Maybe they didn’t emigrate. Maybe Roderick had employment as a ship’s carpenter, and the children were born onboard, wherever the ship was. Might not have been America, but an American colony.     Cannot find anything in America.

Later census gives James McKenzie born in New York and also in Canada.


ADDED —-
From newspaper obit for Roderick MacKenzie junior who died in 1915
“He was born in Canada in 1847, where his father (a carting contractor in Ross-shire) had emigrated shortly before his son was born”. Who knows how accurate that report is?

[Neale1961]

There is this burial in Canada. I don’t know any more about this Roderick McKenzie, but dates would align.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141990407/roderick-mckenzie

[AnCreag]

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.

Thanks eilthireach, that likely clears up one loose end!

[AnCreag]

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.

Ah, of course, sometimes you can't see the wood for the tree! Thanks for the tip

[AnCreag]

Married 1842 Falkirk  >  son born abt 1844 America  >  son born 1846 America  >  back in Scotland for 1851 census.
That is a rather quick turn around. Maybe they didn’t emigrate. Maybe Roderick had employment as a ship’s carpenter, and the children were born onboard, wherever the ship was. Might not have been America, but an American colony.     Cannot find anything in America.

Aye, it's all seems rather strange, and I can't rule out the other possibility you raised that Alex and Roderick could have been related. Hopefully some further research will maybe shed some light on that.

I'd found the 1841 census entry for Roderick as a wright, and while it seems the most likely candidate there's nothing concrete I've found yet to confirm it.

ADDED —-
From newspaper obit for Roderick MacKenzie junior who died in 1915
“He was born in Canada in 1847, where his father (a carting contractor in Ross-shire) had emigrated shortly before his son was born”. Who knows how accurate that report is?

This is interesting, I don't think I've come across this one before. Do you remember what paper it was from?

[Forfarian]

See screenshot, and note that Alexander was born in 1855.

I got that wrong. It wasn't Alexander who was born in 1855, it was his older (unnamed) sister. The rest of it stands.

[AnCreag]

I got that wrong. It wasn't Alexander who was born in 1855, it was his older (unnamed) sister. The rest of it stands.

Almost! Date and place of parents marriage wasn't added to the Scottish birth certificates until 1860/1 and Alexander snr seems to have died prior to the 1861 census

[Neale1961]

See link to 1855 births. A unique year.
https://www.scottishindexes.com/learningcivil.aspx#q2