Death of Alexander Mitchell 1833 Brick wall

[Neale1961]

Ploughing would be only one job undertaken by an agricultural labourer. In certain seasons ploughing would occur. He would have needed to be old enough, and strong enough to manage a plough horse, or two. He would have had some experience working with horses.
So not a boy of 14, but probably 18 yrs or older.

[scotmum]

Not to further your research, but to add some more 'meat' to what Neale 1961 has said. Hopefully you find it an interesting read:

https://electricscotland.com/agriculture/ploughman.htm

[Kathmferrier]

Yes there is a record of their marriage. I posted it for you in your previous thread.
Ann ORCHERTSON to Alexr GRANT. 19 Dec 1835.


Hi
Thanks
I did check the Free Cen link. It shows the 1841 census record but no mention of a wedding date.

[Neale1961]

The marriage can be found in the parish records in Scotlands People. It is not part of any census.

[Kathmferrier]

The marriage can be found in the parish records in Scotlands People. It is not part of any census.

Thank you so much.  Found it! I have tried looking for it before and missed it. Looks like the parish had separate records for weddings and births. Possibly deaths but I suspect Alexander Mitchell would have died outwith this parish.

[Neale1961]

Yes, there would be a separate registers for births, marriages and burials (but possibly within the same book). Unfortunately, in Scotland, burials were not recorded often, and most records contain little information.
Sometimes you can find in the parish accounts, mention of someone’s death through the payment of a mortcloth.
If it is true that Alex Mitchell died in 1833, then I could find no record of a possible burial anywhere in Angus. There may be a gravestone to be found in a local churchyard.
I have not seen the full baptism record for James, but I would be somewhat suspicious that the father Alexander may not have died, but was recorded that way to help Ann Orchardson and the baby look more “respectable”.

[Kathmferrier]

Hopefully - this is the remainder of the entry.
No more mention of Alexander.

I’ve tried looking at Scotlands peoples virtual records for Kirriemuir parish but can’t see anything.
Also I looked to see if I could find any newspaper articles. (Using find my past)

I’ve had another look at James Mitchell’s  wedding certificate in1861. There is no mention of his father being deceased.

[Kathmferrier]

The wedding certificate James Mitchell and Betsy Guild.
Makes this more of a mystery. Was he indeed still alive? Wedding certificates were supposed to show whether the bride and groom parents were alive or not.

[Forfarian]

I have not seen the full baptism record for James, but I would be somewhat suspicious that the father Alexander may not have died, but was recorded that way to help Ann Orchardson and the baby look more “respectable”.

I cannot imagine a pillar of the Kirk deliberately recording a falsehood, and it wouldn't in any case hide the fact that the child was illegitimate because the baptism specifically record says that he was a 'natural' child, that is, born to parents who wer not married to one another.

It seems to me much more likely that the session clerk was recording an unusual circumstance which would no doubt have been the subject of plenty of gossip in the parish.