Death of Alexander Mitchell 1833 Brick wall

[Kathmferrier]

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.

I suspect this is the case.
The non mention of deceased on the wedding certificate may be an oversight.
Anne had already appeared before the session in August because she was pregnant. A letter was sent by Cortachy and Clova to Kirriemuir session asking that Alexander appear before the Cortachy session but he didn’t turn up.

I think this is a real brick wall. I can’t think of anything else to try.
I’ve tried to find newspapers but not having any joy. I did wonder that if the death had been unusual in some way it might have warranted a mention in the paper.
I also thought about somehow using the 1841 census to try to eliminate possibilities by ruling out men who would have been old enough to father child in 1833 if they were still alive but there are too many options.

[scotmum]

Have you considered going down the DNA route?

[Kathmferrier]

Have you considered going down the DNA route?

I’ve been contemplating it. But to be honest don’t know very much about it?
Ancestry seem to have a deal on just now. Is it useful as far back as the late 1700 early 1800 hundreds?

[Neale1961]

My opinion differs from Forfarian (reply #17)

Had Alexander died in another parish a few days earlier, the church cleric would not necessarily have known this. It was very convenient for Ann to say the child’s father had ‘just’ died. It explained his absence at the baptism, and avoided any question of marriage for the sake of the child’s legitimacy.

I think James' marriage certificate is telling.
13 April 1861 at Southmuir, Kirriemuir (witness names have been cut off- who are they?).
James appears to know his father’s name, his father’s occupation (a ploughman in 1861), and that his father was not deceased.

In your previous thread, I brought to your attention the following Alexander Mitchell. He may be worth tracing through the records.

1861 census:- Alexander Mitchell, age 50, born Kirriemuir, is a ploughman at Whitehillocks Farm House in Cortachy and Clova. Head of house is David Mitchell 78.
(David was farmer at Whitehillocks in1841 and 1851 census too. Was Alexander a relative?)

1871 census:- the same Alexander Mitchell, age 63 (b abt 1808), born Kirriemuir is working as an agricultural labourer for James Findlay at Middlehill, Cortachy and Clova.

[Kathmferrier]

The plot thickens.
I came across a site called Old Scottish.
On it there are records of Sheriff Court Paternity Decrees.
Seems like Anne Orchardson or Grant took one out against Alexander Mitchell. By the time she does so she’s living at Fearn. Not sure of the date she does this but it’s clearly after her marriage to Alexander Grant in 1835!
I’ve ordered a copy but it can take up to 28 days to get it.

[David Nicoll]

Hi,

   Don’t our ancestors entertain!
   In answer to your question about DNA, yes indeed it can be very useful that far back, I have numerous links with the most recent common ancestor in the 1750’s.
   That being said from my own experience in Angus, it can be a challenge working out where a cluster of matches intersects with your tree. I have several cases where there is a double link.

Happy Hunting

[Forfarian]

I look forward with great interest to hearing what the court documents tell you.

[Kathmferrier]

I look forward with great interest to hearing what the court documents tell you.

Me too!

[Kathmferrier]

Hi,

   Don’t our ancestors entertain!
   In answer to your question about DNA, yes indeed it can be very useful that far back, I have numerous links with the most recent common ancestor in the 1750’s.
   That being said from my own experience in Angus, it can be a challenge working out where a cluster of matches intersects with your tree. I have several cases where there is a double link.

Happy Hunting

I think I’ll bite the bullet.
Haha Angus IS a nightmare. On one side I’ve four direct ancestors - all Alexander Duncan!