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Topic: Margaret Connon of Turriff. Elusive lair. (Read 619 times)
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Windsor87
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Posts: 174
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I'm sure that I've spoken about my lying relations from Turriff a number of times, now I'm hoping that you can help me find one of the them!
Let me start of by giving you a bit of background about her daughter and grandson.
Her grandson was born Alexander B. Connon in Turriff on 20 Apr 1889. He was illegitimate and no father was listed. By 1891, however, he was known as Alex Beattie. By the time he married in 1914, he claimed that his father, an Alexander Beattie, and his mother Jane Connon, were married. So that was the third generation liar.
His mother was the second generation liar.
His mother was Jane Connon. After having Alex, she married John Cockburn in Turriff in 1896, and moved on to Aberdeen. She gives her aged as 29, and is quite open about the fact that she was illegitimate. We find her on the 1901 Census in Ferryhill Aberdeen, aged 33. In 1912 she died in Aberdeen aged 45. This would give her a date of bith of around 1867. The trouble starts when you try to find a birth record for her.
I found a birth record for a Jane Connan in Turriff. This one was illegitimate, and her mother was listed as Margaret Connan. The trouble is that it dates from 1859, a full 8 years before her own claimed age. It is worth mentioning that her husband, John Cockburn is listed as 6 years younger on the marriage certificate. I believe he was actually 14 years younger than her. Was there some sort of agist stigma about marrying older women back then?
So as we can see, when it came to registering information, the Connon's were not exactly honest. This is where I need your help.
I don't have any birth or death information on the said Margaret Connon. I do, however, have some information that may help find her.
I found some information on her whilst looking for Alex Beattie in the census. In 1891 he is living with his great grandfather George Connon who was head. There is a Margaret Connon living at the same address. She is given as the heads daughter. She is aged 53 years. On the 1901 Census, she is again living in the same residence as Alex Beattie. This time in the house of another illegitimate child, her son George Younie. In 1901 she gives her age as 68 years. Thus she has aged 15 years in the space of 10.
As we know, she is alive in 1901, but her daughter's death certificate lists her as dead by 1912.
So to recap, if the half wrong information in the registar is half right we know two things about Margaret Connon.
1) She was born between 1832 and 1838.
2) She died between 1901 and 1912.
It seems simple, doesn't it? But I'll be damned if I can!
Anyone care to help? Feel free to ask more questions.
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« Last Edit: Friday 14 December 07 20:50 GMT (UK) by Windsor87 »
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Aberdeenshire/Banffshire:
Strachan, Connon, Watt, Beattie, Noble, Watt, Sinclair, Garden, Birnie, Wilson, Christie, Gatt, Watson, Sim, Ross, McWilliam, Middleton, Burr, Johnston, Munro, West, Porter, Trail, Bruce, Peddie, Kemp, Smith, Ewen, Kerr, Grieve, Whyte, Ritchie, Mackie, Jamieson, Barron, Grant, Robertson, McKay, Hadden, Forbes, Walls, Shepherd, McDonald, Duncan, Gray, Will, Thomson, Lascelles, Brown, Anderson, Doherty...
Dumfriesshire:
Bryson, Harkness, Scott, Roddick, Armstrong
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Annette7
RootsChat Senior
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Posts: 446
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Have found on 1851 and 1861 Census so far which indicates that Margaret was bc.1837/8 and her dau. Jane bc.1859/60. This is how transcribed:
1851 Turriff - Chapel Street
George Connor Head 29 Ag. Lab. b. Old Deer, Aberdeenshire
Jane Connor Wife 40 b. Forglen, Banffshire
Margaret Connor dau. 13 b. Turriff
Catherine Connor dau. 11 b. Turriff
James Connor son 2 ditto
James Mitchel b-in-law 36 b. Forglen, Banffshire
Jane Mitchel wife 40 b. ditto
1861 Turriff - Chaple Street
George Connan Head 41 Lab. b. Old Deer, Aberdeenshire
Jane Connan Wife 60 b. Froglen, Banffshire
Margaret Connan Dau. 23 b. Turriff
James Connan Son 13 b. Turriff
George Hounie g/son 5 ditto
James (?) Connan g/dau. 1 ditto
James Mitchell Boarder 48 b. Froglen, Banffshire
Will try to find on other census if I can.
Annette
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Scopes (One-Name Study - Worldwide) Suffolk - Grist, Knights, Bullenthorpe, Watcham Scotland - Spence, Horne, Cowan, Moffat London - Monk Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend. Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
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Annette7
RootsChat Senior
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Posts: 446
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1841 Census Turriff - Chapel Street
Janet Paterson 60 b. Aberdeenshire
Jane Connon 30 b. Out of county
Margaret Connon 3 b. Aberdeenshire
Katharine Connon 9m ditto
1871 Census - Turriff, 25 Chapel Street
George Connon 51 Contractor b. Turriff (?)
Jane Connon 59 b. Forglen, Banffshire
Margaret Connon 33 b. Turriff
James Connon 23 Carpenter ditto
George Younnie 15 g/son ditto
Jane Wilson 11 g/dau. ditto
James McLenan 7 g/son ditto
Mary Cameron 7 g/dau ditto
Clementina Anderson 4 g/dau ditto
1881 Census - Turriff, 27 Chapel Street
George Connor 61 Genl. Contractor b. Old Deer, Aberdeenshire
Jane Connor 71 b. Forglen, Banffshire
Margaret Connor 42 b. Turriff
James McLennan 17 g/son ditto
Clementina Anderson 14 g/dau ditto
James Mitchell 69 b-in-law Lab. (unemp) b. Forglen, Banffshire
Having looked at IGI James McLennan was son of Margaret's sister Catherine.
Clementina Anderson and Mary Cameron were Margaret's.
As I'm sure you know, none of George and Jane's children appear to have baptised in Turriff - nor can I find Margaret Connon's death either.
Hope the census info. helps a little.
Annette
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Scopes (One-Name Study - Worldwide) Suffolk - Grist, Knights, Bullenthorpe, Watcham Scotland - Spence, Horne, Cowan, Moffat London - Monk Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend. Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
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Annette7
RootsChat Senior
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Posts: 446
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Forgot to mention that George Connon b.11/3/1822, bp.24/3/1822 Old Deer, Aberdeenshire son of James Connon and Isabel Thomson.
He married Jean (or Jane) Mitchell 10/12/1836 Turriff
Annette
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Scopes (One-Name Study - Worldwide) Suffolk - Grist, Knights, Bullenthorpe, Watcham Scotland - Spence, Horne, Cowan, Moffat London - Monk Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend. Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk |
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Windsor87
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Posts: 174
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Thanks Annette. They really are a bizarre, unconventional family.
1871 Census - Turriff, 25 Chapel Street I think that the Jane Wilson (age 11) would be my Jane Connon. Her death certificate has her as Jane Wilson Cockburn. She probably alternated her surnames, just as her son did. I'm therefore guessing that her father was a Mr. Wilson (if my assumption is right).
With regard to Margaret's date of birth. The only solid date I have is her parents date of marriage - 10 Dec 1836 at Turriff. Her father George would just have turned 16. If they were a normal 19th Century family, we could assume that she was born after that date. Unfortunately, they are not all that typical.
I think my best bet for finding Margaret's death will be searching under every surname of her illegitimate children. So that could be Wilson, Younie...could take a while. 
Thanks for looking Annette. 
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Aberdeenshire/Banffshire:
Strachan, Connon, Watt, Beattie, Noble, Watt, Sinclair, Garden, Birnie, Wilson, Christie, Gatt, Watson, Sim, Ross, McWilliam, Middleton, Burr, Johnston, Munro, West, Porter, Trail, Bruce, Peddie, Kemp, Smith, Ewen, Kerr, Grieve, Whyte, Ritchie, Mackie, Jamieson, Barron, Grant, Robertson, McKay, Hadden, Forbes, Walls, Shepherd, McDonald, Duncan, Gray, Will, Thomson, Lascelles, Brown, Anderson, Doherty...
Dumfriesshire:
Bryson, Harkness, Scott, Roddick, Armstrong
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Windsor87
RootsChat Member
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Posts: 174
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George Connon's death certificate of 1894 (Turriff) lists his parents as Alexander Connon and Margaret Stephen, so I don't think that's his birth record. Also, if it is him, that would mean he got married aged 14.
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Aberdeenshire/Banffshire:
Strachan, Connon, Watt, Beattie, Noble, Watt, Sinclair, Garden, Birnie, Wilson, Christie, Gatt, Watson, Sim, Ross, McWilliam, Middleton, Burr, Johnston, Munro, West, Porter, Trail, Bruce, Peddie, Kemp, Smith, Ewen, Kerr, Grieve, Whyte, Ritchie, Mackie, Jamieson, Barron, Grant, Robertson, McKay, Hadden, Forbes, Walls, Shepherd, McDonald, Duncan, Gray, Will, Thomson, Lascelles, Brown, Anderson, Doherty...
Dumfriesshire:
Bryson, Harkness, Scott, Roddick, Armstrong
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Windsor87
RootsChat Member
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Posts: 174
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I'm now also having thr same difficulty with her sister, Catherine/Katherine Connon.
She was born about 1840. As you can see, she is living with the family in 1841 & 1851. I have come to the conclusion that her son was James McLennan who is living with the family in 1871 & 1881. He was born in Turriff in 1861 as James Connon, illegitimate son of Catherine Connon. I'm guessing his reputed father was a Mr. McLennan. Thus we have the family trademark of changing names to suit themselves.
What a family.
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Aberdeenshire/Banffshire:
Strachan, Connon, Watt, Beattie, Noble, Watt, Sinclair, Garden, Birnie, Wilson, Christie, Gatt, Watson, Sim, Ross, McWilliam, Middleton, Burr, Johnston, Munro, West, Porter, Trail, Bruce, Peddie, Kemp, Smith, Ewen, Kerr, Grieve, Whyte, Ritchie, Mackie, Jamieson, Barron, Grant, Robertson, McKay, Hadden, Forbes, Walls, Shepherd, McDonald, Duncan, Gray, Will, Thomson, Lascelles, Brown, Anderson, Doherty...
Dumfriesshire:
Bryson, Harkness, Scott, Roddick, Armstrong
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KirstyG
RootsChat Member
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Posts: 200
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Found these in the IGI:
CLEMENTINA ANDERSON OR CONNAN
Birth: 17 AUG 1866 Turriff, Aberdeen, Scotland
Father: ROBERT ANDERSON
Mother: MARGARET CONNAN
Extracted
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JAMES CONNON
Birth: 07 OCT 1863 Turriff, Aberdeen, Scotland
Mother: CATHERINE CONNON
Extracted
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MARY CAMERON CONNAN
Birth: 23 OCT 1863 Turriff, Aberdeen, Scotland
Mother: MARGARET CONNAN
Extracted
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JANE CONNON
Birth: 21 OCT 1859 Turriff, Aberdeen, Scotland
Mother: MARGARET CONNON
Extracted
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MARGARET CONNAN
Marriages:
Spouse: ALEXANDER DUNCAN
Marriage: 13 JUL 1833 Turriff, Aberdeen, Scotland
I know this is not the Margaret you are looking for but i wondered if it might have been George's sister (marrying about the same time, same surname, same parish) I thought it could give you somewhere to start looking.
Another thing you might try is to look in neighbouring parishes. My Duncan family around the same time married in Turriff, christened some of the children in King Edward and some in Banff. Also the parishes were changing hands around there between Aberdeen and Banffshire, so some searches are further complicated.
As Margaret's mother Jane was from Forglen, Banffshire, she may have returned home to her parents for her confinement as was common then, so Margaret's birth may be there, rather than Turriff as the census states. I have learned to take Census data with about a pound of salt!
Just found on Aberdeen and NE Scotland FHS Index to Memorial Inscriptions
Turriff
Names and dates on Stone Number 342:
George YOUNIE
Jane MITCHELL 25 May 1884
George CONNON 18 Oct 1894
NOTE: This is not the complete inscription
You will find the full text in booklet reference number AA189 from ANESFHS
This may be Margaret's other son.
Hope this helps in your search
Kirsty
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Galloway, Landers, Lindsay, Gillespie, Irvine
Erskine, McAdam, Hawthorn
Robertson, Duncan, Edmonstone, Black
Anderson, Nicholson, Crombie, MacDonald
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meandcupcake
RootsChat Extra
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Posts: 33
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Just something of interest. In my own family, the illegitimate children were often living with their grandparents. It seems that in the census, the grandmothers listed their grandchildren with their real fathers' surname, whereas the birth records showed the mother's maiden name as the child's surname. I don't know why they did this, but it happened repeatedly with my own ancestors. Lynne
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Smith, Webster, Cruickshank of Aberdeenshire
Smith, Legg of Banffshire
Smith, Corrie, Thomson, Lockerby of Dumfriesshire
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Windsor87
RootsChat Member
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Posts: 174
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Hi Kirsty and Lynne,
Thanks for the information. Sooner or later enough information will be gathered to finally track down Margaret Connon.
Every last shred of information and possibility is welcome.
I think that a date of birth of 1818 for George makes more sense. I was working on the presumption that he was born around 1820. Around 1818 makes more sense.
Kirsty, if you have Duncans in Turriff, I'd love to hear more. Then again, there arean awful lot of them.
I am hopeful that I will getto Turriff sometime in my summer holidays to look for George Connon's grave (shouldn't be much of a search).
I have had alot of interests with regards to surnames of illegitamite children.It certainly would appear that in this family, they were formally given the mother's maiden name, but then adopted their father's surname later in life. I also find it quite funny how the mother's tried to embarras the fathers by giving the child the father's surname as a middlename.
There can be no doubt that these Connons make up a very strange family.
regards
Windsor87
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Aberdeenshire/Banffshire:
Strachan, Connon, Watt, Beattie, Noble, Watt, Sinclair, Garden, Birnie, Wilson, Christie, Gatt, Watson, Sim, Ross, McWilliam, Middleton, Burr, Johnston, Munro, West, Porter, Trail, Bruce, Peddie, Kemp, Smith, Ewen, Kerr, Grieve, Whyte, Ritchie, Mackie, Jamieson, Barron, Grant, Robertson, McKay, Hadden, Forbes, Walls, Shepherd, McDonald, Duncan, Gray, Will, Thomson, Lascelles, Brown, Anderson, Doherty...
Dumfriesshire:
Bryson, Harkness, Scott, Roddick, Armstrong
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Windsor87
RootsChat Member
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Posts: 174
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I've had an interesting thought this morning.
George Younnie erected a memorial for his grandparents, yet he did not bother to commemorate his mother, Margaret Connon. Why not?
Perhaps three explainations:
1: A family fall out.
2: Changed fortunes - he could not afford it.
3: She did not die in Turriff (or even Scotland?).
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Aberdeenshire/Banffshire:
Strachan, Connon, Watt, Beattie, Noble, Watt, Sinclair, Garden, Birnie, Wilson, Christie, Gatt, Watson, Sim, Ross, McWilliam, Middleton, Burr, Johnston, Munro, West, Porter, Trail, Bruce, Peddie, Kemp, Smith, Ewen, Kerr, Grieve, Whyte, Ritchie, Mackie, Jamieson, Barron, Grant, Robertson, McKay, Hadden, Forbes, Walls, Shepherd, McDonald, Duncan, Gray, Will, Thomson, Lascelles, Brown, Anderson, Doherty...
Dumfriesshire:
Bryson, Harkness, Scott, Roddick, Armstrong
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KirstyG
RootsChat Member
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Posts: 200
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Another possibility is that he died before she did, or someone else erected one to her, possibly under another name...given this family's track record 
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Galloway, Landers, Lindsay, Gillespie, Irvine
Erskine, McAdam, Hawthorn
Robertson, Duncan, Edmonstone, Black
Anderson, Nicholson, Crombie, MacDonald
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Windsor87
RootsChat Member
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Posts: 174
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George's death certificate says that she was dead before he was.
Given the amount of different men she was involved with, it is possible she was registered or buried under a different surname.
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Aberdeenshire/Banffshire:
Strachan, Connon, Watt, Beattie, Noble, Watt, Sinclair, Garden, Birnie, Wilson, Christie, Gatt, Watson, Sim, Ross, McWilliam, Middleton, Burr, Johnston, Munro, West, Porter, Trail, Bruce, Peddie, Kemp, Smith, Ewen, Kerr, Grieve, Whyte, Ritchie, Mackie, Jamieson, Barron, Grant, Robertson, McKay, Hadden, Forbes, Walls, Shepherd, McDonald, Duncan, Gray, Will, Thomson, Lascelles, Brown, Anderson, Doherty...
Dumfriesshire:
Bryson, Harkness, Scott, Roddick, Armstrong
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