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Topic: Wood family (Read 713 times)
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sarah_wood1
RootsChat Extra
 
Posts: 62

Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi Im looking for any information on a John Wood From Fife, possibly dunfermline or cowdenbeath
John Wood b.abt 1870 d.abt1946
I know that he was in the Black watch, possibly a sergeant major, Was a bandmaster in a band school in fife and was also a coal miner.
any information would be appreciated
thnx sarah
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AMBLY
RootsChat Marquessate
       
Posts: 4559

Falkland Islands "Desire The Right"
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Hi Sarah
Where did he die? Do you already have him on any Census?
I've found some messages on another forum which you've posted on, from last month...gist of which is this:
Great Grandfather: John WOOD born abt 1870 Fife Married but unsure of his wife's name Suuposed to have been in the Black Watch, and was in the Boer War Also worked as a coalminer, He was from Dunfermline Scotland, and later ran a band school. He was born anytime 1855-1899 in Dunfermline area or anywhere in Scotland. Had a child by Mary McEWAN but was not married to her. He was at the time of the child's birth, married to someone else and had children by this wife. Mary McEWAN,worked as a domestic servant and was linked to Moodie Street dunfermlne.
Mary McEWAN had 3 children (I've removed the fornames to protect prvacy of possibly living individuals or immediate descendants): [male] wood Oct 1938, Dunfermline - certified - Parents John WOOD & Mary McEWAN [female] wood [female] wood 1946
Perhaps things have changed since the above was written on the web, or I've got the wrong end of a stick...but if the scenario remains the same today, my questions are:
How do you arrive at a birth date of approx 1870 and know his name was John? Why do you believe he was born Dunfermline or Cowdenbeath? Where did the information come from re: Black Watch, Boer War, Coalminer, band School etc? Where did the information come from that he was a married man with children when his child (your grandparent?) was born to Mary McEWAN. Did Mary McEWAN really have children born late 1930's/1940's to a WOOD man in his late 60's to late 70's? How do you know he died 1940-1946?
Sorry for all the questions, but necessary I think, as this search doesn't appear to be all that straight-forward 
Cheers AMBLY
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« Last Edit: Sunday 26 April 09 07:18 UTC (UK) by AMBLY »
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sarah_wood1
RootsChat Extra
 
Posts: 62

Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi ambly... yes thats correct i posted that information on other forums but i believe that it was on different websites! ie, i have left posts on Ancestry aid,ancestry.co.uk and some other scottish 1's.
No the senario hasnt changed..however i have found out some more information since then.. I have narrowed down John wood's birth year to abt 1870, and death year abt 1946. and yes Mary McEwan did have 3 children to John Wood in late 1930's / 1940's. Yes John wood was really married and had other children when my grandfather was born. Yes he was in his late 60s or 70 years old when my grandfather was born. And all this information and the rest about the black watch ,coal miner etc, actually came from my grandfather.John wood's son . No i havnt found him on any census. I got the information about him living in dunfermline or cowdenbeath from my grandfather.
i know my my firt post was a bit vague however I thought these websites were here to help people find more information about their ancestors
Why are you asking me these questions? are you a relative of John Wood? Or do you have any information that would help me?
thanx sarah 
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AMBLY
RootsChat Marquessate
       
Posts: 4559

Falkland Islands "Desire The Right"
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Hi Sarah
No criticism intended in any of my questions - nor in pointing out here that there was a bit of extra information to be found elsewhere. We're all quite at liberty to post messages wherever we like on the web, never know where the answer will come from And yes, you're absolutely right - these forums are definitely here to help people - I hope you'll find Rootschat to be the best of a great bunch !
If you take a look at my own profile and my posting history, you'll see I (as do others) spend far too much time on Rootschat poking about in other people's mysteries, it's what makes Rootschat tick and much more fun than housework anyday . On many an occasion we have some terrific results to some curly ones.
And your topic struck me as curly! I have no connection to John WOOD. My questions would likely have been asked by anyone attempting to help, particulary with the more unusual aspects of your search. We like to establish as much as we can at get-go, so we have as firm a base as possible to begin with. It's important to understand how information is arrived at and how 'proved it is. This allows us freedom to think laterally if we need to.
So.....if we are to help, we have to question - more forming as I write and none are meant to offend or neccesarily doubt. And I'm sure some Chatters very experienced in Scotland research will soon join in!
Shall we continue? 
Cheers AMBLY
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sarah_wood1
RootsChat Extra
 
Posts: 62

Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi Ambly sorry about my reply, i shoudnt have took your questions that way lol. I actually thought i did something wrong, now i understand Thank youfor taking the time to look at my post, and i will defo have a look at ur posts and have a look around rootschat,, yeah il defo continue with my search on here
sorry again if i got the wrong end of the stick 
thnx sarah
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PrueM
Global Moderator
RootsChat Marquessate
      
Posts: 7376

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Hi Sarah 
Interesting mystery you have here!
I'll have a bit of a think about places to look for info and roads to take, but initially it might be worth trying to confirm John WOOD's involvement with the Black Watch/Boer War by posting a message on the Armed Forces board: http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/board,300.0.html Someone there will no doubt have an idea of what records are available to search, and whether with the information you have there is enough to search for him at present (they might need more detail in order to narrow him down). Worth asking though 
Oh, something else I thought of: have you looked at the actual birth certificate for your grandfather, which states parents' names? It should give details of addresses, occupations etc. which would be useful for us to know.
Cheers Prue
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Paper and Photograph Conservator I live in NSW, and am researching: BALFOUR (Derry) – BIGG (Kent) – BONSALL (DBY, NTT, CHS) – BRISBANE (Fife) – DANKS (STS) – DOBSON (BRK) – FRANCIS (ESS) – GOODE (HAM) – HAYNES (Cork) – INGRAM (MDX, SOM) – LANGWORTHY (Jersey, DEV) – MCKAY (Fife, Aberdeen, Banff, Moray) – MORRISH (LND) – NANCARROW (CON) – OGILVIE (Moray, LND) – STRATHDEE (LND, Banff) - SWAN (Fife)
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sarah_wood1
RootsChat Extra
 
Posts: 62

Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi Prue, thnx for looking at my post , I have a copy of my grandfather's birth certificate and marriage certificate.
Birth certificate: william alexander McEwan. Mother Mary McEwan, Domestic servant. Moodie street Dunfermline. Iam unsure if Moodie street was Mary's home address or work address? Also on the birth certificate ,just before it says moodie street dunfermline there was another word but i couldnt make it out. it either said mikes moodies street or uskes moodie street.
On My grandfathers marriage certificate, it said William alexander McEwan Known as Wood. Mother Mary McEwan Father John Wood(deceased), Occupation Coal miner.
My grandfather told me John wood was in the Black watch.. Unsure of which battalion but im guessing the 1/7th battalion as it formed in fife (thats where john wood was from) im sure the 1/7th battlion then became the 153rd brigade in 51st (highland) division.
My grandfather also told me john wood was a sergeant and that he was in a band school in dunfermline. However iam not sure if he meant john wood was a sergeant in the black watch or a sergeant in the band school. I can also recall my grandfather saying john wood was in the boar war.
I have tried the internet to see if i could find John wood in the black watch but have had no luck. Im actually unsure where to look for this information.
thnx sarah
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PrueM
Global Moderator
RootsChat Marquessate
      
Posts: 7376

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Hi Sarah 
The address of your great-grandmother on the birth certificate would be her 'usual residence' - if she lived-in as a servant then it may be her work address. No way of knowing for sure, I guess.
Can I ask where the information about John WOOD being born in about 1870 came from? Have you looked for a death for him, after 1946 (his last child with Mary McEWAN)?
Oh, and as suggested above, maybe post a message on the Armed Forces board about the Black Watch/Boer War - they'll know where to look. 
Cheers Prue
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Paper and Photograph Conservator I live in NSW, and am researching: BALFOUR (Derry) – BIGG (Kent) – BONSALL (DBY, NTT, CHS) – BRISBANE (Fife) – DANKS (STS) – DOBSON (BRK) – FRANCIS (ESS) – GOODE (HAM) – HAYNES (Cork) – INGRAM (MDX, SOM) – LANGWORTHY (Jersey, DEV) – MCKAY (Fife, Aberdeen, Banff, Moray) – MORRISH (LND) – NANCARROW (CON) – OGILVIE (Moray, LND) – STRATHDEE (LND, Banff) - SWAN (Fife)
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sarah_wood1
RootsChat Extra
 
Posts: 62

Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi Prue, My grandfather told me his dad John Wood was not far off 70 years old when he was born. My grandfather was born in 1938 so that would give John wood a birth year of 1868-1870
I posted a message on the armed forces also .
Well the funny thing is my granddad said his mother Mary McEwan was John Wood's house keeper, and thats how they met! so I'm wondering if she did live-in as a servant at Moodie Street, then could Moodie street be John Wood's home address?
My grandads youngest sister is 8years younger than him. that would make her birth year 1946 and she never met her father John Wood as he died When Mary McEwan was pregnant with her. I haven't searched for a death for him yet. Iv only looked on Familysearch.org but didn't get very much.
thnx Sarah
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AMBLY
RootsChat Marquessate
       
Posts: 4559

Falkland Islands "Desire The Right"
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Hi all
Speaking as someone on the wrong side of 21, I can speak from experience when I say "not far off 50" has been applied to me (sometimes by myself) since I was 45!! So I would certainley consider, John WOOD could have been in his mid to late 60's.in 1938.
Now, I'm hoping our Monica will join us, I thought she might have been interested in this one yersterday. and she'd had look at it before whe logged off for the day. Monica is planning to join in, but not logged in yet, so just to prevent duplication of effort, I'll post this up now.
In Scotland's People a search for a John WOOD dying in Fife between 1940 and 1950 who was born 5 yrs either side of 1870 We found only 1.
It was in Fife in 1948 in Kinghorn - of a John WOOD age 74, A Leadcaster by trade. Usual residence Edinburgh, even though the death occurred in Kinghorn and spouse was Jane McNEIL.
This is 2 years after the last child was supposed to have been born, though. Monica should be able t fill in details of informants, parents etc.
Are you able to find out exactly when and where your Grandad's sisters was born, especially the youngest since the address may be important..
Have you established what happened to Mary after 1946? If she has died, it may worthwhile obtaining death certificate as it may make mention of John WOOD?
Cheers
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AMBLY
RootsChat Marquessate
       
Posts: 4559

Falkland Islands "Desire The Right"
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Finally able to get in a look at the 1901 for Scotland!
Up pops the following fellow......
1901: Caravan Rows - Ballingry, Fife head: John MORRIS 22, Coll Lab Under Ground , b Burntisland, Fifeshire Wife: Eliza MORRIS 19, b Hawick, Roxburghshire Boarder: John WOOD 32, Coll Lab Under Ground , b Bathgate, West Lothian
(ooh, near to where Susan Boyle is from 
Straw clutching though really  But then again - Ballingry is is only 3.8K from Cowdenbeath.....
Cheers AMBLY
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MonicaLesl
RootsChat Marquessate
       
Posts: 9024

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Hi All
Sorry Ambly I've only realised today I hadn't posted 
Sarah, you certainly have a hard puzzle here! One of the main problems is the period you are looking at where there are very little records on line given the "recentness" of events.
Ambly and I have both had a look for possible deaths in Dunfermline for a John Wood close to his birth year. There are only two:
1927 John Dickson Wood age 59 1955 John Wood, age 78
Anywhere in Fife brings up the one that Ambly referred to in 1948 in Kinghorn, but living in Edinburgh.
Realistically, what information we have is based around the time your grandfather was born in 1936. If Mary was John Wood's housekeeper and you have a potential address from the birth of your grandfather maybe one route to check out would be electoral rolls for that address to see whether a John Wood/Mary McEwan show on there. Bear in mind the start of War Years where electoral rolls would not have been compiled as normal during that period.
The problem with going down the birth or death cert. route for John Wood is how you verify. The death cert would have to show for example Mary McEwan registering his death for you to have any confidence that it was the correct John Wood. At the moment all we know is that he shows as a coal miner by trade on son William's marriage cert.
Sarah, do you live in Scotland? It is too expensive to use Scotlands People to go on a general hunting expedition but there are other ways. One might be for you to visit New Register House in Edinburgh (or Park Circus in Glasgow) for the day where you would be able to view these modern certificates on line. You only pay the day fee and can transcribe as much info as you want. This can let you check a very large number of certificates at minimal cost. There is also another option, as posted by Jim here www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,369601.0.html
Monica
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MacIsaac, MacDonald, MacPherson, MacVarish, MacMaster: Moidart - Inverness-shire. Gillies: pre-1850 Knoydart, Inverness-shire /post 1850s Fort William area - Argyll. Tully, Tulley, Moran, Murphy: Lanarkshire. Durnan, Durnin, Kelly, Tully, McPhillips: Co Monaghan. McIntyre, McMahon, Tully: Co Cavan (?) Ireland. Moran: Co Mayo (?) Ireland. ..........and lots of Spanish name interests........ Census information Crown Copyright, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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MonicaLesl
RootsChat Marquessate
       
Posts: 9024

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Hi Sarah
Another couple of thoughts If you have a death year of circa 1946 when last daughter was born, it might be worthwhile checking the address of where the birth was registered as this may help you when looking for death entries for John Wood and address for his residence. The Moodie Street address related to your grandfather's birth address in 1938 so there may have been changes.
One last thought, given that we are finding nothing for a John Wood, any chance that his first name may have been something else. There are other male deaths in his age range in Dunfermline between 1945-49.
Monica
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MacIsaac, MacDonald, MacPherson, MacVarish, MacMaster: Moidart - Inverness-shire. Gillies: pre-1850 Knoydart, Inverness-shire /post 1850s Fort William area - Argyll. Tully, Tulley, Moran, Murphy: Lanarkshire. Durnan, Durnin, Kelly, Tully, McPhillips: Co Monaghan. McIntyre, McMahon, Tully: Co Cavan (?) Ireland. Moran: Co Mayo (?) Ireland. ..........and lots of Spanish name interests........ Census information Crown Copyright, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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MonicaLesl
RootsChat Marquessate
       
Posts: 9024

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And therein lies the key information Sarah Edinburgh it is and that is where he died as you had been told by your grandfather, in the year Mary McEwan had her last child by him.
27 July 1946: John Wood, age 70, general labourer retired. Widower of Isabella Porteous. Residence 18 Greenside Row, Edinburgh Parents William Wood, a coal miner and Isabella Davie
Death reported by intimate friend, Mary McEwan
That's a great result for you Sarah. We needed Mary McEwan on the cert. to be sure we had the correct John...and we do 
Monica
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MacIsaac, MacDonald, MacPherson, MacVarish, MacMaster: Moidart - Inverness-shire. Gillies: pre-1850 Knoydart, Inverness-shire /post 1850s Fort William area - Argyll. Tully, Tulley, Moran, Murphy: Lanarkshire. Durnan, Durnin, Kelly, Tully, McPhillips: Co Monaghan. McIntyre, McMahon, Tully: Co Cavan (?) Ireland. Moran: Co Mayo (?) Ireland. ..........and lots of Spanish name interests........ Census information Crown Copyright, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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