John Morgan's ancestors

[Wendyellen]

I am trying to find my ancestors who I believe came from Old Machar, Aberdeen.  I have had no luck so far and am considering putting a letter in one of the local newspapers in that area.  Would anyone know of the best one to contact regarding this please?  Many thanks!

[GR2]

What do you know of them so far? Perhaps we can come up with something here. What can you tell us about John Morgan?

[Wendyellen]

John Morgan was married to my partner's grandmother (Elizabeth Rose Mary Reynolds) in 1916 in Malmesbury, Wiltshire.  According to the marriage certificate John was a farm bailiff and was born about 1892 in Aberdeen and his father's name was Alexander - we have no idea about his mother's name.  The banns were called in Liverpool where John lived at the time.  Elizabeth passed away in 1977 in North Cornwall but no more is known about John.
Thank you.

[Forfarian]

A quick look in the index to the 1901 census at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk for John Morgan, aged 6 to 10, with second person given name Alexander, in Aberdeenshire, produces just one result. Extending the search to all of Scotland produces just 3 results.

You could take a look at that entry, and if Alexander's occupation matches that of your John's father, you probably have him. Scotland's People is a pay-per-view site, but it's modestly priced.

That's probably a better course of action than a newspaper, which is a bit hit and miss. The local daily is the Press and Journal https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/

[flst]

You will also be able to view the 1911 census for Scotland on the same website
flst

[MonicaL]

Hi Wendyellen and all 

The possible 1901 census entry mentioned by Forfarian is likely this one - everyone showing as born in Aberdeen:

Alexander Morgan 40 general labourer
Helen Morgan 18 domestic servant
Bella Morgan 14 Flax Heckler
Matilda Morgan 13
John Morgan 9
Violet Morgan 8

Address: 81 High St, Old Marchar

Struggling with the 1891 census for them so far...

Lots of distinctive names there, Matilda and Violet, which will help when trying to find their birth regs on Scotlands People, as linked above.

Monica

[GR2]

In 1891 they are at High Street, Old Aberdeen.

Alexander Morgan 29 gardener (domestic servant)
Maggie 27
Alexander 9 scholar
Helen 8 scholar
William 6 scholar
Isabella 4
Matilda 3

Possibly with a first wife in 1881 at High Street, Old Aberdeen:

Alexander Morgan 20 jobbing gardener b Old Machar
Ann 18 wife b Slains

In 1871 at the Spital, Old Machar:

John Morgan 58 fireman in woollen factory b Slains
Isabella 63 b Peterculter
Ann 17 woollen factory worker
Alexander 11 b Old Machar
Alexander Morgan 4 grandson
Robert Morgan 0 grandson

1n 1861 at the Spital, Old Machar:

John Morgan 47 ag. lab. b Slains
Isabella 50 b Peterculter
John 24 seaman
Isabella 21 wool twister
Jane  18 flax spinner
Ann 8 scholar

In 1841 at North Lane, Old Machar

John Morgan 26 labourer
Isabella 30
John 4
Isabella 1

Possibly:

William Morgan and Barbara Ross had the following children born in Slains:
George 1810
John 1812
Sarah 1818
William 1821
Arthur 1823
Janet 1826
Thomas 1828

[MonicaL]

Lots to follow up on there GR2.

The possiblity of 2 wives for Alexander. From what you showed from 1891, likely first wife Ann had died by the 1891 census and he had remarried to Maggie by that census?

Matilda who shows as daughter to Alexander, this might be her marriage entry in the US https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N3LK-WDK or here https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FCZZ-66C

However, John is certainly born after 1891 so if a first wife, not his mother. There is this entry showing for a possible birth, with GR2's 1891 census info posted:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XTX3-VB7

All of this should be able to be confirmed on SP/ www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

Monica

[MonicaL]

A death entry showing on SP for an Ann Cantley/Morgan in 1889 in Aberdeenshire. Her age at death would seem to fit with GR2's 1881 entry:

Possibly with a first wife in 1881 at High Street, Old Aberdeen:

Alexander Morgan 20 jobbing gardener b Old Machar
Ann 18 wife b Slains

From online trees on the family, Ann died on 9 APR 1889 in 81 High Street, Old Marchar. Her parents William Cantlay and Ann Whitten.

Children from this first marriage given as:

Alexander Matthew Morgan 1881 – 1960
Helen Kelly Morgan 1882 – 1934
William Cantlay Morgan 1884 – 
Isabella Whitton Morgan 1886 – 
Matilda Thompson Morgan 1887 –  connecting to the Matilda marrying in the US and details above.

Monica