(*Completed with thanks*)James McKenzie born Craig 1821

[jennywren001]

Hi Everyone,
Some background...
James McKenzie married Jean Stott in Craig in 1844.  I have Jean's OPR birth, their OPR marriage and both their DCs.  I have them on the census (originals) from 51 to 81 the decade of their deaths.  Of their seven children I have OPR birth for three and a birth certificate from 1867 for their youngest.

I am descended through their daughter Margaret Stott McKenzie (b.1850). She died in the Almshouse Brechin, a pauper, at the age of 34. Margaret's daughter Jane Ann McKenzie (b.1871) is my great grandmother. This whole tale is a bit short of husbands...

Back to James - I have him born about 1821 in Craig.This information is from the census as I cannot find a birth record for him. From his DC I have his mother as Susan Davidson listed as a hand loom weaver. (no relationship to any of the other Davidsons' who keep appearing in my tree) Also listed is James McKenzie - cattle dealer (reputed father).

From freecen I THINK I can see the three of them in 1841 - Susan at Marytown, Maryton, Angus, James Jnr at Hillhead of Bonnaton, Craig, Angus and James Snr West Side of Newgate, Arbroath, Angus. If that is Susan I'm at a loss as to who the Alexander Mitchell age 10 is - maybe just a helper with the loom? Although spookily enough Jean Stott's mother's father was an Alexander Mitchell.

I've looked for a birth record for James under both McKenzie and Davidson but maybe under the circumstances no baby was registered.  I see a possible birth for Susan Davidson on Familysearch but for all I know there could have been another Susan Davidson born in Craig around the same time and she may not even be from Craig. I've nothing on the reputed father. (Can't find him or Susan in 51).
I'm just stuck.   
Jen

[MonicaL]

Hi Jen

Not surprisingly, the Alexander Mitchell who shows as 10 yrs old with Susan in 1841, is down as her son in 1851. Susan is still in Maryton for 1851:

Susan Davidson, unmarried, 52, Pauper Retired Weaver b. Craig           
Alexander Mitchell, son 20, Pauper Scholar b. Craig   
Address: Marytown-Law

This entry is from FreeCen.

Monica 

[MonicaL]

A possible for Susan's birth in Craig, although birth year a few years out https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XYNP-J7P

Monica

[jennywren001]

Thanks Monica that 51 find confirms a Craig birth  - gets me closer to accepting that couple on Familysearch as her parents but as you say a few years off.  If she was born 1795 then she'd be about 36 when she had Alexander and in her mid 20's when she had James - so not out of the question.
Alexander's a little old to still be a scholar at 20 or maybe that was a euphemism for unemployed? I'll have a look for him in 61..just taken out a one month £1 sub at FindMyPast.

As you can imagine piecing this lot together has been a wee bit of a challenge.
Jen

[Forfarian]

Jen, you need to plan to have a look at the Kirk Session minutes of Craig and possibly Maryton. The KSs normally devoted a lot of time and energy trying to root out sin in the form of fornication, and quite often you get information about the fathers of illegitimate children.

Unfortunately, though the KS minutes have been digitised, you can't view them online. You have to go in person to the National Archives Records of Scotland or one of the other archives that has access to the digitised versions.

[jennywren001]

Hi Forfarian,
I do need to plan to look at the Kirk Session minutes to see if our Susan and partners get a mention. In fact this side of the family must feature in a number of Kirk Sessions - think I might need a week at a terminal so much 'sinning' going on in the Angus countryside.
Jen

[jennywren001]

Mild excitement...
I went back and had a look at the James McKenzie cattle dealer in Arbroath on the 1841 census.  He is with the Ellis family headed by Fletcher Ellis - I had assumed he was just a lodger never even gave the family a second thought. Well, just discovered a Fletcher Ellis married a Magdalene Davidson in 1817 at Craig.  By searching for Fletcher on the 1851 census I found James still with the family as a lodger but now described as a flesher born Guthrie. Magdelen(e) is listed as being born 1794 - Craig.
I think this might be her?
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XYNP-J88
If it is she has a sister called Susan.

And this might be James?
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XYJC-FG6

Still need to read the Kirk session minutes though and see if there are more connections to be made.  Got nowhere with finding Alexander Mitchell after 1851. Hope I've not put 2 and 2 together and made 5!
Jen

[MonicaL]

Can see why you are mildly excited on James  Any joy post 1855 for him?

I too tried to find Alexander Mitchell post 1851. Closest I got was a later entry for an Alexander born in Craig a few years later, who showed as a school teacher. Not confident that Alexander was connected.

Let me find that entry again and I will post here just for info.

Monica

Added - from 1871, everyone down as born in Fordyce, except for Alexander Snr.:

Alex D D Mitchell 37 teacher b. Craig
Eliz Mitchell 31
Alex D D Mitchell 5
Eliz Mitchell 4
Jessie Craib Mitchell 2
William W Mitchell 1 Month
Address: No 55 Sandend, Fordyce, Banff

[MonicaL]

A little hope here too...maybe 

The name of Davidson shows up in the surnames for the family above.

One month old William's entry here https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XYT7-2V8 with father Alexander showing as Alexander Deuchar Davidson Mitchell.

Adding...Young Elizabeth also here https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XYRW-9PB
Jessie here https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XYGV-W8D
Eldest Alexander https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XY1M-LLK

Summary here www.bayanne.info/Shetland/getperson.php?personID=I347779&tree=ID1

Marriage https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XT2T-329

Jen, not sure if correct Alexander, but the only one I can see past 1851.

Monica