Alexander Baird Urr / Kirkcudbrightshire

[krob]

Hi,

I am looking for details of Alexander Baird born approx 1796. On the 1951 Census it has him married to a Sarah. I would love to find details of this marriage and Sarah's maiden name.
There is also a death record for his daughter Margaret in 1866 which gives the mother as Janet Black. Is there also a marriage of Alexander to Janet Black?

Any help would be appreciated.

Kevin

[Gadget]

Hi

There's an interesting Death record for an Alexander Baird in Dalbeattie (Urr) in 1872, aged 76.

I'll try and interpret the entry and put it up for you.

Gadget

[Gadget]

Here we are:

Alexander Baird, General Labourer.
Married 1st to Mary McMorrison (?); 2nd to Sarah Tweedie
(Illegitimate)
Died 8th Sept 1872. 10h 0m AM. High Street, Dalbeattie.
Parents: James Baird (Occupation unknown to Informant) and Agnes Gillespie, Agricultural out-door-worker (deceased)
Cause: Old age and frailty. Confined to bed for 2 months. Not certified.
Informant: Elizabeth McLaurin (?), Niece in law

I'll have a look Margaret's parentage. The informant might not have full info on death certs.


Gadget

[Gadget]

Margaret's death records her as Illegitimate, so Alexander and Janet Black were not married. Alexander was the informant.

Gadget

[krob]

Hi,

Thank you for this information it is very helpful.

What would your interpretation of Illegitimate be in the following ?

Married 1st to Mary McMorrison (?); 2nd to Sarah Tweedie
(Illegitimate)

Kevin

[krob]

Hi again,

Also would you have any pointers on where I would look for the marriages ?

Kevin

[Gadget]

Hi,

Thank you for this information it is very helpful.

What would your interpretation of Illegitimate be in the following ?

Married 1st to Mary McMorrison (?); 2nd to Sarah Tweedie
(Illegitimate)


Kevin

That Alexander was Illegitimate. As you see, on his death record, his mother is given as Agnes Gillespie and not Agnes M.S. Gillespie (M.S. = maiden surname).

Scottish marriages before 1855 are not all recorded. One Rootschatter estimated that only about 30% are recorded anywhere. The ones that took place in the Church of Scotland* (established church) are usually a record of Banns, a good indication of a subsequent marriage. However, many are missing for various reasons. Also, there were other forms of marraige ~ see for e.g.

http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/research/economicsocialhistory/historymedicine/scottishwayofbirthanddeath/marriage/

The main source of these old records (OPRs) are Scotland's People : www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk (pay site)  or Family Search https://familysearch.org/search


Gadget

* more usually performed by a C of S minister as the marriage didn't ahve to take place in a church.

[Gadget]

There's a marriage/banns entry showing for him and Sarah but nothing else 1815-1851 in Kirkcudbright or Dumfries:

Alexander Baird married/banns Sarah Tweedie, Urr,  29 May 1841

[Gadget]

Interestingly, in 1871, Alexander and Sarah have a 6 year old grandson living with them. His Military service record shows that he joined the Dragoon Guards  in 1884 and his next of kin was his Uncle, a Thomas Baird of Wigton.

Gadget