Newbie looking for help on Christies of Arboath

[nzmike]

Just a little word of caution. Don't read more into this than the essentials.

First, as I read Carrie's post, it wasn't Barbara's will that stipulated that the money was for her and not for her husband's use. It was the will of her brother and sister-in-law.

Thanks for that - I went back and read the bit about the will more carefully and you were absolutely right, seems I got a little ahead of myself.

I'd still be interested to hear from Carrie re which Barbara it is and how/where she fits in with my lot (Christie's) but I do thank you for your extra info and good advice.

I've searched the NAS site multiple times until I'm blue in the face and I can't find anything at all for any combination of keywords "james christie barbara finlayson divorce".  I've searched all the different ways I can think of with no luck so far - you're welcome to have to go if you think I'm missing something!

Cheers,

Mike

[jennywren001]

Hi Mike,
I too have very elusive Christies one in particular who has lead me a right merry dance. I'm curious how did you discover George Johnstone Christie is the one who left Arboath for NZ?  I can't find a George in Arbroath who is not with the 'correct' parents on both the 91 and 1901 census. Therefore I can't find a 'spare' George Christie to send to NZ - perhaps you've found him in 91 and 1901 and it's my poor searching skills? Like you said so many Christies it's very difficult to get hold of the correct one. I'm presuming on his NZ death cert both his parents are listed - sorry not familiar with NZ certs. The only George 'J' Christie I can find of about the right age is living in Dundee with parents who were both originally from Arbroath but he's not a James and she's not a Barbara!

Maybe the Christies are just just meant to try us...
Jen

Edit - this would be the George Johnstone/Johnson Christie who marries Euphemia Hedrick in 1915 in NZ?

If so I post this with extreme caution
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~jamgilbert/Descendant%20Trees/christie.pdf

You should look at the 1901 census entry mentioned above in conjunction with the pdf..you might see a missing boy?

[jennywren001]

Don't like niggles....
1912 leaving from Liverpool for Australia on the White Star line:
Mr Geo J Christie age 28 'chaffeur'
Mr Andrew Christie age 22  (either the same occupation or nothing as can't see the ditto marks!)
These ages match with the children of the couple living in Dundee.
Jen

[nzmike]

Edit - this would be the George Johnstone/Johnson Christie who marries Euphemia Hedrick in 1915 in NZ?

If so I post this with extreme caution
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~jamgilbert/Descendant%20Trees/christie.pdf

You should look at the 1901 census entry mentioned above in conjunction with the pdf..you might see a missing boy?

Jen, yes that's the correct one, he did marry Euphemia Hedrick.

When you say you posted that PDF with extreme caution and that there might another missing boy can you please explain what you mean?  The PDF looks exactly like what I have for my Christies (at the far right) and I'm not sure what you mean re the 1901 census.... but too cryptic for me sorry!!!

In terms of when GJ went to NZ I believe it could have been as early as 1905 as on his death cert it says he had been in NZ 42 years (old NZ death certs always had a "Number of Years in NZ" column). Now, these aren't always accurate as often it would have been the next of kin guessing but his marriage cert also backs this up.  However, his burial record (http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries_search?recordid=19546&type=Burial) says he was in NZ 36 years meaning 1911/1912 could be about right.  I've never found any actual proof of when he came to NZ - there are plenty of passenger lists with "G Christie" or "Mr Christie" or any other combination but nothing I can really nail down as a certainty unfortunately.

Also if he did come out in 1912 who was the Andrew?  I know he had a cousin called Andrew but he was born in 1898 (according to the PDF you posted) so he would have been only 14 in 1912... pretty sure that GJ and Andrew are different people altogether but again, who knows?!

One other person I'm interested in is the James Christie who was George Johnston Christie's brother (b. 1881)... the PDF you posted has his death as 1911 but I know he was still alive, and living in Dundee, as his name & address is on his father's death certificate as the witness.  Do you have any other information on him at all?  I have searched Scotlands People and I can't find a James Christie who was born in Arbroath in 1881 and died in 1911.  On the 1901 census there is a James Christie, aged 20 and born in Arbroath, listed as an Able Seaman on the SS Glenfyne - so it's possible he was a sailor and possibly died at sea in 1911 but for me that one is still a mystery as well since I can find no record of his dying in 1911 that fits with anything else.

Cheers,

Mike

[jennywren001]

Hi Mike,
To make sense of all this I need to know if you have had sight of GJC's death certificate and that James and Barbara are listed as his parents.
Jen

[nzmike]

To make sense of all this I need to know if you have had sight of GJC's death certificate and that James and Barbara are listed as his parents.

Jen,

Yes, I have the certificate (in paper form) and it definitely lists James and Barbara (including her maiden name of Finlayson) as the parents.

If you want to see it I can try to scan it and upload the pages to my website.

Cheers,

Mike

[jennywren001]

Hi Mike,
Extreme caution on the PDF because I just found it on the web - it's unattributed - it could have been a complete work of fiction for all I knew.  Well if those two are his parents no wiggle room then!
I take it you know that Robert's son was also called George Johnston Christie hence my over enthusiasm for the travelling pair of brothers who are showing older than they should be but with the correct age difference of six years.   
What is weird about this family is that the rest seem to be relatively easy to find.  Old John and Mary are sitting there on the 91 census along with widowed daughter Agnes and grandson James.  In 1901 Robert is up in Dundee carrying on that weird Christie naming pattern but no sign of the James and Barbara troupe from 81 except for the two children with the Finlayson's in 91.

James Christie (Flax Dresser) and Matilda Mahon are still living together in 71 and 81 while James Christie (Flax Dresser) and Mary Fettes are also still living together in 71 and 81. It would be easier if we were trying to find James Smiths!

Jen

[jennywren001]

Confused - you will be! The James Christie who is living with Matilda in 71 and 81 shows born 1822 Inverkeillor.  On the 61 census living  at Keptie Street, St Vigeans, Arbroath is a James Christie born 1822 Inverkeillor living with his widowed mom - Elizabeth Fettes age 66 born Kingoldrum. I was half expecting one of the boarder to be called Kevin Bacon!
Jen

[nzmike]

> Extreme caution on the PDF because I just found it on the web - it's unattributed - it could have been a complete work of fiction for all I knew. 

Yes, I realised later I'd also seen that before, sent to me by another person on RootChats a few years ago who also descends from the Robert Christie line.  It seems pretty accurate though quite a few of my dates disagree with that one - but that's the nature of family research I guess.

>I take it you know that Robert's son was also called George Johnston Christie hence my over enthusiasm for the travelling pair of brothers who are showing older than they should be but with the correct age difference of six years.   

No, I didn't know that - but I do know it's my g.f GJ Christie who came to NZ... just wish I could work out when.

> Old John and Mary are sitting there on the 91 census along with widowed daughter Agnes and grandson James. 

The census info I have also shows James living with them as well though strangely I now can't find that info - can't even find John and Mary on the '91 census now for some reason.
It appears the family was fairly splintered - I'm guessing it's all related to either James being a bit of a soak or Barbara perhaps being ill or having to work to not be able to look after the two boys that ended up at her parents place.  I really need to step up my efforts to get the divorce proceedings but I simply can't find them anywhere.

> In 1901 Robert is up in Dundee carrying on that weird Christie naming pattern but no sign of the James and Barbara troupe from 81 except for the two children with the Finlayson's in 91.

Yes, that is a real mystery as well... not at all sure where they disappeared off to... maybe Dundee as well?

> James Christie (Flax Dresser) and Matilda Mahon are still living together in 71 and 81 while James Christie (Flax Dresser) and Mary Fettes are also still living together in 71 and 81. It would be easier if we were trying to find James Smiths!

When I first started my family research I went down the whole Matilda Mahon avenue but I eventually found out (after much hair pulling and chin scratching) that she was not related - well, not to my line of Christie's anyway.... perhaps she married one of the many other James' floating around!

My two biggest headaches continue to be:
1) to find a birth date for James (i.e: GJ's father who married Mary Fettes ) - I have searched high and low on every site I can find and I simply can't find anywhere his birth was recorded... I have a feeling that just never happened.  I have him being born anytime between 1817 and 1823 but no more info than that.
2) Finding out when GJ Christie came to NZ... doubt I'll ever find that one out for sure either.  Of course it's possible he went via somewhere else but finding out the truth is nigh on impossible.

So going back to my earlier question, where do you fit into the whole tree?

Cheers,

Mike