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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Caithness => Topic started by: Rosezi on Sunday 03 September 17 15:09 BST (UK)
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Searching for the baptism records for Alexander Carnaby born abt 1765 profession, Gentleman and his wife Janet Downie also born abt 1765, in Caithness, possibly Thurso, all of their children were born in the same town. I'm also searching for the parish record of their marriage. Their first child was born in 1785 in Thurso
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I am still searching for my 4x ggf baptism or marriage. New information has come to light it's possible he was from Northumberland and not Caithness. Carnaby appears to be an English name and there are many Carnabys from the North East of England. I found a 1743 baptism for Alexander Carnbay born in Tweedmouth which could be him. The father is named as William and the mother is a named Mary Todd. Alexander's his first born son was called William and his first daughter was named Mary. So this could be his baptism. Alexander was an overseer of a Salmon Fishing company in Thurso and I believe there was a big salmon fishing industry in Northumberland.
Alexander and Janet's first born child was born in St Ninians. Stirling, and he was a member of a freemason lodge there before moving to Thurso. Alexander was recorded as a gentleman and a lieutenant in the Caithness fencibles militia.
I was hoping new information from Stirling would lead to their missing marriage record for them but nothing can be found. I would be grateful in anyone can suggest where else I could look for the marriage record
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In the John o'Groat Journal there was a Mrs. Alexander Carnaby who died in Thurso 11 Sep 1839, age 84.
In the Orkney Herald a Lieutenant Alexander Carnaby who died at his brothers in 1866. His death index shows his mother's maiden name as Downie.
Other than that I see nothing Alexander/Janet Downie.
Don
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http://www.downieabz.net
Although I can't help myself - this a Downie website. Perhaps, there might be something of relevance amongst all the info or the person who runs the site might know something perhaps?
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Help needed as I am now searching for another Carnaby/Downie record. I am searching for Jessie Downie Robertson's (born 1818, Thurso) first marriage to George McIvor shipmaster from Wick. Jessie was widowed and married Robert Harrower in St Cuthbert's parish, Midlothian in 1852. It's possible she married before 1841 as she is not living with her parents at this time.
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Is this Jessie in 1841?
Alexander Carnaby 45 Army H P
George Carnaby 40 Army H P
John Carnaby 35 Salmon Fisher
Jessie Robertson 20
Betsey Gunn 14
Address: Carnab Of Lane, Thurso (as transcribed)
Have you found her in 1851?
Monica
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Ahhh yes, I never made that connection before, that could be her staying with or visiting her uncles. And no, I am still searching for Jessie on the 1851 census, I thought I would find her in the Midlothian area as she married Robert thre in 1852.
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Where did you get the name of George McIvor? Was it from her death registration? I can't see her in 1851 so far under McIvor (with wildcards).
Monica
Added: See her parish marriage entry in 1852 makes a referece to McIvor www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XY9T-6BY
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From her marriage record, "relict of George McIvor shipmaster"
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I have searched for several years for a marriage certificate for Lt Alexander Carnaby and Janet Downie They were living in Stirling, Stirlingshire for their first child Mary born 1777 and by 1780 were living in Thurso. Alexander was classed as a gentleman,salmon merchant and freemason in Stirling and Thurso (he was the original founder in Thurso)He also spent some time in the Caithness fencible regiment. I have found many records for him and his children but they hold no leads. It's possible he and Janet just never got married, but considering his position i should imagine this would have caused too much scandal. This is the only Scottish marriage I cannot find out of thousands on my tree. Any help or direction would be appreciated.
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If you have exhausted the records at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk it is very likely that the record of the marriage does not exist, or at least does not exist in Scotland.
If they opted for an irregular marriage, i.e. they didn't get the banns called in the kirk and/or get the minister to perform the ceremny, there might be some record in the Kirk Session minutes at Scotland's People of them being taken to task and punished.
There's a small possibility that it might be in an Episcopal register, because if he was English he may have been an adherent of the Church of England, and the Episcopal Church is the corresponding denomination in Scotland. Similarly it's just possible that he was married by a dissenting minister whose registers are lurking somewhere. You need to find out which archive deals with the areas where they might have got married.
Caithness https://www.highlifehighland.com/archives-service/
Stirlingshire https://www.falkirkleisureandculture.org/learning/archives/ or https://www.stirling.gov.uk/community-life-and-leisure/libraries-and-archives/archives/ depending which part of the historic county they might have been in.
I assume that you've tried searching newspapers for a marriage announcement?
If they were people of substance there could be something like a marriage contract. These are common enough but not always easy to find. Start with the indexes to the Registers of Deeds in the National Records of Scotland - for this you would either need to go to Edinburgh, or hire a professional searcher to go on your behalf. See https://www.asgra.co.uk/
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Wow, success, thank you, your help was invaluable! I found them in the
Kirk records for Sterling, they did indeed have an irregular marriage a few months before their first child was born in 1777. Now I need to find out why they had an irregular marriage. I'm also wondering if indeed he was English and not of the Scottish faith would he still be brought before the church elders and fined?
Not only did I find Alexander and Janet in the Kirk records but their son John (my 3x great grandfather) accused of fathering another child! Searching the Kirk records is not easy on the eyes but well worth the trouble! Many thanks again
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The kirk, generally speaking, could only discipline its own members, so if they were both summoned to deal with their irregular marriage, the inference is that both were members of the congregation.
As for why they opted for an irregular marriage, it isn't going to be easy to find a reason. Maybe there was parental opposition, or maybe they just didn't like the minister. Or maybe they just fancied the idea of getting married without all the fuss.