RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: phcarter on Thursday 07 December 17 23:36 GMT (UK)
-
I'm tracing my mother's family as her xmas pressie as she knows nothing past her parents and only knew her father's name!
I've gone as far back as 1800 on her mother's side but cannot get past her grandparents on her father's side!
I obviously need this finished before xmas as I still need to write it all up yet.
I have taken and attached a screen shot of my ancestry.co.uk tree where i'm stuck and would appreciate any help or findings whatsoever.
My mother's parents are Joan May and James Cran-Chalmers. The name Cran-Chalmers consists of his mother and father's names who were never married. I know James was in foster care until he was 5 years old when he moved back in with his mother Annie and her new husband James Smith. They lived in Banffshire in Scotland.
I also know that Annie was a twin and her mother died young. Her father then remarried and had twin boys. This is hearsay info from Jeanette Smith though and I cannot find records for this.
I cannot find anything for either James Cran or Annie Chalmers, or even a marriage cert for Annie and James Smith. Any help would be really appreciated!!!
Image removed , see reply #5.
-
Hi, phcarter, and welcome to Rootschat.
:)
You have an Annie Chalmers who lived in Banffshire, Scotland, was married to a James Smith, and died in 2000.
The ScotlandsPeople index (www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk) has a death entry for an Annie Chalmers, aged 94, who died in 2000 in Banff registration district. The same entry can be found by searching on Smith as her surname with Chalmers as the other name. Her mother's maiden name is listed as Wilson.
Since the death occurred less than 50 years ago, the record can't be downloaded, but it can be ordered from ScotlandsPeople.
The death record should list any legal husbands and both of her parents (if known).
This might be a good place to start.
Regards,
Josephine
P.S. Once you have an exact date of death, you could email the library in Banff and ask if they have an obit on file for her. (An obit might list all of her children.)
-
Hi, again:
The ScotlandsPeople index has a 1938 marriage for an Annie Chalmers and a James Duncan Smith in Banffshire. This record can be downloaded from www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk for 6 credits.
Regards,
Josephine
-
Another suggestion:
You could search the newspapers for any notice of a paternity suit, just in case Annie took James's father to court for financial support.
There are Scottish newspapers online at www.FindMyPast.co.uk and www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.
Regards,
Josephine
-
Welcomme to rootschat
The ScotlandsPeople index has a 1938 marriage for an Annie Chalmers and a James Duncan Smith in Banffshire. This record can be downloaded from www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk for 6 credits.
20 April 1938 - Boyndie, Banff
James Duncan Smith occ Farm Servant - Bachelor-age 21 - abode The Ley, Fordyce
father William Smith occ Farm Servant
mother Jeannie Smith - M.S. Hepburn
Annie Chalmers- domestic servant -spinster -age 31 - abode Broom Cottages, Fordyce
Father Alexander Chalmers - labourer
Mother Jessie Ann Chalmers - M.S. Wilson (deceased)
Elsie M Chalmers of 30 Fonshill Road, Aberdeen was one of the witnesses
-
Just posting as the mods will probably remove your screen shot which shows living people
James A Cran - Annie Chalmers
/
James A Chalmers-Cran 1933-2016 married Joan M May 1936 - 2004
Annie Chalmers then married James D Smith 1938
Children
living female 1938
living male 1946
-
Thank you so much! That's incredibly helpful :)
I'm thinking James A Cran may be a bit of a dead end sadly, can't remember if i mentioned in my original post but my Aunt believes he was a shepherd, don't know if that will be of any use though.
I'll have a search on the links you've both suggested - thanks again!
-
You're most welcome, phcarter.
I think I've found your James in the birth index on ScotlandsPeople.
If you do a search on births for James Chalmers in Banffshire in 1933, one of the results shows a James Alexander Chalmers, in Rathven registration district, with the reference number 164/1 46.
If you do a new search, this time for James Cran in Banffshire in 1933, one of the results shows a James Alexander Cran, in Rathven registration district, with the reference number 164/1 46.
This birth occurred less than 100 years ago, so it can't be downloaded directly from the ScotlandsPeople website; it has to be ordered specially from them. When you do, make sure you mention the different index results, because there is probably a correction attached to his birth record regarding his parentage or surname.
Regards,
Josephine
-
Alexander Chalmers married Jessie Ann Wilson in Alvah Banff in 1905. There is a birth of an Annie Chalmers in Alvah in 1905 (146/24). There is also a birth in 1905 for a Mary Chalmers (146/23). Proximity of entries could possibly indicate a twin birth but you can check the entry for a small sum on Scotlandspeople, just to be sure.
Jessie Ann Chalmers or Wilson died in Enzie, Banff in 1910 age 25 ( 152/32)
Isobel
-
Thank you Josephine, I believe the James A Cran born in 1910 may be his father too! I've downloaded the relevant PDFs, thanks again to you both :)
-
Thanks Isobel, that confirms what i've found too which is great! I've managed back to 1800 on Annie's side now too. So chuffed :D
-
There is a marriage in 1942 in Banff between a James Cran and a Helen Minty. Helen Minty or Cran died in Banff in 2008 age 88. Possible death in Banff of a James Cran in 1988 age 77 ( which would tie with the 1910 birth) mmn Rutherford.
Isobel
-
Glad to help, phcarter!
:)
Although it seems sure, it's always a good idea to get the more recent documents, too, just to be certain you're tracing the right people.
Regards,
Josephine