Maggie-Jane Mackay

[langwell]

Researching this lady who was born in Elgin on 9th March 1875 to John Mackay and Margaret Gordon.
1n 1901 she was living at Migdale with her aunt Ann Mackay and occupation given as dressmaker.
She was still at Migdale in 1911 as head.
Ann Mackay, a pauper, was born in Rogart and appeared to be fostering children.
I am trying to establish what the connection was between these two Mackay families.
Langwell

[CaroleW]

Was Ann MacKay married/single/widow

If single - she would appear to be the sister of John MacKay so have you researched John back from 1881 to establish any connection?  Was John b Rogart?

If she was a widow/married - she was probably John's sister in law in which case you would need to research her backwards until you find a husbands name

[langwell]

Thank you for your reply.
This one is a real puzzle as Ann Mackay was not married and would appear to be a sister of William, but she was born in Rogart, (1901 Census) and he in Elgin, (1871 Census).  William's Marriage certificate didn't give his birth place.
Mackay research is a nightmare!!!  Must be the most common name on the planet.

Langwell

[CaroleW]

1n 1901 she was living at Migdale with her aunt Ann Mackay

This one is a real puzzle as Ann Mackay was not married and would appear to be a sister of William

  I think you mean John

Are you certain you have the right person?

There is this 1901 entry for Old Machar but I don't know anything about John & Margaret apart from John's birthplace so don't know if it's the same family:

John MacKay 66 b Elgin - farmer
Margaret 61 b Speymouth
Isabella   34 b Elgin
Maggie I (may be J) 26 b Elgin dressmaker
Mary A 20 b Elgin
George   20 b Keith - Banff
Gordon C  19 b Keith
Robert  1 grandson b Aberdeen
Aberdeen Old Machar ED 4A Page 52 Line 21

[langwell]

Sorry, I did mean John.
This seems to be the same family. Have traced John back to his papents who married in Elgin in 1928. John was born c1834 in Elgin and married Margaret Gordon in Lhanbryde 1864.

1871 census for 305 High St, Elgin:-
John Mackay 36  b Elgin  farmer
Margaret      31  b Speymouth
Isabella        4    b Elgin
William         2    b Elgin
John            inf   b Elgin

Maggie Jane was born 1875, I have birth certificate.
I now wonder if there was another daughter called Jane born c 1872, as the 1901 census for Bonar Bridge shows Jane aged 29 b Elgin  Dressmaker.

The mystery deepens.
Thanks for all information and advice.

Langwell

[CaroleW]

I now wonder if there was another daughter called Jane born c 1872, as the 1901 census for Bonar Bridge shows Jane aged 29 b Elgin  Dressmaker.

No mystery - I think you have the wrong 1901 entry as Maggie Jane is clearly with her parents in 1901 - correct name/age/birthplace.  You appear to have found a person just called Jane MacKay with a different birthyear living with an aunt in 1901.  This is why you can't link the aunt to the family you are researching   

The 1881 for John & Margaret shows no dtr Jane and the only birth for them around 1872 appears to be a son called Alexander who is aged 8 and b Elgin