was Catherine married or not

[scottishmist]

Hi all
need some help with a death cert was Catherine married or not .........on her death cert is Mclean and her father name is morrison and mother name is Macdonald as I thought ..but said on her death cert she is single informat is her nephew Donald Morrison
 or do I have the wrong Catherine
Thanks Jan

[JMStrachan]

1861 census has Catherine Morrison age 90, formerly ag lab, in South Boidsale, SouthUist, living with her daughter and son-in-law, John and Mary McLellan and born South Uist.

1851 census has Catherine McLean age 80 born South Uist as a pauper formerly seamstress, a visitor with the MacIsaac family in South Uist.

In Scotland it was not uncommon for women to revert to using their maiden name when widowed. So it looks as though Catherine was born Morrison and then married a McLean. As for her death certificate - her nephew couldn't read or write so couldn't check whether the death cert was accurate. If the registrar has asked "was she married?", nephew may have said no meaning she was a widow, but the registrar took it to mean never married.

It's a possibility. But you'd need to try and find a marriage record, plus baptisms of her children.

[RJ_Paton]

Reading the clip you have used I would take it as Catherine Morrison or McLean (mothers maiden name MacDonald) - which would appear to indicate that she was married or was using the name Mclean for some reason (possible irregular marriage ?)

Unfortunately the information on a death registration is only as good as the informants knowledge of the deceased. It's possible that her nephew only knew her as unmarried whether through widowhood or whether it was from an irregular marriage will require further investigation. (or he got it wrong)

[Rosinish]

South Uist was mainly Catholic & given that her surname at death was different from her maiden name then it would seem she would have been married although widowed 

Did you notice if the informants name was entered as "his mark" with a "X" which would indicate he was illiterate?

There are no records that far back for Uist unfortunately.

Do you have names for her kids please with circa dates of birth & do you have them on any census & if so which area 

Anne Marie

ADDED.............What was father of kids name please ?

[scottishmist]

Good morning
I have the son death cert Alexander Mclean1862 age 56 so born about 1806 father John Mclean i think the father has died hard to make out
Mother Catherine Mclean ms Morrison and is still alive
lived at Dunan strath
Thanks Jan

[Rosinish]

Do you have Catherine & John on any census & if so where were they living please & do you know if they had any other kids?

Anne Marie

[Rosinish]

Where was son Alexander born?

Anne Marie

[scottishmist]

Hi ammack
I don't have John & Catherine on any census and only have the son Alexander born about 1806 going with his age on his death cert I am not sure where he was born but he died at Dunan Strath Inverness Shire Scotland
and he was a shepherd

Jan

[Rosinish]

You need to try to find Alexander on census records as it may give a distinct area of birth.

Ideally, finding John's death cert. would be good.

On Catherine's death cert beneath the date what area is given please.

Anne Marie