Mary McPherson & John Donaldson Leitholm

[Kirsty Spence]

Thanks William. I was putting surname second that's why I've not been able to find it. Thanks for the useful hint. I'm now trying to find births for their children and a marriage between a Peter Donaldson and an Agnes new Thompson. It's hard work this malarkey! I've only been doing it for 4 months so I'm new to all of this. Thanks again William.
Regards kirsty

[Millmoor]

Census evidence would suggest that Agnes was widowed in 1861.(Living with her parents?) I cannot see a marriage between Peter and Agnes. It might be worth searching for Peter's death between 1855 and 1861and for Agnes's death to confirm the names of her parents.

William

[rosie17]

Yes William I could not find a marriage either few trees have a death for Peter 1861
This is the family of Peter and Agnes Thompson
John Donaldson birth 4 October 1854 Coldstream Berwick Baptism 11November 1854

James Donaldson 20 March 1857 Eccles Berwickshire

Isabella Donaldson 13 April 1859 Eccles Berwickshire
Father Peter Donaldson Mother Agnes Thompson
Rosie

[rosie17]

This is Agnes Donaldson in the 1901 census
John Ormston age 49 farmer Bartlehill Farm House Eccles
Isabella Ormston age 41
Andrew 4,Margaret 8,Thomas 6, Peter 4,
Agnes Donaldson age 70 mother in law
So a death for Agnes will give you her parents
Rosie

[rosie17]

Just seen a copy of birth for one of Agnes's daughters
Agnes Russell Donaldson born 21 November 1866 ( illegitimate )
Mother Agnes Donaldson maiden name Russell widow dressmaker
Tree also had Agnes dead 1904
Rosie

[Millmoor]

There is only one death for a Peter Donaldson coming up in Berwickshire between 1855 and 1861 and that was in Eccles in 1860.( Looking at the l851 census for Peter Donaldson in Berwickshire the most likely candidate has parents who were born in Wales!).

William

[rosie17]

Think there is a bit of mystery around this Agnes ....I think this could be a possible birth for her
Agnes Thomson Waugh 1 March 1832 mother Isabel Waugh
Agnes is on the 1841 census with her mother Isabel and sister Margaret


Marriage 30 October 1842 Westruther Berwick Isabel Waugh spouse John Thomson
1851 census Agnes is down as Thomson
Rosie

[Kirsty Spence]

Thank you for all your help. I've wrote down all the information that you lovely people have found for me so this should keep me busy for a while. It's a puzzle the whole thing! I've been on scotlandspeople and found lots of info out but what I can't find is a marriage in Coldstream for a Neil McPherson and a Janet Robertson and all her children's births are mother Janet Robertson but when I've got info from the death on her tomb stone she's coming up as 'Jessie' McPherson nee Robertson. I'm so confused.

[Millmoor]

Kirsty Jessie is a pet name for Janet . Your Janet and Jessie are I am sure one and the same. The census evidence suggests that they were born in Skye. I cannot see a marriage for them either(unlike England statutory registration of marriages only started  in 1855 - before that the parish records have to be used and they are incomplete.). Again I think that you will only be able to find their parents names from their death records.

Given that Mary Mcpherson was born in 1855 her birth registration should be on Scotland's People. The records in that first year  were particularly detailed and should give you a lot of information eg when parents married.

William