Agnes Aitken

[ThumbelinaPM]

My ancestors Agnes Aitken and Andrew Thomson married 04.01.1777 in the parish of Glasgow (Lanark). I've since found what I think are ancestors of Agnes but how can I be sure?
Have I found the correct records if I believe her parents are JOHN AITKEN & ELIZABETH BLAIR who married 12.11.1749 in Lanark. If so Agnes (b.22.05.1755) had siblings such as JAMES bap. 27.09.1753, Janet bap. 29.07.1756 (and potentially a previous JAMES born 1751 with a potential twin ISABEL - not sure of this)
If correct the above ELIAZBETH BLAIR  would have been aged 14 when she married (born 18.05.1735 to Brice Blair and Jean Allason) - was that possible?

[Forfarian]

My ancestors Agnes Aitken and Andrew Thomson married 04.01.1777 in the parish of Glasgow (Lanark). I've since found what I think are ancestors of Agnes but how can I be sure?

Only with great difficulty!

Just because you have found someone who looks like a likely candidate doesn't mean that she is the right one. This is because something like a quarter of people's baptism records have not survived, so you can never be sure that there wasn't another Agnes Aitken of similar age.

ELIAZBETH BLAIR  would have been aged 14 when she married (born 18.05.1735 to Brice Blair and Jean Allason) - was that possible?

It is possible in the sense that she was over the legal minimum age for a girl to marry, but it is almost unheard of. I have never come across one who can be proved to have married as young as 14.

I see that Andrew Thomson and Agnes Aitken had five daughters
Janet Porter, baptised 7 October 1777
Marion, baptised 23 May 1779
Margaret, baptised 6 March 1781
Agnes, baptised 27 March 1783
Mary, baptised 19 February 1786
all born in New Monkland. Note that there is no record of a daughter named Elizabeth, and there are no gaps into which another child would fit.

Now, if they followed the naming tradition, I would expect Agnes' mother's name to be Janet, and Andrew's moher's name to be Marion.

Have you looked at the original marriage record? What clues (if any) does it contain?

[ThumbelinaPM]

Hi again 
The marrhage record doesnt give any clues for parents of Agnes.(this is record stating Andrew Thomson us a portioner).
However date of birth of Agnes on her birth record links to record on family search with these parents.

[Forfarian]

Aha! I thought this latest thread rang a bell.
Previous threads on the same family
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=769686
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=769697
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=768092
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=766755
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=767923

date of birth of Agnes on her birth record links to record on family search with these parents.

Naturally and inevitably, of course it does, since the 'record' on FamilySearch is an index listing pointing to the original marriage record on SP. This is not two separate pieces of evidence; it is one and the same.

In summary, the only definite information you have about Agnes Aitken is
- she married Andrew Thomson, portioner of Easter Glentore, in Glasgow in 1777
- she had at least six children
Janet Porter, baptised 7 October 1777 in New Monkland
Marrion, baptised 23 May 1779 in New Monkland
Margaret, baptised 6 March 1781 in New Monkland
Agnes, baptised 27 March 1783 in New Monkland
Mary, baptised 19 February 1786 in New Monkland
James, baptised 12 August 1791 in Glasgow, married Ann Buchanan, died 1855 in Airdrie.

Those are the documented facts. However you can draw certain inferences from the facts.

It would be reasonable to infer that she cannot have been born before say 1740, because she had a child in 1791. It would also be reasonable to infer that she must have been born before 1765, because she could not legally have married until she was 12. In practice, you can probably dock a few years at either end, giving a range of possible birth years between say about 1750 and 1760.

You can also probably infer that she resided in the parish of Glasgow at the time of her marriage, because it was usual for a wedding ceremony to be held in the bride's home. However this is not 100% reliable, and it doesn't mean that she was born in Glasgow.

It is likely that Agnes' mother's maiden name was one of Janet, Marion, Margaret, Agnes and Mary, with a slightly higher probability that it was Janet, but this, again, is not 100% reliable.

What you cannot and must not assume is that her baptism record has survived, and hence that she is one of the ones you have found on SP (or in FamilySearch, which is an index to the records on SP).

I know this is not very helpful, but you might eventually have to accept that you will never know for certain who Agnes' parents were.

[ThumbelinaPM]

Thanks - you are right again as Ive found Agnes born 6th April 1754 in Parish of Glasgow to John Aitken and JANET Forrester.
I can see a Janet F born port of Glasgow (is that sane as Parish?) to Alexander Forrester and Agnes Brown 07.10.1739 which is possible.

What words follow those of parents on a birth record? Looks like A L'? As if French!

[Forfarian]

Thanks - you are right again as Ive found Agnes born 6th April 1754 in Parish of Glasgow to John Aitken and JANET Forrester.

Yes, she could be your Agnes but you need some independent evidence to corroborate this.

I can see a Janet F born port of Glasgow (is that sane as Parish?)

Port Glasgow is not the same as Glasgow.

to Alexander Forrester and Agnes Brown 07.10.1739 which is possible.

Possible, but concentrate of finding some other evidence to confirm Agnes' parents' names before trying to get back another generation.

What words follow those of parents on a birth record? Looks like A L'? As if French!

Probably an abbreviation for 'A Lawful' - indicating that the child was legitimate.