Parents of Isabella Nesbit

[Tickettyboo]

Thank you all for the replies and suggestions - I'll follow all of them up.
I think I am going to have to go back to basics and  buy a  birth cert for Isabella to see what it says about her Mam. I don't buy many for twiglets but think its my only option to be sure about who I am looking for. It may turn out (as was suggested) that Ann was a widow when she married Thomas, or even that, though she was known as Ann on all the census returns, her 'official' forename could have been different. All things are possible :-)

The help you have all given (and the time expended in helping) is much appreciated.

Boo

[Rosinish]

Can you list siblings in order of birth please between 1861 & 1871 census' as this could be a clue to parentage alone before you commit to a cert?

Annie

[Tickettyboo]

Can you list siblings in order of birth please between 1861 & 1871 census' as this could be a clue to parentage alone before you commit to a cert?

Annie

1861 census children:
Isabella, 9, born Ford
James 6, born Ford
Robert, 3, born Tweedmouth
Ann, 1, born Cornhill

1871 census, children:
Isabella, 19,born Ford
James, 16, born Ford
Robert, 13, born Tweedmouth
Ann, 11, born Cornhill
Elizabeth, 8, born Berwick upon Tweed
Thomas, 6, born Cornhill
Margaret, 3, born Norham

I have looked at the GRO index that shows MMN,  I can find likely registrations for 5 of the children listed with a MMN of Douglas.

Boo

[Rosinish]

1861 census children:
Isabella, 9, born Ford
James 6, born Ford
Robert, 3, born Tweedmouth
Ann, 1, born Cornhill

1871 census, children:
Isabella, 19,born Ford
James, 16, born Ford
Robert, 13, born Tweedmouth
Ann, 11, born Cornhill
Elizabeth, 8, born Berwick upon Tweed
Thomas, 6, born Cornhill
Margaret, 3, born Norham

I have looked at the GRO index that shows MMN,  I can find likely registrations for 5 of the children listed with a MMN of Douglas.

As a Scot we have a traditional naming pattern (not always followed) but the same also applied in other countries such as Ireland & England again not always.

The above would suggest....

Isabella named after maternal g/mother
James (paternal g/father)
Robert (maternal g/father)
Ann (paternal g/mother)

Depending on other (older) siblings of the parents naming their kids sometimes the pattern was reversed so that the siblings didn't all have their 1st child named after the g/parent on whichever side but something to consider whilst making your decision.

Annie

[WolfieSmith]

In 1881 census, Thomas says he's born Ford Mills. So I think the 1851 census at Ford Mills is correct. Brother John says he's born Alwinton, further down the page is a James Nesbit also born Alwinton.

This is likely to be them in 1841, transcribed as Nistit on you know what.

Ford Mills, Ford, Northumberland,
Ann Nesbit, 50, Y, Independant,
Ann ", 20, Y, Dress Maker,
John ", 20, Y, Blacksmith,
Margaret ", 20, Y, Dress Maker,
George ", 15, Y, ? Man,
James ", 15, Y, Blacksmith,
Thomas ", 11, Y.
HO107/833/16/5/2

There is a burial of a James Nesbit of Ford Mills, age 56, 10 August 1839 at Ford St. Michael.

Hope this link works, needs checking out, but can't see anything obvious to contradict it.

http://www.sfu.ca/~jcnesbit/gen/NesbitFordForge/

Alan.

[WolfieSmith]

A bit of circumstancial evidence for Ann being daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Douglas.

In 1861 the Nesbits are at New Heaton Farm in Cornhill where Thomas is an Ag Lab. The Farmer on the previous page is James Black, 68, b. Ford. This appears to be Thomas Nesbits uncle, son of John Black.

James Black is farming the same farm in 1851, along with his son James Black Jnr., also born Ford, 1826.

In 1861, James Black Jnr is a Farmer at Norham Mains. In his household is a Cook/Domestic Servant, Grace Douglas, 23., b. Tweedmouth. This appears to be the sister of Ann Douglas, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth. Grace is 18 in 1851, so age is a few years out, but by 1871 she is 32 so shaved a bit more off.

In 1871 James Black Jnr is Farmer at the same Farm at Norham Mains, on the next page working as an Ag Lab is Thomas Nesbit, so now working for his cousin.

Alan.

[Tickettyboo]

Thank you Alan. The living have been requiring my attention for a couple of days, but will follow up on your info next week. I'll also see about ordering that birth cert to see what it says.

Boo