1. If Jean Milne died the wife shown on the death would be his second wife (perhaps a Sarah)?
If he died after 1861, his death certificate should name both of his wives, assuming that the informant knew the information of course.
Thank you Forfarian for this info. I was concerned that the death cert would only name the most recent wife. I didn't know that it would name both, dependant on the informant of course. This is very helpful for this and future use.
Hi Jill,
I may have found Francis Stewart in future census records ( on Ancestry a useful tool at times).
1851 Census - Francis Stewart - born Tannadice 1805 - Farm Servant - Parish of Kirriemuir, Landward, address Balnagarrow. He is on his own no wife or children. It looks like Jean Milne has died between 1841 and 1851 as you thought.
1861 Census - Francis Stewart - born Tannadice 1806 - Agric. Labourer.
Sarah Stewart - born Glenisla - Wife
James Stewart - born Kirriemuir age 6 - Son
David Stewart - born Kirriemuir age 4 - Son
Catharine Stewart - born Kirriemuir age 1 - Daughter
Address Cottars Cottage, Kirriemuir.
There is a marriage on SP OPR Index for a Francis Stewart to a Sarah Grant on 27th June 1852 at Kirriemuir so this would be correct with what you already have regarding a second marriage to a Sarah.
1871 Census - Sarah and her children are on their own - she is listed as head of household - no sign of Francis.
From this I would assume that the 1867 Kirriemuir death for Francis is the correct one although as Forfarian says the information given is only as good as the informant's knowledge of the family.
Just need to wait until you can afford to check it out on SP.
Dorrie
This is brilliant, thank you Dorrie. I really appreciate this. I'd agree that this Francis is my Francis given the occupation and the marriage does indicate that Jean/Jane died.
BTW The census index at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk gives Francis' age as 36 in 1841, 46 in 1851 and 55 in 1851. So you are looking at someone born between 31 March 1804 and 6 April 1806. Also the 1851 and 1861 say he was born in Tannadice.
The baptisms index at SP lists only two Francis Stewarts born in Angus between 1803 and 1807. One in Tannadice, baptised 8 May 1804, parents Charles Stewart and Isobel Bruce, and one in Stracathro, baptised 9 May 1804, parents James Stewart and Margaret Stewart.
You can eliminate the Stracathro one from your search, because he married my 3rd cousin 4 times removed, Margaret Guthrie, and died in Inverbervie, Kincardineshire, in 1851.
So it looks very likely that your Francis is the son of Charles Stewart and Isobel Bruce.
Brilliant again Forfarian. I believe this is the second time this has happened between us with similarly named ancestors, the other being either a Charles or Leonard Small I think? Perthshire or Coupar Angus?
Due to all of the above I have gone ahead and bought the image of the 1867 Kirriemuir death of Francis Stewart. It confirms that his parents names' are Charles Stewart and Isabella Bruce. The death certificate does only name 'Sarah Grant' as his wife though which does indicate that the informant left out Jean/Jane Milne. This was my main concern prior to having the knowledge I have now from this thread. So I am very grateful for the research people have done. It's really solved my dilemma. Without this knowledge I would've been doubting my research and getting myself in another muddle.
Incidentally the image ordered is of terrible quality. I can't make out half of what is said for example the cause of death and the name of the informant other than it's ____ Stewart (Son). I will assume it's one of Sarah's children given the lack of Jane/Jean mentioned.
I have reported the issue to SP as it's needing cleared up a little. Very grainy and pixellated. It also mentions that Sarah's maiden name is Grant. Francis' mother's name would also be impossible to read without the knowledge I have now. Hopefully they can fix this image though.
Again, many thanks for this I can begin doing more work on this branch.
Jill.
