Hi everyone. That's me just getting around to all of this now today.
There is certainly much to take in and I really do appreciate all of the help given here. Monica, I cannot thank you enough for looking out these certificates!
Ok, I will begin with the 1891 census where there is a Helen Anderson aged 9 living at Kirkhill, Old Deer. She is down as niece here with the head of the household being a Mary A Knox, Widow. I did as flst suggested and ordered the marriage cert of Robert Knox and Mary Anderson 1870 Parish of Old Deer. Robert Knox' residence is Kirkhill so this matches up with his widow being there in 1891. I will include a snippet of Mary's parent's in this post. As you can see her parent's are named as
George Anderson, a Joiner and her mother is an
Anne Anderson m.s. Findlay.
This could mean either Margaret Anderson spoke untruths (whether deliberately or not) on her marriage cert and thereafter her parents are also recorded wrongly on her death cert or the 9 year old Helen Anderson in 1891 is a completely different Helen Anderson. Though, I do get the feeling I've barked up the wrong tree with this one. However, this begs the question
where in the world is Helen in 1891? Not finding her anywhere. She would've still been a child, and probably not old enough to be in full-time employment in this era. She isn't with her step-father (thankfully) nor is she with her mother.
Interestingly, regarding the newspaper article that features the evil step-dad James Knight ill-treating Helen, it was written in February 1891. This was before the 1891 census being taken on 5th April 1891. So, two months prior to the census this court case was taking place. The family appear split up after this, with Helen nowhere to be found, Margaret with Alexander and James Knight boarding with his daughter Elizabeth. I do have a feeling that the entire family just broke down completely with divorce being out of the question in those days. I am saddened that James wasn't immediately imprisoned for what he did to Helen. Later on in the article it states that neighbours often saw Helen outside in the cold, shivering and crying. It also states that James had accused his wife of being
'a drinker and was often intoxicated' so he took his frustrations out on his step-daughter. The neighbours had reported that they hadn't seen Margaret intoxicated but they had seen James himself very frequently under the influence! All in all he appears to be a completely unpleasant man and I hold him in disdain.
I agree with what was found in the census regarding Helen's half-siblings Elizabeth McC Knight and Alexander Burne Knight. The fact they are both in an orphanage in 1901 is indicative of their circumstances with their mother dying 1898 just 3 years prior. From my understanding, children were often regarded as orphans even if one parent was still alive, particularly if it was the mother that had died. By 1901 Helen was an adult.
I have just done a quick search of the 1901 census and I may have found Helen M M Anderson.
Address; Bank Head, Durris, Kincardineshire
Margaret Anderson (going by Margaret here, which is one of her middle names). Servant, Single, Female, 18, General Serv (domestic). Place of birth; Aberdour,
Fife. The 'Fife' has to be an error by someone because we know it's Aberdour, Aberdeenshire that she was born in, I have seen her birth cert to see this.
The head of this household is a George Esson, 48, Farmer.
What is interesting here is that below Helen aka Margaret there is a person named
Francis Anderson, Male, aged 18, Ploughman born; Kincardineshire. He can't be Helen/Margaret's twin as their places of birth are very different, though he could be some sort of relation given that the name Francis keeps popping up in Helen's documents?
Monica, I have ordered the birth cert for Margaret Ann Anderson 1859 Banff. I do believe this is her as there aren't really any others that match. I have attached a snippet of this birth cert. Unfortunately, she was illegitimate as a few of you had initially thought. The father's name is blank again, her mother is Isabella Anderson. I wonder if anyone can make out the place of birth? Could it be Gellymill Street, Macduff?
This is all I have for now, again, thank you for all the help everyone, and a special thank you to Monica for the images provided to me.
These Anderson women are tough to crack! Never have I experienced so much frustration with any branch, but I still enjoy it, all part of the fun and games.
Liviani