Author Topic: Help reading signature of witness on death registration  (Read 1786 times)

Offline Bosconermal

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Help reading signature of witness on death registration
« on: Sunday 13 August 17 04:17 BST (UK) »
I have found what might be the death registration of my 3rd great grandmother. The general location, her maiden name and her husband's name suggest it's her, but her name is common so I have been trying to build a case. The witness to her death was her son-in-law, which might cinch it, but I can't make anything out of his signature.

The deceased died in Liberton, Midlothian in 1874. The son-in-law lived in Stainton, which I assume is the one in Midlothian (close by) and not in Ayrshire (not so close).

Can anyone help?
Smith (Midlothian, Scotland); Riddoch, Fraser, Tait, Stewart, McGilvery (Banffshire/Aberdeenshire, Scotland)
Foster, Stevens (Cambridgeshire, England); Adams, Knowles (Somerset, England); Smith, Manning (Southwark/Bermondsey, England)

Offline Ruskie

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Re: Help reading signature of witness on death registration
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 13 August 17 04:23 BST (UK) »
Placenames looks to be Straiton, rather than Stainton. :-\

Andrew Sch---ton?

S not like others though ... I will have another look. :) i don't know of the son in law would have signed in his own hand?

Reconsidering .... The first name seems to end in an 's'.

Offline bbart

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Re: Help reading signature of witness on death registration
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 13 August 17 04:44 BST (UK) »
I see the last name as Johnston(e).

Offline Bosconermal

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Re: Help reading signature of witness on death registration
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 13 August 17 04:46 BST (UK) »
Sorry-- you are right. I meant to say Straiton (Midlothian).
Smith (Midlothian, Scotland); Riddoch, Fraser, Tait, Stewart, McGilvery (Banffshire/Aberdeenshire, Scotland)
Foster, Stevens (Cambridgeshire, England); Adams, Knowles (Somerset, England); Smith, Manning (Southwark/Bermondsey, England)


Offline Ruskie

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Re: Help reading signature of witness on death registration
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 13 August 17 04:49 BST (UK) »
Presumably age at death and husband's occupation also tallies for this death to be the correct one?

Offline sparrett

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Re: Help reading signature of witness on death registration
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 13 August 17 04:53 BST (UK) »
I see the last name as Johnston(e).

So do I.

Sue
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Offline Bosconermal

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Re: Help reading signature of witness on death registration
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 13 August 17 05:01 BST (UK) »
Yes - age is also approximately right. Husband is dead, but described as "labourer". That's also a generic description of what he did.

I think I found her but I want be as sure as possible.
Smith (Midlothian, Scotland); Riddoch, Fraser, Tait, Stewart, McGilvery (Banffshire/Aberdeenshire, Scotland)
Foster, Stevens (Cambridgeshire, England); Adams, Knowles (Somerset, England); Smith, Manning (Southwark/Bermondsey, England)

Offline Ruskie

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Re: Help reading signature of witness on death registration
« Reply #7 on: Sunday 13 August 17 05:07 BST (UK) »
Yes - age is also approximately right. Husband is dead, but described as "labourer". That's also a generic description of what he did.

I think I found her but I want be as sure as possible.

Are her parent's names at death the same as her parent's names at marriage? Surely this would be the clincher?

I would think that the curve of the first letter is facing the wrong way for the letter to be J, and the riser of the 'h' should lead from the loop at the top of the 'o' rather than the from the base line ... Maybe?  :)

Offline annmck

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Re: Help reading signature of witness on death registration
« Reply #8 on: Sunday 13 August 17 06:59 BST (UK) »
I think the name is Gilchriston/e.

Not common, but it appears on records on Scotlandspeople  ;)
Devir/Dever/Diver, O'Donnell, Sweeney, Doherty/Dogherty/Docherty( DON), Flanagan (Newry, DOW), Hennessy (Ballybunion, KER), Nally (Ballinacarrick,WEM) Meer (Paradise, Ballynagard, CLA) McKinnon, McLeod, Beaton, McLennan, (Skye, inc. Raasay) Christie (Dunblane & Glasgow) Wilson, Swan, Orr, (Airdrie)  Marshall (Burnley LAN/Stockport CHS) Burcham, Chamberlain, Crisp, Cone, Hewitt, Everard, Williamson, Jermy, Wade (NFK/SFK) Bell (CUL) Baglee & var. (DUR)