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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Kirkcudbrightshire => Topic started by: krob on Thursday 27 November 14 10:46 GMT (UK)
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Hi,
I am looking for details of Alexander Baird born approx 1796. On the 1951 Census it has him married to a Sarah. I would love to find details of this marriage and Sarah's maiden name.
There is also a death record for his daughter Margaret in 1866 which gives the mother as Janet Black. Is there also a marriage of Alexander to Janet Black?
Any help would be appreciated.
Kevin
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Hi
There's an interesting Death record for an Alexander Baird in Dalbeattie (Urr) in 1872, aged 76.
I'll try and interpret the entry and put it up for you.
Gadget
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Here we are:
Alexander Baird, General Labourer.
Married 1st to Mary McMorrison (?); 2nd to Sarah Tweedie
(Illegitimate)
Died 8th Sept 1872. 10h 0m AM. High Street, Dalbeattie.
Parents: James Baird (Occupation unknown to Informant) and Agnes Gillespie, Agricultural out-door-worker (deceased)
Cause: Old age and frailty. Confined to bed for 2 months. Not certified.
Informant: Elizabeth McLaurin (?), Niece in law
I'll have a look Margaret's parentage. The informant might not have full info on death certs.
Gadget
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Margaret's death records her as Illegitimate, so Alexander and Janet Black were not married. Alexander was the informant.
Gadget
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Hi,
Thank you for this information it is very helpful.
What would your interpretation of Illegitimate be in the following ?
Married 1st to Mary McMorrison (?); 2nd to Sarah Tweedie
(Illegitimate)
Kevin
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Hi again,
Also would you have any pointers on where I would look for the marriages ?
Kevin
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Hi,
Thank you for this information it is very helpful.
What would your interpretation of Illegitimate be in the following ?
Married 1st to Mary McMorrison (?); 2nd to Sarah Tweedie
(Illegitimate)
Kevin
That Alexander was Illegitimate. As you see, on his death record, his mother is given as Agnes Gillespie and not Agnes M.S. Gillespie (M.S. = maiden surname).
Scottish marriages before 1855 are not all recorded. One Rootschatter estimated that only about 30% are recorded anywhere. The ones that took place in the Church of Scotland* (established church) are usually a record of Banns, a good indication of a subsequent marriage. However, many are missing for various reasons. Also, there were other forms of marraige ~ see for e.g.
http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/research/economicsocialhistory/historymedicine/scottishwayofbirthanddeath/marriage/
The main source of these old records (OPRs) are Scotland's People : www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk (pay site) or Family Search https://familysearch.org/search
Gadget
* more usually performed by a C of S minister as the marriage didn't ahve to take place in a church.
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There's a marriage/banns entry showing for him and Sarah but nothing else 1815-1851 in Kirkcudbright or Dumfries:
Alexander Baird married/banns Sarah Tweedie, Urr, 29 May 1841
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Interestingly, in 1871, Alexander and Sarah have a 6 year old grandson living with them. His Military service record shows that he joined the Dragoon Guards in 1884 and his next of kin was his Uncle, a Thomas Baird of Wigton.
Gadget
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Hi,
Thanks for all this information - it is leading me down many exciting paths. :)
I was looking at Elizabeth McLaurin the niece in law mentioned. I think She was the wife of James McLaurin and married him in 1844. Do you have access to a death record for James? I'm hoping with the mother being a Baird.
Also you mention a Military Service record? Is this for Samuel the Grandson ?
Thanks in advance.
Kevin
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I've found Samual's miltary record... makes interesting reading :)
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Hi
Not sure about James Mclaur*n and Elizabeth. What was Elizabeth's maiden name? There is a death for a James in 1872, Urr, aged 58. Would that be the one you are looking for?
Yes, I was referring to Samuel in the war records. I was sure that I typed his name but I see I've not included it.
Gadget
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James' mother was Mary M.S. Scott. His father was Dougald Mclauren.
Gadget
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Thank you... more investigation needed..
I think Elizabeth's surname was Brown. If so, she married James in 1844.
Kevin
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I'll check my Urr MIs tomorrow to see if there's any more on the wider family. Alexander is down as born Dumfriesshire on censuses though and I don't have those.
Yes - death cert says that she was Eliza(beth) Brown.
Gadget
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The family in 1841:
Main Street, Dalbeattie
Dougald Mclaurin, 55, groecer and bacon?, b. Scotland
James, 25, b. Kirkcudbrightshire
Fanny, 25, b. do
Thomas Davidson, 26, male servant, b. do
Margret Green, 20, female servant, b. Scotland
Interesting household in 1851:
Greenhill, Dalbeattie
Fanny McLaurein, 38, farmer of 70 acres arable and 30 acres pasture. Employing 5 out and 1 In labourers , b. Urr
Robert Brown, nephew, 7, b. Urr (is this Eliza's child pre the marriage ?)
2 servants.