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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: mcadamsd on Friday 03 May 24 18:55 BST (UK)
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I have the marriage and death for Alexander Smith, born about 1821 Fordyce, Banffshire and passed 9 MAR 1898 Rothiemay, Banffshire, Scotland.
He married Elizabeth Anderson 19 Dec 1850 Rothiemay, Banffshire, Scotland.
On the marriage, he is noted as illegitimate son of John Smith and Elsbet ??? and on the death she is Elizabeth ???. What was her family name?
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Looks like Maccurrach and Elspeth McCurrach to me
Ray
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I would read Elspet Maccurrach on the marriage, and Elspeth McCurach on the death cert, I am not sure where you get Margaret?
As I have suggested elsewhere, report an issue with the legibility of the death Certificate and ask for their assistance.
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Thanks for prompt feedback.
Margaret was there because I had a bit of a brain issue. :) Corrected original post!
The image was shared with me by a distant relative. I will see if they can report
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And probably the Elizabeth Mccurroch, or is that a k? Born in Rothiemay in 1825.
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...On the marriage, he is noted as illegitimate son of John Smith and Elsbet ??? and on the death she is Elizabeth ???. What was her family name?
Elspet and Elizabeth are first name variants. See www.whatsinaname.net/php/search.php?action=search2&search_name=elspet
Monica
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Have you looked at Alexander Smith's baptism record for any more information?
It is available from Scotlands People ....
SMITH ALEXANDER
parents - JOHN SMITH & ELSPET MCCURRACH
27/09/1818
153 30 / 373 FORDYCE
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It might be worth investigating the following ......
Possible birth
MCOURACH ELSPET
23/02/1792 - CULLEN
PARENTS - ALEX MC OURACH & JANNET DONALDSON
FR722 (FR722) F
150 40 / 173
Census: 1841
County: Banffshire (BAN)
District: Banff
House or Street Name: Back Path
RICHARDSON Thomas M 50 Independent Born - Out of County
MCCURRACH Elspet F 45 Female Servant Born - Banffshire
1851 census (added)
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59027d5ee9379091b1269df6/elspet-mccurrach-1851-banffshire-boyndie-1797-?locale=en
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The Fordyce Kirk Session Minutes hold the information about the illegitimate birth of Alexander Smith.
You can view an image of the original here (login first)
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/place-page/Fordyce/GAZ00536/REX01118
Go to Minutes (1786-1825) click open link (CH2/1114/4)
Go to image number 258
Relevant session Starts at August 9th 1818
Here is the first part
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Here is the second part
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Here is the 3rd part
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It might be worth investigating the following ......
Possible birth
MCOURACH ELSPET
23/02/1792 - CULLEN
PARENTS - ALEX MC OURACH & JANNET DONALDSON
FR722 (FR722) F
150 40 / 173
Census: 1841
County: Banffshire (BAN)
District: Banff
House or Street Name: Back Path
RICHARDSON Thomas M 50 Independent Born - Out of County
MCCURRACH Elspet F 45 Female Servant Born - Banffshire
As ages of people over 15 in the 1841 Census were rounded down to the nearest 5, for example 29 was recorded as 25 (although this approach wasn’t always followed), Elspet McCurrach could have been aged between 46 and 49.
This favours a case that Elspet McCourach described as being born 23rd February 1792 in the record Neil1961 tracked down and Elspet McCurrach shown in the 1841 Census aged 45, female servant, may be the same person i.e. she would have been 49 when the 1841 Census was taken on 6th June that year.
However the 1851 Census for Boyndie shows an Elspet McCurrach, cook at the Freechurch Manse aged 54, born in Fordyce. If the same person she actually would have been older.
Hope this helps.
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I hadn’t seen Neal1961’s post when I sent mine but everything seems to be coming together as the Elspet shown in the 1841 and 1851 Censuses was shown as single.
A few more lines of enquiry to follow!
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This favours a case that Elspet McCourach described as being born 23rd February 1792 .........
However the 1851 Census for Boyndie shows an Elspet McCurrach, cook at the Freechurch Manse aged 54, born in Fordyce. If the same person she actually would have been older.
I think the Elspet aged 54 in the 1851 census is the same one in the 1841 census. She has just a few years off her age.
In 1861 census, she is in 6 Gallowgate Str, Rothesay
age 67, Formerly A Domestic Servant
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Possible death (age is out by a bit)
MCCURRACH, ELIZABETH
age - 75
Mother - DONALDSON
F
1881
153 / 2 / 24
PORTSOY
Ammended as this death is not for the correct woman.
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Attached extract showing Elizabeth (married surname Black) McCurrach’s death 1881 in Portsoy.
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In 1841 Census Alexander Smith is shown aged 25 living in Back Path Banff, like Elspet McCulloch.
Will send copies of the entries, they’re on the same page.
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Attached extract showing Elizabeth (married surname Black) McCurrach’s death 1881 in Portsoy.
I’m pretty sure now, that is not the correct person.
That Elizabeth was born 1805 in Cullen. She married James Black in 1832.
I think we have found the right Elspeth in the census 1841, 1851, 1861, but have not found her birth details (which should be in Fordyce), or her parents’ names as yet.
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Sorry, two clumsy errors in my last message - should have been Alexander McCurrach aged 25 shown in 1841 Census at Back Path Banff (extract attached)
Also Elspeth McCurrach not McCulloch shown living in the same street.
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Mortified to realise I’ve conflated McCulloch and McCurrach in the 1841 Census - please ignore previous and sorry for the confusion and wasted time.