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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Ross & Cromarty => Topic started by: chrislb on Saturday 11 November 06 00:24 GMT (UK)
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Hi,
I am trying to trace McKenzies who, according to England census records, were from Cromarty in Scotland.
Husband's ggggrandmother was Elizabeth McKenzie born c1815 in Scotland. According to census in the Cromarty district. Unfortunately we have no other information to go on. No known siblings as yet. Her fathers name, according to her marriage certificate, was James McKenzie, occupation 'Stoneman', presumably of Cromarty as well although that is not certain.
I haven't as yet been able to find anything on this James McKenzie.
Can anyone help?
Regards, Christine.
PS if it helps, Elizabeth married a James Harris of Essex Eng. in 1844 in London.
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Hi Christine
Welcome to Rootschat :)
And an extra special welcome from me in Ross & Cromarty :)
I think one of these might possibly be your Elizabeth:
Baptism: 11 May 1807, Eliza d/o James Mackenzie and Margaret Bain at Cromarty
Baptism: 17th January 1815, Elizabeth d/o James Mackenzie and Margaret Barber at Ardesier.
Ardesier was in Invernessshire - just to the east of Inverness itself but directly opposite the Black Isle part of Cromarty.
See:
http://www.scotlandsfamily.com/parish-map-inverness.htm
There are no other Elizabeth's with father James listed for around that time.
Hope this is of some help
Gadget
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Hi Gadget,
Thanks for that info. Looking at the 2 Elizabeth's you have sent I would be inclined to go with the second (January 1815). I guess it is entirely possible that the family may have moved to Cromarty after her birth and as she grew up in Cromarty she may have well believed that she was born there as well. Particularly if her parents/mother were dead by the time she married.
Question - if her father were dead when she married would his name still have been on her marriage cert? and if so, would it not have read "James McKenzie, deceased"??
Does the record mention anything about her father James' occupation? Of course, his occupation could have changed between her birth and marriage.....
I will see what I can find on the IGI to start with.......... but with Scots records I really have no idea where to go.
Perhaps you could provide me with some contact details in Ross/Cromarty?
Or indeed anywhere in Scotland.... :)
Thanks again,
Christine.
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Hi again Gadget,
Can you tell me if there are any other children listed for James McKenzie and Margaret Barber?
Thanks again,
Christine.
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Hi Christine
First, there is one more child listed for James and Margaret Barber:
25 August 1810, Thomas Howard, Ardesier
Could I stress that these are baptisms from the old parish records. Official registration did not begin until 1855. Very few details are given in these. There are no occupations.
In relation to father's status on a marriage certificate: it was not always the case that deceased would be written, especially in the early records.
I think the best thing for you to do before getting started on your Scottish line is to read Pam's tutorial:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,24468.0.html
Hope this has answered all your questions.
best wishes
Gadget
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Thanks Gadget :D
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Hi Christine
If you use the IGI, the Batch number for Cromarty for the time period you are interested in is C110612. This shows a number of children for James Mackenzie and Margaret Bain, including an Ann born 12 Oct 1815. Either they are not Elizabeth's parents or Ann somehow becomes Elizabeth. This is not uncommon.
I still feel a bit iffy about the Ardesier one :-\
Gadget
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Hi Gadget,
Have checked the family of James and Margaret Bain..... looks close but I'm not certain of it either :D
I am also a bit iffy about the other James and Margaret. Hmmmmm if we could find out somehow what the 2 James did for a living that might help.
Of course, if Elizabeth's mothers name had been on her marriage certificate that would be even better... but it wasn't ! :-\
Regards, Christine
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Hi again Gadget,
Not sure if I have commented on this in another thread or not... but I am inclined to believe that my Elizabeth is indeed the daughter of James McKenzie and Margaret Bain, that is, the one baptised 11/05/1807. Also (not sure if I mentioned this either) it may be that Elizabeth was not entirely truthful about her age to her husband or family etc either as her age seems to differ quite a bit throughout census records and on her MI and also anecdotally through suspect family stories.
I have looked at the SP record for Elizabeth's baptism and it looks like 'Eliza' but could easily have been Elizabeth...
LOL I do vaguely recall discussing this in another thread on this site.. please feel free to laugh at me and say "yup you did you silly goose" :)
My only excuse is that it's been such a long time since I have visited this site....
Ciao!! Chris.
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Hi Chris :)
One thing that might help is to chase up the other children of James McKenzie and Margaret Bain (and the other couple for that matter) . They might have remained in Scotland and death certs may show James's ocupation.
Gadget
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Yes, you're right Gadget, that might indeed help although so far I have not had much luck chasing them up!! I have a few possible marriages for Elizabeths sister's but nothing that I can confirm, and there is a possibility that James and Margaret had a son, Alexander, however I have been unable to either confirm this or find a baptism record.
Chris.
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Hi Chris
How did you get on with a Spanish connection to the Mckenzies?
My great grandmother, (born Catherine McKenzie, on the Isle of Man around 1868 to Roderick McKenzie - Scottish and Anne Cojeen, Isle of Man) had hinted that there is a Spanish connection, but none knows where.
Recently my DNA has shown links to the name Rodriguez, but that's as far as I seem to be able to get.
I'd appreciate any help you can give.
Regards, John
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Hi John,
Unfortunately, no, no luck with that. I did, however, come across an anecdotal reference to Spanish/Gypsy heritage on another branch of the family (not the McKenzie side but the Sussex Ticehurst side) so it seems that there is more confusion not less!!
Ciao
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Roderick was a popular Mackenzie name, Mackenzie of Fairburn in particular!
Cromarty itself comprised a number of separate parts before merging with Ross.
Skoosh.
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Cromarty itself comprised a number of separate parts before merging with Ross.
In the first post note is made that census records give place of origin as "district of Cromarty", as Skoosh notes CromartyShire at time of birth of your guy was administered separate from RossShire, and stretched in pockets embedded in RossShire from west to east coasts, a confusing situation, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cromartyshire (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cromartyshire) Check the other people on those census pages, see if the census taker was noting place of origin as a town or as a county.