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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Renfrewshire => Topic started by: Chaplain on Wednesday 30 March 05 03:33 BST (UK)
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Good evening!
In May, my spouse and I will be travelling to Greenock to celebrate our first anniversary. Last year, when we were in Greenock to be married, I found the Watt Library with a wealth of information but only a couple of hours to spend looking at it (census records, etc.) I found the one person I was searching for in 1841, 1851, 1861 and 1871, but I can't find his spouse, their children or the spouse's children by her marriage in any of the census other than 1861.
I have checked the Roman Catholic and Episcopal church records for baptisms and registrations using the known surnames but no one shows up. I do have a poor relief application which lists various addresses but the information just doesn't jive.
Would anyone have any suggestions as to how I can methodically go through this material and try to find people., especially given that I am using rather common surnames. I have been searching registration and old parochial records for close to 25 years in trying to find the births of my great-grandmother (1860)and her sister (1854), the marriage of her mother and father (not sure they were).
My interests are (starting with most recent) are Brown, Gillespie, McDougall, McKellar, McLachlan, based out of Renfrewshire (Greenock) and possibly Ireland.
Your collective pieces of wisdom would be most appreciated.
Chaplain
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Hi Chaplain
I wish I could make some suggestions, but having been doing this research for 2 years against your 25, I doubt I have much information to offer - BUT - I am somewhat envious of your trip & hope within the next couple of years to do similar, as my family travelled from Renfrewshire to Australia in 1833. So if you have some advice to offer now or after your trip, do please pass it on.
There used to be a discussion group attached to ScotlandsPeople site which went defunct.
Trish
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i noticed on your list of names that you have mcdougall and also a connection to ireland , i have very similar in my search
if i can help please let me know
love christine
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Hello Chaplain,
What about lookups in the British Vital Records?
If you could post details of individuals, there's more chance of finding them and you'll get plenty of help here!
Good Luck and I hope you enjoy your trip. The first frost of the year this morning so remember and pack your thermals!!
Anne
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related to gillespies in falkirk if that helps.
T.
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Hello Chaplain, I am also researching the surname McLachlan/McLaughlan also from Greenock/Portglasgow area from 1856 onwards. If you would like to share some christian names I could check my details. Regards
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I don't know if I can help with your research in Greenock as I live in the U.S. Anyway, you probably already went! But you mentioned the names Brown and Gillespie. I'd love to discuss with you more if you are interested. I have Alexander Brown (my grandfather) whose first wife was Elizabeth Gillespie. I don't know a lot about her other than things like date of death - have that record. Am confused about her parentage. Alexander Brown married, second, my grandmother Mary Patrick. This line of Browns is from the Cumbernauld/Dumbarton area primarily and I think Falkirk area connection via a marriage of John Brown to Helen Shaw Walker.
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Chaplain
This is broad and general since I do not know who you are looking for but if this was my search and if I have a fairly good idea of the year of their birth I typically go for the deaths (providing they occurred post 1855), using Scotland's People. The registration list address, spouse, parents, cause of death and informant. This enables you to work back, find a marriage and then identify the couple in the census and their children. I hope the weather in May is better this year than last.
Don
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Have you checked to see if the Watt Library's online "Intimations" helps ...
http://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/education-and-learning/libraries/local-and-family-history/family-history/intimations
... I've found it very useful in my research.
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I take it that you've been through the online archive of the Greenock Telegraph, also at the Watt Library.
Gushel.
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Hi dagny
Elizabeth Gillespie married William Brown 1876 Greenock
that should give you some info about Elizabeth
Elaine
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Chaplain,
If you have hit a brick wall I would recommend that you book a slot at the Mitchell Library in Glasgow for the day. You can view all the records that you want and it only costs about 50p per copy when you print them. Its a productive day out and you may find a few things that you didn't already know. Its about £15 per person. Heres the link http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3214
PS just noticed that this original post is 9 years old. :-)
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While the post may be nine years old, I still come back every once in a while to see if someone has some new resources. I had not heard of the Watts Library "Intimations" so will be checking that out. I have made several trips to Scotland since the original post and I now live in Essex, England having moved there from Canada just over a year ago. Each December when we go to St.Andrews' for Hogmanay, I make a trip to Scotland's People for a day's research which is opens a few more doors but frustratingly still cannot find the birth of Elizabeth's sister, Mary. I have her marriage certificate (having seen it up close and live) but the information on it is like that on Elizabeth's - not really correct when it comes to her age so still on the hunt. My other brick wall is that Elizabeth's husband, William Brown, was supposedly born in Jamaica and with a name like that, even having hints as to his parents' names (which are common as well) I have resigned myself to being able to go back any further. But every once in a while I try again. Possibly as more comes on-line, the wall will come down. Thanks for your suggestions and links. I have appreciated them. :)
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Hi don't no if its any use but i have a mclaughlin born in Ireland but living in greenock and marring a mr green in my family tree if thats any good - i no the post has been open a long time but just new and thought i would let you know