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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Ross & Cromarty => Topic started by: JohannaSandberg on Wednesday 04 May 11 16:18 BST (UK)

Title: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: JohannaSandberg on Wednesday 04 May 11 16:18 BST (UK)
Hej !
  I'm looking for Duff family in Scotland.
We know very little..
   We've heard from a familymember that the Duff family comes from a place called Portmahomack in Scotland. (Not verified tho)

We have Alexander Duff (no d.o.b, from scotland tho) who marries Elizabeth Jamieson (no d.o.b).
 They get a son Walter Robert McKay Duff (17 May 1905, Edinburgh City, Scotland)
Walter Robert later married Catherine Murray Baxter. This is as far as we know !
 - I've tried to look in online census, but I cant find them !

Does anyone know anything about this family? What are their parents called ?? Where their family from Portmahomack as we where told? Did they have sisters/brothers ?
 
I would be very very happy if anyone knew anything about them !  :)
Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: aghadowey on Wednesday 04 May 11 16:34 BST (UK)
Scottish birth certificates list date and place of parents' marriage so getting Walter's 1905 birth certificate would give you those details and then you can get the parents' marriage certificate, look for the families in census records, etc.
Since Walter was born over 100 years ago his birth certificate will be available to download from Scotland's People website- www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: JohannaSandberg on Wednesday 04 May 11 16:40 BST (UK)
Thank you.
 I've already checked there. I only got his whole name, d.o.b and that it was in Edinburgh City, Scotland. District : Leith North
 I was expecting to get the mothers full name and father name (maybe age, location and occupation) - like we do here in Sweden.

Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: aghadowey on Wednesday 04 May 11 16:42 BST (UK)
Sounds as though you found the entry for the birth record in the index but in order to see full details you have to spend the 5 credits to view the certificate itself.
If you go back to Scotland's People and pull up your previous search then you can select to view the actual certificate.
Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: ghostwhisperer on Wednesday 04 May 11 18:09 BST (UK)
Alexander and Elizabeth were married in Rosskeen, Ross & Cromarty in 1889. Certificate should give both sets of parents. Available on Scotlands People.
Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: JohannaSandberg on Wednesday 04 May 11 19:22 BST (UK)
Oh ! haha.  ;D
 I found it now !

Thank you, I found their certificate now... Loads of writing on it. I just cant read it ! haha
 It's so hard to read ^^

Is there any website where you can find information for free? Gravestones, census etc ?
Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: aghadowey on Wednesday 04 May 11 19:25 BST (UK)
Have a look at Resources for Ross & Cromarty (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,506422.0.html) and Scotland (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/board,367.0.html).
Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: JohannaSandberg on Wednesday 04 May 11 19:37 BST (UK)
They're not there  :(

I dont get it. Why wouldnt they be buried in any of they cemetaries ?

Is there anyother way to find out more about Alexander Duff & Elizabeth Jamieson?
Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: aghadowey on Wednesday 04 May 11 19:39 BST (UK)
Not everything is available online (in fact only a small portion of gravestones probably are online)- you asked about free resources and I posted links to resources for both Ross & Cromarty and for Scotland.
Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: anabanana on Wednesday 04 May 11 20:29 BST (UK)
You could try phoning the Highland Council (highland.gov.uk) and ask to be put through to Alness or Invergordon Service Point.  One of them (can't recollect which) holds the records for Rosskeen cemetery, and they could advise you how they can help you do a search for the Duff family interments.

Sometimes gravestone searches can be unsuccessful, as alot of people back in the day in this area wouldn't have been able to afford a headstone for their loved ones, so I would recommend checking the burial records.

Kind rgds,

A
Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: macintosh on Saturday 07 May 11 18:48 BST (UK)
Johanna,
Try www.rosscromartyroots.co.uk  first item on menu is headstones.

James
Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: JohannaSandberg on Saturday 07 May 11 18:58 BST (UK)
Thank you very much James !
 I'll check it out straight away !  :)
Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: sesd on Sunday 08 May 11 18:48 BST (UK)
Hi Johanna,

I am in a B&B in Inverness with my husband's family of 5 Duff siblings. We spent yesterday and today in Portmahomack. I didn't look at all in the new cemetery, as much of our family left before the turn of the century.

We are following up on some leads which may show a connection to your Alexander and Elizabeth Jamieson.

I have 9 Alexander Duff's of Portmahomack in my file, but none of them looks promising by dates of birth, death or marriage to be yours.

Is Johanna a family name? I did see a Johanna Duff tombstone in the old cemetery (I didn't note it) and I have a Johanna, daughter of Alexander Duff and Isabell Campbell born 1857

There were 3 or 4 unrelated Duff families. Some (such as ours) were fishermen and couldn't afford monuments. So they may be buried in the cemetery, but we will never fid evidence of it.

Sharon
Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: JohannaSandberg on Sunday 08 May 11 19:40 BST (UK)
Hi Sharon !

It's my boyfriends family that are Duff's (more specific, his mother) According to his mother the Duff family where all coal miners and lived in Portmahamock. (althoug, in the marrige certificate, it doesnt look like it says coal miner on Alexander Duff.... more likely Sailor, Seaman or something with an S. )
 
I found the marrige certificate of Alexander Duff (25y) & Elizabeth Jamieson(21y) (Janurary 23, 1889), It says that his parents where David Duff & Ann Mac Kay It's very hard to read ! I cannot see what Elizabeths parents where named (I think the father was David Jamieson) I've tried to get help to read the certificate, but without luck.

On the Certificate.. it's a colum for "Usual Residence" but it's not Portmahamock.. I cannot read it.. Jangstong,.. Langton ??

Do you know if there where any coal mining activity nearby Portmahamock?

I googled and actually found a picture of Elizabeth Duff (Jamieson)
http://www.tarbat-discovery.co.uk/Photograph%20Archives/11.%20Tarbat%20People%201-111/Tarbat%20People%20-%20Page%207.html

 It's a website on Tarbat, with loads of pictures, a few of Duff people (The only one I recognized was Elizabeth, maybe some are from your family ?)

I didnt know Duff was such common name in the UK (I'm from Sweden myself) !
 Even if the people where to poor to afford a monument, would their death still be registered?

I apologize for my long message !
 I hope you're having a nice time in Portmahamock ! What's it like up there ?  :)
 Johanna
Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: JohannaSandberg on Sunday 08 May 11 19:48 BST (UK)
Wondering if.. "usual residence" for Alexander Duff & Elizabeth Jamieson 1889 (marrige certificate) doesnt say "Invergordon" if its an odd I, and that place exist.

Would that place be near Portmahamock? Maybe Duff family came from Portmahamock on Alexanders fathers side, David Duff?


Johanna
Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: JohannaSandberg on Sunday 08 May 11 19:59 BST (UK)
Sorry, I just saw that Alexander Duff worked as a "merchant navy" not coal miner (That was the Brown family ^^) hhahaha
Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: sesd on Monday 09 May 11 08:08 BST (UK)
It's a lovely sunny morning in Inverness.

In Portmahomack, there certainly were lots of fishermen. That is the occupation of most of my family. And a lot of people went into the navy and other sea related occupations.

I know David Duff & Ann MacKay

David's parents were David Duff & Ann Duff

That David's parents were Harry Duff and Anne Bruce

Ann Duff's parents were Walter Duff and Ann McKay

Ann McKay's (wife of David Duff) parents were Walter Skinner and Janet Ross who were also the parents of our ancestor Janet Skinner who married Walter Duff





Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: JohannaSandberg on Monday 09 May 11 10:36 BST (UK)
Wow ! Thank you !  ;D
 Where they all born in Portmahamock ? You dont happen to have any dates for anyone ?
I must say, I am abit confused  :P Seems like they are all called Ann (Duff & MacKay) and David ! haha.  How can you tell them apart ?
    To me it looks like it's all the same person o inbreed ! haha  :P
  But it's weird that they had the same name as their father and eventually married a girl with the same name as the mother.

How come Ann McKay's (wife of David Duff) father where called Skinner, but her last name is MacKay. Her sister Janet was called Skinner to. Weird.  :)
Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: sesd on Tuesday 10 May 11 10:42 BST (UK)
Sorry, I left out a Generation.

Jane Skinner, daughter of Walter, born 29 Nov 1813 in Tarbat By Fearn, Ross & Cromarty (which includes Portmahomack) married 13 Dec 1833 in Tain, Ross & Cromarty, Scotland, Alexander MacKay born abt 1800.

Their daughter Ann born 23 Apr 1843 in Tain, Ross & Cromarty, Scotland married in Tain, 12 Feb 1856, David Duff born 02 Sep 1835 in Tarbat By Fearn.

I don't have exact dates for Walter Skinner and Janet Ross.

I will give you more, if you want, just ask.

Everyone wants to go touring now.

Sharon
Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: JohannaSandberg on Wednesday 11 May 11 10:28 BST (UK)
Aaah okej. ! So Jane Skinner and Janet Skinner was sisters ?


I would love to know more about the Duff family if you know anything else. It's hard to find out anything without paying loads ! =/

 Do you know anything about David Duff & Ann MacKay's son (b 18 mar 1862)Alexander Duff (married to Elizabeth Jamieson b. 1868?) It's from Alexander my boyfriend comes from. But we know nothing about Elizabeth Jamieson or well...anything but Alexanders birth and their marrige date. I dont know how many kids they got or anything.


I hope you are having fun, and that the weather is nice over there =)
¨
Johanna
 

Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: ShashF on Tuesday 09 August 11 22:28 BST (UK)
Hi Sharon

I've just registered on rootschat and came across your post regarding the Duff's.  I am trying to trace my tree in South Africa but I've hit a brick wall.  Would you by any chance know of a Robert Alexander Duff (I'm told he came from Glasgow, Scotland) that suddenly disappeared between 1870 - 1888.  My great grandfather 'appeared' in South Africa and the only reference I can find is a marriage transcription dated 1888 (full age)with no other info about him.  The reason when, why and how he came to South Africa I just can't find out from anyone.  I don't have his date of birth or parents names or any info at all which makes it very difficult to trace.  I don't even know when or where he died as none of my family that I am in contact with know anything about him.  I was hoping that someone might have a missing person that by some slim chance might be him. I would be very grateful if you could have a quick check and let me know.  Regards Sharon P.S. It's not a typo ... I'm also a Sharon.

Please see separate post here:
www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,555056.msg4078748.html
Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: stevepaton on Sunday 01 April 12 17:11 BST (UK)
Hi Joanna
I have just found out that my Grandmother  who is 89 yrs old is the Grandaugter of Alexander and Elizabeth Duff her maiden name is Alexandrena Duff Carnie.
Her mother and father lived in Newhaven in Edinburgh Scotland she had 3 sisters and 2 brothers.
Alexander and Elizabeth had nine children 5 girls and 4 boys. Jim Duff,Daniel Duff,Walter Duff are the names she could remember. Walter was known to my Gran as Uncle Berty he was in the Navy and his Grandson Paul Duff lives near me in Broxburn West Lothian Scotland.
Hope this helps and you have now got me interested in looking deeper into my family tree.
Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: Mark Forsyth on Friday 20 October 17 21:52 BST (UK)
Walter and Ann duff are my great great great grandparents. I have the family tree down to me if you would like it?
Title: Re: Help ! Duff Family in Scotland
Post by: Gillyt12 on Tuesday 16 August 22 13:54 BST (UK)
Hey just came across this be it a couple of years later  my family are the duffs originally from portmahomack. My grandad was brought up in leith and this is his parents names. What is connection with yourself?