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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Kirkcudbrightshire => Topic started by: bethsdragon on Friday 15 June 12 03:25 BST (UK)
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Looking for information on Agnes Mabel Watson born to Mary Watson between 1851-1855.
I have her marriage record where she marries William Pearson and lists Mary Watson and Corral Mccormack as her parents (they were not married) and they only list Mary Watson on her death record.
Everything says she was born in Kircudbright, Kirkcudbrightshire but I have had no luck.
Any information on William Pearson before they were married in 1878 would be great also :)
Thanks in advance!
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Hi bethsdragon
This looks a possible entry for Agnes with her mother and aunts under her reputed father's surname in 1861:
Eliza Watson 45, agr. lab. b. Newton Stewart, wigtonshire
Agnes Watson 36, sister, agr. lab b. Kirkcudbt, Kirkcudbright
Mary Watson 29, sister, agr. lab b. Kirkcudbt, Kirkcudbright
Mary Sawyers 20, daughter (to Eliza) b. Kirkcudbt, Kirkcudbright
Agness McCormick 8, niece b. Kirkcudbt, Kirkcudbright
Address: High Street, Kirkcudbright.
Monica
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Ten years earlier in 1851:
Alexander Watson 67, pauper, b. Armagh, Ireland
Elizabeth Watson 43, daughter, agr. lab.
Agnes Watson 29, daughter, agr. lab.
Andrew Watson 22, son, agr. lab.
Mary Watson 12, daughter (I think this is the Mary Sawyers, daughter of Eliza from 1861).
Address: High Street, Kirkcudbright.
There is a possible entry for a Mary Watson in 1851 working away from home as a domestic servant.
Monica
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Regarding William Pearson, what were his parents' names from that 1878 marriage cert?
1881 he shows as being a game keeper and born in Newburgh, Fifeshire. By 1891 he is down as a salmon fisherman born in Aberinthy, Perthshire. 1901, change of birth place again to Kirkcudbright but still a salmon fisherman!
Parents details from his marriage will help you be more certain of his roots.
Monica
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Monica,
You are wonderful. I can't tell you how many times I have looked for Mary and Agnes and never found that!
I found a birth record on William but I am not positive it is him yet. Here is what I know.
His parents are listed as follows
1937 Death Record (by his grandson TC Pearson) John Pearson, Gas Manager & Katie Pearson md. Riley (Kirkcudbright)
1878 Marriage Record John Pearson, Gas Manager & Catherine Pearson md. Ready (Kirkcudbright)
1851 Birth ?? John Pearson & Catharine Reedie - Born in fornincation so they were not married if this is them. (Newburgh, Fife) I have yet to find something solid that shows John and Catherine married with William between 1851-1878. He lists her as Pearson each time so I think they married.
Because his records all say different places of birth I am trying to be extra careful figuring out his parents. Also trying to find why he came to Kirkcudbright and when (bef. 1878 :p ) I have a tentative thought John was born in England but it is just a possibility.
I know a lot about the Pearsons in Kirkcudbright after William got married. or so I think lol.
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How about this possible entry in 1861? Might explain why William gave his birth place as both Newburgh and Abernethy - everyone showing as born in Abernethy, Perthshire.
William Pearson 64, Cotton Winder
George Pearson 20, son, mason apprentice
Thomas Pearson 17 son, Cotton Weaver
Elisabeth Pearson 23, daughter b. Cotton Weaver
Cathrine Pearson 15, daughter b. Cotton Weaver
William Pearson 9, grandson b. Newburgh, fifeshire
Address: Street So Side, Abernethy, Perthshire
The above entry, if the right entry, would imply that William was raised by his paternal family?
Can't see much else at present other than this entry.
Monica
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This family did have a son called John I think. From 1841:
William Pearson 40, Cotton H L W
Christian Mitcheson 35
John Pearson 13
Cathrine Pearson 11
William Pearson 9
David Pearson 7
Elisabeth Pearson 5
George Pearson 1
Address: Abernethy, Perthshire
Also, guess you have looked at a birth entry on the Old Parish Registers for William's birth?
1851 Birth ?? John Pearson & Catharine Reedie - Born in fornincation so they were not married if this is them. (Newburgh, Fife)
What date was the birth? I thought this might be Catherine, mother in 1851 in Newburgh. Everyone showing as born there:
Elizabeth Hay 63 Yarn Winder Linen
John Hay 29, son
Catharine Reddie 20, granddaugher, Hand Loom Weaver Linen b. Newburgh, fifeshire
Margaret Walker 13, granddaughter
Address: Clinton Street, Newburgh Fifeshire
Possible birth entry for this Catherine shows as:
Catherine REDDIE b. 14 Aug 1830 and ch. 29 Nov. 1830 in Newburgh, Fife. Parents Thomas and Janet (HAY).
Monica
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These William's details?
William PEARSON b. 19 June 1851 and chr. 17 Aug. 1851 in Newburgh, Fife.
Parents: John PEARSON and Catharine REEDIE
From what you have, I don't think parents' married. Sometimes after an illegitimate birth (never mind being chastised by the Kirk Elders!) couples did go on to marry, but not sure that is what happened here.
If we have the right entry for Catherine, William's mother, I wonder if this is her in 1861 with a few more children:
Catherine Reddie 28, Linen Weaver b. Newburgh
Margaret Laing 2, daughter b. Brechin, Forfarshire
George Thomson 5, son b. Apper (?Upper) Clunie, Perthshire
Address: 7 Wallace Lane, Brechin Burgh, Angus
From this entry, if the right one, guessing Catherine is still unmarried and the children also illegitimate like William?
A few years later, there is this marriage showing:
CATTHREN REEDIE and JOHN LAING married on 31 Dec. 1866 in Brechin, Angus.
Given the date, this may show in 1867 on SP. Also watch spelling of Catherine. The above entry is from the IGI index and may well be how SP have indexed it.
Parents' details for this marriage will help you confirm whether this is the Catherine Reddie from Newburgh with the parents we likely already have.
Monica
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Yes. That is the William I found.
I will have to wait until I get home tonight to compare everything I have in my notebook and files.
I do remember my mom and her uncle Saying they remember hearing from Williams son that William was born in Perth. So I do think this is the right family off the top of my head.
If this is the right Catherine then she was 18 when William was born.
I will also check the 1871 census and see if I can find Catherine and John Laing to see if kids are there (George & Margaret)
My main focus right now is the Pearson line. Trying to figure out if it is English or Scottish. I've tried doing all the lines at once and made a lot of mistakes so now I keep notes and revist the other lines once I hit a wall or burn out.
I am going to look into his mother though, just because it sounds like a fun one :)
Thanks for all your help! I will update what I find later.
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Just a little advice to help....
Don't believe everything that you read ;D With illegitimate births, there is a lot of fluidity on facts ::) All the obvious reasons of people trying to cover up their origins and passing off their parents as having been married is very common. Also, very often these children as adults may have had little to no contact with either or both parents, so would either make up info for their registrations or make errors along the way.
It can lead you on a merry dance trying to work from just what is written on certs when you hit problems finding info as you have....
Monica :)
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A case in point, is the birth place Catherine Reddie is giving in later censuses. We had her in 1861 showing her birth place as Newburgh. 1871 and 1881 she is showing as Brechin. From 1881:
John Laing 45
Catherine Laing 48, factory worker b. Brechin
Margaret Laing 22
Elizabeth Laing 19
John Laing 14
Alexander Laing 10
James Laing 8
Address: 2 Wallace Lane, Brechin (Wallance Lane is also where we have Catherine Reddie for her 1861 entry).
Daughter Margaret's birth entry on the index for IGI, who we had in 1861 with Catherine, shows as: Margaret Laing or Riddie, daughter of John Laing or Catherine Riddie b. 4 March 1859 in Brechin, Angus.
Monica
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Looking abck at all my information I realized how little I had on John and Catherine.
I did have a "maybe" document of a John and Catherine but she was from Ireland.
I am keeping your finding as the most likely :)
I can't seem to connect anyone with any certainty.
Oh the joys of geneology! lol
Thanks again for your help, sometimes a fresh set of eyes and a different outlook make all the difference.
If anyone else has information on this line I'd love to hear it.
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I was pondering something I noticed on the birth record. (I know you said not to take much of it to heart because they could've lied ) It said he was a labourer from Abernethy.
Turns out there is an umarried John Pearson living in Abernethy Perth in 1851. Listed as "nephew-in-law".
He was 23 (so about the right age) would have been born about 1828.
I'm thinking this may be my John.
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I did see that entry in 1851 and thought it would be the John we had in 1841, son of William and Christian. He didn't show in the household in 1851 so that entry for 23 yr old John Pearson would fit well.
.......Hadn't gone on to check for him in later censuses but now have!
This John I think shows in 1861 here (getting hotter by the moment!). Everyone born in Abernethy apart from youngest, Catherine:
John Person 33, Stockerson Gas Work (as transcribed) b. Abernethy
Elizabeth Person 35
Elizabeth Person 9
Christina Person 6
Ann Person 4
Catherine Person 3 Months b. Perth
William Withaspoon 16, stepson
Laurance G Withaspoon 14, stepson
Address: 99 Canal St, Perth, Perthshire
The Gas Work ref above fits well with what you had (gas manager) on the certificates for Agnes.
Monica
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I think Elizabeth above has a maiden name of Greenhill. A number of births for children in the 1860s for this couple would include the parents' date and place of marriage to help you with dates. Nothing shows after 1855 so likely marriage before this date. The only way to confirm this John's parents is likely his death cert therefore.
David Pearson - 1863 in Abernethy
James Pearson - 1869 in Abernethy
Just some of the births showing for them which should include date and place of parents' marriage.
Monica
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1871 and a better hit on that occupation for this John:
John Searson 43, gas manager
Elizabeth Searson 45
William Wotherspoon 26
Christina Pearson 16
Ann Pearson 14
Catherin Pearson 9
David Pearson 7
John Pearson 4
James Pearson 1
Address: Watson Road, Abernethy
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I looked up David Pearson 1863. John Pearson Gas Manager is his father! ;D
Elizabeths maiden name is Greenhill!
One thing I don't understand is He was born July 1863. birth was registered AUg 1863 but under her maiden name it says
16th Deecmber 1865 or 1863 (?) Abernethy. - Very hard to read.
Could this be his baptism date?
I am looking for their marriage between 1851-1853. First daughter was born abt 1852. It looks like she may have been married previously with the withaspoons as his step kids.
I love this stuff :D
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I just found something that makes me 90% certain this is the correct family.
On the 1881 LDS census it lists two of Johns sons as Salmon Fisherman.
Thank you sooo much for your help. I was going in the completely wrong direction before. I'm so glad I posted and you answered.
One of these days I will wander down the road of Catherine Reddie, Reedie, Ready, Laing. lol. I will save that for when I am frustrated on another line.
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The date details and place name (Abernethy) you mention that show on David's birth cert under Elizabeth Greenhill's name should be date and place of parents' marriage. This info began to be included on Scottish birth certs from the early 1860s.
Can't see anything for the marriage on SP at all post 1855. Could it be 1853? If ever you find the images from SP hard to read due to faintness of image or a similar issue, you can always contact SP, tell them what the problem is with the relevant image ref. and they will send you via email an enhanced image. Can make a big difference. See www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/content/help/index.aspx?r=1210
Monica
PS: You have the beginning of the trail now back to Catherine Reddie...for another day!