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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Roxburghshire => Topic started by: rkive82 on Wednesday 11 March 15 03:42 GMT (UK)
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I believe George Elliott Gray was born about 1837 in Eckford, Roxburghshire and that Elizabeth E Lees was born in January 1839 in Ancrum, Roxburghshire.
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Their son was also George Elliott Gray born in Q June 1876 in Ganarew, Herefordshire, England.
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I'd really like to know who were George Senior's parents. If I can get dates of births and marriages, so much the better.
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I have the parents of Elizabeth E Lees as being John Lees (1800-1886) and Elizabeth Dickson or Dixon (1799-1882). I hope that's correct.
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I appreciate any help as my access to Scottish records is limited.
Thanks
Richard
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There was a George Elliot GRAY born 31 March 1837 and baptized 7 May 1837 at
Crailing Roxburghshire with parents Andrew GRAY and Mary SMITTAN. George and Elizabeth had a
son John born 29 June 1869 at Ancrum Roxburghshire.
Found on familysearch.org
Joy
I'll keep looking but have to go out for awhile :)
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Hello Joy,
Thanks so much. I just found the birth and baptism records for George Elliot Gray with Andrew and Mary née Smittan as parents. This looks very likely.
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If I can find the 1841 and 1851 Census records for the family, that would give me additional confidence with this info.
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Does anybody know when Andrew and Mary were born and/or when and where they married?
Thanks
Richard
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Hi Richard ,
The 1865 marriage certificate should confirm the names of both sets of parents.
http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/welcome.aspx
FreeCEN has a George Gray 14 born Crailing Roxburghshire in Jedburgh Prison in 1851 , errand boy to the "Govnor".
ev
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FreeCEN 1841(all born Roxburghshire) -
Dovemount , Wilton , Roxburghshire
Mary Gray 29 widow H/holder receiving Par. relief
Isobel Gray 8
William Gray 6
George Gray 4
- - 1(female) Names not recorded
ev
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Hi Richard
I can't readily see a marriage for Andrew & Mary Smittan. Andrew's parents could be
William Gray and Agnes Best in which case Andrew was baptized 3 March 1795. Andrew
& Mary did have a son William baptized 2 Dec 1834, so possibly the right parents.
familysearch.org (http://familysearch.org)
Joy
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Thank you Joy and Ev.
I found a Mary Smittan born 21 Sept. 1816 and baptised 1 Oct. 1816 in Perth. This is a possibility since their first child apparently was Isobel born about 1833, but Mary would have been a very young mother.
I shall see about ordering the 1865 marriage certificate; I haven't ordered certs. from the site before, but order regularly from FreeBMD / GRO.
If anyone else has info, I'd be happy to hear it.
Richard
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The marriage certificate will be viewable online If you register with SP and buy credits.
http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/Content/Help/index.aspx?r=554&409
£7 for 30 credits , 6 credits per certificate , so potentially 5 certificates for your 30 credits.
http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/Content/Help/index.aspx?r=554&413
ev
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Great. Thanks very much Ev. :)
Richard
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Hi Richard
The great thing about Scotlands People is the fact that for relatively little outlay
you actually get to look/buy copies of the original records :)
Is that your tree on Ancestry? I thought it may be as it's the only one on this family ;)
Cheers
Joy
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That is my tree on Ancestry Joy. Other Ancestry members include the Lees family, but not all can agree.
The Scotland's people web site does seem like very good value.
Thanks again for your help.
Richard
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Success. I registered with Scotland's People and purchased the marriage record (after having to play around with the viewing options).
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The parents of George Elliot Gray (28, bachelor, gentleman's coachman) were Andrew Gray, weaver, deceased and Mary Gray M.S. Smearton? This is very difficult to read so could be some other variation of Smittan or Smearton. George's residence was Moninsail ?? I can't read it.
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The parents of Elizabeth Lees (25, a spinster, a domestic servant) were John Lees, forester and Elizabeth Lees M.S. Dickson as I expected.
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Witnesses were John Lees and Agnes Lees.
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What does M.S. stand for? Maiden surname?
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I'm on my way with Scotland's People and will snoop around some more.
Thanks
Richard
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Hi Richard
You're correct M/S = maiden surname. Good luck with your searches, remember to yell
if you need help ;D ;D
Joy
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1851 Census transcription -
http://www.maxwellancestry.com/census/51transcript.aspx?houseid=79202083
Found this death , age a bit out but other details match :-\
Mary Gray(other surname Smeaton) death 1874 Jedburgh , Roxburgh , born c. 1806.
ev
Added -
1861 Census transcription -
http://www.maxwellancestry.com/census/61transcript.aspx?houseid=79206122
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Thank you Ev and Joy.
The birth places for Mary Gray in the Censuses is a little different, but all in the general area of Roxburghshire as far as I can tell. Looking at BordersFHS site, Smeaton was a family name around at that time.
The Census info on Ancestry for the same families is different in terms of spelling and Eccles, Berwick v Eccles, Roxburghshire; perhaps due to OCR v manual transcription?
I wonder if Mary Gray ever did marry Mr Turnbull and where is he?
I/We have made significant progress. Many thanks to you both.
Richard
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Strangely, I can't find the death records for George or Elizabeth. They travelled around, lived in Ganarew, Herefordshire for a while and returned to Scotland and were living with their daughter, Amelia Copeland Gray, in Galashiels in 1901.
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George, a widower, and Amelia were living in Chertsey, Surrey in 1911, but I haven't been able to trace either of them after that.
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So, Elizabeth Gray née Lees probably died in Scotland - Galashiels?
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Any info will be much appreciated.
Richard
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UPDATE: On Scotland's People I found the death record for George Elliot Gray aged 76. He died 21st Dec 1914 registered at Canongate, Edinburgh City/Midlothian. Witness: John Dickson, son-in-law.
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My search for his wife, Elizabeth Gray, 1901 to 1911, was unsuccessful.
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Richard
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Hi Richard
Well done! So he perhaps went home to Scotland to die :)
Have you searched for Elizabeth's death under her maiden name...just a thought
as I have a couple of death certs from Scotland in their maiden name. Also, have you
widened your search to include her birthplace :-\
What happened to his daughter Amy on the 1911 census with him in Chertsey Surrey? Of course
she may have married.
The hunt continues...
Joy
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Hi Joy,
I tried using Elizabeth Gray with other surname Lees - and vice versa. I didn't look at all entries with only Gray and no other names. She must have died between the 1901 Scotland Census and the 1911 England Census.
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The family don't know what happened to Amelia Copeland Gray. There is a marriage record that could be her in the FreeBMD index, but I'd have to pay £9.25 to see if it's her.
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Thanks
Richard
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UPDATE 2: With help, I found a death record on the FreeBMD index for ELISABETH (with an S) Gray in Q March 1908 registered in Chertsey, Surrey, England; vol 2a page 62 line 246.
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Family Search has the same record but it's under ELIZABETH with a Z. No wonder our hobby is so challenging. :)
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Now if info on Amelia Copeland Gray doesn't appear soon, I won't be too disappointed as this branch of my tree is somewhat distant.
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Thanks
Richard
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I was just about to post that death for you...so pleased you've found it 8)
Joy
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Now I can say we are both joyful! ;D
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I'll call this topic "completed." Thanks for all your input.
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Richard
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I now have:
Death: 21 December 1914 for George Elliot Gray, retired Coachman, son of Andrew Gray & Mary Smeaton. The address looks like 9 Home Hill, 8 Hillside St. Edinburgh. Witness was John Dickson, son-in-law. Reg district: Canongate, Edinburgh City/Midlothian. Source: Scotland's People.
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Death: Elisabeth Gray 69 died on 27th March at Chantry Road, Chertsey. She was the wife of George Elliot Gray, no occupation. Informant was her son George Gray, present at the death. Registered under ELISABETH Gray; volume 2a page 62 line 246.
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Thanks for your help everybody. I shall post again to investigate the next generation(s) back.
Richard