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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Topic started by: Amy Gibson on Friday 24 April 15 23:10 BST (UK)

Title: Margaret Beattie nee Wilson, m.1868- Help!
Post by: Amy Gibson on Friday 24 April 15 23:10 BST (UK)
Sorry if this isn't usual procedure, it's the first time I've posted to this forum  :P

Basically, I'm having some difficulties tracking down my g-g-g-grandmother, Margaret Wilson. I have official records of her existence from 1866 onwards, but, despite the information given on both her marriage and death record, I can't find anything about her from before then.

What I know:
- In 1866, she had an illegitimate son named Alexander Wilson, in Stranraer Wigtownshire. At this time she was working as a domestic servant, though for who I have no idea. Alexander's father is left unnamed, but the child's great-aunt, Mary Thomson, was the informant. Whether or not she was related to Margaret Wilson, I am not sure.
- Two year later, in 1868 and apparently aged 19, she married my g-g-g-grandfather, James Beattie  in Stoneykirk, Wigtownshire (his home parish). Here we are given the names of her parents- George Wilson (occupation brass founder) and Margaret Rankin (recorded as deceased). A possible relative, Thomas Rankin, witnessed the marriage.
- In successive censuses (1871, 1881, 1891, and 1911- I'm having trouble finding 1901, possibly because the family may have been moving) her birth parish is unfailingly given as Girvan, in Ayrshire.
- After raising a small flock of kids and grandkids (including my g-g-grandmother Grace Beattie, and g-grandmother Jessie) Margaret died in 1918 in Uphall, West Lothian. She was a widow of sixteen years by this point. On her death record, her parents are once again given as George Wilson (deceased by this point, but last occupation seems to have been as a general dealer) and Margaret Rankin. She was buried in Uphall along with her husband and their daughter Grace.

However, as I said above, I have not been able to find any kind of pre-1866 information on Margaret, whether birth record, census, or otherwise.  ???
Margaret Wilson is of course an extremely common name so this may be part of the problem, but I have worked away at this puzzle for a couple of months now without a single clue (I have even tried tracking down Mary Thomson and Thomas Rankine, but without much success). I may be going at this completely the wrong way but I really can't think of anything else to do and so either a fresh pair of eyes or someone who has any information on Margaret would be a great help! Or indeed, any extra info at all, whether before 1866 or not, just to help me flesh them out a bit :)

Sorry for bothering anyone, I would normally give up by now but the family history tracing is partly a birthday present for my Dad and this is the last thread left, seeing as I came up against a brick wall with the rest of the family (all from Northern Ireland and a nightmare to find!).

As I say though, any info or tips would be a great help!     :)
Thanks,
Amy.
Title: Re: Margaret Beattie nee Wilson, m.1868- Help!
Post by: keyboard86 on Saturday 25 April 15 00:00 BST (UK)
Hi Amy, no bother at all, and welcome to Rootschat!

Could this be your Margaret in 1861?

Thomas Rankin 67 occ Grocer b Kirkcolm, Wigtownshire
Margt 65 b Dundonald, Ayrshire
Margt 11 b Kirkmaiden, Wigtownshire
Mgt Wilson 11 b Girvan
Geo Finlay 8 b Kirkmaiden
Residing at Low Barnultoch, Inch, ( Wigtown) Wigtownshire

No ref given!

I have followed this family back to 1841 and at no stage is a Margaret Rankin ( Other than the mother) included in this family, although oddly in 1871 their is a Margaret Rankin 32 unmarried grandaughter b Kirkmaiden with Thomas Rankin 78 and Margaret 76?
Keyboard86
Title: Re: Margaret Beattie nee Wilson, m.1868- Help!
Post by: Joyful on Saturday 25 April 15 03:53 BST (UK)
Welcome from me too Amy :)
In 1901 the Beattie family are in Northumberland at Newcastle upon Tyne.

James Beattie 51 mar joiners lab b Scotland
Margaret "      51 mar b Scotland
William           26 unm shipping clerk b Scotland
Grace             20 unm domestic servant b Scotland
Mary              16 unm Milliner b Scotland
Andrew          13 unm  scholar b Scotland
Thomas         11 unm   scholar b Scotland
Sarah            10 unm   scholar b Scotland
Robert Hamilton 29      Van driver b Scotland Boarder
ED 08
Folio 185
Pg 18
Schedule123

I cannot find a birth in the OPR'S and can't seem to find her in the 1851 census :)
HTH
Joy
Title: Re: Margaret Beattie nee Wilson, m.1868- Help!
Post by: Joyful on Saturday 25 April 15 03:57 BST (UK)
I just noticed that there is a tree on Ancestry for the family :)

As I'm sure you know the details should be verified. :D

I t may help point you in the right direction :)

Joy
Title: Re: Margaret Beattie nee Wilson, m.1868- Help!
Post by: isobelw on Saturday 25 April 15 08:33 BST (UK)
According to one of the trees on Ancestry Margaret Wilson nee Rankin who was the mother of your Margaret died in 1855. This is good news for you as there was a lot of extra info on the certificates that year ( the first year of civil reg. in Scotland). I've had a look at the certificate for you as I had some free credits on Scotlandspeople. Margaret died at Glasgow Royal infirmary on 31st Dec 1855 age 38. She had been born in Kirkholm, Wigtownshire and she had been in Glasgow for only 3 weeks living at 18 South Coburg Street. She was the wife of George Wilson who was a Hawker. Her parents were Thomas a Rankin , Agricultural Labourer and Margaret Rankin nee Cockburn. She had had two children - Margaret and Sarah ( who has died at 1 month). No year of birth given but Margaret was the elder of the two. The informant of the death was her brother in law William Cosh or Cash ? (can't make it out) and she is buried in High Church Cemetary, Glasgow.
Isobel
Title: Re: Margaret Beattie nee Wilson, m.1868- Help!
Post by: keyboard86 on Saturday 25 April 15 09:10 BST (UK)
 :)Well found, I think the William Cosh/Cash is possibly the  22 year old in 1851 who married the daughter Jean in the above family?

Margaret Rankin again b Dundonald
Keyboard86
Title: Re: Margaret Beattie nee Wilson, m.1868- Help!
Post by: Millmoor on Saturday 25 April 15 09:18 BST (UK)
Hi

Baptism 29 Aug 1818 Kirkcolm, Wigtownshire Margaret Renkin. Parents Thomas Renkin and Margaret Cockburn.

Other possible baptisms for this couple are William 1830, Insch, Grace 1838 Old Luce, James 1833 Dundonald, Marion 1831 Dundonald, Alexander 1840 Old Luce and Laurence 1816 Dundonald.

1851 census Mull Farm Kirkmaiden  names as transcribed.

Thomas Rankin 51
Margaret Rankin 54
Mary Rankin 24
John Rankin 24
William Coash 22 Son in law
Jearsboth Cash 22
Thomas Rankin 14
Grace Rankin 12
Alexander Rankin 10
Laurence Skimming 10 grandson
Thomas Martin 7 grandson
Mararat Carrels 2 granddaughter

William
Title: Re: Margaret Beattie nee Wilson, m.1868- Help!
Post by: Millmoor on Saturday 25 April 15 09:29 BST (UK)
1841 Old Luce,Wigtownshire Mains of Park (adult ages rounded down in this census)

Thomas Rankin 45
Margt Rankin 40
Eliza Rankin 20
Mary Rankin 15
John Rankin 13
Jean Rankin 12
William Rankin 10
James Rankin 5
Thomas Rankin 4
Grace Rankin 2
Alise Rankin 4mo
Laurie Rankin 4mo

William
Title: Re: Margaret Beattie nee Wilson, m.1868- Help!
Post by: Amy Gibson on Saturday 25 April 15 10:55 BST (UK)
 ;D Thank you all so much! I've been following all these up on Scotland's People and they definitely seem to fit, and I'll explore further when I get more credits. Honestly, I've been poking away at this for ages and had half given up, so thank you for giving me such great help- this definitely opens up new doors. If anyone has any extra info, I'm still grateful for that but these responses have been a real spark.
Just can't express my gratitude  :)
Amy

P.S. Regarding the 1901 census from Newcastle (which is also a MASSIVE help), does anyone know the best way to get ahold of English records- website or otherwise? I've never had to deal with the English system before  :P
Title: Re: Margaret Beattie nee Wilson, m.1868- Help!
Post by: Millmoor on Saturday 25 April 15 11:18 BST (UK)
Amy

You would need to use one of the subscription sites like Ancestry or Find My Past to obtain the 1901 census you are looking for. Alternatively many libraries provide access to the Ancestry library edition for free.

There are also some good free resources which might save using too many credits on Scotland's People. Freecen has the Wigtownshire censuses up to 1871 (the transcriptions are better than the ones I posted earlier). The baptism/ birth records I quoted are on Family Search. Also worth a spin are the Wigtownshire Pages on Rootsweb (google Wigtownshire pages).

Good luck with your search.

William
Title: Re: Margaret Beattie nee Wilson, m.1868- Help!
Post by: Sarah Roberts on Saturday 27 January 18 22:05 GMT (UK)
I know I'm a bit late to the show but I believe we share the same Rankin ancestors from Stranraer.
Alexander Rankin (born Ireland, 1791) and his wife, Mary McGhee (born wigtownshire) are my 4th great grandparents.
They had seven children: Alexander, James, Jane (aka Jean), Richard, Thomas, William and Mary.
They were Tile and Brickmakers and either rented or owned the Clasmahew factory in Stranraer. I'm still looking into this.

Richard Rankin (born 1819) is my 3rd great grandfather, he married Sarah Armstrong and later, Agnes Watson.

Richard and Sarah's daughter, Elizabeth is my 2nd great grandmother and sister to Margaret who married David Cosh.

They were a huge family and I'm still researching them...a few 2nd and third marriages, makes it more interesting!



Title: Re: Margaret Beattie nee Wilson, m.1868- Help!
Post by: Annickburn on Friday 24 May 19 08:51 BST (UK)
I know I'm a bit late to the show but I believe we share the same Rankin ancestors from Stranraer.
Alexander Rankin (born Ireland, 1791) and his wife, Mary McGhee (born wigtownshire) are my 4th great grandparents.
They had seven children: Alexander, James, Jane (aka Jean), Richard, Thomas, William and Mary.
They were Tile and Brickmakers and either rented or owned the Clasmahew factory in Stranraer. I'm still looking into this.

Richard Rankin (born 1819) is my 3rd great grandfather, he married Sarah Armstrong and later, Agnes Watson.

Richard and Sarah's daughter, Elizabeth is my 2nd great grandmother and sister to Margaret who married David Cosh.

They were a huge family and I'm still researching them...a few 2nd and third marriages, makes it more interesting!

Hi, I see this is an oldish post but Richard Rankin and Agnes Agnew are my 3rd G Granparents through their daughter Helen Rankin.  I am not sure if Richard and Agnes ever married as nothing on OPR records. Could also be that they they had 3 children in total before Richard married Sarah Armstrong in June 1848. Perhaps the marriage/death registrations for Jane 1844 and John 1847 will confirm this.

I have just started my research on this family group so it is early days but basically Helen married John Blain/Blaine in Milton Glasgow in 1865, her daughter Agnes Blain is my linage she married William Guthrie Docherty in 1888 in Troon.  Their son David Docherty was my Grandfather.