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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => West Lothian (Linlithgowshire) => Topic started by: K Baby on Monday 22 June 15 22:16 BST (UK)

Title: Archibald CRAIG
Post by: K Baby on Monday 22 June 15 22:16 BST (UK)
I am searching for records of my Great Grandfather Archibald Craig.  He has become a bit of a mystery re his birth, mystery parents as well it would seem.  I have found a lot and this is the story so far. 
His name: Archibald Craig. Age 25 Pit Contractor Married Annie Smith 1 Mar 1878 Armdale. His parents John Craig (Pit Contractor), Jean Stewart. Her parents James Smith (Underground Manager), Ann Mitchell.
1881 Census sees him in Bathgate working as an Iron Miner. Date of Birth 1854 abt Bothwell.
1891 Census sees him in Whitburn. Coal Miner. date of birth 1853 abt Old Monkland, Lanarkshire.
1901 Census sees him in Blackridge as Colliery Brushery. Date of birth 1855, Stevenston Ayshire. From here I lose him, until 1911. Where I have found him in Nova Scotia on a census name as Creig.  I have a photo of a headstone in Brookside Cemetery 1919.  Can't find when 1904-05 the family emigrated to Canada, but most of them did.  I lost his wife Annie after the 1901 census as well, even in Nova Scotia.  I would like to find records prior his marriage and family.  Fresh eyes and ideas may enlighten.
Title: Re: Archibald CRAIG
Post by: Rosinish on Monday 22 June 15 22:58 BST (UK)
His name: Archibald Craig. parents John Craig (Pit Contractor), Jean Stewart.

Hi,

Have you tried to locate Archibald's parent's marriage?

It may also be that he was born illegitimate..........as this looks to be a possibility  ???

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQ57-FVY

Annie
Title: Re: Archibald CRAIG
Post by: Skoosh on Monday 22 June 15 23:09 BST (UK)
KB,  there are two infant deaths to an Archibald Craig in "Bathgate Mortality Records",

Janet Craig, 4 Dec' 1890 age 1, Whiteburn? f, Arch' Craig, miner,

Janet Craig, 24 Jan' 1893 age 17 mth, Whiteburn? f. Arch' Craig, miner.

Skoosh.
Title: Re: Archibald CRAIG
Post by: MonicaL on Monday 22 June 15 23:14 BST (UK)
Hi K Baby and Annie...and Skoosh!

Just to say, there is an online tree on A/try here http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/76484230/person/30345457797 (only available on a subs to the site).

It has one of Archibald and Ann's daughters Ann, b. 1880, marrying in 1902 in Scotland. Family still in Scotland likely at this time. Daughter Ann's marriage would help maybe with further details on the family. She is showing as living in Nova Scotia in 1911 and 1921, under her married surname of Kennedy. Possible migration year of either 1903 or 1904.

From these sources, possibly him travelling to Canada on 12 Aug 1905 on the 'Siberian'. Still showing as married then, born Glasgow and a miner. Can't see other family names with him on the manifest though.

Monica

PS: Daughter Ann likely married the William Kennedy who is boarding with the family in Scotland in 1901...
Title: Re: Archibald CRAIG
Post by: MonicaL on Monday 22 June 15 23:27 BST (UK)
Have you checked Scotlands People, the official pay to view site for Scottish BMDs, for wife Ann Smith's death?

There is a death showing there for an Anne Smith/Craig born c.1850. A possible death maybe for her. You can't tell from the index on SP which is the maiden or married surname until you look at the image unfortunately.

Monica
Title: Re: Archibald CRAIG
Post by: MonicaL on Monday 22 June 15 23:32 BST (UK)
Still seeing reference to family in Scotland...

Possible ref to daughter Jean Stewart Craig, marrying a Thomas Sneddon Mitchell in 1905 (marriage cert will let you confirm it is correct) and then daughter Jean dieing on 27 Oct 1959 in Bathgate, Linlithgowshire. You can confirm all this detail. All these certs will add to parents' details, if correct.

Monica
Title: Re: Archibald CRAIG
Post by: K Baby on Tuesday 23 June 15 00:03 BST (UK)
1.  Yes Jeanie Stewart Craig did marry Thomas Sneddon. :-)
2.  Annie Smith/Craig death.  No I haven't I presumed that she died in Canada, but have not found a record at this stage.  Will have to look at that death :-)
3.  Yes Ann Craig did marry William Kennedy, they and daughter Annie moved to Nova Scotia 1903 and are buried in the same cemetery as Archibald at Brookside.  I found that tree, but unfortunately they don't follow the Craig line and I have contacted them and they don't know anything apart what they have done. :-(
4.  There was a child named Janet Craig Born Whitburn 1891.  I don't know what happened to her and could find a death record.  She doesn't appear on the 1901 census.
5.  Yes have thought about him being illegitimate, but haven't found the correct John & Jean Craig (there are so many of them) or children to see if there may have been a daughter old enough, and it is more than possible.
6.  Yes I looked at that passenger list for 1905.  My grandmother Jemima said on a 1921 BC Census  that she arrived 1904.  So far haven't found a family arriving.
Title: Re: Archibald CRAIG
Post by: MonicaL on Tuesday 23 June 15 19:56 BST (UK)
How about this entry for the Craigs arriving 3 July 1913 at Halifax NS on the 'Carthaginian', departing from Liverpool? All born in Scotland. Looks like they had been there before and returning.

Archibald Craig 59 miner
Annie Craig 59
Davina Craig 18
John Craig 3

Monica
Title: Re: Archibald CRAIG
Post by: Rosinish on Tuesday 23 June 15 20:16 BST (UK)
Monica,

I just love how you get your teeth into something & give it your all  ;D

P.S. Is that why you're on early tonight...................finished business to do  ???  ;D  ::)

Annie
Title: Re: Archibald CRAIG
Post by: K Baby on Tuesday 23 June 15 20:26 BST (UK)
YES that is them.  They must have gone home for a reason, perhaps someone died. I can't find a family travelling either 1904-5 or afterwards. I don't know who the child is, presuming it is Davina's but can't find a birth for him in Nova Scotia either.  Nova Scotia Archives cannot find his death, suggested he died else where and his body returned to be buried.
Title: Re: Archibald CRAIG
Post by: MonicaL on Tuesday 23 June 15 20:35 BST (UK)
Ahh, you had this crossing entry already from 1913?

A possible 1911 census entry for Davina Craig and Annie Craig in 1911 Bathgate that might be worth checking...

Not sure who John Craig belongs to  :-\ Davina maybe too young to have a 3 year old son in 1913?

Monica

Added: Just from the index result, haven't viewed this 1911 entry. Same references (all with 662/01 006/00 016) for the following 3 Craigs. Looks like your family group for sure, still in Scotland. Archibald either in Canada or elsewhere in Scotland? The entries from Bathgate, West Lothian:

Annie Craig aged 56
Davina Craig (searched as Davina, index shows as Robina  :-\) aged 18
Jemima Craig 13

Title: Re: Archibald CRAIG
Post by: MonicaL on Tuesday 23 June 15 20:36 BST (UK)

P.S. Is that why you're on early tonight...................finished business to do  ???  ;D  ::)


Annie, you know me too well really  ;)

Monica
Title: Re: Archibald CRAIG
Post by: K Baby on Tuesday 23 June 15 22:25 BST (UK)
Oh Monica, I haven't been able to find any of the family on a 1911 Whitburn Census, only 1901. Actually I couldn't find a 1911 census I don't think. I found Davina married to Joseph MacFarlane 1919 in Nova Scotia.   She died in 1931.  Haven't found any children.
Title: Re: Archibald CRAIG
Post by: MonicaL on Tuesday 23 June 15 22:28 BST (UK)
Just went back and edited by post on the possible family in 1911. They showed in Bathgate, not Whitburn. Sorry, clumsy of me to add wrong place  :P

Also, not sure if you saw, that whilst I searched for a Davina and up came one entry, when I looked at the index results on SP, Davina showed as Robina. However, see that Archibald and Annie also had a daughter called Robina.

Monica
Title: Re: Archibald CRAIG
Post by: MonicaL on Tuesday 23 June 15 22:44 BST (UK)
Annie and Archibald's daughter Elizabeth married a Michael Gilli/es?

Some people have this entry for her and her father with her in 1911 in Cape Breton North-Victoria, Nova Scotia:

Michal Gilles 29
Elyebeth Gilles 21 b. Feb 1890
Annie Gilles 1 month
Archibad Creig 61 miner married b. Scotland. Immigration year 1905 (fits with the manifest entry mentioned earlier).

Monica
Title: Re: Archibald CRAIG
Post by: K Baby on Wednesday 24 June 15 06:46 BST (UK)
Yes there is a daughter Robina.  She married William Binnie in Scotland.  I am missing anything regarding Rachel born in 1883, I have found all others except Janet 1891 who could have died.
Bathgate makes sense with the census, Annie was born in Bathgate.  Her father James Smith is on the 1901 Whitburn census as a Widower, but can't find his death, or the death of his wife Ann nee Mitchell.  I made the assumption, that perhaps James Smith died and that is when they immigrated.  But hey how would I know.
Davina died in 1931 I think
Michael Gillis died in 1918 not sure how.  She then married a Joseph LeBlanc who died in 1937.  Not sure about her or any other children apart from Annie Catherine.
On that census 1911 in NS, I wondered about Archibald visiting or staying with Elizabeth & Michael, I have searched for his wife Annie but I couldn't find her anywhere.  My grandmother didn't get married until 1915 Jemima Craig, so she was around the area as well.  She married my Grandfather William Charles Tipton, first son born 1916 Sydney NS.
Title: Re: Archibald CRAIG
Post by: Rosinish on Wednesday 24 June 15 07:38 BST (UK)
Just a thought........have you tried using the surname variant "Craik"  ???

Annie
Title: Re: Archibald CRAIG
Post by: K Baby on Wednesday 24 June 15 08:12 BST (UK)
No I hadn't thought about the name Craik Annie.  Good Point.  Will try that too.
When I saw Creig, I thought about the accent and Craik fits too  :)
Title: Re: Archibald CRAIG
Post by: Memarules2 on Sunday 29 April 18 03:34 BST (UK)
This is my husbands family! We live on the family property in Florence, Cape Breton. William J. Kennedy Sr. and Annie (Craig) Kennedy were my husbands gr grandparents. Their son William J. Kennedy Jr. and wife Marion (Snow) Kennedy, his grandparents.Their daughter Eleanor J. (Kennedy) Fraser, his mom.