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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Aberdeenshire => Topic started by: Liviani on Tuesday 18 July 17 20:40 BST (UK)
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I realise this is very much a long shot as I've tried for a while now to find out more about this lady and there is very little for me to go on. Coupled with the fact that 'Anderson' is an insanely common name all over Scotland. Although, you never know, I may have missed something and this is me reaching out. I'd be eternally grateful to anyone who may find something for me to go on.
Note; She was born in Aberdeenshire but spent the majority of her life in Kincardineshire. Though I am looking for anything that could lead me to who her mother is in Aberdeenshire.
Helen Margaret McQueen Anderson was my great-grandmother. I have seen her birth, marriage and death certificates.
Her birth record states she was illegitimate, born 17th February 1883, New Aberdour, Parish of Aberdour.
Mother's name; Maggie Anderson a Domestic Servant. Father's name is blank. I have no further information on her mother.
Helen b.1883 married George Hosie Sheret in Stonehaven 1904 and they had the following children all of the below are deceased;
Alice b.1906 Garvock, Kincardineshire
Charles Ewan b.1907 Marykirk, Kincardineshire
Ellen Margaret b.1909 Garvock, Kincardinshire (my grandmother)
Isabella b.1911 Marykirk, Kincardinshire
George Hosie b.1915 Fordoun, Kincardinshire
Helen died 1918 in Pitgarnie, Marykirk, Kincardinshire her widower was the informant and gave her mother's name as Maggie Anderson a domesitic servant father blank.
Her widower, George Hosie Sheret re-married in 1920 to a Fanny Wilson at Logie Pert, Angus.
I have the 1911 census featuring George Hosie Sheret and Helen Anderson. It appears that she went by both Helen and Margaret in various records. This was also the case for my grandmother (Ellen Margaret) as she is in this census aged 2 named 'Margaret Sheret'. They were residing in Marykirk in 1911.
Their daughter Isabella died 1930, Dundee. The informant for her death is George Hosie Sheret again, her father. It states that Isabella's mother's name is; Margaret Anderson Sheret m.s. Knight ??? ??? ??? I have no idea where this 'Knight' comes into it from what I have.
On both Helen M M Anderson's marriage and death certs; her mother 'Maggie Anderson' is not noted down as deceased. Whether this means she was still living or if the information just wasn't known at the time, but it may prove useful.
I also feel that the 'McQueen' is useful, though I haven't been very fruitful with my searches. I have scoured the internet for anything I can about Aberdour Parish in Aberdeenshire and haven't come up fruitful. I have seen the name 'McQueen' pop up often but this must be a relatively common name in the area and I can't seem to match it to anything.
I don't know where she is in 1891 and 1901 either.
If anyone could help with this very frustrating query as I'm utterly stuck. :-X :-X :-X
Many thanks.
Liviani
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Could Helen's mother Maggie have married after her birth to a Mr Knight?
There is only one possible marriage for this:
A Maggie Ann Anderson married a James Knight in 1886. Marriage took place in Durris, Kincardineshire.
Monica
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Could Helen's mother Maggie have married after her birth to a Mr Knight?
There is only one possible marriage for this:
A Maggie Ann Anderson married a James Knight in 1886. Marriage took place in Durris, Kincardineshire.
Monica
I'm not sure as I checked SP for death records for a Ma (name begins with) Knight other name Anderson with no date restrictions and only one comes up as below;
KNIGHT
MARGARET
37
1898
168/1 1283
St Nicholas
This would put her year of birth at 1860 or 1861. The Maggie Ann Anderson from the marriage cert you posted was 26 in 1886 so probably 1860 and I think it's the same person. So if this Margaret/Maggie died in 1898 she would've probably been noted as deceased on Helen Anderson's Marriage cert in 1904 and her death cert in 1918. Of course, perhaps the information just wasn't known.
I'm not sure at present. Will do some more digging with these names.
Many thanks for looking this up for me.
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A few months ago I had searched census records and came across one that is a possible match for Helen M M Anderson. I had some difficulty finding it again.
I do not know if this is her, but she's a tough cookie to track down. My gut instinct tells me this isn't her given the parish of birth stated. But this could easily be a mistake. Given that Helen M M Anderson was born in February 1883 it's likely that every census she is in would mean her year of birth worked out from the age is accurate. Of course this is only if the true age is entered.
As Helen M M Anderson was illegitimate and her mother was a Dom Serv. Then I feel it's likely she would've been brought up by relatives unless her mother married after she was born.
The head of this household is a Mary A Knox aged 50 and is a widow. Let me know your thoughts on this one guys if you can? It's a puzzling one.
Kirkhill , Old Deer , Aberdeenshire.
Helen Anderson 9 Niece Female birth year 1882 b. Aberdeenshire
Copy & Paste removed.
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Could Helen's mother Maggie have married after her birth to a Mr Knight?
There is only one possible marriage for this:
A Maggie Ann Anderson married a James Knight in 1886. Marriage took place in Durris, Kincardineshire.
Monica
Hi Monica.
Scratch all of my above threads as you have proved to be correct with finding that marriage!
I have access to newspaper archives and for some reason I do not know why I hadn't checked this before now. Thankfully (although the story is harrowing) I've found out where the name "Knight" comes from and I will now go ahead and order an image of this marriage cert.
Thank you so much for this suggestion.
I've attached a snippet of the article so you can see.
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Bad, bad man. Poor Helen. Her early years must have been so hard....
I will send you the image of the 1886 marriage if you can send me your email via PM.
I have a feeling we are going to struggle too with mother Maggie Ann's origins :-\ Not sure on her main maiden name and whether mother Isabella actually married a Francis Anderson, or whether Isabella was actually Anderson (not a Smith) and details were made up for the 1886 marriage registration. Started looking at this all last night...but had to get to bed!
Just for now. I thought mother Margaret, now Knight, might have been working as a domestic servant in the McHardy household for 1891. There is a Margaret Knight, and a son Alexader aged 1 and born in Aberdeen, living in the McHardy home at Cairnfauld (a farm I think), Durris. Would be easy enough to check if you look at the birth cert for Alexander Knight. There are only two showing in Aberdeenshire in 1889 and 1890.
In 1901 there is an Alexander Knight, aged 11 and born in Aberdeen, showing at the Orphanage Aberlour www.childrenshomes.org.uk/AberlourOrphanage/
Odd link here. This orphanage has strong links to the Dowans in Aberlour. The Dowans belonged to my husband's family from the early 1930s to war time when it was requisitioned for Officers' quarters https://www.dowanshotel.com/the-hotel/
Looks like searching for Helen's roots will continue for a while yet..... ::)
Monica
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Out of curiosity, who were the parents of the wicked stepfather James Knight? I have 'lost' a whole string of Knights including a James, born 1843 in Keith, parents George Knight and Ann(e) Leslie.
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Forfarian, below is a clip with James Knight's details from the 1886 MC:
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Thanks, Monica. Not my missing James, then. (It was a bit of a long shot!)
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Worth checking as always!
Alexander Knight mentioned was a half brother to Helen then. He married an Agnes Munro Mills in 1911. Both parents look to still be alive (assuming he was aware of their whereabouts...).
Now that we have a middle name for him to work with, his birth is one of the two possible birth entries I mentioned earlier.
Alexander Burne Knight, 1890 in Aberdeen Old Machar - ref 168/2 479.
An Alexander B Knight, aged 82, died in 1972 in Stonehaven. Likely his death reg you would think.
From the marriage:
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Maggie Ann Anderson/Knight's death is the one you mentioned you had seen in the index in 1898 in Aberdeen. Her mother Isabella is showing as having a maiden name of Anderson, the same as the father that is recorded, again, a Francis Anderson:
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I am going to add these references that I had from yesterday before I loose the tabs on them!
Maggie Ann is likely to also be complicated to trace. I think her mother Isabella likely didn't marry Francis Anderson. On Maggie's DC, mother shows as Anderson too for her maiden name. Need more info really.
In 1891, with the entry I had listed above at Cairnfauld where young Alexander showed with mother Margaret Knight, she showed as born in MacDuff, Banff. I wonder whether this could be her entry here: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XY5D-NXN
Still don't really have firmer entries for Maggie from 1861-81 therefore hard to know anything about her mother Isabella for now.
Monica
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Helen had another half sister, Elizabeth McCon...? Knight, born in Durris in 1888. I think this is her in 1901:
Elizabeth M Knight, Boarder b. Durris. Showing as a boarder at the House of Bethany at St Marchar, Aberdeen.
This is also an orphange. Would fit with what we found also for Alexander Knight.
In 1891 she is with her father boarding:
James Philip 58
Jane Philip 63
James Knight 30 boarder gen lab. b. Fetteresso, Kincardineshire
Elizabeth McC Knight 4 boarder b. Durris
Address: 17 Young St, Aberdeen
Monica
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The head of this household is a Mary A Knox aged 50 and is a widow. Let me know your thoughts on this one guys if you can? It's a puzzling one.
Kirkhill , Old Deer , Aberdeenshire.
Helen Anderson 9 Niece Female birth year 1882 b. Aberdeenshire[/color]
If you purchase the marriage certificate of Robert Knox & Mary Anderson, (married 1870), then you will find out Maggie Ann's parentage, as Mary must be her sister!
flst
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Hi everyone. That's me just getting around to all of this now today.
There is certainly much to take in and I really do appreciate all of the help given here. Monica, I cannot thank you enough for looking out these certificates!
Ok, I will begin with the 1891 census where there is a Helen Anderson aged 9 living at Kirkhill, Old Deer. She is down as niece here with the head of the household being a Mary A Knox, Widow. I did as flst suggested and ordered the marriage cert of Robert Knox and Mary Anderson 1870 Parish of Old Deer. Robert Knox' residence is Kirkhill so this matches up with his widow being there in 1891. I will include a snippet of Mary's parent's in this post. As you can see her parent's are named as George Anderson, a Joiner and her mother is an Anne Anderson m.s. Findlay. ??? ??? ???
This could mean either Margaret Anderson spoke untruths (whether deliberately or not) on her marriage cert and thereafter her parents are also recorded wrongly on her death cert or the 9 year old Helen Anderson in 1891 is a completely different Helen Anderson. Though, I do get the feeling I've barked up the wrong tree with this one. However, this begs the question where in the world is Helen in 1891? Not finding her anywhere. She would've still been a child, and probably not old enough to be in full-time employment in this era. She isn't with her step-father (thankfully) nor is she with her mother. ??? ???
Interestingly, regarding the newspaper article that features the evil step-dad James Knight ill-treating Helen, it was written in February 1891. This was before the 1891 census being taken on 5th April 1891. So, two months prior to the census this court case was taking place. The family appear split up after this, with Helen nowhere to be found, Margaret with Alexander and James Knight boarding with his daughter Elizabeth. I do have a feeling that the entire family just broke down completely with divorce being out of the question in those days. I am saddened that James wasn't immediately imprisoned for what he did to Helen. Later on in the article it states that neighbours often saw Helen outside in the cold, shivering and crying. It also states that James had accused his wife of being 'a drinker and was often intoxicated' so he took his frustrations out on his step-daughter. The neighbours had reported that they hadn't seen Margaret intoxicated but they had seen James himself very frequently under the influence! All in all he appears to be a completely unpleasant man and I hold him in disdain.
I agree with what was found in the census regarding Helen's half-siblings Elizabeth McC Knight and Alexander Burne Knight. The fact they are both in an orphanage in 1901 is indicative of their circumstances with their mother dying 1898 just 3 years prior. From my understanding, children were often regarded as orphans even if one parent was still alive, particularly if it was the mother that had died. By 1901 Helen was an adult.
I have just done a quick search of the 1901 census and I may have found Helen M M Anderson.
Address; Bank Head, Durris, Kincardineshire
Margaret Anderson (going by Margaret here, which is one of her middle names). Servant, Single, Female, 18, General Serv (domestic). Place of birth; Aberdour, Fife. The 'Fife' has to be an error by someone because we know it's Aberdour, Aberdeenshire that she was born in, I have seen her birth cert to see this.
The head of this household is a George Esson, 48, Farmer.
What is interesting here is that below Helen aka Margaret there is a person named Francis Anderson, Male, aged 18, Ploughman born; Kincardineshire. He can't be Helen/Margaret's twin as their places of birth are very different, though he could be some sort of relation given that the name Francis keeps popping up in Helen's documents?
Monica, I have ordered the birth cert for Margaret Ann Anderson 1859 Banff. I do believe this is her as there aren't really any others that match. I have attached a snippet of this birth cert. Unfortunately, she was illegitimate as a few of you had initially thought. The father's name is blank again, her mother is Isabella Anderson. I wonder if anyone can make out the place of birth? Could it be Gellymill Street, Macduff?
This is all I have for now, again, thank you for all the help everyone, and a special thank you to Monica for the images provided to me.
These Anderson women are tough to crack! Never have I experienced so much frustration with any branch, but I still enjoy it, all part of the fun and games.
Liviani
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I certainly think you can rule out the 1891 Helen as being your one.
Yes, I think the address is correct. :)
flst
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Hi again, decided to check the 1861 census for Anderson's in Macduff given the birth cert of Margaret Ann in 1859.
I have found the following.
There is a 35 year old Isabella Anderson at Gellymill Street in 1861. However, I am a bit disappointed with the way the census has come through. There is no head of the household available to view. She is simply stated as a wife and some children are on there also. Can this be sorted somehow? I'm a bit lost here as I've never seen this happen before with any census index. I have no idea if this is the same Isabella. :( :(
Image attached so you can see what I mean.
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Looks like the page you are viewing is a continuation from the previous page. To view that, you have to use a further 6 units :-\
From a transcript you have:
Francis Anderson 69 head pauper b. Gamrie
George Anderson 11 son b. Gamrie
Robert Anderson 9 son b. Gamrie
Patrick S Anderson 6 son b. Gamrie
Christian Anderson 1 b. Macduff
Isabella Anderson 35 wife b. Gamrie
Margaret Jameison 18 cousin domestic servant b.Gamrie
Address: Gellymill St, MacDuff
Monica
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Patrick above shows as the son of Isabella Anderson. Born 1855 (the magic year for Scottish BMDs with lots more info for one year). https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYT7-1W5
Another child, Isabella in 1857 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYGV-HJW
Can't see a Christina Anderson born in MacDuff 1859-60. Wonder if the Christina in that 1861 should be Maggie Ann?
Monica
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In 1851, Isabella Anderson is showing, not surprisingly, as the daughter of Francis Anderson:
Francis Anderson 59 Farmer (of 60 Acres Employing 1 Lab) b. Gamrie
Isabella Anderson 19 daughter housekeeper b. Gamrie
Christian Anderson 17
Francis Anderson 10
John Anderson 9
Christian Anderson 97 mother farmer's widow, b. Aberdour
Frances Massie 5
Robert West 25
Margaret Kidd 58
Ann Bruce 45
Address: Haddolays, Banff
If correct family for Isabella, it may be that Maggie Ann gave grandfather's details as her father's name on the MC. Many mixed up family details and names to cover up illegitimacy...
Monica
ADDED: I think Francis' wife and mother to the above was an Isabel MASSIE going by some birth indexes.
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Looks like the page you are viewing is a continuation from the previous page. To view that, you have to use a further 6 units :-\
From a transcript you have:
Francis Anderson 69 head pauper b. Gamrie
George Anderson 11 son b. Gamrie
Robert Anderson 9 son b. Gamrie
Patrick S Anderson 6 son b. Gamrie
Christian Anderson 1 b. Macduff
Isabella Anderson 35 wife b. Gamrie
Margaret Jameison 18 cousin domestic servant b.Gamrie
Address: Gellymill St, MacDuff
Monica
Ah many thanks again Monica. Quite frustrating about the census, I didn't realise that could happen as I haven't come across this before.
So, having done a search again for any marriage on SP for Isabella and Francis, there is nothing. I feel that this 'marriage status' isn't true and was given over to hide the true status. It could even be that Isabella is in fact Francis' daughter given the ages?? ??? ??? ???
I wonder if all of these children are Isabellas. Time for more research.
Jill
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Jill, I have just added the 1851 census entry above. Looks like Isabella was Francis' daughter not wife. Not sure why she shows as wife in 1861 ???
Monica
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In 1851, Isabella Anderson is showing, not surprisingly, as the daughter of Francis Anderson:
Francis Anderson 59 Farmer (of 60 Acres Employing 1 Lab) b. Gamrie
Isabella Anderson 19 daughter housekeeper b. Gamrie
Christian Anderson 17
Francis Anderson 10
John Anderson 9
Christian Anderson 97 mother farmer's widow, b. Aberdour
Frances Massie 5
Robert West 25
Margaret Kidd 58
Ann Bruce 45
Address: Haddolays, Banff
If correct family for Isabella, it may be that Maggie Ann gave grandfather's details as her father's name on the MC. Many mixed up family details and names to cover up illegitimacy...
Monica
ADDED: I think Francis' wife and mother to the above was an Isabel MASSIE going by some birth indexes.
Hi again, seems like we posted at the same time. I did think she was in fact his daughter. My goodness what a messy old family these Andersons are!!
I wonder if Maggie Ann actually believed her Grandfather was her father.
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This looks to be Isabella in 1871. Wonder what her marital status is for this entry?:
Isabella Anderson 45 pauper b. Gamrie
Mary J Anderson 8 b. Macduff https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYPK-7XG
Isabella Anderson 5 b. Macduff https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYPK-QHP
Address: 19 Carmelite St, Banff
Have a look at the index for Mary J above ::) Tired now. Still to figure them out for sure!
Monica
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Patrick above shows as the son of Isabella Anderson. Born 1855 (the magic year for Scottish BMDs with lots more info for one year). https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYT7-1W5
Another child, Isabella in 1857 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYGV-HJW
Can't see a Christina Anderson born in MacDuff 1859-60. Wonder if the Christina in that 1861 should be Maggie Ann?
Monica
Sorry, missed this post. I don't think Christina in 1861 is Maggie Ann. Maggie Ann's birth cert is 8th October 1859.
There are so many 'missing' children all over the place here. I can only think she's been boarded our or something given that Isabella is a Pauper here and probably couldn't afford to keep her. Maggie Ann would've been 12 in the 1871 census (as her birthday is October). I can only think she's out employed somewhere?
Liviani.
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This looks to be Isabella in 1871. Wonder what her marital status is for this entry?:
Isabella Anderson 45 pauper b. Gamrie
Mary J Anderson 8 b. Macduff https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYPK-7XG
Isabella Anderson 5 b. Macduff https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYPK-QHP
Address: 19 Carmelite St, Banff
Have a look at the index for Mary J above ::) Tired now. Still to figure them out for sure!
Monica
I can't help but think bad things about Isabella here ;D She's a VERY complicated woman!
I've checked the link for Mary J and shocked again! I really do hope this is a 'cover-up' for illegitimately and not something more sinister! If you get my drift? :o :o :o :o
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There is a 35 year old Isabella Anderson at Gellymill Street in 1861. However, I am a bit disappointed with the way the census has come through. There is no head of the household available to view.
It happens quite a lot. Look them up at www.freecen.org and you should see who the head of the household was.
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There is a 35 year old Isabella Anderson at Gellymill Street in 1861. However, I am a bit disappointed with the way the census has come through. There is no head of the household available to view.
It happens quite a lot. Look them up at www.freecen.org and you should see who the head of the household was.
Have done and it's the Francis Anderson who is actually her father. :o
Further update to this family.
Have a look at the newspaper clipping attached. The date of this article is 30 March 1860 from The Elgin Courier. I think the child mentioned here is Isabella Frances Anderson; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYGV-HJW
Deaths index on SP suggests it is her that died due to burning;
ANDERSON
ISABELLA FRANCE
2
1860
147/1 35
Banff Burgh
Also there is mention of Isabella's children here on this site under "Find the father"
http://www.oldscottish.com/gamrie.html
Jill.
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Deleted as post below posted twice.
Ignore.
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This looks to be Isabella in 1871. Wonder what her marital status is for this entry?:
Isabella Anderson 45 pauper b. Gamrie
Mary J Anderson 8 b. Macduff https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYPK-7XG
Isabella Anderson 5 b. Macduff https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYPK-QHP
Address: 19 Carmelite St, Banff
Have found a transcription of this. It appears FindMyPast have her age as 85. :o :o Obvously mis-transcribed as who would be giving birth aged 80. ;D
Both children here are down as her daughters.
Her marital status is Widow! ::)
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Horrible story regarding the toddler Isabella Frances :-\
In respect of the ongoing searches....Francis and Isabella were married! He was indexed as Fras. - https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XT2Y-QTB
He looks to also have had a daughter Isabella, who showed in 1851 in the household (need to check 1841 too). With there being two Isabella Andersons connected to Francis Snr, we have to consider that either one could be the mother of Maggie Ann. It could have been daughter who came home to have baby or Isabella who married Francis who was already with him at the time of Maggie Ann's conception and birth at the beginning of October 1859...
Francis died in 1863. This is his birth indexed entry from FS https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XY64-W7V
Marriage and death for Francis clipped below. From the parents' names for Isabella Anderson on the marriage register, this looks to be her FS index entry for birth https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XY67-QS7
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Francis obviously kept thing simple and kept to the same name for his women! I think first wife also called Isabella? From 1841:
Francis Anderson 50 farmer
Isabella Anderson 35
Mary Anderson 15
Isabella Anderson 11
Margaret Anderson 9
Francis Anderson 9 Months
James Smith 20
Jessie Cumine 15
Address: Haddoleys, Gamrie
We had this earlier for 1851:
Francis Anderson 59 Farmer (of 60 Acres Employing 1 Lab) b. Gamrie - widower
Isabella Anderson 19 daughter housekeeper b. Gamrie
Christian Anderson 17
Francis Anderson 10
John Anderson 9
Christian Anderson 97 mother farmer's widow, b. Aberdour
Frances Massie 5
Robert West 25
Margaret Kidd 58
Ann Bruce 45
Address: Haddolays, Banff
From some of the children's birth entries in the OPRs, I think first wife was an Isabel MASSIE.
Monica
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Horrible story regarding the toddler Isabella Frances :-\
In respect of the ongoing searches....Francis and Isabella were married! He was indexed as Fras. - https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XT2Y-QTB
He looks to also have had a daughter Isabella, who showed in 1851 in the household (need to check 1841 too). With there being two Isabella Andersons connected to Francis Snr, we have to consider that either one could be the mother of Maggie Ann. It could have been daughter who came home to have baby or Isabella who married Francis who was already with him at the time of Maggie Ann's conception and birth at the beginning of October 1859...
Francis died in 1863. This is his birth indexed entry from FS https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XY64-W7V
Marriage and death for Francis clipped below. From the parents' names for Isabella Anderson on the marriage register, this looks to be her FS index entry for birth https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XY67-QS7
Hi Monica just a quick reply before I have to go out. Many many thanks for this info. If I didn't think they were complicated enough they manage to come up with more difficult situations!
Just so I understand it.
Francis original wife was an Isobel Massie, I've found the index of their marriage on SP
MASSIE
ISOBEL
FRANCIS ANDERSON/
30/05/1824
155/
30 680
Gamrie and Macduff
I've had some trouble finding a death record for Isobel Anderson or Massie though.
Just so I understand it, as these people are quite complicated.
Francis first married an Isobel Massie and she must've died or he was a bigamist and thereafter married another Isabella, her maiden name could be Anderson?
Got to leave it it for now will be back later.
Many thanks again.
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First wife, Isabel Massie, looks to have died pre 1851 as Francis Anderson is showing as a widower in that census (I got this from the FreeCen transcript).
Pre 1855, there may be no record of her death and burial in the OPR unfortunately.
By the way, if you have access to A/try, there are a number of family trees for the lines of Francis Anderson and Isabel Massie showing there. Good background and details on Francis's first family. None of them seem to show details on Francis' second marriage to Isabella Anderson.
Monica
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With there being two Isabella Andersons connected to Francis Snr, we have to consider that either one could be the mother of Maggie Ann. It could have been daughter who came home to have baby or Isabella who married Francis who was already with him at the time of Maggie Ann's conception and birth at the beginning of October 1859...
I've had a look at Francis Anderson and Isabella Anderson's marriage cert to compare the signature of Isabella to the Isabella on Maggie Ann's birth cert. Both are just 'her mark'. So from this I feel that the 'wife' Isabella daughter of Robert Anderson and Elizabeth Ferrier is Maggie Ann's mother.
Question remains though why is the father's name blank on this, even if Maggie was illegitimate? They married only 2 months later. ??? ??? ???
I suppose the father is someone else, and she was just told that Francis is her father, even if he wasn't, hence him popping up on Maggie Ann's marriage and death certs.
Haven't got access to A/try at the moment, just a free account.
Thanks once again.
Edit: Just had a thought pop into my head again. My great-grandmother was Helen Margaret M(a)cqueen Anderson. I've not found any reference to a 'M(a)cqueen' anywhere. Having said that it could be a non-relation with this name. Just found it a bit strange.
Have to say the family tree I'm making for this branch is a complete dog's dinner at the moment. ::) ::) ::)
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Question remains though why is the father's name blank on this, even if Maggie was illegitimate? They married only 2 months later. ??? ??? ???
Even if the entire parish knew perfectly well who the father of an illegitimate child was, the father's name could only be included on the birth certificate if he went to the Registrar with the mother when she went to register the birth, and signed the certificate at the same time. The father's name cannot be added later, but if the parents are subsequently married, and the parents were both free to marry at the time of the child's conception, the birth can be re-registered as legitimate. However most people didn't bother about this.
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Last thing for now from these years that would make me happy would be to find a trace of Maggie Ann in either 1861 or the 1871 census. The Christina aged 1 in 1861 is a puzzle (cannot see a corresponding birth for her).
Would also be good to find Francis' daughter Isabella in 1861 and 1871. She died in the 1880s, unmarried. In 1881 she was living alone at 26 Clergy St, showing as aged 48 and a 'Domestic Servant Unemployed'.
Monica
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Last thing for now from these years that would make me happy would be to find a trace of Maggie Ann in either 1861 or the 1871 census. The Christina aged 1 in 1861 is a puzzle (cannot see a corresponding birth for her).
Would also be good to find Francis' daughter Isabella in 1861 and 1871. She died in the 1880s, unmarried. In 1881 she was living alone at 26 Clergy St, showing as aged 48 and a 'Domestic Servant Unemployed'.
Monica
Hi Monica,
I agree. I will get back to the family tree properly in the coming week and see what I can find.
Many thanks,
Jill.
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Last thing for now from these years that would make me happy would be to find a trace of Maggie Ann in either 1861 or the 1871 census. The Christina aged 1 in 1861 is a puzzle (cannot see a corresponding birth for her).
Monica
Found a possible for Maggie Ann in 1871.
Longman Hamlet, Gamrie, Banffshire.
Head - William Cruickshank, Married, 32, Farmer of 32 Acres. He listed with his wife and daughter.
Margaret Anderson, 12, Servant in relation to head, also down as a scholar. Place of birth - Macduff, Banffshire.
Her birth cert does state; Gellymill Street, Macduff.
Thoughts?
Thanks again,
Jill
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That looks a likely entry for her, Jill :)
Monica