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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Banffshire => Topic started by: Piercej on Sunday 01 April 18 21:07 BST (UK)

Title: James Thain
Post by: Piercej on Sunday 01 April 18 21:07 BST (UK)
Hi,
I am looking for information on my Great Grandfather James Thain Family b. April 1858 Findochty Scotland he immigrated to United States in 1880.  The year his daughter Agnes Thain was born (She is my Grandmother).  Agnes was born illegitimately December 1, 1880 Findochty Scotland, to Betsy Herd.  Betsy d. of Cholera when Agnes was very young (maybe three years old). When Agnes was 17 years old 1897 she immigrated to the USA to live with her father James.
Title: Re: James Thain
Post by: *Sandra* on Sunday 01 April 18 21:18 BST (UK)
Have you got access to ancestry - someone shows a family tree with james born 1858 son of James Thain born about 1834 - Findochty, Banffshire, Scotland died 1869 - Findochty, Banffshire, Scotland.
(No source given) and Mary Forbes 1834–1916 born  May 1834 - Fordyce, Banffshire, Scotland passed away 2 April 1916 - Three Hills, Kneehill, Alberta.
One tree does note - James Thain - Gunshot wound of thorax & abdomen

marriage - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XT25-1BZ

FIND A GRAVE

Mary Forbes Thain (with photograph)

   
burial - Mount Davis Cemetery Three Hills, Strathmore Census Division, Alberta.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/145718689


Mary was born Mary Forbes in Fordyce, Banffshire, Scotland in 1834 to unknown parents. She married James Thain in 1854. James Thain was born in Scotland in 1834 and died young at 35 in 1869 leaving Mary a widow with seven children. In 1888 at the age of 54 she immigrated first to North Dakota, USA then in 1903 to the Three Hills area of Alberta. Her two sons William and Henry each took up homestead properties located on the north side of what is now known as Keivers Lake. Inscription on her stone says that she lived 84 years, 10 months, 13 days.


Sandra

Note :- Scotlands People do show a death record for a James Thain in 1869

James Thain - aged 35 years - mothers maiden name Smith - 1869 - 164/ 30 - Rathven

Family Search shows the children's births - you do need to register and login but it is free.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01luh/

Title: Re: James Thain
Post by: *Sandra* on Sunday 01 April 18 21:20 BST (UK)
1861 census Public Hall Rathven Banffshire

Mary Thain 26 Ploughmans Wife.
Ann Thain   6
James Thain 3
Jane Thain   8 Months.

Sandra
Title: Re: James Thain
Post by: *Sandra* on Sunday 01 April 18 21:22 BST (UK)
1881 Rathven Banffshire

Mary F Thain   46 Worker in fish houses.
Jane Thain   20 Domestic servant.
William Thain   17 Shoe-maker Unemployed.
Henry Thain   13 Scholar.
James Thain   1
Janet Thain   2

Sandra
Title: Re: James Thain
Post by: *Sandra* on Sunday 01 April 18 21:47 BST (UK)
John Thain (father of James) married Helen Smith 30 June 1831 Rathven,Banff,Scotland.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTL9-H8D

Sandra
Title: Re: James Thain
Post by: *Sandra* on Sunday 01 April 18 21:49 BST (UK)
1841 census Findochty Bannfshire

John Thain    30 Shoemaker.
Helen Thain 25
James Thain 7 Jane Thain   5 John Thain   2

Sandra
Title: Re: James Thain
Post by: *Sandra* on Sunday 01 April 18 21:52 BST (UK)
Wiki tree with a previous generation - DNA link

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Thain-84

Sandra
Title: Re: James Thain
Post by: MonicaL on Sunday 01 April 18 22:13 BST (UK)
Just to add to all the info that Sandra has included here. Have you checked whether Agnes' mother, Elizabeth Herd died as you think?

Possibility that she was alive and died in 1916 in Aberdeen.

This was her entry with Agnes at home with family in the 1881 Census. Mother Mary Ritchie likely deceased in 1870:

James Herd 47 fisherman
Margaret Herd 25
Elizabeth Herd 23 b. Findochty
Mary Herd 21
Adam Herd 19
James Herd 14
Agnes Herd 16
Helen Herd 13
Mary Henderson 1
Agnes Thain 3 Months

Monica
Title: Re: James Thain
Post by: MonicaL on Sunday 01 April 18 22:20 BST (UK)
As Sandra mentioned for the Thain line, there is also further details on Elizabeth Herd on a/try family trees. There is a photo for Elizabeth Herd on the family tree (if you have not seen one of her before). This entry is given for her in 1891:

Alex H Buchan 43 mason's labourer
Jas Buchan 15
Maggie Buchan 13
Juluis Buchan 9
Lizzie Buchan 5
Jane Buchan 3
Hay Buchan 2
Adam H Buchan 5 Months
Elizth Herd 33 housekeeper b. Findochty

Address 36 St Paul St, Aberdeen

She is shown as mother of some of the Buchan children above starting with Lizzie. Lizzie's birth shows on www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk under both surnames, Buchan and Herd in 1886 in Aberdeen.

Monica
Title: Re: James Thain
Post by: MonicaL on Sunday 01 April 18 22:25 BST (UK)
For Elizabeth Herd in 1901:

Alexander H Buchan 54 labourer
Betsy Hird   43 housekeeper b. Findochty
Lizzie Buchan 15
Jane Buchan 14
Hay Buchan 10
Adam Buchan 10
Ritchie Buchan 9
Grace Buchan 7
Andrew Buchan 3
Arthur Buchan 2 Months

Address 142 Skene St, Aberdeen

Monica
Title: Re: James Thain
Post by: MonicaL on Sunday 01 April 18 22:37 BST (UK)
Agnes looks to have been living with her maternal family for 1891 and in the US by 1900. From 1891:

James Herd 57 fisherman
Helen Ann Herd 23
Agnes Shain 10...as transcribed, corrected to Thain
Josiah Herd 7

Address Main Street 47

She arrived in Halifax, NS on 19 Mar 1898 on the 'Californian'.

There is a death showing on Scotlands People that you could check for an Elizabeth Herd who died in Aberdeen in 1916, aged 57. Scottish death certs include the names of parents for the deceased, if known to the informant.

Monica
Title: Re: James Thain
Post by: *Sandra* on Monday 02 April 18 17:23 BST (UK)
Great stuff Monica.  I ran out of time yesterday so never got to fully look at Elizabeth Herd.  One of the causes of death was - Eryispelas 4 days. Nice to see photographs.

Sandra
Title: Re: James Thain
Post by: MonicaL on Monday 02 April 18 19:07 BST (UK)
I like the description of her with her photo:

Betsy Herd
Betsy was a very strong woman, she was very good at crocheting and made the top that she is wearing.


Monica  :)