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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: ShaunWADonaldson93 on Sunday 10 February 19 16:03 GMT (UK)
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I am trying to make out the witnesses to the baptism it should be Charles Hay of Rannes and his son Alexander because my ancestor (James Donaldson) was servant to them and went to Battle at Culloden with his son Andrew of Rannes on the Jacobite side.
Just looking for some opinions because it doesn't really look like it says Charles, it looks like Alexander Hay Rannes his Son Alexander and not sure on the last two words?
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This is what it says:
...witnesses A
lexander Hay Rannes his Son & Alex(ande)r Russel in
[Cenaye?]
Quite how that should be interpreted is another matter. Is there evidence of a Rannes Hay in the records?
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Yes there is evidence of his father James Donaldson being servant to Andrew of Rannes transported after Culloden etc. Charles is the father of Andrew and also has a son called Alexander which is why I would have expected Charles and his son Alexander or Andrew, no idea who the last witness would be.
http://leith-hay.org/?page_id=784
https://deriv.nls.uk/dcn23/1283/0085/128300853.23.pdf
https://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=ancestorsearch&id=I360
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Well this is what I am seeing:
Donaldson Alexander, son of James Donaldson of Janet Wilson m/in? Rannes was baptised, witnesses A
lexander Hay Rannes his son of Alexr Russol in/m Glenaye.
These all important little words/abbreviations &/of and m/i
Quite usual to see written 'of' for the mother .. a race horse pedigree is sometimes written 'of'. In this case it does not much matter Janet Wilson is the mother of Alexander Donaldson.
m/in? Does this mean she/they were married in Rannes or that she was born Wilson married a Rannes and now has a child to James Donaldson?
Was there an Alexander Russell Hays? and did he have a son named Alexander Hays? Cannot see a Charles unless what I am reading as Glenaye is meant to be Charles?
Somewhere in that extract there would be another witness? It seesm to be witnesses or could it be witnessor?
Have you got a bigger snip so we can see how the letters and phrases are written.
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My attempt...
March 9th (no yr) written above this…
Donaldson Alexander son to James Donaldson & Janet Wilson in Bannes was Baptised. Witnesses A
lexander Hay Bannes his son & Alexr Russel in Conay
Could 'Conay' be a mis-spelling of “Conway in the parish of Beauly” (then) later Kilmorack, ‘W’ being silent?
Now;
"The Parish of Kilmorack lies to the northwest of the Great Glen in the historical county of Inverness-shire. It includes the town of Beauly"
I think this would fit with 'Culloden'?
Annie