Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Topics - Portonian

Pages: [1]
1
Whilst researching part of my tree I came across this site with images and other information relating to James and William Hunnam who were lost with their younger brother Thomas in November 1890 off of Yarmouth on FV The Brothers.

http://www.scran.ac.uk/database/results.php?field=who&searchterm=%22James+Hunnam%22&searchdb=scran

I thought it may be of interest to anyone researching this family. There are various spellings of the name which doesnt help when researching Scotlands People. Wildcards help.

Parents of the three brothers were William Hunnam/Hannam and Jane Donaldson both born c 1812.






2
Banffshire / Cecilia Wilkie Alexander Forbes: MI Fordyce
« on: Wednesday 12 September 12 05:26 BST (UK)  »
Sacred to the memory of Alexander FORBES, formerly of Cuttlebrae in the parish of Rathven, late of Dytach and Bogton in this parish, who departed this life on the 11 April 1842 aged 92 years, and of Cecilia WILKIE his wife who died on the 20 July 1831 in the 80th year of her age. Their bodies are here deposited and this stone is erected by their surviving children Alexander, Merchant of Tepic in Mexico; John, Physician in London, Elspet and Anne, in commemoration of their worth and virtues of most loving parents and as a lasting token of filial reverence, affection and gratitude. AD MDCCCXLVIII; and

Sacred to the memory of James FORBES, late Farmer, Bogtown, who died 20 January 1822 aged 42 years much and justly regretted. This as a tribute of respect erected by Alexander FORBES and Cecilia WILKIE, his parents.

The above was provide me by Alan Davidson of Fordyce. Hopefully I will have some photos to post which he is sending.

For researchers and descendants who are working this line there seems to be some confusion over the relationship of James Alonzo Forbes and his son James Alexander Forbes to Cecilia and Alexander. Several researchers (and descendants) claim a link suggesting that James Alonzo Forbes is the brother of Alexander Forbes.

This a complete myth according to all my research and information and flows from a letter written by James' Alonzo Forbes son, James Alexander Forbes, (1805-1881)  ( a notorious embellisher of the truth and con man) who was trying to improve his standing by claiming to be the cousin of Sir John Forbes (1787-1861) (physician to Prince Albert (Queen Victoria's husband). J A Forbes was ex Inverness (according to info I have sighted and was allegedly a professor of Glasgow University-unproven) and there is no information which shows he was born in Banffshire or related to Sir Jame's father, Alexander or mother Cecilia Wilkie.

I have seen forum posts from descendants of James Alexander Forbes who claim kinship with Alexander and Cecilia claerly based on the falsehood of a letter.

I would refer researchers to :

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/30403519/James-Alexander-Forbes-The-Mischief-Making-Renaissance-Man

for info on J A Forbes and detail regarding his exploits.

Also, for researchers of James Alexander Forbes I came across this whilst doing some online research:

I [William Heath Davis] am indebted to Mr. James Alexander Forbes, Jr., for the following list of arrivals and vessels of California ports from 1774 to 1847. Mr. Forbes for years occupied the post of official government translator and keeper of the Spanish and Mexican archives in the United States surveyor-general's office for the district of California; without his aid I could not have obtained any data concerning the earlier shipping.

He was the son of the well-known pioneer James A. Forbes, who during his lifetime was esteemed and respected by all who had social and business relations with him. J. A. Forbes, Jr., was educated in Santa Clara College and, being a master of several languages, obtained the position of official translator of the laws of California in the years 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870; he had the reputation of being the most accurate translator and fluent interpreter in the state.

His father came to California in the year 1829; he was British vice-consul for many years. He married a native California lady of Castilian descent. He was a highly educated gentleman speaking the English, Spanish, and French languages with great accuracy and fluency; it was very entertaining and instructive to listen to his conversation. During his consulate his official acts gave satisfaction to his government, and his private life was irreproachable. His death occurred in 1881, at the ripe age of 79 years; he left a family of ten children.

Source:http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/history/hb75yap6.htm

I am unsure of the original source which requires verification obviously...

Source: Davis, William Heath. Seventy-five Years in San Francisco. 1929: San Francisco.

3
East Lothian (Haddingtonshire) / Ross family: Cockenzie
« on: Tuesday 31 July 12 20:10 BST (UK)  »
I'm seeking any info at all on my great uncles and aunts and their descendants from Cockenzie.

1. John Marshall Ross b   married Margaret Price Ritchie( b 1889) on 24 Dec 1909. Had at least two issue....Hannah Greig Ritchie Ross and John Marshall Ross.

2. Mary Coull Ross b 21 September 1888 Sinclair Land Cockenzie. Married
a David Neilson 17 June 1909 in Prestonpans, No known issue.

3. David Ross b 11 November 1890 Thomsons land, Cockenzie. No other detail.

4. Helen Ross b 17 May 1893 West Lorimer Place cockenzie married William Donaldson b 1892 Cockenzie on 30 April 1915.

All of the above were siblings of William Ross b 7 Set 1886 who's line is now fully documented by me.

Any assistance with the above would be greatly appreciated as I'd like to make contact with my cousins once r twice removed and send them details of their tree which I know has never been undertaken previously to any great degree.

PS Can ayy one able to shed light on details of Ross land in Cockenzie where several of my direct descendants were born? Is ther an old map of any kind that details the various land holdings, Thomson, Sinclair and Ross?



Scotskiwi
Auckland
New Zealand

4
Tipperary / Mary Evans c Clonmel 1813?
« on: Sunday 01 April 12 02:00 BST (UK)  »
Hi, seeking any info on Mary Evans b c 1813 d 19 Dec 1870 in Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand.

She was convicted and deported to Australia arriving 17 September 1834.

She was convicted at The Circuit Crown Court, whuch sat in Clonmel, Tipperary from, Tuesday 16th to Friday 19th July 1833.

Her conviction was reported in the Tipperary Free Press:
Saturday 30 July 1833

The following appeared, under the heading "Rule of Court for Clonmel." 

There was a long list of otherwise unreported convictions, and it included the following: Mary EVANS and Michael CONRAHY for stealing clothes, to be transported for 7 years. Some of those convicted of murder were sentenced to be hanged, forthwith.

I seek any information re her parents or siblings.

Mary's life is well documented from Australia arrival (She married one Charles Ashby, convict) secured her freedom and had several children born Austrlai who all eventually settled with her and Charles ain New Zealand from around 1850.

She may well not have been born Clonmel at all of course so any info re her pre conviction life would assist.


5
Hampshire & Isle of Wight / Desperately Seeking Charles Smith ancestors
« on: Sunday 15 May 11 05:44 BST (UK)  »
I am seeking assistance with lineage, parents issue and siblings of one Charles Smith b 1856 Fawley, Hampshire (d 1929 Southampton)? son of James, a contractor. (Details from marriage cert to Ellen Emma Primmer).

Charles married Ellen Emma Primmer Oct 14 1899 and it was his second marriage as far as I can determine. I have lineage of Ellen sorted so no concerns with her at all.

On 1901 census Charles is listed with a stepson William Clegg born c 1899 Woolwich. William is not anything to do with Ellen's previous marriage to a George Francis Noyce.

I have ifrom marriage cert to Ellen that he recorded as a Carter working for Southampton Corporation in 1899 at time of marriage to Ellen Emma.

Charles as advised to have fought in the Zulu wars according to family lore and received a special campaign pension. I have found several Chas Smiths in military records but cannot positively identify him as any because there are no supporting details re parents or place of birth etc. He is again advised to have been granted a pension from his service but I have found no record. There is no record of what regiment he fought in and my research on Hampshire regiments in the Zulu wars indicates they weren't there having been in Afghanistan and other campaigns.

I have found a Charles Smith on 1911 census summary living with 2 females at 1 Appleton Road but I cannot link this person to my Charles Smith as the address means nothing to anyone in the family.

Family in the UK suggested he was born at Marchwood Hampshire but my searches of Parish records (online records) haven't delivered anything. Latest suggestion is he was born at Dibden Purlieu but methinks this is grasping at straws!

He may have sired children named Rose, Kathleen, Jack (a gunnery officer at Battle of Jutland in 1916) and a Harold. Those are names that family has raised. Only one I can be certain of is Jack as he is remembered by family members due to his participation in the Jutland battle. and I have two photographs of him so pretty sure he correct and issue of Charles' first marriage. If Jack was a gunnery officer at Jutland in 1916 I am assuming he would have been born c 1890-95 or earlier probably Southampton area but only guessing.

A newspaper feature I have a copy of, on Ellen Emma says that he had five children form his first marriage. This may include the mystery William Clegg though.

If anyone can help me with any information on Charles Smith of Fawley/Marchwood or Dibden Purlieu or otherwise  and his lineage it would be greatly appreciated as he remains the only branch of the tree that I have compiled that is almost blank.


Scotskiwi
New Zealand







6
East Lothian (Haddingtonshire) / Death William Ross Fisherman Cockenzie 1945
« on: Friday 06 May 11 19:41 BST (UK)  »
Hi

trying find details re an uncle as above, Born c 1912 and tried get death cert from Scotlands People with no joy as still can't seem to buy credits as their World pat server doesn't seem to like New Zealand purchasers and keeps giving a kill page message to me and try again later. Giving up. . His name is on the war memorial in Cockenzie near Lorimer Place.

Anyone know anything? Particularly interested in trying get details of his wife and issue to fill in family tree.

Another forum member, Tom, believed there was a Fatal Accident Inquiry on the death. Tried NAS for inf with blank drawn. They don't appear to have online records available.

Hope someone can assist.


regards


Scotskiwi

7
East Lothian (Haddingtonshire) / Helen Greig Marriage to William Ross
« on: Tuesday 03 May 11 12:53 BST (UK)  »
Hi, I can't seem to get credits on Scotlands People (nothing wrong with my credit card!) and I have a problem with an ancestor William Ross b: 20 March or 22 April 1838  1838 who married a Helen Greig (details I am trying to find) who had a son William Ross b: 21 Dec 1858.

The only Helen Greig I can find by various searches was born c 1820 and she married a different William Ross from what I can establish. Her husband was issue of David Ross and Margaret Jones m 29 Jan 1814 Tranent according to IGI.

My William Ross is issue of William Ross and Joan Hogg. He would have married c 1856-1858. It is possible that it was not in East Lothian but I think this unlikely.

This info actually came from a "professional genealogist whom I engaged over a year ago and who was less than credible given it took her three months to supply any info and all I got was a pedigree tree and no supporting documentation.

So, can anyone help me? Did Helen Greig b 1920 possibly marry twice and to two William Ross's?

Can't find death cert for her William.

I have found an 1861 census return for  William Ross and Helen Ross but this is clearly for the other couple not mine.

Any assistance or guidance would be appreciated.....I have searched Ancestry and MyHeritage and IGI  without success.

Scotskiwi Auckland New Zealand

Pages: [1]