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Hi,

I'm just new to RootsChat, but I have researching my family ancestry for quite some time on Ancestry.com. While I have a lot of information on certain Anderson family members, I have hit the proverbial brick wall with four of my great uncles, and I'm hoping some one here might be able to help. I apologize in advance for this long post.

Let me give some background first. My 3rd great grandfather was Alexander Anderson, born 27/7/1796 at Drainie, Moray. He married Margaret McIntyre born 19/10/1803, at Forres. They had 8 children that I know of, 6 boys and 2 girls. Their 3rd son was baptized Alex John Anderson, but in any census records I have found the name Alex has been dropped and he is listed merely as John Anderson born 6/3/1837, Drainie. John Anderson was my 2nd great grandfather. He married Isabella Stalker McArthur, (another brick wall) and they in turn had 7 children that I know of, one being another John Anderson born 17/9/1861, Elgin. John is my 1st great grandfather. He married Christina Paul, born 6/9/1862, Auldearn, Nairnshire.

John and Christina married in 1882 at Broadshaw, Auldearn, but it appears John may have had an illegitimate daughter in 1881 named Isabella Stalker Anderson (I have yet to confirm that) John and Christina had 4 sons. William Anderson born 1883, Elgin, John Anderson (my grand father) born 1885, Rothes, James Anderson born 1887, Alves, and Alexander Anderson born 1889, at Rafford. Christina died the same year as Alex was born due to complications with the birth.

Two years after Christina's death, John marries an Elspet McLean from Knockando, a lady 10 years older than himself, and they move down to Lanarkshire  taking John, James and Alexander with them. William for some reason, stayed behind with his grandparents, William Paul and Margaret Dawson, in Auldearn. I can't find any definite record for William after 1901 when he appears on the census living in Falkirk, Stirling, as a servant. James also disappears off the radar along with Alexander. In 1906, Elspet dies and John moves back to Nairnshire where he marries again, a woman quite a bit younger than himself, Elizabeth Fraser.

Between 1901 and 1908, my grandfather joined the Merchant Navy, and during WW1 was attached to the Royal Navy as Stoker Petty Officer on the HMS Jason.  In 1912 he married my grandmother Matilda Ethel Henstridge in Warminster, Wiltshire and had two sons born 1913 and 1915. In 1917, John was medically discharged from the Navy due to terrible wounds he received when the Jason was mined off Coll Island. Three years later he packed up my grandmother and their two sons, and immigrated to New Zealand. In 1922, my mother was born.

This is where Alexander reappears again briefly, in family photographs taken between 1922-abt 1930, unfortunately, after that time I can't find any record for him. An old picture of James and William reappeared just recently, and it seems James married and had a child. I have attached the pictures in case some one just might have some information.

Incidently, there was another brother or half-brother, previously unknown to me that I discovered on my great grandfather's death record in 1937, Robert Anderson. I have searched in vain for a birth record for Robert so I can find who his mother was, but at this stage I have come up empty handed. It's altogether very frustrating!

Description of pictures as they appear in order:

1st picture is of William Anderson. When and where unknown. On the back there is simply the name Bill.

2nd picture is of my grandfather in uniform circa 1930, New Zealand.

3rd picture is of James, his wife and their child. When and where unknown. On the back of the picture is has Jim, Becky and baby Iris.

4th picture is of Alexander on a ship. When and where unknown. The name Alec appears on the back.