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Scotland / Margaret Beattie nee Wilson, m.1868- Help!
« on: Friday 24 April 15 23:10 BST (UK) »
Sorry if this isn't usual procedure, it's the first time I've posted to this forum 
Basically, I'm having some difficulties tracking down my g-g-g-grandmother, Margaret Wilson. I have official records of her existence from 1866 onwards, but, despite the information given on both her marriage and death record, I can't find anything about her from before then.
What I know:
- In 1866, she had an illegitimate son named Alexander Wilson, in Stranraer Wigtownshire. At this time she was working as a domestic servant, though for who I have no idea. Alexander's father is left unnamed, but the child's great-aunt, Mary Thomson, was the informant. Whether or not she was related to Margaret Wilson, I am not sure.
- Two year later, in 1868 and apparently aged 19, she married my g-g-g-grandfather, James Beattie in Stoneykirk, Wigtownshire (his home parish). Here we are given the names of her parents- George Wilson (occupation brass founder) and Margaret Rankin (recorded as deceased). A possible relative, Thomas Rankin, witnessed the marriage.
- In successive censuses (1871, 1881, 1891, and 1911- I'm having trouble finding 1901, possibly because the family may have been moving) her birth parish is unfailingly given as Girvan, in Ayrshire.
- After raising a small flock of kids and grandkids (including my g-g-grandmother Grace Beattie, and g-grandmother Jessie) Margaret died in 1918 in Uphall, West Lothian. She was a widow of sixteen years by this point. On her death record, her parents are once again given as George Wilson (deceased by this point, but last occupation seems to have been as a general dealer) and Margaret Rankin. She was buried in Uphall along with her husband and their daughter Grace.
However, as I said above, I have not been able to find any kind of pre-1866 information on Margaret, whether birth record, census, or otherwise.
Margaret Wilson is of course an extremely common name so this may be part of the problem, but I have worked away at this puzzle for a couple of months now without a single clue (I have even tried tracking down Mary Thomson and Thomas Rankine, but without much success). I may be going at this completely the wrong way but I really can't think of anything else to do and so either a fresh pair of eyes or someone who has any information on Margaret would be a great help! Or indeed, any extra info at all, whether before 1866 or not, just to help me flesh them out a bit
Sorry for bothering anyone, I would normally give up by now but the family history tracing is partly a birthday present for my Dad and this is the last thread left, seeing as I came up against a brick wall with the rest of the family (all from Northern Ireland and a nightmare to find!).
As I say though, any info or tips would be a great help!
Thanks,
Amy.
Basically, I'm having some difficulties tracking down my g-g-g-grandmother, Margaret Wilson. I have official records of her existence from 1866 onwards, but, despite the information given on both her marriage and death record, I can't find anything about her from before then.
What I know:
- In 1866, she had an illegitimate son named Alexander Wilson, in Stranraer Wigtownshire. At this time she was working as a domestic servant, though for who I have no idea. Alexander's father is left unnamed, but the child's great-aunt, Mary Thomson, was the informant. Whether or not she was related to Margaret Wilson, I am not sure.
- Two year later, in 1868 and apparently aged 19, she married my g-g-g-grandfather, James Beattie in Stoneykirk, Wigtownshire (his home parish). Here we are given the names of her parents- George Wilson (occupation brass founder) and Margaret Rankin (recorded as deceased). A possible relative, Thomas Rankin, witnessed the marriage.
- In successive censuses (1871, 1881, 1891, and 1911- I'm having trouble finding 1901, possibly because the family may have been moving) her birth parish is unfailingly given as Girvan, in Ayrshire.
- After raising a small flock of kids and grandkids (including my g-g-grandmother Grace Beattie, and g-grandmother Jessie) Margaret died in 1918 in Uphall, West Lothian. She was a widow of sixteen years by this point. On her death record, her parents are once again given as George Wilson (deceased by this point, but last occupation seems to have been as a general dealer) and Margaret Rankin. She was buried in Uphall along with her husband and their daughter Grace.
However, as I said above, I have not been able to find any kind of pre-1866 information on Margaret, whether birth record, census, or otherwise.
Margaret Wilson is of course an extremely common name so this may be part of the problem, but I have worked away at this puzzle for a couple of months now without a single clue (I have even tried tracking down Mary Thomson and Thomas Rankine, but without much success). I may be going at this completely the wrong way but I really can't think of anything else to do and so either a fresh pair of eyes or someone who has any information on Margaret would be a great help! Or indeed, any extra info at all, whether before 1866 or not, just to help me flesh them out a bit
Sorry for bothering anyone, I would normally give up by now but the family history tracing is partly a birthday present for my Dad and this is the last thread left, seeing as I came up against a brick wall with the rest of the family (all from Northern Ireland and a nightmare to find!).
As I say though, any info or tips would be a great help!
Thanks,
Amy.