Help needed! Stewart/Reid/Whyte

[kez_s]

Hi

I am having terrible problems researching one line of my Scottish ancestry and I can't get any connections what so ever!!!

My grandfather was Alexander MacEwan Stewart B: 1932 Lumphanan, D: 1974. His father was James Stewart, Mother: Elsie Whyte (White?), I have no further info on them, I know my grandfather had two brothers Alan and Andrew and a sister Agnes and a half brother James Reid and a half sister Jeanie Reid.

Apart from the fact they are supposed to be descended from the Stewart's of the Black Isle - I have no further information. I have contacted the Registry Office to see if he had a birth certificate - but as of yet no response.

I am not sure about his parents birthplaces and it's unlikely they got married (they were Gypsies). What else can I do??

I am desperate to find this line of my family as it's my maiden name and I am doing a family tree for my son.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Many thanks.

[ladybird]

Hi Kes
The Stewarts, Whytes and Reids were indeed a part of the Scottish Traveller families which included my Townsleys. I also have a Matilda Stewart (c1810) and a Betsy Whyte in my tree but probably too early for your family. They did tend to marry into the same families.

Have you tried the scotlandspeople website for your earlier names and census details? It costs £6 for 30 credits but may be worth your while

Sylvia

[kez_s]

I haven't tried -  but have been on the site.

I'm presuming they wouldn't be old enough to feature - also as it was 1901 James and Elsie wouldn't have been together so couldn't confirm it was them that way and when I searched their names individually it was like looking for a needle in a haystack!!!! As I don't know where either was born I don't know where to start!!!

My only hope seems to be is if someone else is connected to them!

[ladybird]

Mmmmm, sorry Kes I see your problem

The only suggestion is that McEwan was possibly James Stewart's mother's maiden name....and also that you check the Scottish naming patterns if you know which order the children were born.

ie if Alexander were the eldest it's possible James' father's name was Alexander.
The second son would be named after Elsie's father.
And Agnes could be named after Elsie's mother.
Could that name be Elspeth by the way?

Sylvia

[ladybird]

Just a thought but there are a couple of lovely books you might want to check out by a Betsy Whyte - not my Betsy unfortunately.

The Yellow on the Broom
and
Red Rowans and Wild Honey

They really give an insight into the Traveller way of life and will go some way to explaining the way the families mixed.
 

[kez_s]

Thanks!

It's the one side of my family tree I would really love to find out about - I just wish they'd been slightly more conventional and registered births, marriages, etc.

I know that the families mixed a lot as my grandmother is a Kelbie and when I look at her family tree it makes me dizzy, unfortunately, she has given me everything she knows. She didn't marry my grandfather so there would be no info there either.

I might see the possibility of using the names like you suggested. But having such common names in Scotland as Stewart, James and Alexander - doesn't make it easy for me to verify that I have the right ones. I don't even know if travellers were included on the Cenus???

I'm not sure if it would be Elspeth, my auntie is also named Elsie so I presume it is that way.

[ladybird]

Hi Kes
I think you'll find if you can get back further with your names that they will be on census. I have a couple noted as "in tent" on Common Ground, so the census enumerators did manage to track them down quite well.

Was also doing a quick trawl through my names and up popped
Elspeth Alice White born c1846 Falkirk, Stirling, died c1900.

It's quite possible that this Elspeth has nothing to do with your Elsie, but the families were very intermarried so there must be a connection there somewhere.

She married Alexander Townsley 1874
Children were

Townsley, John White
Birth : 22 APR 1872 Cadder West / Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland

Townsley, William
Birth : 23 NOV 1873 Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland

Townsley, Christina
Birth : 10 NOV 1874 Bridgeton, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Death : ABT. 1883 Dennistoun, Glasgow

Townsley, Hugh
Birth : ABT. 1877 Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland

Townsley, Alexander
Birth : ABT. 1879 Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland

Townsley, Catherine
Birth : ABT. JUL 1880 Yoker, Dunbarton, Scotland

Townsley, Alice Elsie Elspeth

Townsley, Robert
Birth : ABT. 1887 Bridgeton, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland

You'll find them evetually
Sylvia

[RBcabal]

Hi there

I also am researching the Stewarts/Whyte(White)/Kelbie names, and am currently doing a one-name on the KELBIE family name. My late wife was a Kelbie, so this is sort of a memorial to her. I have a long way to go yet to get all those I know off - probable a year to collect all the certificates, and longer once I start into the Old Parish Records. As I live quite near Edinburgh I have quite a lot of confirmed information on this name already and would be willing to help you out.

I notice from this posting you are looking for a James Stewart m. Elsie White: they had 2 sons - (*).

If you are having difficulty obtaining the certificates I can obtain transcriptions for you as I go over to Edinburgh quite frequently. It would also help me with the other lines on the tree!

Hope to hear from you soon

Bill

(*) Moderator's Comment: details of possible living people removed in accordance with Rootschat policy.

[kez_s]

Hi Bill

I've replied to your personal message - not sure if you got it ok???