*COMPLETED* Looking for the right birth

[sherylbadger]

I am looking for a Robert Meldrum born about 1828 in Collessie, Fife

His death certificate in 1900 states that his parents were James Meldrum and Jean Scott.

I have searched and only found a Jean Scott and Thomas Meldrum in Leuchars but futher searching says this is not the parents. as they both died in the 1840 and 1840. 

Jean Scott (widow) obviously used her maiden name was Living with Robert Meldrum and his wife and family in 1881 and her age was 73 years old and that she was born in Collessie.

Here is what the 1851 census said.
 Meldrum Robert Head M 22 Agricultural Labourer Fife  Collessie Scoonie Silver Hole Hamlet
Meldrum Margaret Gr Mother Wid 74 Fife  Pittenweem Scoonie

Any further light on him would be great.

[GEN10]

Hello Sherylbadger, found this on the IGI, I would double check on Scotlands People if I were you to authenticate births and parents. GEN10
Husband

James Meldrum Birth:  About 1793  Leuchars, Fife, Scotland
Wife: Jean Scott 
Birth:  About 1797  Leuchars, Fife, Scotland
Children
1.   Hay Meldrum
Birth:  02 JUL 1819  Leuchars, Fife, Scotland   
Death:  1893   

2.   David Meldrum
Birth:  11 JUN 1821  Leuchars, Fife, Scotland

3.   Henry Scott Meldrum
Birth:  15 AUG 1823  Leuchars, Fife, Scotland

4.   Eliza Furguson Dalrymble Meldrum 
Birth:  07 JUN 1825  Leuchars, Fife, Scotland

5.   Catherine Meldrum
Birth:  15 JAN 1828  Leuchars, Fife, Scotland
   
6.   Robert Meldrum       
Birth:  15 AUG 1830  Leuchars, Fife, Scotland
Death:  1900 
 
This was submitted by someone on the IGI, so there is obviously someone researching the same family as yourself.
Hope this helps, GEN10
 

[JAP]

GEN10, Those children are also in the IGI as entries extracted from church registers BUT with parents as Thomas MELDRUM and Jean SCOTT ...
Leuchars
Hay (female) b 2 Jul, bap about 19 Jul, 1819
David b 11 Jun, bap 5 Jul 1821
Henry Scott b 15 Aug, bap 2 Sep 1823
Eliza Fergusan Dalrymple b 7 Jun, bap 11 Aug 1825
Catharine b 15 Jan, bap 3 Mar 1828
Robert b 15 Aug, bap 2 Nov 1830
There is also an extracted entry for an earlier birth to Thomas MELDRUM and Jean SCOTT at Ferry Port on Craig
Christina b 2 Dec, bap 22 Dec 1817

Sherylbadger, I take it that Jean SCOTT is clearly described as Robert MELDRUM's mother in the 1881?  Have you found her in earlier censuses? Have you found your Robert in the 1841 census (now available on ScotlandsPeople)?  Though, if they were in Collessie, that is a book which is missing ...  Also, do you have positive proof of the deaths of Thomas and Jean of Leuchars.

As Robert was born before the start of Statutory Registration it may well be that there is no record of his birth or baptism to be found ...  Do you know of any siblings?  It would be interesting to see the death cert of a sibling to compare names of parents.

Regards,

JAP

[JAP]

Hi again sherylbadger,

I have been thinking further about your puzzle as to the parents of your Robert MELDRUM said to have been born in Collessie Fife ca 1831 (many posts here on RC dating back about 18 months, and posts on at least one other board, and a great deal of - all too often duplicated - information provided by very kind folk on both boards).

Robert's parents said to have been, from his 1900 death certificate, James MELDRUM and Jean SCOTT.

There is a Robert MELDRUM born 1830 in Leuchars Fife, parents Thomas MELDRUM and Jean SCOTT.  At one stage you said that these parents died in/before 1840.  It could well be worth your while trying to follow up this Robert (1841 onwards) in order to see whether he can be completely ruled out.

However, it seems to me that the appropriate step now would be for you to search for and purchase (find/view/download) the death certificate of his mother Jane/Jean SCOTT from ScotlandsPeople.  This should state her late husband's name and occupation (of course this depends on the reliability of the informant but, until you purchase the certificate, you can't judge this).

You say she was still alive, aged 73, in 1881 and living with Robert so (assuming that she is definitely recorded as Robert's mother in the 1881) that limits your search considerably.  Perhaps you should first search for her on SP in the 1891 census in order further to limit the search years.

If, once you purchase the death certificate, you find that Jane/Jean's late husband is stated to be James, then unfortunately it seems that your Robert was not baptized or that his baptism is in a church register which has not survived or has not been indexed.
 
Regards,

JAP
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