Mary Gordon from Marnoch

[Forfarian]

What was the marital status of this Mary Garden??

She was unmarried

I looked for John Gordon, aged 5 to 7, born Aberdeenshire, in the 1881 census. There are just two who are not listed as 'son' and living with a parent whose surname is Gordon.

One is John Gordon, born in Inverurie and living there with Mary Gordon, 42, and his grandmother Mary Ann Gordon, aged 62. The IGI lists the birth in Inverurie of John Gordon to Mary Gordon on 25 November 1874, so I think he can be discounted.

The other one is aged 6 and living with his "brother" William Gordon's family in Aberdeen. This William is aged 24 and born in Drumblade. The only possible candidate is William Lawson Gordon, born 1 May 1856 in Drumblade, parents James Gordon and Margaret Milton.

I note with interest that this couple had a daughter Barbara, born in Marnoch in 1858, and no more children. Could this James be 'your' James, brother of Charles? I see he was a widower when he married Elizabeth Findlay - is Margaret Milton his first wife?

You are in luck because James Gordon and Margaret Milton were married in 1855. 1855 death certificates give you lots of details not collected in other years. Their certificate will tell you the names of James' parents, and hence whether he was Charles' brother.

If he was, six-year-old John Gordon is William's cousin's son (first cousin once removed) and you've probably found your missing John Charles Hunter Gordon.

I see you were having a bit of bother with some place names in the 1891 census.

Aberchirder (usually referred to as Foggieloan or Foggie) is the largest village in the parish of Marnoch
Deskford is the next parish to Cullen and Seafield
Rathven is the parish the other side of Seafield.

[Forfarian]

Do you know of any sites with emigration records that I could look at?

http://www.ancestorsonboard.com/

[Forfarian]

1861 census; crachie street, mortlach, banff
james...boarder...age 40...labourer...born king edward, aberdeen

Joe, what was his marital status?

[susanhs]

Thank you, Forfarian for all your input and help!


I don't know who James Gordon's first wife was but I looked up the marriage for James Gordon and Margaret Milton.

It isn't Charles brother. 
This James Gordon was 22 and the son of John Gordon and Ann Guthrie.

I looked for John Gordon, aged 5 to 7, born Aberdeenshire, in the 1881 census. There are just two who are not listed as 'son' and living with a parent whose surname is Gordon.

Were there any John Gordon's listed as "son" living with a parent whose surname was Hunter, Paterson or Findlay???  He was illegitimate so if he was staying with his father their surnames wouldn't match.

Susan

[Forfarian]

It isn't Charles brother. 

Oh, well, it was always worth a try.

I looked for John Gordon, aged 5 to 7, born Aberdeenshire, in the 1881 census. There are just two who are not listed as 'son' and living with a parent whose surname is Gordon.

Were there any John Gordon's listed as "son" living with a parent whose surname was Hunter, Paterson or Findlay???  He was illegitimate so if he was staying with his father their surnames wouldn't match.

No. Evidently I didn't make myself clear enough above. All the John Gordons listed as 'son' were living with a head of household surnamed Gordon. No Hunters, Patersons or Findlays.

[susanhs]

Thanks for the clarification, Forfarian.  Though it wasn't the answer I was hoping for!!

Susan

[susanhs]

I have found the death record for Robina Findlay Gordon.

She died Jan 11, 1890 at age 10 years 9 months at the Royal Infirmary in Dundee.
single, illegitimate
Her mother: Mary Gordon was a yarn spreader living at 24 Todburn Lane.,
cause: necrosis of tibia of right leg 21 days, septicemia 3 days

[shgordon127]

Re: Mary Gordon of Marnoch. She may be the sister of my great grandfather Charles Edward Gordon, born 1842 and died in USA after 1912.  His mother was indeed Elizabeth Mackie, who is buried in the Marnoch Churchyard.  She died in 1858. Charles and his second family left for the United States in 1872 from Glasgow. They were a large family and I have not traced all of them, but I am sure that Charles was the son of Charles Gordon and the grandson of John Gordon, linenweaver, of New Byth, and Margaret Robertson. The problem is that Mary is not one of the names in the record. And there are several other Mary Gordons born in this time period, in Angus and Banff.  I have more extensive information, but I have not yet verified all of it with a genealogist or published it.

[shgordon127]

Re: Mary Gordon of Marnoch. She may be the sister of my great grandfather Charles Edward Gordon, born 1842 and died in USA after 1912.  His mother was indeed Elizabeth Mackie, who is buried in the Marnoch Churchyard.  She died in 1858. Charles and his second family left for the United States in 1872 from Glasgow. They were a large family and I have not traced all of them, but I am sure that Charles was the son of Charles Gordon and the grandson of John Gordon, linenweaver, of New Byth, and Margaret Robertson. The problem is that Mary is not one of the names in the record, and there are several other Mary Gordons born during this time period, in Angus and in Banff.
 I have more extensive information, but I have not yet verified all of it with a genealogist or published it to the web.