1851 census help Dundee

[thehammies13]

Can anyone please help me find my Burnett family in 1851?
Helen Burnett ms Lyall died in Dundee Infirmary in 1855.  No home address given.  She was a widow. According to her 21 yr old daughter Ann, they had been in Dundee for 12 yrs.
In 1841 they were in Montrose.

I am hoping to find out if her husband Robert Burnett was still alive in 1851.  Other children mentioned at her death were James and Alexander.  No mention of the oldest son Robert from 1841 census.

In 1851, their ages would have approx been -
Helen 46
ann 17
James 14
Alexander 12

I've tried various spellings of Burnett, but haven't been able to find them so far.

[Anne Wilson]

Hi there
Have found 1 family which could be a possible:
Mrs Elmer Birnet; 40yo, born abt 1811, Aberdeen. Head of Household.
Ann Birnet; 18yo, Daughter, born abt 1833 Dundee. Occ. Weaver
Jas Birnet; 15yo, Son, born abt 1836 Dundee. Occ. Roper
Alex Birnet; 12yo Son, born abt 1839 Dundee. Occ. Roper
Jessie Rolo; 16yo Lodger, born abt 1835 Montrose. Occ. Weaver
No mention of a  husband though.
I wonder if the ELMER is just an error in transcription?
Annie

[thehammies13]

Thanks, AnnieOz.  I never thought of Birnet as a possible  spelling!!! 

Everything fits except the places of birth, as my family were all born in either Brechin or Montrose.  They were weavers.  When Ann married in 1855, she gave her Mother's name as Ellen, so Elmer could well be Ellen.
Having a young lodger from Montrose could be significant.

Thanks for all the info - you've given me something positive to work on.

[Anne Wilson]

Hi again Hammies
The names Helen & Ellen were interchangeable in Scotland (as I found out with my relly after much confusion!) so the mistranscribing of Ellen to Elmer is very possible.
Also, don't know if you have any of this information but I thought I would pass it on just in case:
From IGI I found the marriage of Helen & Robert
    Helen LYALL m Robert BURNETT on 6th November 1830 in Brechin, Angus.
Also found a possible birth for Helen (in Montrose, not Aberdeen as per the 1851 census) and a few siblings. Parents were Alexander LYALL & Margaret GARDINER.
    Helen LYALL b 25th September 1800 in Montrose, Angus
    David LYALL b 25th August 1797, Montrose, Angus
    James LYALL b 2nd April 1799, Montrose, Angus
    Alexander LYALL b 9th November 1806, St Nicholas, Aberdeen
The naming patterns seem to fit so this family may once again be a possible.
Cheers
Annie

[thehammies13]

Thanks again Annie OZ  - you've given me a lot to work on.  In 1855, Ann thought Helen's father had been James Lyall, a soldier,  but didn't know her mother's name, so i don't think her info was reliable.  I've found no trace of  a Helen Lyall born to JAmes Lyall in Montrose.