Female births

[malbec]

Just wondering if it was common for female births not to be registered?
I'm searching (from Australia) for Elizabeth Cormack born Wick, Caithness around 1852 -1853.  She appears in the 1861 census aged 9 and I know her parents were James Cormack and Margaret Cormack (nee Green) who were married in Wick on Dec 31, 1851.
Elizabeth died in Leith April 24th, 1905 aged 52.

I have also been unable to find a birth record for Elizabeth's mother-in-law Isabella Phimister (who married John McKenzie in Wick Jan 31, 1840)  or for her mother Margaret Green.
In fact I pretty much get stuck at that generation with only the fathers mentioned on the marriage certificates.
Any clues??
Thanks!

[hume]

As you say, Elizabeth's birth doesn't seem to be registered. Her siblings, however, are but that may be because they are post-1855.

John b. 15th February 1856/d. 16th March 1856
James 21st March 1857
George William (or John  ) 5th October 1858
Margaret 13th December 1860
George 29th June 1867

Do you have any more details for Elizabeth's mother, Margaret? It will help to try and find a birth/christening.

hume24 

[avm228]

Hello Malbec, and a warm welcome to Rootschat

As Hume24 says, civil registration only started in Scotland in 1855, and nobody born before that would have had a birth certificate.

For pre-1855 births one is reliant on the old parish records, though their survival is extremely patchy.  My own Caithness ancestors pre-1855 seem to have left precious little trace of their existence.

If you haven't already, I recommend you contact the North Highland Archive

http://www.caithness.org/community/museums/nha/index.htm

 - for a reasonable fee they will do look ups for you of the material they have.  They didn't find any of my lot, but I hope they find yours

Anna

[hume]

Double post, but details of the 1861 census. It seems James is at sea?

Address: Bank Row
Margaret Cormack, wife, m, f, 30, shipowner's wife
Elizabeth ", dau, u, f, 9, scholar
Walter ", son, -, m, 6, scholar
James ", son, -, m, 4, -
John ", son, -, m, 3, -
Margaret ", dau, f, 6 months, -

All born Wick.  I think this is Margaret in 1851:

Address: Bank Row
Walter, head, m, m, 65, boat builder master emp. 6 men, Canisbay
Margaret, wife, m, f, 55, -, Canisbay
John, son, u, m, 28, boat builder
William, son, u, m, 26, boat builder
Margaret, dau, u, f, 22, servant
Robert, son, u, m, 19, boat builder
Walter, son, u, m, 11, scholar
Isabella Sinclair, ma-in-law, w, f, 74, visitor

All born Wick unless otherwise. 1841:

Walter, m, 55, boat builder    
Margt., f, 45, -
James, m, 25, cooper
Isabella, f, 20, -
William, m, 15, -
Margt., f, 13, -
Robert, m, 10, -
Walter, m, 1, -

Seems to be christenings for every child except Margaret. The parents are Walter Green and Margaret Sutherland.
    

[malbec]

Wow thanks for such a prompt response!   

Yes James Cormack isn't mentioned in the 1861 census but Margaret isn't down as a widow so I was assuming he was away, either at sea or elsewhere.  By 1871 she was widowed.  I have tried searching James death in the English records as there's no Scottish record but no luck so far.  It's a bit of a mystery where he disappeared to.

Margaret Green and James Cormack were married Dec 31, 1851. I have been unable to find details of Margarets birth or death but would assume they were in Wick.  Her father was Walter Green born Feb 10th, 1786.  His parents were James Green and Elspet Geddes (down as Ellen Geddes on Walters death record) but I'm stuck on them too.

Bed

[hume]

Seems you have all the details I checked up on.  For Margaret's death, have you tried MARY CORMACK, other surname: GREEN, died 1876 in Wick? It's the only that stands out.

hume24

[malbec]

Margaret Cormack was still alive in 1891, aged 65, but living in Leith in Edinburgh with her daughter Elizabeth and son-in-law George Mckenzie.  Can't find her in 1901 but still can't find a death record at all, even searching all Scotland   

[hume]

There's seven deaths for a Margaret Cormack in Midlothian between 1891 and 1901. I would take a search and see what you can find. Perhaps it was Margaret's son-in-law who registered the death and didn't know his m-i-l's details, such as maiden name. 

Have you found Elizabeth in 1901?

[malbec]

Yes, Elizabeth McKenzie was living in Ferry Road in Leith in 1901.  According to my dad she died in 1905 (her husband George died in 1904...his son, my Great-grandfather was present).  But I can't find Elizabeths death anywhere in Scotland.  Haven't had a proper search of the English records yet.
I wonder if they just weren't recorded.

It's a bit of a mystery when George and Elizabeths son John Cormack Mackenzie (the spelling changes somewhere in that generation) left Scotland.  My grandmother was born in Burma in 1911 but we can't find JCMackenzie leaving G.Britain until 1917, but his previous place of residence was in India.

You have been helpful though...I hadn't realised that there was a 2nd page for the 1851 census for Walter Green so I hadn't realised that there was a mother-in-law staying...another lead!   

Bec