Whats in a name??

[Jayne]

Toni
Do you really think they are the same person, Im flumoxed with this because the records state Gregory Burgess as the alias, surely that should be the other way round.

Im almost convinced, I have the death certificate of Janet Watson Burgess, and James Watson Burgess is the husband occupation identifed as Private - RN
So the puzzle does tend to fit
J

[Gadget]

Hi Jayne

Do you think that Gregory Burgess and Jane Watson were married in Scotland?

The IGI does show a birth 11 Feb 1856 for a Gregor Burgess, Cromdale and Inverallan, Invernesshire. However, there are 400+ James Watsons showing b. Scotland 1850-1860 

Gadget

[Gadget]

Scottish 1861 census shows two Gregors

Grantown on Spey (Cromdale), Inverness
RD 93 ED 9 Page 14

Gregor Burgess, 48, flesher, b. Grantown
Janet, 39, b. Cromdale
May, 9, b. Grantown
James, 7, b. Grantown
Gregor, 5, b. Grantown
Janet 3, b. Grantown
Ann, 6 months, b. Grantown

and

Pittencrieff St, Dunfermline

RD 424/1 Ed 12 page 6

John Burgess, 33, gorcer,  b. Inveravon, Banff
Ann, 24, b. Rothes, Moray
Gregor, 6, b. Inveravon, Banff
Margret, 2,  b. Inveravon, Banff
Elizabeth 6 mths, b. Dunfermline

Gadget 

[toni*]

perhaps alias here means also known as (AKA)
it doe slook liek they are the same person, well the way i read it it does, but the only clause here is if they both appear on the same census in different locations.

[forthefamily]

Can I add a thought. I've been looking at a lot of naval records recently   and I noticed that some seaman have alias names.

I was told that if they were "kicked" off the register or thrown off a ship or just decamped on their own for some reason...went AWOL sort of...they would use another name to work on another ship. But these were ordinary seaman as opposed to Royal Navy.

mab  

[toni*]

yes that would make sense i wonder if they had to prove how old they were to join the RN i.e with a birth cert, or could just pick a bapt. record at random out of the local parish reg.

food for thought

love the robin by the way

[Jayne]

Thats really interesting, did not know that, which gives more strength to the case if his son was anything to go by, Grt Granddad (i Have his Army records) deserted and then rejoined for WW1, but refused to sign for the duration of the war, then got imprisoned for being drunk on duty - obviously had some character.. maybe like fathere like son

Interestingly they were   similar in stature
Gregor was 5ft  7.5"
William his son was 5ft 7"

J

[Gadget]

The Gregor Burgess who married Janet McNeil Brand was a coal miner 

[Jayne]

Gadget
Gregor and Janet were married in 1874 in Torbrex St Ninians Stirling, Gregor was living  living at Bannocburn
Janet was at Torbrex

I dont know Scotland very well so can only assume these areas are close by. I have their Marriage certificat
J