Alexander Mckay in Elgin

[Maxie]

I've just discovered a link with Elgin in Morayshire. I hope!

I've been trying to find out about Alexander Mckay (born in 1832) for a long time and now I think I may have found him. He was a coach smith and born in Scotland, according to the 1871 England census, and living in St. Pancras.  Using his occupation as a marker I searched the 1861 Scotland census. Scrolling through many Mckays I found only one that fitted birth date, occupation and name. So I'm assuming that's him! Maybe too big an assumption?

I'd welcome any thoughts on that! Also any information on the area.

Ever hopeful!

Maxie   

[Piglet01]

Hello Maxie - the definitive website for Moray family History - with a lot of free BMD info is  'Libindx' at

http://www.moray.gov.uk/LocalHeritage/Assets/html_pages/morayheritage.html

The one for Scotland in general is a pay per view site - free to register and do some basic searching

www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
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The IGI, has 44 entries for  Alexander McKay/Mackays born in Scotland in 1832.  The one you have chosen would appear to be the one b. 12 Feb 1832 and ch 11 mar 1832 - son of Alexander Mckay and Elspet Masson.

The 1841 census - free at www.freecen.org .uk

Has the family at Milnes' Building, Elgin, Morayshire - all born Morayshire including one person with different surname

Alexander Mckay  M 40 labourer
Elspet  McKay       F  40
Alexander Mckay  M  8
Jessy Mckay         F   5
John Mortimer      M  25  Carter


Did your Alexander marry? Do any of the names pass on to children - especially Masson?

I have not searched for any other children to the couple.
Regards,   Steve   :O)
       

[Maxie]

Thanks Steve,

 I'd found the 1851 census but not the 1841 for some reason.

Do you know if coach building was a usual 'profession' in that area? I know very little about Scotalnd.

I don't really know if Alexander (1832) married. He was named as the father of Frederick John Mckay in St. Pancras London. The mother was Emma Bath. The problem is that I'm not 100% sure I have the correct link. It's only the coach building which has led me to Elgin.


Maxie
 

[Piglet01]

Maxie

It's going to be a difficult one to be reasonably certain on......  I take it he didn't marry Emma? and that you have no further on him after the birth.....

As you probably know, there's a naming pattern which some Scots followed - naming the first born son after his father.   However - not written in tablets of stone - you'd also have to know what Emmas father and mothers names were.  If you eliminate those names - you'd have to trawl through all the Alexanders born in 1832 to see if any has a father as Frederick - although it seems to be an 'English' name to me.

I've come across other coachbuildres and 'wrights' in the area before.  All areas would have had them.  This was the era of the horse and cart/coach after all.

Don't know what else to say - perhaps someone else can make a suggestion?

Steve :O)

[Maxie]

Hi Steve,

As you say it's going to be a bit difficult to be certain.

 But you've already been a great help in sending me to freecen.org. I'd looked for Alexander in 1841, using Ancestry.com but had failed because they'd named him" Makey". Even though I hadn't used the "exact" option I didn't find him.

Using the 'coachmaker' key word was a bit of a long shot but he was the only Alexander Mckay I found using that. In the 1841 census his neighbour was James Mckay and his wife was Margaret. That could have been his father I suppose, another long shot!

Anyway I've got lots to keep me occupied. Thanks again for you help

Maxie
 

[Piglet01]

Hello Maxie

If you look at my first post you'll see the 8 year old Alexander ?your? Alexander - is at home with his father Alexander, Mother Elspet and sister Jessy.

Steve :O)

[Maxie]

Hi Steve,

Yes, I saw that and am working on that one. It's a pity that so many Scots were called Alexander, Elspet and Jess though. I found the exact same names, as a family in 2 places in 1851 in Morayshire.

Still digging though!

Thanks again

Maxie
 

[MonicaL]

Hi Maxie and Steve

I'm just trying to identify the Alexander McKay in 1871 St Pancras that you referred to. Is this the one showing as smith and living at the St Pancras Workshouse? Have you managed to find anything more on Alexander on the later English censuses. In 1881 for example, there is an Alexander McKay, born Inverness, Scotland in 1832 also at the St Pancras Workshouse showing as unmarried, (retired) labourer.

Regards.

Monica 

[Maxie]

Hi Monica,

Yes, the Alexander Mckay in 1871 is the one in the workhouse showing as a smith. I thought this might be coach smith. He was identified as being married which fitted, or so I thought!

I also found Emma McNay, wife, dressmaker at 98 Whitfield Street Tottenham. I assumed this was Emma Mckay, mother of Frederick John Mckay and 'wife' of Alexander. Emma was listed as being born in Vernham Dean Hampshire and this was fairly easy to follow.

Having written all this down again it seems a bit of a stretch! The only solid fact I have, the one I started with is the birth certificate of Frederick John Mckay with Alexander Mckay given as the father (coachsmith) and Emma Mckay (formerly Bath) as mother. This suggests they were married but I've never found any evidence.

Any ideas gratefully considered!

Maxie