Help With Mackenzie and Sturgeon, Cockburnspath

[fifisturgeon]

Hi All
Novice at this family tree trail and have just discovered grandfather, James Sloan Sturgeon (b 1885), had been married (m 1907) for twenty years to a Mary Mackenzie (d 1927), before he married our grandmother. The widower bit on his marriage certificate was the start of this puzzle!  Consequently, I'd like to find any children and further family from this marriage.  He was station master at Cockburnspath at the time of her death.

How do I look for people who may or may not exist without knowing their name or birthdate? 
I've joined ScotlandsPeople and The Scotsman Archive, have found certs relevant to their marriage in Resolis but nothing more. 

I'm in remote Western Australia, it's 1.30am and I have to give up FOR NOW! 
Many thanks.
Fi

[excel]

Hello Fi,
What was James's occupation when he and Margaret married? Also marriage certificates usually give the 'usual residence of each person - does this not help in any way to narrow down possible birthplaces of their children?  I see that there are about 9 pages of Sturgeons born in Scotland between 1907 and 1927. I know that unlike earlier records the parents names are not mentioned after 1907 and you could end up spending a great deal of money as the images cost £10 each to order. It is a difficult one this for you being so far away. I don't suppose that you know anyone in Scotland who could go into New Registar House in Edinburgh and find them for you?
Sorry not to be of more help.
Rae

[MonicaL]

Hi Fi

I did have a look at your post on the R & C board and did a number of searches using the family names showing on the marriage cert from 1907 that you posted.  It was common in Scotland at that time to use the names of maternal/paternal grandparents for example for the children born early on in a marriage.  Nothing really came across in the searches. For example, there were only two Joseph births in Ayrshire during the period and no Rodericks etc. (not to say that children may not have been born to them and different names used).  At this stage, it is really about looking at possible options.

Do you know anything about the movements of James S Sturgeon in the period of 1907-1927.  I undestand the family didn't know about his first marriage but perhaps you are aware of where he was living, maybe based on his occupation.

I also searched for deaths of children (born within this period) as Scotlands People lets you also include the maiden name of the mother to help you filter out results, but nothing showed.

As Rae says, you are now outside the period of being able to view the birth cert image on line which is the cheapest option (cut off date currently 1907 relating to 100 yr privacy rule). Maybe, if you don't anyone who could do a personal look up, you could consider getting the services of a researcher to do this for you?

I wish there was a better option but without any other info it is hard to offer you better advice.

Regards.

Monica 

[MonicaL]

I've just gone back to SP and checked through some more of the names for births.  There are these entries for example which  probably relate to John Sturgeon's family given that Jane Sloan was the name of his mother.  I am not saying that they are his children necessarily, as likely that they could belong to brothers of John having their own children:

1921   STURGEON   JANE SLOAN   WEST KILBRIDE   /AYR   
1924   STURGEON   JANE SLOAN   ARDROSSAN NEW   /AYR

The only two Joseph (name of John's father) births showing, as it happens, also in Ayrshire:

1908   STURGEON   JOSEPH               KIRKOSWALD   /AYR   
1913   STURGEON   JOSEPH JOHN   KILMARNOCK (AYR)/AYR

Monica

[Rube]

Hi Fi

One of my great grand mothers had a similar surname. Her name was Jane Crawford Sloan born 1855 and she was married to a Joseph Sturgeon. They married in 1874 and on my last check had at least 10 children -one of them being my maternal grandfather Joseph Sturgeon dob 1883 and date of death 1958.  Joseph married a Jane Watt  dob 1880 in 1908 and had ?? children.
I am the adopted daughter of one of their children-Robina Watt Sturgeon dob 1917.
I have been completing this family tree for some years by trawling through Scotlands People with some success. Its worth it as you end up with lots of info about our ancestors. Keep at it!
Hope you find out more!
Best wishes
Rube