Alexander Luke family in Coldstream 1851 census

[MonicaL]

Hi Willow

Good points you've made

I had a look on IGI to see whether any births showed in Berwick for a Margaret Luke. The only one I could see was daughter of a GEORGE LUKE and JANET PATERSON. The birth year is slightly earlier, 1820, and this Margaret should show as 20 (with the normal rounding down to the nearest 5yrs for 1841). However, looking at the family of George and Janet brings up similar names for children to the family of Alexander and Isabella.

A combination of OPR entries and IGI (I think the IGI entries are from a batch where only girls births were loaded):

1. GEORGE LUKE - 1813 at Eccles
2. JANET LUKE - 1815 at Eccles
3. ESTHER LUKE - 1818 at Eccles
4. MARGARET LUKE - 1820 at Eccles
5. ALEXANDER LUKE - 1823 at Eccles
6. JAMES LUKE - 1826 at Eccles
7. ROBERT LUKE - 1828 at Coldstream
8. JEAN LUKE - 1835 at Eccles

Julie, recapping the list of children you have for Alexander and Isabella, you have found:

Elspath b April 1826
Esther b Nov 1827
Geo b April 1829
Thomas b Feb 1831
Isabella b Jan 1833
must have died soon after birth
Isabella b May 1834
Alex b March 1836

This George is looking a strong possibility for brother to your Alexander 

Monica

[MonicaL]

There is also a GEORGE LUKE and ESTHER FALA (or FALLOW) having the following children:

1771 - Alexander at Greenlaw
1772 - James at Chirnside - only father's name showing
1781 - Robert at Edrom - only father's name showing
1783 - Jean at Cockburnspath
1786 - Margaret at Chirnside

Monica

[Willow 4873]

Hiya Monica

Good one - I think there is definute possibilities there

Willow x

[MonicaL]

This looks a possibility for George and Janet (trascribed Jamet on the index I'm looking at) in 1841 - everyone showing as born in the County:

George Luke 60, agri. lab.
Jamet Luke 50
George Luke 25
James Luke 14
Robert Luke 12

Address: Eccles, Berwickshire

And in 1851:

George Luke 73, agri. lab. b. Laugton, Berwickshire
Janet Luke 58, b. Coldstream, Berwickshire
George Luke 27, b. Eccles, Berwickshire
James Luke 24, b. Eccles, Berwickshire
Robert Luke 22, b. Coldstream, Berwickshire

Address:  West Lodge, Eccles

George Snr. looks to have died by 1861, this looks to be the family's entry:

Janet Luke 68, Ag Labourer's Widow, b. Coldstream, Berwickshire
George Luke 47
James Luke 34
Robert Luke 31
George Luke 5, grandson (son of Robert)

Address: Eccles West Lodge, Eccles

George Luke died in 1860 at the age of 85, father George and mother Esther Fala.......

1860   George Luke  at ECCLES/BERWICK   Refs: 737/00 0018

Monica 

[luke family]

Thanks for all the time you have spent looking things up...

we had also wondered if Alexander was the son of George Luke and Esther Fala due to the Scottish naming pattern...which George and Janet Luke certianly matched with our family...

and you gave us more details on them than we had...
the only thing is that the 1851 census says our Alexander was born 1781 (not 1771) in Duns, not Greenlaw
he is 60 in the 1841 census...
is Greenlaw anywhere near Duns???

sure wish we could get all this to fit...
I will also report the in fo you found wiht my co research buddies

thanks again

julie

[MonicaL]

Hi Julie

I did note the difference in ages for the possible Alexander and your Alexander as we have him in the 1841/51 censuses.  There are a number of gaps in years on the children we have for George and Esther, particularly between 1772-81 which is when your Alexander looks to have been born. As you have seen, son George's OPR birth entry is also not showing:

1771 - Alexander at Greenlaw
1772 - James at Chirnside - only father's name showing
1781 - Robert at Edrom - only father's name showing
1783 - Jean at Cockburnspath
1786 - Margaret at Chirnside

The possibility is that the first Alexader (1771) died and the name was re-used for your Alexander....but oh to prove it!

Monica

[luke family]

One of my research buddies has access to the scotlandspeople records and spent some time looking at them. She feels it is our Alexander bap 17 March 1771 son of George Luke miller at castle miln and Eshter Fala. She found the other records for his siblings as you listed as well. We think that Alexander's age was just an error in the later census records. Also she found no other marriage recrods for him and we think he just married late.
In Alexander's will it mentions the name of the ship for which he was Captian. But she can't decipher it yet. She thinks it was a whaler. Does anyone have access to a transcription of the will? She is looking at a copy of the original....
My friend also found a birth for Esther Fala as 9 Nov 1746, dau of Alexander and Eshter Dickie.  Good possibility as our Eshter.
julie

[luke family]

As to the identity of Margaret in 1841 census with our family:

we also found a Margaret Luke b Feb 13, 1826 dau of James Luke and Elizabeth Mitchell.

this Margaret was born close enough to our Elspeth to be listed as same age...

julie

[Glen in Tinsel Kni]

The nearest place to Coldstream giving safe harbour for sea vessels would be Berwick around twelve miles away.

Berwick had a harbour and in the 1870's a port with shipbuilding facilities, the main export traffic was wool and coal but the area was mostly used as a base for a fishing fleet. Minerals were the main import.

The reference to a whaler seems out of place for the area but that doesn't mean it isn't correct.

It might be worth sending an e-mail to the Berwick Archives/Records office.  The archivist is Linda Bankier, she is also heavily involved with the Berwick Local History group and is a useful contact to know.

The council website can be found at;

http://pscm.northumberland.gov.uk/portal/page?_pageid=106,54411&_dad=portal92&_schema=PORTAL92&pid=90043