Scott - New Aberdour

[fruitcake]

Hello, this is my very first post... 

I'm trying to trace the parents of my Great Grandmother Annie Scott who was born c1865 in New Aberdour. 

According to her marriage cert, Annie (given age 21) married Alexander Gray, a journeyman mason, on 2 Jul 1886 in New Pitsligo.  Annie's parents were James Scott, a journeyman blacksmith, and Jane MacKenzie (deceased), an agricultural labourer.  Annie and Alexander had two sons, Alexander Gray (b1885 New Pitsligo) and James Gray (b1888 Peterhead).  In 1899, Annie had a daughter, Flora (my Grandmother) also born in Peterhead.  Flora's birth cert, however, has her father as 'unrecorded' and states that although Annie is the wife of Alexander Gray (Mason), he 'deserted' her two years previously.  Flora's surname is given as 'Scott or Gray'.

As there's not much chance of finding out who Flora's father is, I'm concentrating my efforts on finding her mother Annie's family in New Aberdour and so far I'm not having much luck.  I can't find a marriage for James Scott and Jane MacKenzie, and I can't find any census records for James and Jane, so possibly they weren't married or living together.  I also can't find any birth record for Annie (or Ann) Scott in New Aberdour.  Does anyone know of or have any connections to a Scott family in New Aberdour?   

[excel]

Do you have the 1871 census where James, 52, blacksmith was living at New Pitsligo, with his children? If not I can give you the details. This included Ann, born Aberdour, c1866 and looks as though she had a twin, John, as both aged 5. His sisters, Margaret, 56, a former domestic servant, and Ann Scott, 64, was living with them.
I can't view it but there is an Ann Scott b 1864, Aberdour, Aberdeenshire on Scotland'speople. Have you had a look at this one?

[ev]

hi all 

it looks like james scott and jane mckenzie were not married
the IGI has -
john mckenzie born 12 may 1865 aberdour aberdeen
ann mckenzie born 12 may 1865 aberdour aberdeen
mother jane mckenzie

1881 108 high street tyrie aberdeen
ann scot 73 unmarr. formerly domestic servant born pitsligo aberdeen
james scott 62 unmarr. brother blacksmith journeyman b. old deer abd.
margaret scott 65 unmarr. sister formerly domestic servant b. old deer abd.
ann scott 15 niece b. aberdour abd.
john scott 15 nephew b. aberdour abd
thomas brown 8 cousin b. tyrie abd.

ev

[flst]

Hi fruitcake, welcome to rootschat. I read your post with interest as I have Scott ancestors from New Aberdour. I went on scotlandspeople website & got a copy of James Scott's death certificate which names his parents as John & Henrietta Scott (nee McRitchie). I then went on freecen & found the Scotts in the 1841 & 51 censuses. In 1841 they were living in Low Street,New Pitsligo John 60, Henrietta 60, James 20, Margaret 26, Mary 14,Gray William 7,Brown Ann 3. John was a blacksmith & James was a blacksmith journeyman. In 1851 the Scotts are still in New Pitsligo, at 66 High Street. Henrietta is widowed. Her place of birth was Rathen.I'm going to look at the 1851 census in more detail later (must go to bed) as there are some other family members in the household who may be connected to my tree.
Regards,
flst

[fruitcake]

Ev and excel, thank you both very much for your help!

I have just purchased both the 1871 and 1881 census records which you kindly suggested, and they are the correct ones.  Also, thanks to your IGI find, ev, I've also purchased birth certificates for both Annie and John, who were indeed twins.  As we thought, Jane McKenzie was not married to James Scott, the twins birth certificates record them both as illegitimate.  Given that James brought them up and remained unmarried, I'm wondering now if perhaps Jane died during childbirth...will investigate that possibility!

Thanks again to you both.  

[fruitcake]

Hi flst, thank you for the welcome.  Your reply arrived just as I was sending my post before heading for bed!  I've read it quickly...looks really interesting...but as it's so late, may I get back to you tomorrow? 

fruitcake

[flst]

Hi, here's the 1851 census details;
Scott James H U 30 Master Blacksmith- Aberdeen
Scott Henrietta M W 71 - Rathen
Brown Ann N  14, Hall Mary N 5, Gerrie James N 5, Gerrie Mary N 3 ( all born in Tyrie)
Scott George Visitor U 20 Blacksmith - New Deer.
Now I can confirm a connection with you, not directly with your Scotts,but through marriage.  Let me try & explain. My 4gt grandfather was William Gerrie, his brother James married Mary Scott (a sister of your James) on 15 Dec 1844.  This is how their children (James & Mary Gerrie) are appearing in the census as a  nephew & niece of James Scott..I already have Mary Gerrie (nee Scott)'s death certificate & can give you that details if you wish by pm.
As for your gt.grandmother Annie,- would she have been claiming poor relief given that she was a deserted wife?
Regards,
flst

[fruitcake]

Hi flst, thank you so much for the details of the 1851 census and the info on the 1841 census.  I will get copies of both from freecen, and purchase James Scott's death certificate from scotlandspeople.  So your 4xG Grandfather's brother married my 2xG Grandfather's sister...how interesting!  Any idea why James and Mary Gerrie's children were in the Scott household in 1851?  Were they just visiting their uncle and Grandmother?  I wonder if George Scott, who is also visiting, is a relative of the Scott family. 

I would love to have Mary Gerrie (nee Scott)'s death certificate details...thank you.  As for my Gt. Grandmother Annie claiming poor relief...I don't know...there is another bit of the puzzle concerning Annie and her daughter Flora (my Grandmother) which I will explain by pm.

fruitcake

[flst]

James & Mary Gerrie were at 51 Low Street, New Pitsligo in 1851. Perhaps their 2 eldest  lived with their granny Scott or maybe popped round for a sleepover!
Mary Gerrie died 6 Feb 1898 at 35 Claremont Street, Aberdeen, aged 71.Her parents were both deceased, John Scott,Blacksmith (Master) & Henrietta Scott,m.s. McRitchie. She'd had pneumonia for 5 days & the informant was her husband. By the way, he's down as formerly Blacksmith's Hammerman. In 1861 they were in Low Street, New Pitsligo. In 1871-Premnay, 1881-5 Pork Lane Aberdeen & in 1891-6 Union Glen, Aberdeen. They'd 7 children, 3 of which died of smallpox on 5th & 6th May 1874.
flst