Author Topic: Baffled 1861?  (Read 2450 times)

Offline Sweepdog

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Baffled 1861?
« on: Thursday 19 August 10 09:09 BST (UK) »
I have been looking for Alexander Harper born 1887 Selkirk who I believe to be my Grandfather - Have found listing on 1901 Census which has the Head of Family to be Alexander Harper age 60(b.1941) but the Alexander child listed is Alexander Foster age 14(b.1887) Now on the previous Census 1891the listing also shows Alexander Harper Head(1841) but the child is shown Alexander F. Harper age 4(b.1887) & Grandson as in 1901???

Also relating to Alexander Harper (b.1841) I found listing back to 1841 Census where he lived with others & his 'young' Mother Sarah Cunnigham at Water Row.......found listing for them both in 1851 but nothing in 1861???
Picked up Alexander (b1841) again in 1871, 1881, 1891 & 1901....but not Sarah ???

Any ideas gratefully received
Researching Mcrae, Macrae & Harper(Scotland)

Guy(Dorset) Selves (Woolwich)

Kussy (Poland)

Offline andycand

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Re: Baffled 1861?
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 19 August 10 09:23 BST (UK) »
Hi

There looks to be a birth in Selkirkshire in 1886 for an Alexander Foster HARPER (depending upon birthdate he would be 14 in 1901) You quite often find in Scotland that an illigitimate child has the reputed fathers surname as a middle name and such surname is sometimes used in censuses. Your best bet would be to download the birth from Scotlandspeople, and if he married in Scotland, his marriage certificate,

Andy

Offline Sweepdog

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Re: Baffled 1861?
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 19 August 10 09:44 BST (UK) »
Thanks Andy - That makes sense......think my Sister & I will be planning a visit to Edinburgh to Records Office as we would like to see original documents etc also I have never been to Scotland :o :o
Researching Mcrae, Macrae & Harper(Scotland)

Guy(Dorset) Selves (Woolwich)

Kussy (Poland)

Offline Sweepdog

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Re: Baffled 1861?
« Reply #3 on: Friday 20 August 10 09:14 BST (UK) »
I have been looking for Alexander Harper born 1887 Selkirk who I believe to be my Grandfather - Have found listing on 1901 Census which has the Head of Family to be Alexander Harper age 60(b.1941) but the Alexander child listed is Alexander Foster age 14(b.1887) Now on the previous Census 1891the listing also shows Alexander Harper Head(1841) but the child is shown Alexander F. Harper age 4(b.1887) & Grandson as in 1901???

Also relating to Alexander Harper (b.1841) I found listing back to 1841 Census where he lived with others & his 'young' Mother Sarah Cunnigham at Water Row.......found listing for them both in 1851 but nothing in 1861???
Picked up Alexander (b1841) again in 1871, 1881, 1891 & 1901....but not Sarah ???

Any ideas gratefully received

Any ideas re: 2nd paragraph relating to earlier Alexander Harper b 1841??? Can possibly understand that perhaps no record on further census for Mother Sarah Cunningham, perhaps she married therefore different name - or she died......but why a gap for Alexander(born 1841) in 1861 as he materialises again ???
Researching Mcrae, Macrae & Harper(Scotland)

Guy(Dorset) Selves (Woolwich)

Kussy (Poland)