Helen Jack - please help solve parents puzzle?

[portybelle]

This one has got my head spinning! Helen Jack married Walter Duncan Oct 4 1850 in Edinburgh. Walter died sometime between 1854 and 1858. Helen remarried in 1858 and her parents are given as Thomas Jack and Euphemia Allan. Neither are noted as being deceased at that point. On her death record, parents are given as Thomas Jack and Ellen Robertson - a grandson is the informant.

So here's the puzzle - I have a Thomas and Euphemia on 1841 and 1851 in Edinburgh which I'm pretty certain are the correct two. However, I'm struggling to find deaths for them.  There is a Thomas Jack who died in 1853 in Leith age 62 which might be him. If it is, there is presumably no way I can get his parents?

Turning to Euphemia, a record on Family Search suggests her father may be John. Again struggling to find a death for her.

No idea who the Ellen Robertson on the death record may be as I cannot find a marriage for a Thomas Jack and Ellen Robertson anywhere!

[ev]

hi 

what about occupations on the certificates you have ?

perhaps you could look at the edinburgh directories for anything that might match up 

http://www.nls.uk/family-history/directories/post-office/index.cfm?place=Edinburgh

the information on certificates is not always correct
i have seen many example where parents are not noted as deceased when i
know for certain that they are
death certs. can be a real problem depending on who has supplied the information

ev

[Templar75]

Hi Portybelle,

                        I have a Euphemia and Thomas Jack living in Pitt Street Leith 1851, living with them are Marion Jack and granddaughter Margaret Robson. Thomas was a Tanner.

Thomas Jack born 1793 Lasswade aged 58 and Euphemia born 1795 inveresk aged 56 Marion born 1827 Inveresk aged 27 about and Margaret Robson born Edinburgh about 1847 aged 6 years.

is this your family.

Cheers.

Archie.

[portybelle]

Pretty certain that is them in 1851 Templar.

Ev - Thomas Jack's occupation given as a labourer on marriage record, mason on death record.

It is looking as though they must have been deceased by 1858 remarriage of Helen despite what her record says. Given that the groom's name is incorrect on it (Donald instead of Daniel!) I suppose I shouldn't be surprised if there are other errors!

[tidybooks]

Hi Portybelle,

Check Donald in the following link:-

http://www.whatsinaname.net/php/search.php?action=search2&search_name=donald

Donald and Daniel were used sometimes as the same.

Tom

[portybelle]

Thanks- that's useful to know. I have a similar Patrick/Peter situation which confused me for a long time wondering if I had the right person!

[skanecfc]

Hi Portybelle

I've also come across this issue, did you ever get a conclusive answer to the puzzle on whether Helen's mother was Eupemia Allan or Ellen Robertson?

[Forfarian]

When you get this sort of thing, it's usually likely to the the marriage certificate that is right rather than the death certificate, because on the marriage certificate it's the person involved who is supplying the information, whereas on a death certificate it is someone else who may not have the facts correct.

Ellen Robertson may be one of Helen's grandmothers, or possibly Walter's mother's name?

[portybelle]

It's been a while since I looked at this. I have on my tree now the names given on the marriage certificate ie Thomas Jack and Euphemia Allan. I do have death dates for them both - Thomas 15.10.1858 and Euphemia 10.4.1860. Since Ellen remarried in September 1858, it was right enough that neither of her parents were listed as deceased at the time.

As Forfarian has said, I have come to realise that birth and marriage records are more reliable than death records!