Alexander Ritchie and Jessie Smith

[Gregyboy]

I cannot find when my great-great-great-grandparents died.

They were called Alexander Ritchie and Jessie Smith
They married on 29th September 1873 in Banff, although they were from Rosehearty near Fraserburgh.
Alexander's parents were: Alexander Ritchie and Christian Watt
Jessie's parents were: James Smith and Helen Innes

I have looked through the records at ScotlandsPeople in Edinburgh for them, but I can't find a thing.
When my great-great-grandfather Alexander died in 1967 at the age of 87, they were obviously deceased by then.
I found them in the 1901 census, and they were alive when my great-great-grandparents married in 1906.
I've checked the 1911 census, they were still living then.

When my great-great-grandfathers brother John died in 1925, they were both deceased by then. There were two other brothers that died during the 1910s in World War One, but it was out of Scotland, so I have no access.

I'm searching within 1911-1925 for their deaths.
I would be grateful if anybody had any information on them or if anybody is related to them and has some information or can find any information on when they died.

I am unsure as to whether they left Scotland or not.

Thanks,

Greg

[MonicaL]

Hi Greg

There is an online tree on A/tree with has restricted viewing but from what I can see, there looks to be the following marriages which might help you in narrowing down the deaths:

Margaret Ann married Henry George Blair on 16 Dec 1909, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, also
William married Margaret Cormack on 28 Sep 1911, Rosehearty, Aberdeenshire (this is the war death showing for him I think www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3034045 )

Monica 

[Gregyboy]

Hello,

Thanks for the quick reply!
That tree on ancestry might be mine. I've already got the details on Margaret Ann and William and I've already viewed that record for William. There is one for James too.
Margaret Ann died in 1960, so her death record isn't really much of a use to trace back the parents. John Ritchie is the closest I have been able to get to the deaths of Alexander and Jessie.

Thanks for the reply,

Greg

[Piglet01]

Hello,

When were your couple born?, and what ages were they recorded on the 01 and 11 census?  Regards,   Steve   

Did you try searching for Jessie under Janet, or was she named Jessie at birth?

[Gregyboy]

Alexander was born round about 1853 or so and Jessie was round about the same age, so they were borth born in the 1850's

In the 1901 census Alexander was 47/48, in the 1911 census I actually don't know, the age could have been off by a bit, I'll double check though. They were definetely living in 1911 though as they were alive when their son William married.

[MonicaL]

Greg, birth years for Alexander and wife Jessie look to be much earlier from the 1901 census:

Alexander Ritchie 57
Jessie Ritchie 54
Alexander Ritchie 21
Maggie Ann Ritchie 19
William Ritchie 15
John Ritchie 13

Address: 20 North St, Rosehearty

There is only one death (1915) for a Jessie Smith/Ritchie in Aberdeenshire post 1911-1925. Birth year c. 1846 which fits with above census entry. Have  you discounted that entry?

Monica

Added: Double checking location for death. It shows in Pitsligo which fits with where the family were in 1901.

[Piglet01]

I'd agree Monica - how could I not   

Just trawled through the LDS 1881 disc all ways and the only couple that would fit for the 1881 census are.  Also did searches for a Jane or Janet married to an Alexander.

12 Dingwal St
Census Place:   Pitsligo, Aberdeen, Scotland
FHL Film 0203465     GRO Ref    Volume 233    EnumDist 1    Page 32

Alexander RITCHIE   M 31    M   Pitsligo, Aberdeen, Scotland
Rel:   Headb   Occ: Fisherman
Jessie RITCHIE   M 32    F   Gamrie, Banff, Scotland
Rel:   Wife      Occ:  Wife
Mary Jane RITCHIE    10    F   Gamrie, Banff, Scotland
Rel:   Daur      Occ:  Scholar
James RITCHIE    8    M   Banff, Scotland
Rel:   Son        Occ:   Scholar
Barbara RITCHIE       5    F   Banff, Banff, Scotland
Rel:   Daur       Occ:   Scholar
Alexander RITCHIE       1    M   Pitsligo, Aberdeen, Scotland
Rel:   Son

Regards,   Steve 

Only anomaly is the 10 year old daughter, but not a major issue.  Greg - do you have a profession for your Alexander?

[christineyvonnem]

1911 Alexander Ritchie and Jessie Smith are living with 2 of their sons William and John in Rosehearty.  It says they have 9 kids 7 still alive.  Alexander Ritchie he was found dead 06/02/1915 at 3 North St Rosehearty.
I have the following kids for them:
1 Mary marrried James Strachan and William Ritchie
2 James married Marjory Downie.  James died 16/06/1917 Navy death they lost a son in the mine disaster and one of their granddaughter survied 1942 bombing of Rosehearty which killed 2 of her aunties and 2 cousins, her mother having died in 1933.
3. Barbara married Donald Duthie
4 Alex married Mary Jessie Bruce
5 Margaret wed Henry Blair
6 William (died in ww1) wed Margaret Cormack
7 John no info

[Gregyboy]

Thank you for the help everyone 

I thought I would never find when they died, turns out it's just the age is different, which does normally happen as the births weren't recorded before 1855.

I have to admit, I thought "Mary Jane" was "Margaret Ann" as the census does often make mistakes with names

When I visit ScotlandsPeople in Edinburgh on Friday I'll find Mary and her family.

I found out about Barbara and her husband William recently. I know they have children so I'll research them.
May I ask who the granddaughter that survived the bombings was? And were the cousins that died in the Rosehearty bombings related through William Noble's family? I know that a cousin was killed in 1918 by the bombings.

Also, I didn't realise that they had 9 children. So now I've got Mary Jane, James, Barbara, Alexander, Margaret Ann, William and John. Can I ask who the other two were?

Thank you for the useful information, it gives me more to research which is a good thing of course xD

Kind Regards,

Greg