Barbara Strachan

[belmichael64]

I am trying to find the parents of Barbara Strachan born about 1878 Gamrie. She appears in the 1881 census at 82 Duff Street, Macduff with Alexander Morrison and Elspet (nee Michie). She is aged 3 and is noted as grandchild. She is also with Elspet (now a widow) in the 1891 census aged 13.

I cannot find her birth or find a link with any members of the Morrison/Michie family. The only strachan I can find is a William Strachan who is a witness at Alexander and Elspets marriage (I think he is William Strachan born about 1868 Gamrie), however, again, I can find no link to Barbara!!

Any help or suggestions on where else I can search would be much appreciated!!

Bel 

[CaroleW]

Did she marry as Barbara Strachan?  If she did - you may get some info from her marriage cert

[MonicaL]

Hi Bel

Always the possibility that young Barbara's birth was illegitimate and her birth registration is under the surname of Morrison (not necessarily in Gamrie). Not uncommon for illegitmate children to go by the surname of their reputed father in later years (even though the birth went unrecognised by the reputed father).

There are two Barb* Mor*son births showing in Banff between 1877-78 (you need to use the wildcards for pick up on the spelling variations, e.g. Morison/Morrison and also a different spelling on Barb* for one entry).

Have you discounted these?

Monica 

[belmichael64]

Hi Monica

Thank you so much - I think I have found her - I had looked for the birth of Barbara Morison but I had not used the wildcard search. I only found one entry but it looks like she was the illegitimate daughter of Barbara Morison and born in 1877 at High Street Macduff!

Your help is very much appreciated!!

Bel 

[MonicaL]

Hurray! That certainly must be her 

Monica