Alexander Williams 1869 Can you help?

[littleliz02]

I have a family member who lived in Northumberland in 1901 and the census states that he was born in Baff, Scotland, which I take to be a spelling error and it is actually Banff, Scotland. 

My question is if someone says they were born in Banff, would this mean it was actually the town of Banff or could anyone tell me which other towns I could look at when seeking a birth, where in 1869 would be known as Banff (I mean neigbouring towns as I am not from the area).

[anne_p]

Based on your post, I  think I can see the family that you mean.
Lived in South Shields, Durham?

If this is the correct assumption, then something isn't right.
This is not a very common  last name anywhere in Banffshire

Only one birth in the entire county for this man's name between 1855 and 1946 !  ( Forglen)
This child also died within a year of birth, so not the man at 1901

Either your man was not born in Banff(shire) or he had a different birth name

[Forfarian]

I have a family member who lived in Northumberland in 1901 and the census states that he was born in Baff, Scotland, which I take to be a spelling error and it is actually Banff, Scotland. 

My question is if someone says they were born in Banff, would this mean it was actually the town of Banff or could anyone tell me which other towns I could look at when seeking a birth, where in 1869 would be known as Banff (I mean neigbouring towns as I am not from the area).

It could mean the burgh (town) of Banff, or the parish of Banff, or elsewhere in the county of Banff. There is no way of telling what the enumerator thought he was writing down in 1901.

[MonicaL]

He is also showing Banff in 1911 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWCZ-CFN

What happened between 1901 when he showed married to Elizabeth and had a one year old son Alexander?

Have you been able to confirm his father's name from his marriage cert (assuming he married Elizabeth as in 1911 he is showing as single).

You may find that his birth reg may have been under the name Williamson. There are a few possibilities for him with that spelling variant such as this one https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYT7-GDW or this one https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XY1M-FF8

Monica

[littleliz02]

Thank you Anne, your right something isn't right, I have tried for a couple of years now and researched every Williams in Banff to the extent of anyone in Scotland

Monica, I would love to know what happened to Elizabeth because I cant locate a marriage for him to Elizabeth and then cant find a child Alexandra  born in 1900, I am familiar with Northumberland/Durham but that hasn't helped, I am swayed to believe that they weren't married and like Anne mentioned about his birth "Something isn't right".
I definitely know he married in Northumberland in 1913 as a Bachelor (to my ggm), with a father named as John (deceased) but that hasn't helped either.
I think he moved from his birth town in about 1880's and ended up in Durham. I have for definite on 1901 (birthplace Banff) and 1911 (birthplace Banff, Scotland) census and both so that's why i questions where it could have been exactly.  It does seem strange that he would have moved to Durham from Banff unless of course he was involved in the Fishing Industry. 

Then I question why would someone say they were born in Banff, why Banff, how would he have even heard of a town called Banff if he didn't have a connection with the Town.

Researching your family history should come with a warning about how frustrating it would be.

[MonicaL]

Re the son Alexander, age 1 and born in South Shields, the only possible entry I could see was a 1st Qrt birth entry in South Shields for an Alexander Williamson Stott, MMN Dale...which doesn't make much sense either 

Monica

Added: Ahh, this is 1911 for this Alexander and family so we can exclude https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWCD-2ZC

[MonicaL]

Is there anything in the names of his children that might give you some clues as to his mother's name? Did he name any of his sons John? Just thinking whether he may have used a form of Scottish naming pattern that sometimes gives some clues about family names.

Monica

[Millmoor]

Might be an idea to link the previous threads on this (thought it was familiar) to avoid the same information being repeated.

William

[MonicaL]

Memory overload for me 

www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=623889.9

Monica