David COUTTS ?

[JonJon]

Hi,

I wish to find out which David COUTTS died at sea on the 14 Feb 1896 while returning to Scotland from Callao, Peru with his family.  The death record shows his age as 49, born Aberdeen.

His widow initially joined her relatives in Fife, but the family then moved to Glasgow.

David's marriage was in Peru; and all but one of the children were born there.
His youngest son was born 16 March 1986 at Leslie, Fife.

While in Callao David was a "Dock Master".
His was was Mary CAMPBELL b. 1 Apr 1861 at Paisley and she traveled to Peru in 1886 just before the wedding on 10 Oct 1886.  This date taken from the birth registration of the son born at Leslie.
The marriage and births of 5 sons do appear in the UK Consular BMD Indices.
I should order the Marriage Cert. because that should at least list David's father.

However there is a strong hint that his father's name was also David.

I wonder if :
- the 10 Oct 1886 marriage would have been mentioned in a newspaper.
- where David was at census time in 1851/1861/1871 & 1881 (perhaps at sea?).
  [ I have looked but only get confused by all the possibilities. ]

Given that his wife was born in Paisley; I suspect he learnt his trade on the docks along the Clyde.

I have also attempted to trace all the David COUTTS born in Aberdeen(shire) about 1847, hoping to eliminate all but one without success.

Can anyone help ? FYI I live in Canada.

Cheers
JonJon

[MonicaL]

Hi there

Not sure if it helps (or you may this already). There is an entry in the Wills & Testament section of SP:

David COUTTS - 19/03/1896   

DOCK MANAGER TO CALLAO DOCK COY., CALLAO, PERU, SOMETIME OF ABERDEEN, D. 14/02/1896 ON BOARD ROYAL MAIL STEAMER "ATRATO," ON VOYAGE FROM SOUTH AMERICA TO SOUTHAMPTON

INTESTATE - EDINBURGH SHERIFF COURT INVENTORIES Ref SC70/1/347 - 9 pages

Monica

[MonicaL]

Looks like you have researched hard on the family.

Have you got this on son John? www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/biography/?id=WH19095&type=P

Have looked on the pay to view site www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk Cannot easily see anything there re marriage sadly. The site's collection of newpapers is incredible now, but not sure on its coverage so far for the Aberdeenshire area for example.

This is wife Mary Campbell here from what you mention https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQ4C-LJF - daughter of John Campbell and Jane McGibbon.

Monica

PS: Can't easily see the 1901 entry for widow Mary with her boys in Glasgow. Could you post so we have the details also here for reference?

[JonJon]

Hello Monica,

Thank you, Yes I do have a copy of David's Testament. Sorry that I did not mention it in my original query.

I did not know about the University item though.. so will check that.

My indirect link to this family is through David's son George who came to Canada with his English born wife and daughter. 

Suspect that David was the second son of David, a Seaman, & Margory COUTTS who in 1851 lived at 4 Cato Square, Aberdeen.. but have not found any proof yet.  This couple's son George became a Master Mariner.  But I have no idea where the family was in 1861.

Cheers
JonJon

[JonJon]

Hello again Monica,

The University DB also includes son George; and shows his Canadian Army connection.

No listing of the other 3 boys born in Peru (David1888, William1892, Frank1893).
The youngest son Paul Campbell COUTTS, born 1886 at Leslie, Fife died 1918 in France.

May be best for me to check for a will for George COUTTS Master Mariner born 1845 Aberdeen.

Cheers
JonJon
 

[MonicaL]

Is this the family in Aberdeen that you have been looking at in 1851?

David Coutts 29 seaman b. Aberdeen
Margory Coutts 28 b. Forres, nairn
George Coutts 6 b. Aberdeen
David Coutts 4 b. Aberdeen

Address: 4 Catto Square, Aberdeen St Clements

Monica

[flst]

Marjory is widowed in the 1861 census. Aged 35, she says she was born in Inveravon,Banffshire. Living with her is her 14 year old son, David, born in St.Clements parish. He's a clerk, Journal Newspaper. They are still in Catto Square but at number 7. i got this info from the Freecen website.
flst

[ecksdochter]

Hello,
     1901 Census. (A*try)
     Pollockshields, Glasgow, Lanarkshire.
          Mary  Coatts   39  b  Paisley.
          David Coatts   13  b  Peru.
          John Campbell Coatts  11  b  Peru.
          George  Coatts  8  b  Peru.
          Paul Campbell Coatts  5  b Leslie, Fife.

               Regards,     Dod.

[JonJon]

Hi Everyone,

First a thank you for your replies.
For some unknown reason I lost access to RootsChat for a while.

ecksdochter has correctly identified the family in the 1901 census.
Note that sons William & Frank are not with their mother.

MonicaL & flst have identified the COUTTS family that I suspect is David's birth family.

I am looking for a way to confirm that suspicion. David's Will/Testament did not mention any siblings.

Can anyone spot the baptismal record for any of the Catto Sq children?

TIA
JonJon