James Mutch, Canal Street, Aberdeen 1908

[kenny2016]

Hi all and many thanks on all this - MonicaL/Jim1 - I think your responses give best clues our family has had to date - yes a reputed father - we only have basic clues on a birth cert.

The responses are giving us two clear, but different strands:

1. taking the 1901 Census James Mutch info (which is older than we expected, but correct occupation) this would make him around 29 in 1908. (born 1979 plus or minus a year). Is there anything else on him or his family to help pin down?

2. taking the 1 Lamond Place James Mutch info, this would have made him 18 in 1908 (which is more like the age we expected). This location is also close to Canal Street and Kittybrewster Railway Station where he could have worked at. But what does a 'Carter' do? Is there anything else on him?

[MonicaL]

The problem you face is that the name James Mutch is really popular. There are at least 3 James Mutch entries in the 1881/1891 censuses that could fit for the one I mentioned. One can be excluded as he shows with his parents James and Jane (Duncan) in 1901 and the occupation is not fitting what you have.

Are you by chance in Scotland? This type of search is best done in person at one of the main genealogy centres there. For the cost of a day ticket (around £15) you can plough through online at one of the dedicated terminals as many BMDs and original census images as you can fit it... There are so many James Mutch entries that it would be too expensive to try and do on a pay to view basis on www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

Monica

[rosie17]

Think that would be the best thing to do as Monica has suggested if you live in Scotland if you google carter occupation ( carries or conveys goods on a cart )
Rosie

[MonicaL]

The other thing that might help would be a look at the Valuation Rolls for c. 1908 for 18 Canal Street. I think it might be multi occupancy though so James Mutch in 1908 may have only been boarding/lodging for a while there. Scotlands People have started to add online databases for the Valuation Rolls but it is work in progress and around the time you need, there is only 1905 and 1915. People at this time moved around a lot so can be difficult tracking people in this way alone.

Monica

[kenny2016]

Hi all - some new clues on finding more on John Mutch.

1. We can now discount the 1 Lamond Place James Mutch info, who was 18 in 1908 and married to Jessie in 1916. We have found his grave in the Grove Cemetery in Bucksburn, Aberdeen. Unfortunatey he died in 1950 and Jessie in 1980.

2. The 1901 Census James Mutch info with the correct occupation and born 1879 plus or minus a year, could still be the correct James Mutch.  We now know that he was seen alive by several family members in 1965 and residing in the cottages next to the Propeller Garage and opposite the 4 Mile Pub in Bucksburn, Aberdeen. However there appears to be no trace of him at the nearby Grove Cemetery, Bucksburn, Aberdeen nor the Newhills Cemetery, Aberdeen. Does anyone know more on him or his family to help pin down?

[MonicaL]

In a period where you cannot view deaths online (50 year rule due to privacy and data protection).

The garage and pub that you mention were on Inverurie Road, Bucksburn?

If you are confident that you can place James Mutch around 1965 in that area, there are two possible deaths (outside the period that you can view online). The use of middle names will help you find their birth entries as they seem to have been used for the birth registrations of both.

James Beedie Mutch - died in Newhills at the age of 80, in 1966. He married in 1909, Maggie Campbell. His occupation is given as attendant for the insane at the Kingseat Asylum. Likely exclude given his occupation in 1909?

James Gibson Mutch - died in Aberdeen at the age of 91 in 1980.

Monica

[kenny2016]

Thanks once again...

Yes the Propeller garage and 4 Mile pub that you mention were on Inverurie Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen. The garage and cottages were demolished around 1975/78 to make way for the A96 dual carriageway. The pub still stands and is now the 4 Mile Inn. James Beedie Mutch may be the correct person - certainly in correct age band and he may simply have changed jobs since 1901 Census and 1908 Birth Cert. Kingseat opened in 1904 and was the source of new employment at the time trawling many from Newmachar and Bucksburn areas.

I've also found another James Mutch born 1884 and died 6 Mar 1978 (at St Peters Cem opposite Pittodrie Street, Aberdeen (who is also in correct age band).

I'll explore both these some more - but happy for any more info....

[MonicaL]

To be honest, you always need some fact that you can hold on to tight when trying to find someone...otherwise we have just best guesses.

From what we have so far that you have mentioned, there are only a few hard facts so far for James Mutch:

He was a railway porter at the time birth of child was registered in 1908. Is this correct?

From this birth reg (he must have been present at the Registrar in order for his details to be included on the birth certificate) he gave an address of 19 Canal Street. (This info did come from the 1908 birth cert?).

You mention family contact with him in the 1960s when he lived in a cottage on Inverurie Road, Bucksburn.

If he did change his occupation soon after the birth of the baby, the only possible source of verification will be working through the valuation & electoral rolls for Inverurie Road for that period of the 1960s. There is some chance that someone else might be included (such as a wife or child) that then lets you work back with confidence. Without this type of verification, not sure how you will be certain that you are on the right track with the right James Mutch...

This type of search (valuation and electoral rolls) need to be done in person. Not sure if this is possible for you to do? See for example www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/education_learning/local_history/archives/loc_electoralrolls.asp

Monica

[Jamjar]

There's a James Beedie Mutch born: 11/04/1885, Ardlaw Pitsligo

Parents: Alexander and Jane Cadger

Jamjar