Robert, Andrew, Elisabeth and Agness McDonald - Kilbirnie 1850's

[BeingErnest]

Can anyone please help? 

I'm trying trace where my ancestors may have disappeared to. I've managed to get quite a lot of info through Census and Birth data and even spent a lot of time on the Scottish People computers at the local library but I'm hitting my head against a brick wall now.

 Elisabeth McDonald, B-About 1850
 Robert McDonald, B-About 1852
 Agness McDonald, B-About 1855
 Andrew McDonald, B-17th Dec 1858

They are son's and daughter's of a Hugh McDonald
(Born somewhere in Ireland 1819 and dies in Kilbirnie in 1861)

and...

A Jane Lang
(Born in Kilbirnie, Ayrshire 18th June 1824 and dies in 1899)

Elisabeth McDonald
I have Elisabeth living in Kilbirnie in the 1851, 1861 and 1881 Census and then nothing
At this point she would be about 31 yo

Robert McDonald
I have Robert living in Kilbirnie in the 1861 Census
and then possibly Kirkcaldy, Fife in 1871 and then possibly Glasgow in 1881 although nothing concrete yet to prove this. There is also the possibility he may have married a Mary Ann cochrane which I'm now looking into, but again no hard evidence. He would be about 29 yo in 1881

Agness McDonald
In 1883 I have Agness marrying a James Logan in Kilbirnie on the 27th Nov but have nothing after that for either of them.

Andrew McDonald
This is the person I am mostly interested in. I have my 3rd Great Uncle in Kilbirnie in the 1861 and 1871 Census and then i believe I have him in the 1881 Census in North Berwick, East Lothian as a teacher. (Common in my family) After this and endless searches I can't find anything but my thoughts are that he may have travelled overseas... He would be 23 yo in 1881

Apparently one of my great(x4) grandfathers was a poet but I have also yet to unlock this mystery although some of my relatives who are born in the early-mid 1800's become quite well established (locally) in that field. The furthest I can get back is a Hugh McDonald in Ireland (probably born around 1800 who marries an Elisabeth Elliott. I have absolutely no information on any of them so don't know if their son Hugh travelled alone to Scotland or with family.

Any help whatsoever on any of the above would be of great benefit to me.

Thanks in advance for any advice, help or input.
Alec

[rosie17]

Hi Alec and welcome to rootschat ..have you checked this out for Agnes Logan age 35 born Kilbirnie occupation dressmaker ..1891 census
Address Dennyholm Street Kilbirnie
Son William Logan age 5 born Kilbirnie

1901 census address Bridgend Street Kilbirnie Ayrshire
Agnes Logan age 46 born Kilbirnie occupation dressmaker
William Logan age 15 born Kilbirnie grocers assistant

A death on S P for a James Logan 1889 age 35 years might be worth checking to see if this is your Agnes's husband
Rosie

[rosie17]

You could also check for a marriage for Robert McDonald to Catherine McDonald 1885 Kelvin
Going by the occupation of Robert McDonald on the census forms might be a possibility
1891 Address 23 South S James Street Midlothian Edinburgh Robert McDonald age 48 born Kilbirnie age and birth year out ...occupation printers compositor
Catherine McDonald age 29 wife
Hugh James McDonald age 4 born Glasgow
Maggie B McDonald age 1 born Edinburgh
Catherine Brown 20 Mary Wilson 21 boarders

1901 address 3,Prospect Street Midlothian Edinburgh
Robert McDonald age 54 born Kilbirnie printers compositor
Catherine McDonald age 38 born Edinburgh
Hugh J McDonald age 14 glass blowers apprentice
Maggie B McDonald age 11 born Edinburgh
Janet A McDonald age 7 born Edinburgh
Isabella Ritchie 41 visitor
Rosie

[BeingErnest]

Hi there Rosie,

Thanks very much for help. Sorry it has taking me a little while to get back to you.

I had researched Robert McDonald before on following this route and seemed to run in to a lot of false leads. However, this time I tried it again and I managed to trace him right up to his death in 1908. He and Catherine also have a son (Hugh McDonald) and two daughters (Janet Addie McDonald & Margaret Butlers McDonald). Their son Hugh McDonald and is in the Royal Navy Reserves during the first world war where he dies in France in 1917. I have yet to find any enrollment records though which may help to work out where Hugh/Catherine/Margaret/Janet were just prior to going to France (he does indeed marry a Catherine McDonald but I cannot find any of them on the 1911 census).

I'm sure that one of the sisters dies before 1917 though as I have located a message of an inscription that was to be put on the gravestone of  the Hugh McDonald that died in France which states it is from Catherine and daughter of one of the sisters (no name).

Thanks though for helping me make good progress on this.

I think Andrew, who I am also looking for, probably left the country so not sure if I will ever find him... I will keep searching though!

:-)

[rosie17]

Hi army records for a John Cowan has him married to a Janet Eadie McDonald 13/12/1917
149 Onslow Drive Dennistown Glasgow ...There is a copy of her death certificate attached to his army records
Janet  Cowan died 15 /8/1918 at 36,Harvie Street age 25 father Robert McDonald compositor journeyman {deceased} mother Catherine McDonald mother registered the death
Husband John Cowan age 36 Chauffeur ..Private Army Service Corps
Rosie

[rosie17]

Also army records for a John Nelson married to Margaret Butlers McDonald 15 /7/1910 Glasgow
Address 218 Baltic Street Glasgow
Children John Nelson 1910,Catherine Nelson 1912, Margaret Nelson 1915
Husband John Nelson reported missing then reported dead
Rosie

[rosie17]

Hugh McDonald birth date 26/10/1886
Royal Navel Volunteer Reserve killed in action or died as a direct result of enemy action 23/4/1917
Cemetery Orchard Dump Arleux-On-Gohelle France
Mother Catherine 36, Harvie Street Bridgeton Glasgow
Rosie

[BeingErnest]

Wow!

Thanks Rosie.

That sounds right regarding Janet Eadie McDonald. Interestingly the middle names for Robert McDonald's children are unfortunately wide and varied but I can understand how similar Addie and Eadie probably sounded. This is a great help and might help me narrow things down a lot further. I really appreciate it. This will keep me going for a little bit.

Thanks again.
Alec

[rosie17]

Your welcome Alec the middle names certainly help 
Rosie