Hi.
I am hoping that someone can give me some advice about how to progress the following.
I have been researching my Stirling past and have been stuck at Patrick Stirling who married Isobell Carmichaell 2/12/1675 in Edinburgh. I have been trying to find anything that would point me to the birth and parents of Patrick with no success.
Recently I started reading the "Stirlings of Keir" (by William Fraser) and came across a group of names that were quite familiar to me; James Jack, John Burne and Robert Moir. They are all witnesses at the baptisms of Patrick and Isobell's children. They are also the husbands of the three youngest daughters of Archibald Stirling and Jean Mushet of Kippendavie. Archibald being the fifth son of Sir Archibald Stirling of Keir (1588 – 1630).
James Jack is married to Helen Stirling. John Burne is married to Margaret Stirling and Robert Moir is married to Jean Stirling.
It seems too much of a coincidence that witnesses with these names should be at the baptisms of Patrick's children (attached is a table summarising the baptisms and witnesses).
My immediate suspicion is that Patrick is a brother of Helen, Margaret and Jean but there is no mention of Archibald having a son called Patrick (Archibald did have a son George that died youngish and John who was the resultant heir). Neither is there any mention of a Patrick Stirling in the "Stirlings of Keir" for the right period of time.
I had hoped that there might be a Will that would help.
- Patrick died around 1688 but no will I have found.
- Archibald died around 1645/46 (according to The Stirlings of keir) but I have not found a Will for him.
- Archibald’s wife, Jean Mushet, had a Will dated 1682 (according to The Stirlings of keir) but I cannot find it on Scotlandspeople.
Any ideas on what I should do next? I do not live in the UK.