Archibald Bell & Mary McKenzie

[milto1384]

Hi,

I've hit a brick wall in my attempts to find more ancestors and was wondering if anyone could help?

I have Catherine Bell's death certificate in New Ardrossan, County of Ayr (d. 10/5/1895) and her parents are shown as Archibald Bell and Mary McKenzie.

Is there any way of finding information and possible ancestors of Archibald and Mary?


Alan

[MonicaL]

Hi Alan

Looking at the index on SP, Catherine was aged c. 70 when she died in 1895. Did she marry? Have you found her in the earlier censuses. Where was she born?

Monica

[MonicaL]

Is this Catherine recently widowed (Daniel, husband?) in 1861:

Catherine McKinzie 37 Head, Rolots (Pilot?)Widow Pauper, b. Cambeltown, argyle
Daniel McKinzie 11
Mary McKinzie 10
John McKinzie 8
Catherin McKinzie 6
Annie Bella McKinzie 4
Peter McKinzie 2
Alexander McKinzie 10 months

Address: Paisley St, Ardrossan

Monica

[MonicaL]

With Catherine showing as a widow and a pauper, she may well an application for relief from the parish. Have a look here at what records are available for Ardrossan www.ayrshireroots.co.uk/Genealogy/Records/Poor Relief/Poor Relief.htm  What you are really looking for is an application as this should provide more detailed family notes.

I can't see anything online so it may have to wait till libraries etc re-open. See also an old post here www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=206029.0

Monica

[milto1384]

Hi Monica,

Yes, Catherine was married to Daniel McKenzie who died on 26/2/1860 aged 36 in Ardrossan.

Alan

[Forfarian]

I wonder if Catherine's mother was actually Catherine not Mary? It wouldn't be the first time an informant got a long-dead mother's given name wrong.

Archibald Bell and Catherine Mackenzie had seven children baptised in Inveraray between 1796 and 1817, including a Catherine of roughly the right age.

[milto1384]

Oh my! That could well be a possibility. I’ll need to dig deeper and see.

Do you think it’s worth my trying to find death certificates for some of the names you found and see if the parents names match up?

[Forfarian]

Do you think it’s worth my trying to find death certificates for some of the names you found and see if the parents names match up?

Yes, probably.

William d Inveraray 1866 is the most obvious candidate.