Grandparents of James Campbell McLeod (20 Feb 1871 - bef 1924)

[Sildeag]

I have been investigating James Campbell McLeod (also spelt MacLeod) of Nigg, ROC.  He married Elizabeth Fraser (2 May 1868, Nigg - bef 1924) on 25 Dec 1891 in Logie-Easter, ROC.

Parent names for James were James McLeod and Jessie Campbell.  Parent names for Elizabeth were Alexander Fraser and Jessie Macandy.

In 1881 census Jessie Campbell appears to have married twice once with Donald McLeod on 6 Dec 1861 in Nigg, ROC and the second seems like a relationship.  Five children from the marriage Catherine, Elizabeth, David, Janet, and Flora and then James Campbell McLeod.  Donald McLeod died 15 May 1867.  Donald's mother was Janet  or Jennet Fraser, the mother-in-law on 1881 census.

They lived in Cromarty Ferry, Nigg, ROC.  I cannot find James McLeod's parents.  There is a James McLeod of Cromarty Ferry, Nigg with parents Andrew McLeod and Isabella Skinner.  However, his wife Ann Ross (1822-1895) would still have been alive when James Campbell McLeod was born in 1871.

I would like to definitively sort this out but am not sure what to make of this.  Can anyone help?

[MonicaL]

So, this is the 1871 birth of James Campbell McLeod www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQ2M-DBG

Father not named on his birth reg it seems. What info do you have on reputed father James? Was he named in James's marriage or death reg? What details show for him?

Monica

[CaroleW]

If James jnr was born 20.2.1871 - are Jessie & James snr on the 1871 census?   

[MonicaL]

Hi Carole

For 1871 Jessie and son look to be staying with her parents. Two daughters from marriage to Donald McLeod are staying with paternal grandmother.

Jessie and son James both listed as Campbell in the 1871 Campbell household.

Added:

William Campbell 65
Elizabeth Campbell 60
Donald Campbell 36 son
Jessie Campbell 28 Daughter
Barbara Campbell 19 Daughter
Margaret Campbell 1 grandchild
James Campbell 4 months grandchild
   
Address: Fearn, R & C

For 1881:

Jessie Campbell 38    
Jessie McLeod 14
James McLeod 10
Janet Fraser 80 Mother-in-law

Address: Cromarty Ferry, Nigg

Monica

[MonicaL]

James Jnr lived with this mother right up to the 1901 census at least. No sign in the censuses of the reputed father for James Jnr...

Monica

[CaroleW]

Wonder did he make him up to appear "respectable" when he married?

[Sildeag]

Thank you all.  Carole for finding the 1871 census.  I did not have that entry.

The FamilySearch.org entry was guessed at from the 1881 census.  When I started looking in earnest for definitive proof.  I downloaded the 1891 marriage cert from Scotland's People.  It named James McLeod snr and Jessie Campbell as parents.  Then I ran into difficulty finding James McLeod snr.  I had James McLeod in 1819 living in Cromarty Ferry, Nigg and he died in 1879.  I have this James and wife Ann in 1871 census.  Thought of looking for another James' death cert.  but no suitable candidates.

The 1881 census fits with Jessie Campbell being married to Donald McLeod.  The actual birth cert. of James Campbell McLeod shows the mother's name as Jessie Campbell McLeod.  I did not find Jessie's children Catherine McLeod 24 Dec 1851 Nigg, ROC, Elizabeth 29 Dec 1863 - 17 Aug 1864, David 1 Aug 1865 - 4 Jan 1866, Janet 23 Dec 1866 all Nigg, ROC, and Flora 1 Nov 1867 Denny, Stirling, Scotland.  Flora seems wrong.

I take this all to mean an illegitimate child James Campbell McLeod was born to Jessie McLeod (nee Campbell) widow in 1871 and the father James McLeod is really unknown.  James McLeod 1819-1879 who also lived in Cromarty Ferry may not have been the father.  The other James McLeod in the area would have been younger men eg. born in 1847(2), 1856, 1857.  The one born in 1840 was married.   

[CaroleW]

Hi
I can't claim credit for the 1871 entry - it was Monica who found it 👏👏

[Sildeag]

Thank you Monica for finding the 1871 census entry.