Margaret Drysdale

[Liviani]

Hi, I'm looking for some assistance on Margaret Drysdale. Where was she born and who was her mother? 

She was born about 1801.

She married an Alexander Allan in 1821 at St Cuthbert's, Edinburgh. Alexander was from Banffshire originally and they lived there throughout their marriage. OPR marriage states that Alexander Allan was a tailor and was 'of 13 James Street', and that Margaret was 'daughter of the late John Drysdale, residing at 25 Gayfield Square'.

I have the following children for them, all born in Banff:
Jane
Thomas Wilson
Alexander
George Taylor
Margaret
John
James Smith

Margaret died in 1873 at Head of Yards Road, Banff, Banffshire. Unfortunately, no mother is named on her death registration, just stated as 'unknown'. Father is noted as being a John Drysdale, Labourer, Deceased.

The 1851, 1861 and 1871 censuses (all at Head of Yards Road, Banff) are consistent in stating her place of birth is Edinburgh. It may be that there is no record of her baptism. There are trees online that claim her place of birth is at Tulliallan and that her parents are a John Drysdale and Christian Tod. I have found no evidence to verify that these are the same people. I'm not keen on Tulliallan due to her place of birth being stated as Edinburgh consistently.

Any assistance appreciated.



 

[ColC]

I note the 1841 census at Chapel Close, High Street and the children you mention, I do not see baptisms for the first three on Scotland’s People the ones that are listed below.
On the 1841 census on freecen Margaret is noted as 40 & 1851 – 51.

Jane
Thomas Wilson
Alexander

GEORGE TAYLOR 6/05/1831
MARGARET 19/02/1833
ANN WILSON 16/05/1833 – not on 1841 census
JOHN 24/01/1836
JAMES SMITH 17/07/1839

Colin

[ColC]

I cannot find a baptism for Margaret but I did come across the family below, given the name of Margaret’s youngest son and eldest daughter Jane. It might be worth looking at the Kirk session records on SP for Leith North?

JOHN DRYSDALE/MARGARET SMITH – children baptised Leith North

DAVID 2/01/1780
RICHARD 7/02/1782
JEAN 26/04/1784
ISABEL 31/12/1786
JOHN 5/04/1789
GEORGE 18/10/1794


Colin

[Forfarian]

There are trees online that claim her place of birth is at Tulliallan and that her parents are a John Drysdale and Christian Tod. I have found no evidence to verify that these are the same people. I'm not keen on Tulliallan due to her place of birth being stated as Edinburgh consistently.

You are absolutely right. This is clearly a bit of sloppy 'research' based on the daughter of John Drysdale and Christian Tod being in the surviving records when your Margaret Drysdale is not.

The daughter of John Drysdale and Christian Todd was born in 1800.

There's a marriage of a Margaret Drysdale to Donald Stewart in Tulliallan in 1827, followed by several of a family, the first three baptised in Culross and then six in Haddington.

The 1851 census in Haddington lists Donald Stewart with his wife Margaret, aged 45, born Tulliallan, and six children.

Admittedly none of the Stewart children was named either John or Christian, and Margaret is 5 years younger than she would be if she were the daughter of John Drysdale and Christian Tod, but she could be theirs. I can't find a death, and I can't find them in 1861, so they may have emigrated.

On the other hand, there is a baptism of Margaret to Henry Drysdale and Helen Johnston who looks a more likely prospect.

Back to the drawing board.

[Liviani]

Hi Colin and Forfarian. Many thanks for your input here.

I do not see baptisms for the first three on Scotland’s People the ones that are listed below.

Jane
Thomas Wilson
Alexander

I did manage to find Jane and Thomas' baptisms on SP and IGI, both in Banff:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XBSF-YB5
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XBSN-KXP

But like you, I couldn't find a baptism for Thomas Wilson Allan.

Thank you for the suggestion re the Kirk Session for Leith. I will make sure to have a look through those and see if anything pops up. I will also have a browse through others in the locality of St Cuthbert's as that's where they were registered as marrying.

I cannot find a baptism for Margaret but I did come across the family below, given the name of Margaret’s youngest son and eldest daughter Jane. It might be worth looking at the Kirk session records on SP for Leith North?

JOHN DRYSDALE/MARGARET SMITH – children baptised Leith North

DAVID 2/01/1780
RICHARD 7/02/1782
JEAN 26/04/1784
ISABEL 31/12/1786
JOHN 5/04/1789
GEORGE 18/10/1794

This family looks worthy of some more research. Thank you. I notice that John Drysdale and Margaret Smith have an OPR marriage entry in 1770 in the parish of Newton, Midlothian, which I have attached below. Sadly John's profession isn't mentioned - though labourer is quite common anyway. Witnesses look to be a David Drysdale and William Smith.

Thank you Forfarian for your efforts here. I think I'm going to put the Tulliallan Drysdales to one side for now.

I did find an interesting OPR burial: Another Margaret Drysdale died aged 71 in 1852 at St Cuthbert's. Looks like her husband was an Archibald Wilson. "My" Margaret Drysdale or Allan had a son called Thomas Wilson Allan. Might be worth considering some sort of connection.

Also going to through out a Thomas Drysdale as a possible connection. He was residing in Edinburgh in 1841, aged about 60, and an independent, living in St John Street, Canongate. There is a 30 year old John Drysdale living with him who's a Tailor, which is what Margaret Drysdale's husband Alexander Allan was. Could easily be a coincidence of course.

There are a number of probable children of Thomas in this household.
Margaret aged about 25
Alexander an about 20 year old teacher
Thomas an about 20 year old salesman.
All of these Drysdales were born out of county.

This address also seems to be a school - there are few children here listed as pupils. One of them is a 7 year old James Allan. Born out of county.

St John Street, does appear rather well off at this time which makes me a little skeptical of attaching them as a connection to Margaret. This article discusses the history of the street here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/education/about-us/maps-estates-history/estates/st-john-street. Having said that, Alexander Allan appeared to own the property he and his family lived in for decades at Heads of Yards Road, Banff. A newspaper article in the Banffshire Advertiser in 1876 stated that the property at Head of Yards Road of "two dwelling houses and garden which belonged to the late Alexander Allan, tailor" was for sale by private bargain.

Perhaps nothing relevant, but who knows.

Thanks, will see what else I can find.

[MonicaL]

...and that Margaret was 'daughter of the late John Drysdale, residing at 25 Gayfield Square'.

Just as a side note, Liviani. This property is now a Grade A listed property. See https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/200367397-24-25-gayfield-square-edinburgh-edinburgh#.YhARqJanw2w

Monica

[Liviani]

...and that Margaret was 'daughter of the late John Drysdale, residing at 25 Gayfield Square'.

Just as a side note, Liviani. This property is now a Grade A listed property. See https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/200367397-24-25-gayfield-square-edinburgh-edinburgh#.YhARqJanw2w

Monica

Hi Monica, thank you very much. I'm wondering the circumstances surrounding this couple, I can only imagine she was living here as a servant or something due to her father being named as a labourer.
Very interesting.