John & Flora McDonald - Govan 1890

[MonicaL]

This looks like the family in the 1901 census, (Ancestry version) boarding with Catherine Devlin at
262 Dobbies Loan, Port Dundas, Glasgow.
John McDonald aged 26 (Ancestry transcript so "pinch of salt")Chemical Labourer, born Lanarkshire.
Flora McDonald, wife, aged 36 years, washerwoman, born Glasgow.
Angus McDonald, son, aged 12 years, scholar, born Glasgow.
Bella McDonald, daughter, aged 8 years, scholar, born Invernes-shire Barra.

John's birthplace is given as "S Cornway" Lanarkshire but that doesn't sound right at all.

This, for example, is one entry that you might want to consider viewing the original to try to see what it says for John's birth place...

And, at last, a chink of light on births....little Bella's birth in Barra at the end of 1892...Xmas Day baby (registered Jan 1893).

[MonicaL]

I think the location and address for Bella's birth confirm you have the right family for Flora in Glasgow. With her mother and two brothers in Barra by 1891.

Monica

[MonicaL]

To further illustrate Lodger's earlier point about caution required on transcripts...from Find My Past, for 1901, this is what shows for John McDonald re birth place:

John McDonald, married, 36 boarder, chemical labourer born in STORNOWAY, ROSS & CROMARTY

Monica

[WeeFram]

  Oh my! Thank you!

So they're down as MacDonald's. That census was throwing me as the age difference between John & Flora was bigger and Angus was listed as being Catherine Devlin's son 

So we have Flora and John with Angus & Isabella, whos the 2nd brother?

The census on Scotland's People lists John's birth place as Stornoway!

Ive just seen your reply before this

[MonicaL]

As I know to my SP poorness  (gosh I spent so so many units then!) ALWAYS search for McDonald as M*cDonald. '*' Star is the wildcard option on SP.

I start with M*don*l* and take it from there to see what it comes up first! You can add letters as you go if you get too many results. Lots of variants for all names really. Also, people happily showed under either spelling. Spellings only started to become more rigid from the early 20th C.

Monica

[Lodger]

  and Angus was listed as being Catherine Devlin's son 

This is why you should only ever use Scotlandspeople and look at the original documents. Use Ancestry as a secondary source when you have to and never trust what you see in someone else's tree. Scotlandspeople may cost more but you will get the right answers!

[WeeFram]

yes, lesson well and truly learnt. I didn't know that's how the wildcard worked on SP just that it was a drop-down option.

The census page only has Flora & John on it as it's at the bottom of the page, is it likely that Angus and any other potential siblings will be listed on the other page?

So from what Lodger was saying, Stephen is Flora's brother and possibly a brother Roderick and Catherine in Barra is her mum.

Now just to figure out John & Flora's birth. Also, do you think I can disregard the McAuley as I can't find anything other than it being on Angus's marriage certificate?

Thanks

[MonicaL]

Some family researchers give John McDonald's birth as:

John Mcdonald(1862–)
27 February 1862 • Upper Shader Balantrushal,Barvas, Ross-shire
www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/161471189/person/312119143147/facts

Easy enough for you to check on SP.

Potential death for Kenneth father in 1913 in Barvas at the age of 97. This is from SP. Also on SP is a death that should fit for mother Isabella McLeod in Barvas in 1899.

Monica

[MonicaL]

There are a number of ways of searching on SP. Me personally, I tend to use the wildcard function as for me it gives me a lot of flexibility.

We have the family of Flora in Barra after those years in Glasgow. We added census entries for them in 1891 and 1901 previously so have a look.

Following the death of John McDonald (when we don't know), it could well be that Flora took up with a McAuley man. But we know they didn't marry. Her death reg confirms just her marriage to John McDonald.

Finding her in 1911 might be hard to do. Have you got Angus in 1911?

Monica