Trying to prove (or disprove) a name change

[dasmitchell]

Hi all,

I have been going round in circles with this one so thought I would cast out a net and see if there is something I am missing that I could try.

Initially I couldn't trace my ancestor John McKenzie any earlier than the 1881 census. His place of birth was consistent as Fordyce, Scotland albeit with a variety of birth dates ranging from the mid 1830's to the mid 1840's. His eldest son was born in December 1877, the earliest record I can guarantee being him. He wasn't married so no parental information there and he passed away in England so no parental information there either.

My Grandmother had taken a DNA test a few years before passing away and with some help of a DNA expert they were able to point to my genetical ancestor (lots of very close matches) being a Thomas Horne who was born in Fordyce in 1834. I initially thought that it was just a case of an illegitimate birth but this Thomas Horne (who worked as a Police Superintendent in Chesterfield) had to resign in 1876 and there is no record of him since so I am now putting 2 and 2 together and wondering whether Thomas Horne was in fact John McKenzie. Also other ancestors of the other children of John McKenzie also have close DNA matches to the descendants of Thomas Horne.

 I have checked countless death records for this Thomas Horne but I have not been able to find anything (same with all the other descendants of Thomas Horne. He just disappears. His daughters all married in the 80's and 90's and he isn't listed as having passed away on those records. Also Thomas Horne's wife dies in 1904 and her husband is listed as being the Chief Superintendent of Chesterfield police despite having resigned in 1876 at a young age.

Bit of a long story but was wondering if there are any recommendations in trying to prove the name change?

My goals so far to try and disprove the theory are

Find John McKenzie prior to 1877 (so far not had any success)
Find Thomas Horne after 1876 (so far no success)

So far I have John McKenzie on all census records past 1881 until his death in 1907
I have all of Thomas Horne census records from 1841 until 1871.

The last possible clue is Thomas Horne's wife Elizabeth Horne (Blair) who also goes missing in 1881 but re-appears in 1891. Their children are living alone in 1881 and being looked after by their eldest daughter who is 18. It makes me wonder whether Thomas Horne and Elizabeth Horne are traveling but if I can find Elizabeth Horne then it means I can see if she is on her own or not. I have Elizabeth on all census records except 1881 until her death in 1904.

Thanks in advance

David

[MonicaL]

Hi David

Why did Thomas Horne have to resign in 1876?

Monica

[dasmitchell]

Hi Monica,

It appears the Watch Committee that oversaw his work were not happy with his performance and requested his resignation. On previous meeting notes it seemed that perhaps his record keeping was not up to scratch.

Not anything that was big enough for him to leave his family. I did wonder whether he may have ran away with another woman who he then had children with but it is just an assumption.

David

[Jomot]

Can you tell us when/where Elizabeth Horn (Blair) was born & where you find her in the census.

Also where is John McKenzie from 1881 onwards?

[Millmoor]

Assuming I have the correct family I note that Thomas Horne had a daughter called Christina who was born in Cardiff in 1870. Christina married a Thomas Bostock in Lenton Nottinghamshire in Jan 1898. Her father is named on her marriage cert as Thomas Horne, Police Inspector, Deceased. Christina is recorded with her mother in Nottingham in the 1901  census - her mother Elizabeth is recorded as a widow in that census.

William

[Galium]

Interesting that John McKenzie also named a daughter Christina. Thomas Horne's mother was Christina.

I don't think that you should assume that Thomas Horne's family behaving as though he was deceased means that he was.  An abandoned wife might prefer to describe herself as a widow, rather than admit the truth to all and sundry.

[MonicaL]

For those with access, there is a well researched family tree here www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/21356441/person/310187041297/facts

Monica

[dasmitchell]

Can you tell us when/where Elizabeth Horn (Blair) was born & where you find her in the census.

Also where is John McKenzie from 1881 onwards?

John McKenzie is living in Windygates, Fife in 1881. In 1891 he is in Hertford, Hertfordshire, and in 1901 he is living in Cramond, Edinburgh.

In regards to Elizabeth Blair, looking at my notes I have no firm guarantee I have the right one but I believe she lived in East Lothian in 1841 and 1851 and was born in Whittingham. This is just based on her father being a George Blair (Farmer) which is listed on her marriage certificate and it was the only Elizabeth Blair I could not account for after the 1851 census.

[dasmitchell]

Assuming I have the correct family I note that Thomas Horne had a daughter called Christina who was born in Cardiff in 1870. Christina married a Thomas Bostock in Lenton Nottinghamshire in Jan 1898. Her father is named on her marriage cert as Thomas Horne, Police Inspector, Deceased. Christina is recorded with her mother in Nottingham in the 1901  census - her mother Elizabeth is recorded as a widow in that census.

William

Yes that is the correct family and you are right, 1898 is the first time Thomas Horne is listed as deceased, but not sure what the norm is if somebody abandons their family and their fate is unknown, not sure if they wait a set number of years or not.