Agnes Dawson - Whittingehame

[littlefacey]

Hello


I am trying to locate the parents and any siblings of my 5 x GG Grandmother, Agnes Dawson who married George Paxton in Dunbar 1801. I have a copy of her death record which states her parents as George Dawson, a Ploughman & Alison Kerr however I cannot find a birth / baptism record for Agnes (or any other children) nor can I find a marriage record for George & Alison.

Agnes was stated as being born in 1780 Whittingehame on the 1851 & 1861 census. I managed to find an Agnes being born in Whittingehame however to a Thomas Dawson & Janet Yorstone.

Do you think this could be her and that the parents listed on her death record were incorrect? Her mothers maiden name of Kerr would fit as Kerr became a family name passed down (beginning with her son).

Would the marriage record of Agnes and George Paxton shed light on her parents? or are the Scottish marriage records in around this date have the same information as England's?

Can anyone help advise?

[MonicaL]

Hi littlefacey

FreeReg have a transcript of what shows on the OPR entry for George Paxton and Agnes Dawson's marriage here www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5817d3abe93790eb7fa399df/agnes-dawson-george-paxton-marriage-east-lothian-dunbar-1801-08-10?locale=en

Not surprisingly, no confirmation of possible parent(s) for them on this.

George and Agnes's first born daughter was Janet? Can't see an Alice/Alison featuring in their children's names.

So this looks to be a family tree for the family of Thomas Dawson and Janet Yorstone www.wikitree.com/wiki/Dawson-8208

Mistakes were not uncommon when reporting deaths. A pain when this happens though 

You might want to consider doing further research on Thomas, wife Janet and their children to see whether you can find any links.

Have you had a look at George and Agnes's children's baptism to see who were the sponsors/witness to the christening? This, for example, was daughter's Janet's christening entry www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/581812c8e93790ec8badec2e/janet-paxton-baptism-east-lothian-prestonkirk-1802-02-07?locale=en You will see that it names a John and James Dawson as witnesses.

FreeReg playing up a little at the moment. But you can check the christenings of all the Dawson children who show there to see if the names of the witnesses can help you further.

Did George Paxton live past 1855 to see what was said about his parents? I can only see one possible on SP and that is for a George Dawson, son of Peter Paxton and Marion Little, who was christened on 10 April 1774 in Dunbar. Added: See that George's burial was in 1852 so nothing to be confirmed from there.

Monica

[Forfarian]

I note with interest that George Paxton and Alison Ker had three children baptised in Cockburnspath: Alison in 1772, another Alison in 1774 and George in 1776. I wonder if Agnes' granddaughter could have got her great-grandmothers mixed up?

If not, then the chances are that Agnes' records, if they ever existed, have not survived.

The marriage record of George and Agnes is unlikely to include the names of her parents, but it's just possible that it might contain some sort of clue.

If you have come across a census that gives a birth year, do not trust it. The original census never gives a year of birth; they always record the age the person said they were on the day of the census. You should view the original census at www.scotlandspeople.go.uk to make sure that you have the correct information, not a transcription that may contain an error.

[ColC]

I note that George & Agnes had 9 children, first at Prestonkirk then Stenton. It looks possible that there are birth/baptism records for a George & Alison, below but the marriage record may not have survived, if indeed they married?

ALISON KERR born/baptised 11/01/1741
JAMES KERR/ELIZABETH ROCHEED or ROCHEAD
PRESTONKIRK, EAST LOTHIAN
Plus: John 1744 & Elspeth 1746

Plus two George’s in the County but many others elsewhere.
DAUSON   GEORGE   GEORGE DAUSON/ALISON CHRISTIE   03/03/1728   DUNBAR
DAWSON   GEORGE   JOHN DAWSON/ELIZABETH STORY    03/10/1725   DUNBAR

Colin

[Forfarian]

IF George Paxton who married Agnes Dawson was indeed the son of George P and Alison Ker, born in 1772, then Alison must have been born after 1726 and before 1760.

There are three possibles in Berwickshire and two in East Lothian, besides seven elsewhere in Scotland, plus an unknown number whose baptism records have not survived.

[littlefacey]

Hi littlefacey

FreeReg have a transcript of what shows on the OPR entry for George Paxton and Agnes Dawson's marriage here www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5817d3abe93790eb7fa399df/agnes-dawson-george-paxton-marriage-east-lothian-dunbar-1801-08-10?locale=en

Not surprisingly, no confirmation of possible parent(s) for them on this.

George and Agnes's first born daughter was Janet? Can't see an Alice/Alison featuring in their children's names.

So this looks to be a family tree for the family of Thomas Dawson and Janet Yorstone www.wikitree.com/wiki/Dawson-8208

Mistakes were not uncommon when reporting deaths. A pain when this happens though 

You might want to consider doing further research on Thomas, wife Janet and their children to see whether you can find any links.

Have you had a look at George and Agnes's children's baptism to see who were the sponsors/witness to the christening? This, for example, was daughter's Janet's christening entry www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/581812c8e93790ec8badec2e/janet-paxton-baptism-east-lothian-prestonkirk-1802-02-07?locale=en You will see that it names a John and James Dawson as witnesses.

FreeReg playing up a little at the moment. But you can check the christenings of all the Dawson children who show there to see if the names of the witnesses can help you further.

Did George Paxton live past 1855 to see what was said about his parents? I can only see one possible on SP and that is for a George Dawson, son of Peter Paxton and Marion Little, who was christened on 10 April 1774 in Dunbar. Added: See that George's burial was in 1852 so nothing to be confirmed from there.

Monica

Ah witnesses... I didn't even think about that! I'm just going through them now and noticed the following reoccurring names

James Dawsons
John Dawsons
Jas Dobie
George Pringle


I can see there was a James Dawson born to Janet & Thomas as was an Isabel so i am going to look through Whittingehame parish records for the Dawson family. If Thomas and Janet are correct I wonder where the name Kerr comes from..

[MonicaL]

I could only see the use of Kerr once for the children of George and Agnes, and that was for son Kerr Paxton born in 1819.  Dale was the other middle name that showed for daughter Isabel.

Great find by Colin of potential parents for George being a George Paxton and Alison Kerr  Makes more sense of your findings for sure.

Monica

[littlefacey]

I note with interest that George Paxton and Alison Ker had three children baptised in Cockburnspath: Alison in 1772, another Alison in 1774 and George in 1776. I wonder if Agnes' granddaughter could have got her great-grandmothers mixed up?

If not, then the chances are that Agnes' records, if they ever existed, have not survived.

The marriage record of George and Agnes is unlikely to include the names of her parents, but it's just possible that it might contain some sort of clue.

If you have come across a census that gives a birth year, do not trust it. The original census never gives a year of birth; they always record the age the person said they were on the day of the census. You should view the original census at www.scotlandspeople.go.uk to make sure that you have the correct information, not a transcription that may contain an error.

Yeah, I found a copy of the marriage record online and you were right.. nothing of any help 

However I do know that George Paxtons parents were Peter Paxton and Marion Little.

[littlefacey]

I could only see the use of Kerr once for the children of George and Agnes, and that was for son Kerr Paxton born in 1819.  Dale was the other middle name that showed for daughter Isabel.

Great find by Colin of potential parents for George being a George Paxton and Alison Kerr  Makes more sense of your findings for sure.

Monica

The Kerr name was used only once here but every generation upto my grandfather (may possible be more but I havent researched further down) has had either a Kerr or a George Kerr.