Elusive Elizabeth Brown Macaulay

[heywood]

This might be worth checking/noting.
In 1851, as posted earlier, there is a Margaret Macaulay, 20 yrs with sister Elizabeth and Margaret Steele, Gorbals.
I found these records
1852 marriage - Scotlands People
Margaret Macaulay and Hugh Rankine - Gorbals, Glasgow

1861
Heugh Rankin and Margaret McAuly Rankin and children in Glasgow, Govan.

1901
Margaret Rankin is living with her son, Bryce Rankin, Glasgow, Govan. (Gorbals registration district)

1908 death - Margaret Rankin, 79 yrs, Gorbals. - Scotlands People

Would that record show Margaret’s parents?

[heywood]

There is a baptism for William Macaulay in Dumbarton but that is 1801 so perhaps too early.
Parents are John Macaulay and Catherine Brown.

[Madelief]

That's interesting. Were all births recorded by law in the early 1800s?

[heywood]

William’s is  a baptism not a birth.

[Madelief]

I presume baptisms were recorded by the church as and when they took place but not necessarily legal requirement even though baptisms were the norm in the past and most children were baptised in case they died. Therefore baptism records would be fairly complete.

However can I assume all births had to be recorded by law? But did they?

[heywood]

Civil records in Scotland began in 1855.
Baptisms were recorded in parish records and it depends whether these have survived over the years.

Death records, I think, show parents names - that is why I posted the information about Margaret MacAulay.

[MonicaL]

There is a baptism for William Macaulay in Dumbarton but that is 1801 so perhaps too early.
Parents are John Macaulay and Catherine Brown.

These are the parents showing on Margaret's death reg in 1908. Well done, heywood 

Monica

[MonicaL]

However...a thirty year gap between that William and Margaret is a worry  In addition, after Margaret married Hugh Rankin, their first born daughter was called Margaret Forsyth Rankin. Second born daughter was called Mary McEwan Rankin, named after Hugh's mother.

So, is the possibility that son Bryce Rankin gave the wrong details for his mother's parents? Not unknown as we have seen in other's records.

The name Margaret Forsyth rang a bell from previous searches. Carole had mentioned a possible christening earlier

From SP - No middle name so may not be the right Elizabeth

ELIZABETH MCAULAY  10/12/1827
   
Parents JAMES MCAULAY/MARGT. FORSYTH FR1522 (FR1522) 496     60 / 89   Dumbarton

There is also an entry for a son William on 20 January 1826 in Dumbarton.

The Old Parish Registers, as heywood has mentioned, are often patchy. No more entries showing.

Monica

[heywood]

Oh dear - what to make of it. So no nearer.

We have:
Elizabeth and Margaret MacAulay living in the right area with their aunt.
Two marriages close together at the same church.

These may/not be the right folk.

If these records are on Scotland’s People, does it mean that it is just an index or would we see any other details?

Madelief posted that they were destroyed but I just wonder if a copy is available.