Name of mother of Alexander Smith

[Neale1961]

Here is the second part

[Neale1961]

Here is the 3rd part

[Calleva]

It might be worth investigating the following ......
Possible birth
MCOURACH   ELSPET   
23/02/1792   - CULLEN
PARENTS - ALEX MC OURACH  & JANNET DONALDSON
FR722 (FR722)   F   
150   40 / 173   



Census:   1841
County:   Banffshire (BAN)
District:   Banff
House or Street Name:   Back Path
RICHARDSON   Thomas   M   50   Independent   Born - Out of County
MCCURRACH   Elspet   F   45   Female Servant   Born - Banffshire

As ages of people over 15 in the 1841 Census were rounded down to the nearest 5, for example 29 was recorded as 25 (although this approach wasn’t always followed), Elspet McCurrach could have been aged between 46 and 49.

This favours a case that Elspet McCourach described as being born 23rd February 1792 in the record Neil1961 tracked down and Elspet McCurrach shown in the 1841 Census aged 45, female servant, may be the same person i.e. she would have been 49 when the 1841 Census was taken on 6th June that year.

However the 1851 Census for Boyndie shows an Elspet McCurrach, cook at the Freechurch Manse aged 54, born in Fordyce. If the same person she actually would have been older.

Hope this helps.

[Calleva]

I hadn’t seen Neal1961’s post when I sent mine but everything seems to be coming together as the Elspet shown in the 1841 and 1851 Censuses was shown as single.

A few more lines of enquiry to follow!

[Neale1961]

This favours a case that Elspet McCourach described as being born 23rd February 1792 .........

However the 1851 Census for Boyndie shows an Elspet McCurrach, cook at the Freechurch Manse aged 54, born in Fordyce. If the same person she actually would have been older.

I think the Elspet aged 54 in the 1851 census is the same one in the 1841 census. She has just a few years off her age.


In 1861 census, she is in 6 Gallowgate Str, Rothesay
age 67, Formerly A Domestic Servant

[Neale1961]

Possible death (age is out by a bit)

MCCURRACH, ELIZABETH
age - 75
Mother - DONALDSON
F
1881
153 / 2 / 24
PORTSOY

Ammended as this death is not for the correct woman.

[Calleva]

Attached extract showing Elizabeth (married surname Black) McCurrach’s death 1881 in Portsoy.

[Calleva]

In 1841 Census Alexander Smith is shown aged 25 living in Back Path Banff, like Elspet McCulloch.

Will send copies of the entries, they’re on the same page.

[Neale1961]

Attached extract showing Elizabeth (married surname Black) McCurrach’s death 1881 in Portsoy.

I’m pretty sure now, that is not the correct person.
That Elizabeth was born 1805 in Cullen. She married James Black in 1832.


I think we have found the right Elspeth in the census 1841, 1851, 1861, but have not found her birth details (which should be in Fordyce), or her parents’ names as yet.