British Guyana - Alexander Bell Morrison / Charles Morrison
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British Guyana - Alexander Bell Morrison / Charles Morrison
Does anybody have an idea where one can access vital statistics for the former British Guyana?
My great-grandfather had a sugar plantation in Demerara, and my grandfather (along with most of his siblings) was born there. They eventually moved back to Scotland to Bonnytown Farm in St. Andrews Fife, around 1898 or so, but it seems there's a fair bit of history to uncover in Guyana.
Also, does anybody know how I would find out what happened with Bonnytown Farm? I downloaded my great-grandfather's will in which he states the farm could not be sold until the youngest child reached majority, which would have been about 1920, I think. I am pretty sure it is no longer in the Morrison family, but is there any way to find out what might have happened? There's another family farm, Northbank Farm, also in Fife, but I can't find any information on that either.
This is the most addictive venture I've ever undertaken! Such fun!
My great-grandfather had a sugar plantation in Demerara, and my grandfather (along with most of his siblings) was born there. They eventually moved back to Scotland to Bonnytown Farm in St. Andrews Fife, around 1898 or so, but it seems there's a fair bit of history to uncover in Guyana.
Also, does anybody know how I would find out what happened with Bonnytown Farm? I downloaded my great-grandfather's will in which he states the farm could not be sold until the youngest child reached majority, which would have been about 1920, I think. I am pretty sure it is no longer in the Morrison family, but is there any way to find out what might have happened? There's another family farm, Northbank Farm, also in Fife, but I can't find any information on that either.
This is the most addictive venture I've ever undertaken! Such fun!
Old as dirt. Twice as gritty.
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Hi Haggis and Welcome to TalkingScot
:
You've certainly got some digging to do for Guyana given the information regarding Birth Certificates on the Government of Guyana home page
Not the large bureaucracy many of us know. http://www.gina.gov.gy/gov%27t%20servic ... cates.html
There are the usual links to Ancestry, but this link to their blog raises some interesting questions and thoughts.
http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2008 ... n-records/
On the off-chance that someone is/has been working on some family connections, have you tried searching the IGI at http://familysearch.org
You might want to try the Guyanian consulate in Canada. Their contact information can be found by searching on this Diplomats in Canada page. http://w01.international.gc.ca/Protocol/main-en.asp
All the best with your search, and maybe someone with first-hand experience in this area will be able to shed some light.
Best wishes,
Frances
Ontario, Canada
![[scotland-flag] [scotland-flag]](./images/smilies/scotland-happy.gif)
You've certainly got some digging to do for Guyana given the information regarding Birth Certificates on the Government of Guyana home page

There are the usual links to Ancestry, but this link to their blog raises some interesting questions and thoughts.
http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2008 ... n-records/
On the off-chance that someone is/has been working on some family connections, have you tried searching the IGI at http://familysearch.org
You might want to try the Guyanian consulate in Canada. Their contact information can be found by searching on this Diplomats in Canada page. http://w01.international.gc.ca/Protocol/main-en.asp
All the best with your search, and maybe someone with first-hand experience in this area will be able to shed some light.
Best wishes,
Frances
Ontario, Canada
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Hi Haggis,
I'm sure there are many Northbank Farms, but here is one just west of St Andrews.
Current OS map showing Northbank Farm
And Bonnytown Farm a couple of miles south-east of St Andrews.
Current OS map showing Bonnytown Farm
For each of them, you can zoom out using the minus button to the bottom-right of the map to see these places and their positions relative to St Andrews and each other.
All the best,
AndrewP
I'm sure there are many Northbank Farms, but here is one just west of St Andrews.
Current OS map showing Northbank Farm
And Bonnytown Farm a couple of miles south-east of St Andrews.
Current OS map showing Bonnytown Farm
For each of them, you can zoom out using the minus button to the bottom-right of the map to see these places and their positions relative to St Andrews and each other.
All the best,
AndrewP
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Many thanks to all! I'll check that consulate idea, never even thought of that, it's a great idea.
I found pictures of the two farms and feel compelled to come to Scotland in order to explain to the current owners that we Morrisons have changed our collective foolish mind and want it all back.
I found pictures of the two farms and feel compelled to come to Scotland in order to explain to the current owners that we Morrisons have changed our collective foolish mind and want it all back.

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Hello Haggis,
There’s an article in the Glasgow Herald, March 17, 1888 regarding an appeal against the valuation of land referred to as “the lands of Bonnytown, Fifeshire” and “the farm of Bonnytown – 300 acres”. I don’t know if it’s your farm or if you have any interest in that time period but it can be found in ‘19th Century British Library Newspapers’ temporarily available in this freebee.
http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic. ... 49&start=0
I’ve never had reason to access these but is there any chance your British Guyana births might have ended up in SP Minor Records? I’m not sure if a British Colony could be defined as foreign.
http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/conte ... ?r=554&402
Foreign Returns (1860-1965) Register of Births in Foreign Countries, which comprises births of children of Scottish parentage, based on evidence submitted by the parents and due consideration of such evidence.
The International Vital Record handbook has some info on page 403. Just search for Guyana in the search box on the right.
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=oHR ... frontcover
It’s a bit hard to read but looks like vital records began 1880 and a certificate cost 50 something, either cents or dollars, presumably U.S., when the book was printed.
Hope this helps,
Alan
There’s an article in the Glasgow Herald, March 17, 1888 regarding an appeal against the valuation of land referred to as “the lands of Bonnytown, Fifeshire” and “the farm of Bonnytown – 300 acres”. I don’t know if it’s your farm or if you have any interest in that time period but it can be found in ‘19th Century British Library Newspapers’ temporarily available in this freebee.
http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic. ... 49&start=0
I’ve never had reason to access these but is there any chance your British Guyana births might have ended up in SP Minor Records? I’m not sure if a British Colony could be defined as foreign.
http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/conte ... ?r=554&402
Foreign Returns (1860-1965) Register of Births in Foreign Countries, which comprises births of children of Scottish parentage, based on evidence submitted by the parents and due consideration of such evidence.
The International Vital Record handbook has some info on page 403. Just search for Guyana in the search box on the right.
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=oHR ... frontcover
It’s a bit hard to read but looks like vital records began 1880 and a certificate cost 50 something, either cents or dollars, presumably U.S., when the book was printed.
Hope this helps,
Alan
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In 1888, no Morrisons were living on Bonnytown (as Charles and family were living in British Guyana at the time). My guess is that Charles probably did own it at that point, but a caretaker was tending to things while Charles was away. The head of the only family living on Bonnytown, according to the 1881 census, is listed as a farm labourer.
My great-grandfather died in 1899, and at that point, the farm was in his name. I love these jumping-off spots that lead to great new discoveries, and isn't it the best when things fall into place. It's easy to understand the addiction, it really is 'way too much fun, snooping around for skeletons in the closet.![Cheers [cheers]](./images/smilies/cheers.gif)
My great-grandfather died in 1899, and at that point, the farm was in his name. I love these jumping-off spots that lead to great new discoveries, and isn't it the best when things fall into place. It's easy to understand the addiction, it really is 'way too much fun, snooping around for skeletons in the closet.
![Cheers [cheers]](./images/smilies/cheers.gif)
Old as dirt. Twice as gritty.
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There's little information available from Guyana, but there are some directory transcriptions here.
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyggbs/index.htm
Good luck
Isabel
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyggbs/index.htm
Good luck
Isabel
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