James Wemyss & Elizabeth Crombie (1829 West Wemyss).....

[Melmax]

Hello everyone, I wonder if any one can give me any pointers on how to find the parents of James Wemyss?

James Wemyss and Elizabeth Crombie were married in West Wemyss in 1829.

In the 1851 census James Wemyss was deceased. And so far I can not figure out how to find a death record of James Wemyss (death between 1842 and 1851, so I can find out who his parents were.)

He was a Seaman in the Merchant service. I think James and Elizabeth would both be buried in St.Adrians Cemetery, West Wemyss.

It has been suggested to me that the Parish register would not tell me very much. I have not looked at the 1841 Census yet or Moirbooks (Mi inscriptions from St.Adrians, West Wemyss Disk?)

Their Children in the IGI were:
James Wemyss b 26 Aug 1830
Alexander Wemyss b 13 Dec 1832
Margaret Wemyss b 28 Nov 1836
Robert Wemyss b 21 Aug 1839
James Wemyss b 17 May 1842

Any help/ideas would be welcomed
Melissa Clark
(NZ)

[LesleyB]

Hi Melissa
This might be your man in the Fife Death Index CDROM:

• Abode: West Weymss
  Date of Death: 25 November 1841
  Occupation: Sailor
  Additonal info: Died suddenly - Fife Herald 2 Dec 1841

There is no wife's name mentioned, so no way to know for sure at the moment if it is your man. The Fife Herald is a local paper, the archives of which are held a at a library not far from here. I will try to check the microfilm next time I am passing which should be towards the end of this week. I will check the MIs for that area too, whilst I'm there.

However, be aware that you will be very fortunate indeed if his parents names will be mentioned. If they were mentioned in the newspaper article, it is likely they would have been mentioned on the entry in the Fife Deaths CD ROM. To determine possible names for his parents, look at his children's names- the eldest son and the second eldest daughter, if they followed the Scottish naming pattern, though finding that second daughter looks like it might be problematic!!

Best wishes
Lesley

[Melmax]

Hi Leslie, going on the naming pattern I have narrowed his father down to 2 men.

JAMES WEMYSS Parents: William Wemyss, Jean Blythe.
Gender: Male Christening: 27 NOV 1793 Wemyss, Fife, Scotland

JAMES WEMYSS Parents:James Wemyss, Charlotte Caroline Wemyss.
Gender: Male Christening: 15 DEC 1807 Wemyss, Fife, Scotland.

So my guess (and guess only) would be that he is James Wemyss b 1807 to James Wemyss and Charlotte Caroline Wemyss. (I guess that this man fathered his 1st child in 1830 and last child in 1842) but it could still be the other man!

Going on that death date you have found James Wemyss must have died when Elisabeth Crombie was still pregnant with James Wemyss born 1842, Wemyss, Fife. (There is a family story about a man coming down from the Castle to take young James fishing, thanks to this death date I now know this was not his father, but possibly his grandfather?)

I would love to know any details from the Fife Herald about James Wemyss, what happened?

Of course the death date explains why James Wemyss and Elisabeth Crombie never produced a 2nd daughter. That would have been too easy.

Elisabeth Crombie's parents were Alexander Crombie and Margaret Murray. So they fit the naming pattern perfectly?

It would be great if the Mi's could tell which James Wemyss is the correct one or the Fife Herald. Thankyou Lesley (If I had looked in the 1841 census and not found my James Wemyss I would have been even more baffled!).

Melissa

[LesleyB]

Hi Melissa
Your James should be in the 1841 census - if he is the one above, he did not die until November - the census was the night of 6th-7th June in 1841. It would be helpful to see him in 1841 as his given age might further confirm which of the Jameses above he is likely to have been. Of course, I suppose, he could be at sea.....

Best wishes
Lesley

[Melmax]

Hi Lesley, I have had a look but can't find any of the family at all in the 1841 Census, so I am at a dead end.

You would think that they would be in West Wemyss, I even tried searching for Alexander Wemyss who would be 11 , Margaret Wemyss who would be 5, and Robert who would be 2 , in 1841 in West Wemyss.



I will have to try again another day, do you think they could have been missed out?

Melissa

[JustJean]

Hi Melmax

Did you use wildcards when you looked for your family in 1841??? I just searched on Robert WE*M*S aged 0-5 anywhere and there was only one...in Weymss Fife.

Hope this is your family

Best wishes
Jean

[Melmax]

Thankyou Jean ,

You are right, that is Exactly the Family

1841 Wemyss, Fife
(B - Wynd)
Elisabeth 35, born
Alexander 8, born
Robert 1, born
(something) Scott, Collier

However James Wemyss, Elisabeth's husband was absent, so he must have been at sea?

Next door
1841 Wemyss Fife
(B-Wynd)
John Scott, 45, weaver linen,
Margaret Crombie, 45
Margaret Scott, 45, weaver
John Scott, 15, Blacksmith
Alexander Scott, 15, weaver
George Scott, 14, weaver
Ann, 10

Elisabeth was a Crombie, could this Scott family next door be relations?

Thankyou so much fo your help.
Melissa

[LesleyB]

Hi Melissa
Thats great that you found the family in 1841, but what a shame James is missing....

I checked the MIs today; "Monumental Inscriptions pre 1855, East Fife" Mitchell & Mitchell, and found nothing. Checked West Weymss, East Weymss; then looked a bit further afield to Methilhill, Scoonie, Milton of Balgonie and Dysart. No Weymss surname MIs at all.

However, the possibly good news is that it appears there might be an article in the newspaper, not just a death intimation - this is implied because the actual date is given for the source, (Fife Herald 2 Dec 1841) not just the name of the newspaper. I will be able to check this later this week I hope.

Best wishes
Lesley

[Melmax]

Hi Lesley, thankyou so much for checking for me, I hate to put you to so much effort. What a shame he wasn't home for the census .

I am thinking the absence of Wemyss in "Monumental Inscriptions pre 1855, East Fife" might be due to them being buried in a family plot.
(Just guessing again).

Melissa

[LesleyB]

Hi Melissa
Thre are some reasons here why there may not be any MIs:
http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4556

Best wishes
Lesley