FORMER NAMES OF A WIDOW AT RE-MARRIAGE

q98 · Post by **q98** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 5:39 am

Margaret (m.s. Nelson) McCreadie was widowed on 02 Aug 1879 when her husband John was killed in an accident onboard Ayr Harbour No. 1 tug-boat. If Margaret re-married, would she be identified on Marriage Certificate as “Margaret McCreadie, (m.s. Nelson)” or as “Margaret Nelson, (formerly McCreadie) widow of …” ?

On SP, I have located the marriage of a Margaret Nelson in Ayrshire during 1879-1881 (a suitable time frame for my purpose) but wish to know how she would be identified before deciding to purchase.

On 14 Feb 1916, son John McCreadie (b. 03 Jul 1879, Newton) stated in his Army enlistment papers that he was 3-years old upon arrival in Australia. IF he was truthful, this would place the family arrival circa 1882 or 1883 at which time Jane would have been only 9-years, Isabella 6-years and John 3-years. It is highly improbable they emigrated without their mother.

I have located both Jane and Isabella in North Queensland under the McCreadie name; each at marriage, Jane in 1895 and Isabella in 1899.
Despite using seven spelling variations of McCreadie when conducting extensive on-line searching of both “assisted” and “nominated” immigrant databases for Queensland and New South Wales, I am unable to locate the family’s arrival for 1882 or 1883. Nor am I able to locate a death or burial data for Margaret McCreadie.

It is possible that Margaret re-married and the family emigrated under the surname of her new husband. However, for any circumstance requiring a Birth Certificate, the three children had to produce their Birth Certificates in the name of McCreadie.

All advice gratefully received. This branch of my extended family has driven me to distraction.

Thank you.

Post by **emanday** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:16 pm

jim mccreadie wrote:On SP, I have located the marriage of a Margaret Nelson in Ayrshire during 1879-1881 (a suitable time frame for my purpose) but wish to know how she would be identified before deciding to purchase.

Have you tried a search for a marriage as Margaret McCreadie for the same year as the "Nelson" one as well?

If there is one and the GROS Ref is the same, then that's your lady.

q98 · Post by **q98** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 2:37 pm

Thanks emanday, I have but no match for McCREADIE, just McCR**D*. I may have to purchase both MCs and, with my luck, find neither are my line.

I can prove

they emigrated to Australia but cannot locate them or vessel, etc.

Post by **SarahND** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 3:51 pm

jim mccreadie wrote:Thanks emanday, I have but no match for McCREADIE, just McCR**D*. I may have to purchase both MCs and, with my luck, find neither are my line. .

Is the match for McCR**D* the same place, year and GROS reference number as the Nelson one? If so, there will be only one MC to purchase, because they will be the same.

emanday wrote:If there is one and the GROS Ref is the same, then that's your lady.

I think what Mary is saying is that the marriage should be indexed under both of her names, so if you find what looks like the same marriage under both Nelson and McCR**D*, it is likely your Nelson. Hope this makes sense. Have you tried substituting various letters to find out what the McCR**D* hit actually is? Just keep adding in likely letters and searching again and you will eventually find out what it is--for free

Regards,
Sarah

q98 · Post by **q98** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:30 am

I can't get a match and, as neither appear to be in either Ayr or Newton, they are possibly not mine - it was always a long shot anyway!

I need to review what I know, what I wish to know and then determine from where I am to get my "pointers".

Thanks again.

heymarky · Post by **heymarky** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 3:50 am

For what it is worth:

Margaret Nelson was married in 1881 and Margaret Mccrindle was born in 1880 so they are not the same person. At least not the same marriage of the same person.

q98 · Post by **q98** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 4:28 am

Thanks heymarky

Margaret Nelson married 1881 COULD be my Margaret (m.s. Nelson) McCreadie, widow of John McCreadie who died 1879. That said, she MAY not be as one would expect to locate, per previous advice, the same GROS reference numbers for both her maiden and married names at re-marriage.

Can you advise spouse's surname or location of marriage - I'd expect somewhere close to Ayr as my Margaret Nelson was born in Girvan, married in Ayr and lived in Newton. If I can get another married surname, I can check the immigrant passenger lists for Queensland.

Many thanks for your interest and advice.

heymarky · Post by **heymarky** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:26 am

The husbands surname was Sayers. If he has a forename it doesn't start with any of the 26 letters I know.

The marriage took place in Sorn, Ayr.

Good Luck!

Post by **SarahND** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 4:00 pm

Hi Jim,
Looks like she was still McCreadie in the 1881 census, so if she remarried it would be after 3 April that year. This one is not born in Girvan, but it certainly looks like your Margaret & family!

1881
8 Allison Street, Newton On Ayr, Ayrshire
Margaret McCreadie, 30, Head, born New Luce, Wigtonshire, Housewife
Jane McCreadie, 7, Daughter, born Newton, Ayrshire, Scholar
Isabella McCreadie, 4, Daughter, born Newton, Ayrshire
John McCreadie, 1, Son, born Newton, Ayrshire

Regards,
Sarah

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