Researching Pipe Major Stark

[jabe]

Hi All

I am interested in a Pipe Major Stark, who I was my great grandfather. I have only got my grandmothers marriage certificate, which states that her father was Stewart Edward Stark Macblairgowrie and that he was a Pipe Major in the army. My grandmother was Maissie Kirlergean Stark Macblairgowrie and was born in Edinburgh c1884/85 (1911 Birmingham Census). Maissie could be a nickname for Margaret etc. and not to sure of the spelling of the second forename (maybe gaelic)

I have been researching my ancestors for a few years, but had hit a brick wall with my grandmothers line, until I came across The Victorian War Forum Re- Bagpipers of the Crimean War. Through a member of the forum, I was able to find two Pipe major Starks with different forenames, but both were in the army around the same time.I found a photograph of a Pipe Major George Stark in a book called "The Black Watch Photographic Archive" and a Pipe Major William Stark who was in the 72nd Highlanders and then transferred to the Royal Highlanders (The Black Watch) in a book called "Pipers of the Highland Regiments 1854-1902.

Would anyone know if they were the same person and also if anyone knows of a Stewart Edward Stark, were they all related? Also, it would help if I could find out what part of Scotland they came from.

Any small morsel would be gratefully received.

Thank you

[LesleyB]

Hi Jabe

And welcome to Talking Scot

I have only got my grandmothers marriage certificate, which states that her father was Stewart Edward Stark Macblairgowrie and that he was a Pipe Major in the army.

Can you tell us when and where they married, please?
I've not ever come across the surname Macblairgowrie, it must be very unusual I think so in theory easier to find out about - but can you tell us, have you actually seen the original marriage cert? Or perhaps you are working from a transcription?
I can't find any one with the surname Macblairgowrie in 1911 census - can you tell us who else is in the household to help me find her?
By the way, Maisie is a Scots name - it may not be short for something else.

Best wishes
Lesley

[SarahND]

Hello Jabe and welcome,
I am also having trouble finding any likely person in Birmingham in 1911 who was born in Edinburgh around the years you say. Do please put us out of our misery and give us a few more hints to find the family!
All the best,
Sarah

[jabe]

Hi Lesley and Sarah

Thank you for replying.

May I first say that Stark comes before Killergean, or on my mothers birth certificate looks like Kirlergean. I do have the marriage certificate and my Grandmother married James Robert Albutt (Grandfather) at the Plymouth Registery Office on 17 April 1906.

The 1911 Census Maisie Albutt (spelt with one s) shows that she was born in Edinburgh. The address that she lived at in 1911 is 2 St John Place, Runcorn Road, Balsall Heath.

I ,also have, a copy of part of Military history sheet showing that my Uncle (mothers brother) was christened at Crownhill Fort, Devonport and the mothers name was Maissie Stark Killergean MacBlairgowrie.

Regards

Jabe

[garibaldired]

Ancestry have her indexed as "Massie" !


Best wishes,
Meg

[jabe]

Many thanks for highlighting that.

Regards

Jabe

[Currie]

Hello Jabe,

A surname search at ScotlandsPeople for Macblairgowrie gives a zero result. A search for the surname at FreeBMD for England and Wales gives only one result and that’s the 1906 marriage.

The name is possibly a fabrication, or else it has been seriously misheard, twice. It doesn’t show up anywhere, not even on familysearch.

The only newspaper reference I could find for a Pipe Major Stark, in that time-frame, was in the Glasgow Herald, Monday, August 11, 1890, being a report on the Tillietudlem National Games.

“Bagpipe competition—1st, Roderick M’Donald, Barra; 2d, Pipe-Major Hall, 91st Highlanders; 3rd, Pipe-Major Stark, Hamilton.”

You can see it on this Google copy, towards the bottom of 2nd last column on page 8. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oq ... %2C3667189

In 1930, according to the Scotsman, there were several performances in Edinburgh by the 7/9th Royal Scots Pipe Band, under Pipe-Major W. Stark. From 1931 the Pipe-Major for the same band appears to have been an Allan G. Stark.

References here.
https://www.google.com/search?pz=1&cf=a ... %22pipe%22

Hope that helps,
Alan

[SarahND]

Hello Jabe,
Thanks for the clarification. I can see Maisie and her children going back and forth to Gibraltar on the ship's lists, but you probably already know about that.

I wonder where the family was in 1891 and 1901? Possibly they were overseas, or hidden under some name or spelling we haven't thought of yet.

All the best,
Sarah

[jabe]

Hi Sarah and Alan

Thank you for your reply. Yes, my grandmother, mother and Uncle travelled quite a few times to Gibraltar because my Grandfather (James) was stationed there. He was a Regimental Sergeant Major in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. According to the my Grand Parents' marriage certificate dated 1906, my Great Grandfather was deceased.

Kind Regards

Jabe

[nelmit]

I had a play around with Killergean and came up with - Kiledjian, Kilidjian which seems to be an actual name although I'm not coming up with anything that will help. I wondered if perhaps Maisie's mother had married abroad. (there isn't a smiley for I think I'm talking a load of rubbish!)

Regards,
Annette