Where oh where is little Maggie?.....

[HeatherH]

Hello all,
I have a marriage for Duncan Walker 19 and Margaret Strachan 17 on 5 Jun 1879 Barrhead, Renfrew.On the 1881 census they are in Neilston ,Renfrew with 2 of their children.Margt.Walker 34 months and William S. Walker 11 Months.On the 1891 census Margt. is listed as Margaret A 12 .Brother William is there aged 10 along with their other siblings including a Margaret S 5.On the 1901 census William is now 20 and Margaret 18.( this is Margaret S)
I have Margaret Strachan Walker's birth 1 Oct 1882 in Barrhead ,Renfrew .Making her 13 at the time of the Haldane /Walker Marriage.
The reason I gathered all this is my grandfather listed Margaret Strachan Haldane MS Walker on his wifes death cert on 21 May 1942.Age 65.On the 1901 census robert is 26 and Margaret 23.
From all this I assume Robert henry Haldane didn't marry Margaret Strachan Walker but her older sister Margaret Ann Walker.No biggie he was obviously upset at her death and used her sisters middlename on the cert.Trouble is Margaret Ann Strachan's birth.I spent a good bit of time while in NRH looking for possibilities not to mention SP and no joy.I have even looked for ----------- Walker born 1879 or -------------------Strachan born 1879.All certs and census say she was born in Barrhead ,Renfrew.Does anyone have any idea what I can try next to find her birth and the possible RCE that would have been made after her parents marriage on 5 June 1879.
Cheers,
HeatherK

[JustJean]

Hi Heather

Wish I had the easy answer but I don't think one exists. What do you know about the mother Margaret Strachan? When did she come over from Ireland? Any chance wee Margaret was not fathered by Mr. Walker and was born in Ireland and then came as part of the package???? I spose she could be hidden under any surname too.....but until we can search SP by First name only(I WISH!!)........the odds of finding her (if she's even there!) are mighty slim!!

Sorry!
Jean

[sporran]

Hello Heather,


you were a bit out with ages. Duncan was 21 and Margaret 23 when they married on 6th (not 5th) June 1879. If Margt. was 34 months (odd to record as such) in 1881 then her birth was in 1878 and not 1879.

The only possibility that I can see is the illegitimate birth of Margaret Strachan in Greenock East on 6 July 1877 to Margaret Strachan, a domestic servant. Informant was Jane Connelly, aunt. Does that name mean anything to you?

Otherwise, perhaps Duncan fathered Margaret by a different woman, and Margaret was registered under her surname.


Regards,

John

[HeatherH]

Thank you Jean and Sporran.Back to the drawing board.I have come up with many possible stories for this family to date.Can't wait to see what it turns out to be.
Happy Hunting,
HK

[sporran]

Hello Heather,


do not discount the 1877 birth. Aunt Jane Connelly died in 1885, aged 48, and her parents were John Strachan and Ann ms Berkley (looks like Berkley).


Regards,

John

[HeatherH]

Elizabeth Strachan an Aunt is with the family in 1891.but I hadn't looked into the irish side of the family as of yet.(Still have nightmares from my Queates.)I will certainly check out this line and see where it leads.thanks again Sporran.
HK

[HeatherH]

Hi Sporran I had a look at Margaret Strachans Birth cert in Greenockand following that tried LDS family search for a Jane Strachan who married a ....Connelly.there was indeed such a marriage in greencok in 1869.So I had a look at that.Jane Strachan married William Connelly however her parents are John Strachan and Ann Jane Bishop.If she was my Margarets Aunt her parents wound be William Strachan and Mary Ferrie.
Thank you for you help all the same.Was rather excited there for a while when things seemed to be falling into place.
Cheers,
HeatherK

[sporran]

Hello Heather,


still do not discount it. When she registered the birth as "Aunt", she may have been referring to her relationship to the baby's mother. I grew up calling several women Aunts who were actually my mother's aunts.


Regards,

John

[HeatherH]

True , Jane is 40 in 1869 when she married.I'll have to dig deeper.
HK

[HeatherH]

Back again.Found Jane Connelly and her hubby on census.They were both born in Scotland.My Strachans and Walkers are Irish.I will have to start saving my pennies for an Irish trip next.
Back to the drawing board.
Cheers,
HeatherK