Death records

davran · Post by **davran** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 10:43 pm

Someone very kindly passed on the MIs of Renfrew churchyard, where I found the death of my ancestor Robert Forsyth 28/6/1874 age 59. This age tallies with what I know about him, so I was very surprised that I couldn't find a death for him in the statutory records. I've tried looking for him over the border using FreeBMD, but no luck. He was a ship carpenter by profession, so I wondered if he had been at sea. I haven't found the family in 1871 either. I'd be grateful for any ideas, please.

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:01 pm

Hi Davran
Just a thought...I've found a few graves in my time on which the year of death given was not accurate...in one case with one of my family the date on the grave is out by ten years!

I suppose it is also possible that he did not die in Scotland, but was still mentioned on the stone. I've certainly seen that too e.g. a member of a family drowned in the Bass Straits but is mentioned on a gravestone in Dundee.

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **AndrewP** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:04 pm

There is a Robert Forsyth who died aged 59 on 24-Oct-1874 in Glasgow. Could he be your man? Married to Ellison Christie? If so, his death certificate is out there on ScotlandsPeople.

All the best,

AndrewP

davran · Post by **davran** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:26 pm

Thanks, Lesley and Andrew.

Lesley, I did wonder if the date was correct, but as it tallied with the age he should have been I felt it was probably right. The date of his wife's death on the same stone is spot on. It's just odd that I can't find the family in 1871, just 3 years earlier. I wonder where they were?

Andrew, thanks for the look-up. I had already found that one, but my Robert was married to Ann Bennie.

This couple have proved very elusive - I have only just found out who Ann Bennie's parents were, thanks to the MI, which gave me the date of death to look for. I had a brief look for a baptism, but all SOUNDEX provided was BAINE! Aaarghh!

However, I've now got Ann's parents marriage

Post by **SarahND** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:26 pm

Hi Davran,
Is this the family in 1871?

Bairds Land, Old Kilpatrick, Dumbartonshire
Robert Forsyth, 57, Head, born Erskine, Renfrewshire, Ship Carpenter
Ann Forsyth, 55, Wife, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Enos Forsyth, 19, Son, born Renfrew, Renfrewshire, Joiner (apprentice)

Andrew: I think the one you found was probably this one in 1871, a City Porter rather than a Ship Carpenter:

44 Bishop St, Glasgow Barony, Lanarkshire
Robert Forsyth, 55, Head, born Ireland, City Porter
Elisas Forsyth, 50, Wife, born Glasgow
Sarah Forsyth, 11, Daughter, born Glasgow, Scholar
William McNeil, 53, Boarder, born Ireland, Labourer
Isabella Pollral, 33, Boarder, born Glasgow, Steam Loom Weaver

Regards,
Sarah

davran · Post by **davran** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:25 pm

Thanks, Sarah

How did I miss that one?! You can tell I don't go "north of the border" very often.

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:44 pm

There is a 63 year old Robert Forsyth death indexed on SP in 1874 at Old Kilpatrick. Worth a look?

Kind regards,
Annette M

davran · Post by **davran** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:04 pm

Thanks Annette.

That one will have to wait - I've only 4 credits left! I don't want to buy a new lot on the off-chance it's him as I think it's unlikely, given the age difference - the family seem to have been pretty accurate in that respect.

I'll put him on the back boiler for a while or maybe I'll try and find out more about his implied affiliation to the Freemasons - he had a "square and compasses" on the headstone. I know there is a Lodge in Renfrew at that time and maybe they'll have records of past members, but I don't know if they'll give out that kind of information.