Can't find a death

yazza · Post by **yazza** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:25 pm

hi
I have been looking for the death of Margaret Mitchell maiden surname Gourlay but can't find it.In the 1891 census they lived at Links St Kirkcaldy and she was 65yrs old but her age varied on previous census so could be a couple of years either way.Have checked on S.P. for Mitchell/Gourlay but no luck.
Any help would be great.
cheers
Steve

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:37 pm

Hi Steve
I'm probably way out here, as the age seems unlikley, but I'm seeing a Margaret Mitchell other name Galloway (depends who said the name to the registrar, it is a possible variation I reckon...) who died in 1936 aged aged 65 in Kirkcaldy. If the age was not so far fetched I'd be tempted to look at it, but that would mean she had not aged at all!!

What do you know of her already? Do her aged in previous census returns make sense. Do you know when she was born?

Best wishes
Lesley

yazza · Post by **yazza** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:52 pm

hi Lesley
That is a name variant i will look out for now,thanks.Her age in all the census varies between a birth date of 1826 to 28 and always the birthplace is Dysart.Who knows it may have been a neighbour who gave the details as you say,so could be wrong.
thanks
Steve

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 10:39 pm

Hi Steve
Do you know the name of her parents? Was she always in Dysart/ Kirkcaldy area? What was Mr. Mitchell's first name?
Is this them on IGI?

MARGARET GOURLAY
Female

Marriages:
Spouse: JOHN MITCHELL
Marriage: 16 NOV 1851 Abbotshall, Fife, Scotland

Children: (all extracts)
DAVID MITCHELL - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 06 MAR 1856 Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland

THOMAS MITCHELL - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 09 APR 1859 Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland

ROBERT MITCHELL - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 01 AUG 1862 Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland

Best wishes
Lesley

yazza · Post by **yazza** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 5:57 pm

hi Lesley
Yes thats them i have that info.They also have two children born before registration.Margaret Gourlay is on the 1851 census age 23 with her mother Isabella at Port Brae Kirkcaldy but the mother is not a widow.There is a Margaret Gourlay widow on the 1901 census at Links St age looks like 72 which could be her but did widows go back to their maiden name?but the birthplace is Abbotshall not Dysart !
thanks
Steve

Post by **joette** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 6:13 pm

but did widows go back to their maiden name? thanks
Steve

The answer is yes & sometimes even if they were still married which is quite useful on occasions & misleading on others.
I have one where they are married,hubby working elsewhere,she uses her maiden name & the enumerator has helpfully noted "married to George McKimmie working on another estate".
You may also see names scored out & maiden/married name substituted.

yazza · Post by **yazza** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 6:33 pm

joette
If they use a maiden name while married that will confuse things.The enumerator in your case has been very thorough but that will not have happened in every instance.
cheers
Steve

Post by **joette** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 11:43 am

It's part of Scottish culture where under Law as I understand it a woman never took on her husbands name except by choice.
It seems to be stronger in Rural areas & I wonder if it's to do with land or inheritance.It might just simply be that people know you from birth by a certain name & I know sometimes people who know my Mum will refer to me by her maiden name.

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 3:35 pm

Hello Steve,

Have you been able to track all the children as far as the 1901 census? Assuming she was still alive, at her age she might be with one of them, possibly under a badly transcribed name.

Alan

yazza · Post by **yazza** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 6:36 pm

hi Alan
Yes i have the children on the 1901 but she is not with them.I have even checked in the English census and BMDs as some of children went there.Its looking more and more that her death is recorded under a wrong or mistranscribed name.

Steve