NEED HELP/CRAIG FAMILY MIX UP.....

[marva]

I hope someone out there can help me solve my problem.
I am researching John Craig and Isobella (Isobel) Wood from Kincardine. I have all info on them and am working on there children. One has me going in circles:

I found Andrew Craig b 1829 m to Elspet ms Craig in 1867 Portlethen. Andrew was living at #16 Village of Portlethen. On the marriage certificate it states she is a spinster and he is a widower. So I then found his first wife: Helen ms Craig, they were married 1855. I cannot find a death for Helen. Andrew died 1913 and Elspet was alive when he died.

But my problem comes when I have found the children from both marriages:
Andrew & Helen's children:
Andrew b 1853 (Illigitimate), when he married Ann Wood in 1888 he lived at #16 village of Portlethen.
James b 1856 ( was informate on fathers death cert. in 1913)
Helen b 1862, #16 village of Portlethen.
John b 1858 #16 village of portlethen

Andrew & Elspet's children:
Andrew b 1857 (Illigitimate)(NOTE: both called their first sons Andrew)
Lily b 1859 (Illigitimate) cannot find birth record except for in the Book 30 Years at Portlethen.
George b 1868 d 1875 #16 village of Portlethen
Jessie b 1872 #16 village of Portlethen.

1871 Census:
At #16 Village of Portlethen
Andrew 41
Elspet 33
Andrew 17
James 14
Lily 12
George 2

1881 Census:
At #16 Village of portlethen
Andrew 51
Elspet 43
Andrew 25
James 23
Lily 21

Does this look like what I am thinking: Andrew was probably still married to Helen and had 2 Illigitimate children with Elspet and then married Elspet in 1867? Maybe your head is clearer on this than mine, I have been going over this for months and can come up with nothing different.

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated, then maybe I can go on to another family.

Thanks again,

Marva

[Andy]

I have wee doubts about some of the older children being Elspet's.

The full family in 1881 was:

Dwelling: 16
Census Place: Banchory Devenick, Kincardine, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203468 GRO Ref Volume 251-2 EnumDist 2 Page 5
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Andrew CRAIG M 51 M Portlethen, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Fisherman
Elspet CRAIG M 43 F Portlethen, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Wife
Andrew CRAIG U 25 M Portlethen, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Fisherman
James CRAIG U 23 M Portlethen, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Fisherman
Lily CRAIG U 21 F Portlethen, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Serv (Domestic)
Jessie CRAIG 8 F Portlethen, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Scholar

A big difference between Lily and Jessie and the only two children listed to Andrew and Elspet in IGI are:

1. GEORGE CRAIG - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 28 SEP 1868 Banchory Devenick, Kincardine, Scotland
2. JESSY CRAIG - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 05 DEC 1872 Banchory Devenick, Kincardine, Scotland

This fits nicely with their 1867 marriage.

Children listed to Andrew and Helen:

1. HELEN CRAIG - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 22 MAY 1862 Banchory Devenick, Kincardine, Scotland
2. JOHN CRAIG - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 20 NOV 1858 Banchory Devenick, Kincardine, Scotland
3. ANDREW CRAIG - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 22 SEP 1853
4. ANDREW CRAIG - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 04 NOV 1853 Banchory Devenick, Kincardine, Scotland
5. JAMES CRAIG - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 13 MAY 1856 Banchory Devenick, Kincardine, Scotland

NOW also in Banchory Devenick, Kincardine there is a an Andrew Craig born about 1852:

Dwelling: Old Bourtreebush Farm
Census Place: Banchory Devenick, Kincardine, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203468 GRO Ref Volume 251-2 EnumDist 5 Page 17
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Helen HUTCHEON W 51 F Banchory Devenick, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Farmer Of 110 Acres Employing 2 Men 2 Boys & 2 Girls
Nellie HUTCHEON U 20 F Banchory Devenick, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Farmers Daughter
Maggie A. HUTCHEON U 16 F Banchory Devenick, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Farmers Daughter
Joseph HUTCHEON 15 M Banchory Devenick, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Farmers Son
Thomas HUTCHEON 13 M Banchory Devenick, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Farmers Son
Andrew CRAIG U 29 M Fetteresso, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Servant
Occ: Farm Servant
William INGRAM U 18 M Maryculter, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Servant
Occ: Farm Servant

This Andrew was probably the son of John and Margaret Howie

However, Helen Craig's death cert (and that of 3 and a half year old daughter, Helen), can both be found in ten seconds flat in 1865 both in PORTLETHEN.

There is no listing of an Andrew Craig born 1857 so we have to assume that Andrew in the census was "Out" on his age.

Lily or Lilly will probably be found under Elizabeth or Isabella some time around 1860 but would have been Andrew and Helen's daughter.

Many of the children would only have remembered Elpet as the mother which could cause confusion later on (probably has).

It'll still take a bit of working out because so many Craigs and Woods are involved (probably related).

[DavidWW]

All around the coast from Kincardineshire round to the Moray Firth, in fishing villages, it is quite common to find 3 or 4 surnames predominating, which can lead to interesting situations such as this marriage register entry for the mother of the bride, in Gardenstown, Jane WEST formerly WEST, MS WEST

Davie

[marva]

Andy& Davie,

Thanks for the help. I had tried death search for 1855-68 but only one came up in Ayr and it was not her. But I now have copies for mother and daughter.

As for Andrew and Elspet's children, I do have copies of an Andrew (Illig.) born 1857 which has both names as parents.

In the book 30 years at Portlethen 1840-1869 by Rev. William Law there are entries for:
Craig Andrew: Andrew Craig w.f. 33 Portlethen and Elspet Craig , 38 there, an ill. son b 2 ult. bap 26 Sept 1857
Craig Lilly: Andrew w.f. Portlethen and Elspet Craig there, an ill. dau. b 24 Mar. bap. 7 Jun. 1859

I have checked for Lilly as Elizabeth and Isabella and found nothing. I do have other Lilly's in my Craig line, which is both sides of my grandfather and grandmother. My gran was a Craig before marriage also. I have many of my Craig's that married cousins, etc. Talk about circles they sure gave me many.

As for the age gap between Lilly and Jessie, there is also a son George b 1868 d 1875

Do either of you have access to an 1861 census? That may help me as to Andrew & Helen and family and Elspet and her first 2 children.

Again, thanks so much, will probably be going over this in my sleep tonight, again.

Marva

[LesleyB]

Hi Marva
Just a thought - have you tried Lily as a Lilias or Lillias?

I have several of them in my family and they are often shortened to Lily or Lilly (number of letter "L"s can vary: a Lillias may be shortened to Lily and a Lilias may be a Lilly!).

Best wishes
Lesley

[marva]

Hi Lesley

Thanks for the tip........it worked. I checked Lillias and nothing came up, I then checked Lilias and there she was: Mother Elspet Craig. But funny thing on certificate her name is Lillias.

Many, many thanks.

Marva

[LesleyB]

Hi Marva
Glad you found her, thats great! (despite spelling difference )

best wishes
Lesley