Looking for the mother of Catherine Simpson

[AndrewP]

Hi Gail,

On ScotlandsPeople, the family Annette has found above can be found as Dearie and Merton. Husband, wife, 3 children and 3 step-children. On looking at the census page, I would have indexed Merston as Meston.

To narrow the search right down, search for Archibald Dearie, age 11.

All the best,

AndrewP

[trish1]

There is a marriage indexed at SP between a James Deary and Catherine Simpson in 1869.

The 1871 transcription of the family at 71 Princes St where Catherine died -

James Reaver 43
Catherine Reaver 37 born Wick, Caithness
Archbald Reaver 11
Jane Reaver 9
Dawes Reaver 7
Gather Merden 15
Mary Ann Merden 13
Georgena Merden 11

Regards,
Annette

Hi Annette

I have no idea why I couldn't find that marriage - how weird - and although I searched on "Catherine" I couldn't find the 1871 - just when I think my searching is improving - sigh

Hi gbr

You can search on SP for deaths using all/any of a woman's surnames. I searched on Meston because at that stage I couldn't find another marriage. Annette has found much that I didn't so it all seems to be looking good. Using wildcards (ancestry only allows them after the first 3 letters, but SP allows them anywhere) seems to be the best search option. Searching by given names only can also be useful, despite you may have to manually look through many pages. I tried to find young Georgina that way but missed on the spelling - so wildcards are important.

good searching

Trish

[gbr37114]

Hi Trish and Annette
I have a copy of the death record now of Catherine Dearie which shows her mother's name as Catherine Isabella Campbell and father as John Simpson. I was over the moon with this information, so I went and found the marriage of James Deary and Catherine Simpson in 1869 and on that cert. the parents of Catherine Simpson are shown as John Simpson and Catherine McLean. Now I am really confused!

Also, Hi Annette, thank you for finding the census 1871. I would never have found that under the name of Reaver. How did you find that? Thank you for this information. It is certainly the family, but wow, those names are not right. eg. Gather Merden is Esther Meston, but it proves Catherine had more children to this marriage. So I'm off on another hunt to track them down. Thank you all again.

[trish1]

Hi Trish and Annette
I have a copy of the death record now of Catherine Dearie which shows her mother's name as Catherine Isabella Campbell and father as John Simpson. I was over the moon with this information, so I went and found the marriage of James Deary and Catherine Simpson in 1869 and on that cert. the parents of Catherine Simpson are shown as John Simpson and Catherine McLean. Now I am really confused!

Oh dear - what's maybe worse than not knowing is having two sets of information that are different. It would be usual to assume the marriage certificate was correct - as the information is provided by the daughter, rather than the death certificate, with information from the granddaughter. I'm wondering if Catherine McLean was married to a Mr Campbell before she married John Simpson. Catherine Campbell married a John Simpson in Wick 1833 - which is certainly the right part of Scotland. There are a number of suitable marriages (date wise) between a Catherine McLean and a Campbell in Scotland - but I don't see one in Caithness.

Trish

[gbr37114]

Hi Trish

Thank you for looking for a marriage for McLean to Simpson. This is now my new name to research.
I have felt very grateful for all the help I have been given. Thank you.

[nelmit]

Hi Trish and Annette
I have a copy of the death record now of Catherine Dearie which shows her mother's name as Catherine Isabella Campbell and father as John Simpson. I was over the moon with this information, so I went and found the marriage of James Deary and Catherine Simpson in 1869 and on that cert. the parents of Catherine Simpson are shown as John Simpson and Catherine McLean. Now I am really confused!

Like Trish says it would be usual to accept the info on the marriage entry as it's been given by the person who should know. You've got to remember though that Catherine's mother died when she was very young. The other mistake that I've seen many times on a marriage entry is, instead of the mother's maiden name they have given their maternal gran's maiden name instead.

Have you looked at the OPR marriage for John Simpson and Catherine Campbell to see if it gives an occupation for John? If it's the same as Catherine's father then I'd be pretty certain it's the right marriage.

Also, Hi Annette, thank you for finding the census 1871. I would never have found that under the name of Reaver. How did you find that? Thank you for this information. It is certainly the family, but wow, those names are not right. eg. Gather Merden is Esther Meston, but it proves Catherine had more children to this marriage. So I'm off on another hunt to track them down. Thank you all again.

I started by searching the IGI for children to George and Catherine and found John, Maryanne, Esther and Georgina. When I couldn't find any of them in 1871 I was fairly sure it was a bad transcription. I went to the 'old search' at Ancestry and scrolled through all the people living at 71 Princes (St) in Glasgow and this family stood out!!

Regards,
Annette

[gbr37114]

Hello Annette
I'm not sure I know what "Old Search" on Ancestry means? I do use ancestry, but have not seen where I can search on an address. I have looked at OPR for marriage of John Simpson and Catherine Campbell and it does tell me that John Simpson, Mason in Pulteney married Catherine Campbell, but not where Catherine Campbell comes from. The were married in Wick Caithness on 19 Apr 1833. I am thinking this is the right marriage but I have been incorrect before. I agree that the marriage information would have to be the more accurate, but as stated, Catherine was apparently young and living without a mother, so maybe her recollections were not right either. Thanks again for your searching and input.
Regards
Gail