Mysterious Gordon Grandfather

[JustJean]

Me again....meant to clarify for all the 1851 ancestry census mis-indexing...

Isabella Gordon, 63, Head, Widow, born Old Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire
Isabella Ross, 11, Grandchild, born Aberdeen Aberdeenshire, Scholar
Jane McKenzie, 22, Visitor, Unmarried, born Inverness, Invernesshire, Power Coom Weaver
Henderson Clark, 13, ditto Visitor, born Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scholar

31 Georges Street has multiple families at the same address.

Best wishes
Jean

[Richard1979]

I wonder if this is baptism of the child Isabella Ross?

ISABEL ROSS

23 JUN 1839
Christening:
13 JUL 1839 Chapel Of Garioch, Aberdeen, Scotland

Parents:
Father: ALEXANDER ROSS Family
Mother: ISABEL GORDON

[Richard1979]

Intersting development. Downloaded the death cert for Isabella Freeman/Gordon:

"Isabella Gordon, widow of Alexander Gordon, brewer, died 8th December 10 am 1862, 31 George Street, Aberdeen, aged 75 years. Father William Freeman, Officer (illegible?) Customs (deceased) Catherine Freeman, maiden surname Smith. Cause of death Abcess 9 weeks, certified by Janes Coutts Informant James Gordon (illegible?) son, inmate, present at death. Reg Dec 10 1862 Aberdeen"


Now one interesting thing her father was a customs officer, perhaps that is why Alexander was working as such when they married? It does seem to be strange to then move to shoemaking...but, I have a 4xgreat grandfather who was a shoemaker all his life and became a brewer on retirment, so maybe that switch not so strange.

However interesting also she has a Smith for a mother. I was looking at this marriage yesterday:


JAMES GORDON Pedigree
Male Family
Marriages:
Spouse: ISABEL SMITH Family
Marriage:
25 OCT 1823 Saint Nicholas, Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland

Could that be the other Isabel b.1790c? Mother of James, the Coopers Apprentice? Perhaps they are related through Isabella Gordon/Freemans mother?

Huge leap of faith, but if the Smiths/Freemans were from Rosehearty/Fraserburgh area, Isabel married in St Nicholas, and raised James In Aberdeen, that accounts for all the birthplaces James gave on the Censi, with exception of Fyvie of course!

[Richard1979]

Also to add, checked again, but could not find any burial or baptism for the first born daughter of James Gordon and Elspet Troup 1853-1855.

There was this:

07/05/1854

GORDON AGNES

JAMES GORDON & ELSPET DUNCAN

F

Drumblade/ABERDEEN



Drumblade could fit, but Elspets surname doesn't.

[Richard1979]

Downloaded the James Gordon/Isabel Smith marriage in case it helps:

"25th October 1823
By the Rev Patrick Ross, Minister of the Old (Relief?) Church in Shepsow Fourdun? was lawfully married in the said ministers house after due proclamation of Banns, James Gordon, Labourer in Aberdeen, and Isabel Smith, daughter of the deceased James Smith, late farmer in the parish of Ellon, witnesses George Bain and George Smith"

Cannot find a burial for her pre 1855 or after unfortunately to confirm this is her.

[SarahND]

Hi Richard,

It has been suggested to me before to go down the route of apprentice records. Do these survive for Aberdeen and does anyone have any experience of researching them? My James was a Master Cooper so must have served an apprenticeship at some point. Perhaps that may provide the last hope of finding paper evidence of his parantage?

If I were you I would contact the Aberdeen & North-East Scotland Family History Society:

http://www.anesfhs.org.uk/

Coopers belong to one of the "seven incorporated trades" and there should be records. They would know how to find them.

All the best,
Sarah

[Richard1979]

Thank you Sarah

I think that may be the last hope, as g-g-g grandad has clearly weaved a complicated web here, and without some firm paper evidence stating his parantage it does not look too hopeful.

[Richard1979]

Update on this I contacted Aberdeen Records Office and they were kind enough to look through the Apprentice Indentures for the Burgh of Aberdeen, but unfortunately no trace of him could be found, so I am back to square one, not sure how to proceed any further now. Any ideas much appreciated.

[puffin]

Have you thought of trying to get copies of his army discharge papers from the records office at Kew?

These might say something more regarding his age when he joined up and was discharged together with other aspects of his service.

If you know the regiment he served with that will help on your hunt for these.

Was he one of the early Chelsea Pensioners ? like someone (John Jack) on my tree who fought with Wellington in the Peninsula Wars (medal + 12 bars for each Peninsula War battle he fought in) and also a Waterloo Medal. He died in 1870 having been born in 1780 and there were articles in the Aberdeen newspapers on his exploits. He too was a shoe maker after army discharge in the 1820's. My cousin did much of the research on him so I personally did not get the army material from Kew but I am sure there will be a helpful expert on this forum who might guide you on how to approach that subject.

Puffin

[Richard1979]

Hello Puffin

I have no evidence that my James Gordon was ever in the army. The Waterloo Veteran was a John Gordon, who had a son James Gordon, whose records I do have copies of. However I have some serious doubts whether this is my James Gordon, in fact every bit of evidence I can find seem to point to them not being one and the same, though family lore passed down one branch of the family says so. I suspect this is in fact based on earlier incorrect research conducted in the early decades of the 20th century and has been passed down, albeit no doubt in good faith, as family lore!