Problem with identity

[Mairi]

Malcolm McRorie and Ann Stewart in Monzievaird and Strowan, Perthshire, were blessed with seven sons;

John (1765) Donald (1767) Peter (1769) James (1770) John (1772) William (1775) Alexander (1778).

Alexander McRorie married Mary Millar/Miller in 1789 in Crieff and also had a brood of seven;

John (1790) Peter (1792) William (1794) Katherine (1796) James (1798) Alexander (1803) Mary (1806).

The two generations are linked.

However Alexander (1778) could not have been married at eleven years old.

The LDS site gives the Alexander who married Mary Millar as being born in 1764, approximately the time of the first John's birth.

Two Johns could indicate the first one died. If that was so here, Alexander could not have been the first John!

How can I tell the accuracy of the facts appearing on the LDS site? (A film no. is given.)

What might be the reason for the name exchange here, this apparent change of identity?
( In later times when children were given two names it was easier to see why, for example, to distinguish cousins who were given the same first Christian name.)

The identities of the seventh son and the one who married?

Help would be greatly appreciated.
Mairi.

[LesleyB]

Hi Mairi
Have you looked at the original OPR entires? That would be my first port of call in this type of situation. Sometimes OPRs give occupations or places of abode which can help with fitting the jigsaw pieces together.

Perhaps they are related but not as directly as father and son?

How can I tell the accuracy of the facts appearing on the LDS site? (A film no. is given.)

Are the items you are looking at on IGI Extracts or Submissions?
Extracts are likely to be accurate give or take the odd mistranscription (and there are some very odd mistranscriptions... one of my favs being that well kent Fife place, Funfermline.... ) Submissions are a mixed bag, some accurate, some not.

Best wishes
Lesley

[Mairi]

Thank you for your reply, Lesley.

Yes I have spent a lot of time looking at OPRs, printing off several certificates.

Alexander (1778)was a Wright, according to his MC.(to Mary Millar). No location is given apart from Crieff.

The OPR search returns gave me his family, confirmed by the actual BCs.

Alexander (1803)was a Cotton Weaver.

I established from his MC (to Catherine Millar in 1857,Crieff), that he was the son of Alexander, Wright, and Mary Miller.

There were few Alexander McRories ( that spelling appears to have been the norm in Crieff).
Marriage search returns (OPRs) listed only four marriages of Alexanders, one date too early, one date too late.

The information on LDS is submitted as far as I can see.

Interestingly, have just found a submission, quite detailed, stating John (1765) married an Elizabeth Patton in 1799 at Foulis Wester, had five children born in Scotland who emigrated with him to the US. John (1765) is said to have died in 1850 in New York.

If that is correct then Alexander (1778) could not have been him.

Which brings me back to the marriage of an eleven year old!?!

Mairi

[Susan]

Hi Mairi

How do you know that it was Alexander (1778) who married Mary Miller, have you any information which shows the connection ?

Susan.

[Mairi]

  Hi Susan, 
When I search the OPR Birth and Baptism returns (whole of Scotland) I get eight results.

  1739  Alexander to N. Patrick McRorie and Ann Murray.

  1778 Alexander to N. Malcolm McRorie and Ann Stewart.

  1803 Alexander to Alexander McRorie and Mary Millar.

The following five, by date, have no bearing.

Must be missing a trick here but can't see it!

Mairi.

[AnneM]

Hi Mairi

It is possible that the birth of the Alexander who married the Mary Miller was never registered so you could look for him in vain.

Anne

[Mairi]

Yes, Anne, that is the likely explanation.

Thanks for your reply.

Mairi.