A bit of a mystery

[SandySandilands]

Hannah Jane Asken Thorburn

Who was she?

Hannah is mentioned in the will of William Sandilands d.1866 in Peebles:

"...to Hannah Jane Elspeth (later corrected to Asken) Thorburn my niece the whole of her mother's body clothes as also the whole of her maternal grandmother's body clothes..."

"...to pay and deliver over to Hannah Jane Eslpeth (later corrected to Asken)Thorburn my said niece or in case she shall not then have attained majority..."


William was the widower of a lady named Hannah Mathison (or Mathewson). I suspect that William was the brother of my 4 x g.grandfather Andrew Sandilands. Was the above Hannah the daughter of a so far unknown Sandilands sister or was she the daughter of one of Hannah Mathison's sisters? I would love to know yet so far I have not been able to any discover any other record of her.

Can you help solve this mystery?

[carlineric]

There is a Hanna Thorburn living with her grandfather James Hardie in the 1851 census for Hawick. The 1861 Census for Hawick shows her living with an uncle Walter Hardie, also in the household were two nephews Robert Baptie and James Baptie. There is no trace of her birth in the IGI, however, there is a marriage in 1864 of a Hannah Thorburn and John Nichol in Hawick. The 1871 Census shows Hannah and John living in Yetholm.


Eric

[WilmaM]

I don't know if I can solve the mystery, but there are a few clues there:

When the will was written, she was still young

[in case she shall not then have attained majority]

checking the date may help narrow her age down.
her Mother and grandmother were both dead [or why should she get their clothes?]

Don't get too bogged down on her full name, lots of Anna/Hannah variations, though the 'Asken' bit may well point to a relation.

[SandySandilands]

Thanks for looking Eric

I had a look into that particular Hannah a while back -- her parents turned out to be Robert Thorburn and Agnes Hardie. Couldn't tie her into the Sandilands or Mathisons though

[SandySandilands]

Thanks Wilma.

I think this could will be the girl in question:

1861 Scotland Census

Name: Jane Thorburn
Age: 8
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1853
Relationship: Lodger
Gender: Female
Where born: St Cuthberts, Edinburgh
Registration Number: 768
Registration district: Peebles
Civil parish: Peebles
County: Peeblesshire
Address: Old Town North Side
Occupation: Scholar
ED: 1
Household schedule number: 67
Line: 8
Roll: CSSCT1861_138
Household Members:
Name Age
Helen Cuthbertson 50
James Sandilands 27
Mary Anne Deao 9
Jane Thorburn 8
Jonathan Deao 6
Margt Reid 4
Georgina Sheens 4


The James Sandilands on this Census being the son of the William mentioned above.

"Jane" Thorburn could be "Hannah"? Wouldn't surprise me. However, I've not been able to find a birth/marriage/death that would tie a Hannah or Jane Thorburn into the Sandilands or Mathison families.

[grannysrock]

Hi There:
Here's a possible candidate:
From Ancestry's " London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906":
Jane Hannah Thorburn born 18 Dec? 1852 bapt. 16 March 1853 in St Botolph Bishopsgate, daughter of William ( a baker) and Ellen born at 61 Bishopsgate within.

A William Thorburn , baker, unmarried aged 22, can be found at the same address unmarried in the 1851 census .

Again from Ancestry this time from "London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921":
there is a marriage dated 25 Nov 1852 in Upper Chelsea of a William Thorburn, 24, baker and Helen Sandilands , 21, spinster. Fathers are Robert Thorburn, baker and William Sandilands road contractor. Address given as Cadogan cottages

No Elspeth or Asken though!
Sally

EDITED - Just realised that this Jane Hannah is more likely the granddaughter rather than the niece!

[SandySandilands]

Well spotted, Sally - you are correct re Helen being the daughter of William (whose will is mentioned above).

I knew Helen and William Thorburn had a son, William Thorburn, but had missed the baptism of a daughter named Jane Hannah Thorburn! Thank you for finding her

Helen Sandilands and William Thorburn emigrated to Australia. Their son, William Thorburn, later returned to the UK as an adult.

[SandySandilands]

So, the Jane Thorburn on the 1861 census with James Sandilands is the granddaughter of William Sandilands!

That explains why I never found a baptism for this particular Jane Thorburn in the Scottish OPRs -- she was born in England.

That's a result -- another piece added to the puzzle

Is it likely that her parents have already emigrated to Australia and send for her later?