Looking for the mother of Catherine Simpson

[gbr37114]

I am trying to find out who the mother of Catherine Simpson (born c 1833/34) is. I know her father was John Simpson of Pulteneytown, Caithness. I have a marriage record for my Catherine Simpson who married George Meston, Hairdresser of Wick on 6th July, 1852 and it just says her father was John Simpson (deceased) but no mention of her mother. Can someone tell me how I can link a mother to my Catherine Simpson? I have a couple of contenders, but don't know how to prove which one it is? There are three marriages for a John Simpson, one to Catharine Mcgrigor on 14 March 1832 and one to Catharine Forbes on 13 August 1832 and one to Catherine Campbell on 19 April 1833. I'm guessing it might be "Forbes" because a child of my Catherine had Forbes as a middle name, but I need to prove it. I have also found a Catherine Simpson Baptised on 15 March 1833 whose parents are John Simpson and Jane Macgregor. My Catherine Simpsons father (John Simpson) was on the 1841 census, but was not there on the 1851 census and no mother was on either census', but I can't find his death record either. In the 1851 Catherine was living with her uncle, Duncan Simpson.
Just trying to prove out who her mother was as there are lots of Simpsons who married women called Catherine, any ideas? I would also like to find Catherine Meston's (Simpson) death. She was living in Glasgow about 1862.
Can anyone help?

[StewL]

Hello gbr

Doing a birth search on IGI (Family Search) there is a birth for Catherine Simpson C 15 Mar 1833 in Latheron, Caithness
Father: John Simpson
Mother: Jane McGregor
I hope this is the right one, I had a look on SP and there is one match there, but I don't have any credits to look at it.
You could also have a look at the 1851 Census for her, she might even still be with her parents.

[trish1]

Hi gbr and Stewie

There is a death on SP for a Catherine Meston - other names Dearie, Simpson in 1872 - age given as 37 (1861 census Catherine says she is 27). I can't find a Dearie marriage to Simpson or Meston at the right time - nor trace of Catherine & family in 1871 (ancestry). In 1861 Katherine says she is born in Wick, Caithness - my geography of same is zero - so I don't know if this is close to Latheron.

Trish

[gbr37114]

Hi Stewie and Trish

Thank you for your reply. I have got both the 1841 and 1851 census. On the 1851 census she is with her uncle and a servant with no sign of either parent. On the 1841 census she is with her father, John Simpson, and the same uncle and same servant and no sign of her mother. The baptism you talk about on 15 Mar 1833 is at Latheron, Caithness. I can't link it to my Catherine Simpson without being able to prove who her mother was. On the 1851 census it says my Catherine was born at Pulteney Wick Par Rossr. Is Latheron the same place? They are lost to the 1871 census.
Gail

[AndrewP]

On the 1851 census it says my Catherine was born at Pulteney Wick Par Rossr. Is Latheron the same place?

Hi Gail,

I read the 1851 census as saying she was born in Caithness, Pulteney. Then in a different handwriting, presumably by someone tallying up the statistics, has added in the column to the right "Wick Par".

Latheron is a separate parish in the County of Caithness. I have my doubts that the Latheron Catherine is the right one - unless some other nugget of information is to be found saying that she was born in Latheron rather than Wick (or Pulteney).

See the followin parish map of Caithness. http://www.oldroadsofscotland.com/statacccaithness.htm

All the best,

AndrewP

[trish1]

I added to my credits (exchange rate is still good ) and checked the death in 1973 - this is what it says (edit - oops - should be 1872)

"Catherine Dearie married to James Dearie, shoe hawker, previous widow of George Meston died June 29 1872 at 71 Princes Street Glasgow aged 37 years. Father John Simpson, mason (master) (deceased) mother Catherine Isabella Simpson MS Campbell
Informant Catherine Duncan daughter, present at death"


Trish

Edit: The family, George and Catherine Meston and 4 children are listed on the 1861 census in Glasgow. Catherine is listed as born in Wick, Caithness. The children's births are on family search - also the child born 1862. Cannot find them in 1871

[gbr37114]

Thank you Andrew for the link to the Parish Map. It is very helpful to see where they all are for Caithness. That has been very helpful.
Also thank you to Trish. You have hit the jackpot. This is my family and I know that because I know Catherine Duncan exists in my family. So, what you have found is the mother of my Catherine Simpson who was, according to this information, Catherine Isabella Campbell. I can now put a marriage that I had found to this couple. Great detective work and thank you all so much, it is very much appreciated.

[trish1]

You're most welcome gbr - have you used Scotland's People? The price to access BMD indexes and certificates is one of the cheapest worldwide. Women are often easier to find on SP than men as you can search by any one of their surnames - and for deaths in particular, other surnames can be seen on the index - most useful. You do have to remember with deaths that the parent names are provided by an informant - who may or may not have the correct names - although in this case it all seems to fit together from what you currently know. I can't find the second marriage - looking for what happened to Mr Dearie might help solve that minor puzzle.

Trish

[gbr37114]

Hi Trish
I have used Scotlands People but have never had any success with a death (always a first time). I have got lots of census records there and also on Ancestry. I would never have known to look for the surname Dearie. Did you search on Dearie or Meston? It's been so good at last to have some success. I was focused on trying to find parents names on marriage certs, and when they were not both there, well, I couldn't see how to find both parents names. I now see, that a death will reveal it. I now have the death for George Meston and Catherine Dearie so that was a real find for me. I was also looking for a marriage for Dearie, but no luck yet, but there is hope now. Thank you once again.

[nelmit]

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