More disappearing relatives

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DorothyCoe
Posts: 56
Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:58 pm
Location: Peebles

More disappearing relatives

Post by DorothyCoe » Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:15 pm

Hi folks. Can I borrow your trusty skills again please?

I think my Alexander Ramsay's birth was recorded in Ellon by his father Alexander Ramsay of Mains of Arnage in 1832. Is it significant that no mother is recorded? (Other records on the same page seem to show a mother.) Young Alexander appears in the 1841 census aged 8 with his mother, Janet Annan(d), aged 37 a baker, and in the 1851 census at Peterhead aged 18, now a cabinet maker, with her as a 47 yr old launderess.

I know he married his wife Christina McGregor in Constantinople in 1862, so I wasn't expecting to find him in the 1861 census but I was hoping to find Andrew senior and Janet.
.
well, I've hunted but can't find any trace of father Alexander, or any more of Janet until her death from bronchitis in 1877 in the Poor's House at Peterhead, the Governor having probably guessed her age at 77. There it says she was the daughter of William Annand a merchant, deceased.

I'm assuming that young Alexander was illegitimate, but I'd like to find out more about Alexander senior. Any suggestions?

How did Alexander junior get to Constantinople? He goes on to have several children in Constantinople who marry well and the group family photograph of them all shows a family that is "comfortable", I'd say.

Where can I look for this information do you think?

Thanks.
Dorothy Coe
Family Names: Coe, Atkinson, Kerney, Ramsay, McGregor, McCurrach, McNaughton, Mackie, Horne, Cordiner, Milne, Porter, Gibson

AnneM
Global Moderator
Posts: 1587
Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2004 6:51 pm
Location: Aberdeenshire

Post by AnneM » Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:54 pm

Hi Dorothy

Your Janet Annand is in Peterhead in 1871 in Kirk Street as a Washerwoman aged 66. She seems to be the only person in the household. I'm drawing a blank in 1861 I have to admit.

I'd be a wee bit concerned that your Alexander in 1851 is given as born in Aberdeen rather than Ellon but I'm assuming that you have other evidence that his mother is Janet Annan(d) and his father Alexander Ramsay so that you know that is the right Alexander. Did he come home and die in Scotland?

I have so far been unable to find Alexander senior but he may have died early on in the process.

Hope that little mite of info is of some help.

Anne

Your Alexander senior is not still at Mains of Arnage in 1841 so I wonder if he died or moved on. Do you have an occupation for him at all?
Anne
Researching M(a)cKenzie, McCammond, McLachlan, Kerr, Assur, Renton, Redpath, Ferguson, Shedden, Also Oswald, Le/assels/Lascelles, Bonning just for starters

AnneM
Global Moderator
Posts: 1587
Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2004 6:51 pm
Location: Aberdeenshire

Post by AnneM » Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:24 pm

Hi again

I'm probably being dense but I can't see a baptism for an Alexander Ramsay in Ellon in 1832 but there is one in Peterhead. The IGI gives the father as Alexander Ramsay. There is also a birth/baptism for an Alexander Annand in Peterhead in 1833.

If you know where your Alexander was born it might be worth looking at the Kirk Session records for that parish if they are available to see if there is any comment on his birth.

Anne
Anne
Researching M(a)cKenzie, McCammond, McLachlan, Kerr, Assur, Renton, Redpath, Ferguson, Shedden, Also Oswald, Le/assels/Lascelles, Bonning just for starters

DorothyCoe
Posts: 56
Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:58 pm
Location: Peebles

Post by DorothyCoe » Tue Aug 12, 2008 1:30 am

Oh dear, thank you very much for pulling me back to actually reading the documents I have...I'm afraid I am suffering from too much multitasking! I'm attempting to track down two Alexanders at the same time and inevitably confusing them!

I think my husband's maternal gt gt grandfather, Alexander Ramsay was born in Peterhead, and I know that my maternal gt gt grandfather George Milne, son of Alexander Milne was born at Cruden Bay, a mere 8 miles south of Peterhead. It was Alexander Milne who was born in Ellon! (Strange to say, my husband is from Belfast, I am from West Lothian and we met in Edinburgh yet our ancestors lived within spitting distance! )

Your discovery of Alexander Annand is confusing me. How could I differentiate which one is mine? I haven't seen his death certificate. He died in Constantinople and the family Bible just says "Alexander Ramsay born in the City of Aberdeen October 24th 1832" Where would the proper details be? All their children were born in Constantinople so I only have the family bible dates and places for them, though these are quite detailed. None of the children have Annand as a middle name, but the first daughter is called Janet.

I've certainly learned a lesson about sticking to one family at a time!
Dorothy Coe
Family Names: Coe, Atkinson, Kerney, Ramsay, McGregor, McCurrach, McNaughton, Mackie, Horne, Cordiner, Milne, Porter, Gibson

LesleyB
Posts: 8184
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2005 12:18 am
Location: Scotland

Post by LesleyB » Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:45 pm

Hi Dorothy
and the family Bible just says "Alexander Ramsay born in the City of Aberdeen October 24th 1832" Where would the proper details be?
I'm probably stating the obvious here, and you have probably "been there, done that"...but have you searched the OPRs on SP?

Best wishes
Lesley

DorothyCoe
Posts: 56
Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:58 pm
Location: Peebles

Post by DorothyCoe » Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:40 am

Once again, thanks for your "back to basics" advice. Of course I hadn't checked Aberdeen City so now I have more options to pursue.
Thanks again.
Dorothy Coe
Family Names: Coe, Atkinson, Kerney, Ramsay, McGregor, McCurrach, McNaughton, Mackie, Horne, Cordiner, Milne, Porter, Gibson