Craig, Angus records

speleobat2 · Post by **speleobat2** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 3:29 pm

Hi all,

After taking a break from my Scottish relatives, I'm back with them--Need a break from the Finns now!

In 1779, James Chalmers married Janet Barclay in Newhills, Aberdeenshire. About 1784, their daughter Isabella was born in Craig, Angus. On the 1861 Census, she gives her birthplace as Montrose, Craig.

This is the first child that I can find born to James and Janet. I can find nothing more until 1798 when my 2x great grandmother Sophia Chalmers was born in Newhills, Aberdeenshire.

James Chalmers was a farm overseer by occupation. What I'm wondering is if Janet Barclay was originally from the Craig, Angus area and returned to her mother's house to have Isabella.

What I'm looking for specifically is the birth record of Isabella in Craig, Angus and any additional information it might contain. I haven't been able to pull it up on SP. I also don't have any solid information on Janet Barclay though there are two born in that area of Angus. James Chalmers is one of a crowd of James Chalmers!

Any ideas will be welcome!

Carol

Post by **paddyscar** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 5:35 pm

Hi Carol:

Have you had a look at the IGI? There are 48 records for Isabella/Isobel/Isoelle, etc. There are records with James and Janet as parents. I didn't check all of them, but didn't see Barclay as a surname.

There is one for Isobel Father: ROBERT CHALMERS Family
Christening: 28 APR 1782 Newhills, Aberdeen, Scotland

There is also one for Isobel born in New Deer, Aberdeen in your time frame, but Janet's name is not Barclay.

It could also be that Janet had been married previously, causing confusion as to which was her maiden name, and which was her previously-married name.

Might be worth doing a check to see if any other family names are recognizable?

Frances

speleobat2 · Post by **speleobat2** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 6:31 pm

Hi Frances,

I just finished charting a bunch of Barclays in Angus. My next stop will be the IGI.

I have the death certs for both Isabella and Sophia and both give the parents as James Chalmers and Janet Barclay. I also have the marriage OPR for James and Janet for Jun. 19, 1779. I think this is the correct set of names.

What I don't know is where James and Janet were located between 1784 when Isabella was born and 1798 when Sophia came along. I haven't had a search yet come up with Janet Barclay as the mother! I've even searched for Barklay etc.

There is one enticing entry for a James Chalmers with a wife Janet and daughter Sophia in Newhills--30 years later, but I haven't been able to find a death certificate for that James to check his parents to see if he was Sophia and Isabella's brother!

Thanks for the ideas. I'll keep chipping away at this one!

Carol