Maternal Family Line

[JOHN DAND]

Hello readers,

My apologies for the fact that this could be quite lengthy. I am trying to trace my Maternal Family Line. I have been trying for several years now with very little success. I am hoping that some one, some where can help me with information or other sources that I can try. My mother was born in the Royal Maternity Hospital in Edinburgh, she is still living so I won't put her name or DoB. On her birth certificate her mother is named as JEANIE LAWRIE (no fathers name). It is at this point that my search gets difficult. I have my Grandmothers death certificate and marriage certificate but cannot trace her birth certificate. JEANIE LAWRIE married in 1942 (my mother was a teenager) but not to my mothers father, she married GORDON MAVOR DICKSON. I have traced the marriage hence the marriage certificate, on the marriage certificate she was JEAN LAWRIE, named on the marriage certificate is her mother, JEAN HOWIE LAWRIE (no fathers name), she married in Edinburgh. She died in Edinburgh in 1959 as JEAN DICKSON (on certificate) mothers name JEAN HOWIE LAWRIE (no fathers name). I also have a copy of the 1911 Scottish Census with possible relevant information on it, a person who could be my Grandmother is on there as a boarder at the age of 7. The name on the census is JEANIE HOWIE and she is boarding with PETER GOODWIN, 73, Head and MAGGIE McALLISTER, 67, Servant. This census is for Kirkcolm, Wigtownshire, 1911 and lists JEANIE HOWIE as being born in Wigtown. From what my mother was told during growing up her mother had spent time in Kirkcolm as a child (JEANIE LAWRIE, my Grandmother, was in domestic service as was her mother). It was said that her mother died in child birth and her father committed suicide over it and she was then brought up by her Grandparents. From the certificates that I have and the age of JEANIE (JEAN) LAWRIE on these certificates I have calculated her birth to 1903 and her birthday was always celebrated on July 8th.

If anyone can help me with any information to help me trace my maternal lineage while my mother is still alive I would be very grateful as it will close a few chapters for her.

Thank you for your patience reading this.

[AndrewP]

Hi John,



I had a look at the 1911 census page that you referred to. I see Jean Howie was listed as born in Wigtown [county], Stranraer. Be careful with searching for records from Stranraer. Parts of the Burgh of Stranraer can come under Leswalt or Inch parishes. I looked at other possibilities within the county of Wigtown between 1902 and 1904 and came up with no useful results.

Have you looked at the death certificate of Robert Parker HOWIE who died aged 30 in Kirkcowan, Wigtownshire? Could he be a possibility for the father? (I haven't looked at the certificate as I am out of credits).

All the best,

AndrewP

[JOHN DAND]

Thank you AndrewP, I will look at that.

John

[nelmit]

Have you ever tried contacting Wigtown County Council? They hold the parish records of Kirkcolm up to 1930.

As she was a boarder in 1911 I'm thinking the Parish may have paid Peter Goodwin to look after her and her details may be recorded in the Parish records. I tried to find out more about Peter Goodwin in earlier census records but no luck - where was he born?

I'd also keep an open mind about her place of birth and her mother's name.

Regards,
Annette

[JOHN DAND]

Hi Annette,

I hadn't given a thought to contacting Wigtown Parish Council but I will, thank you. The 1911 Census says that Peter Goodwin was born in Wigtown. I have looked for him in BMD and Census's with no success so I don't know any more about him. My Grandmother's mother's name is shown on her death certificate but apart from that we know absolutely nothing about her, not even that that is her correct name.

Regards

John