Up A Blind Alley!.....

[JackyHSF]

Hi Jill

Managed to get into ANEFHS today, but I'm afraid I don't have good news.

Gerrard Street (which still exists in a truncated, much altered, form) is covered by ED 136 Books 1 & 2, but there's no trace of your SHEPHERD family there unfortunately.

I did check all five books of ED 136 in case they hadn't moved very far, but again - no joy. There were only two SHEPHERD entries, (1) James age 13 a Lodger in George Street born in Cruden, and (2) Robert, a Blacksmith Nailer from Durham.

There isn't a surname index for all of Aberdeen city, but they do have one for Old Machar parish (ED 136 borders Old Machar parish) and I'll check this out next visit - otherwise, if you have any other addresses that might be a possibility, just let me know and I'll check them out too.

Is it at all possible that she would go back to Alexander's parish?

Sorry I don't have better news.

Jacky

[jillruss]

Jacky,

Thanks so much for looking.

It's possible, of course, that she had died before 1851. I don't really know how to find this out because civil registration didn't start until 1855 did it? If she's not to be found on the 1851 census, I'll have to see if I can locate MIs for Aberdeen.

Assuming she was still with us, I suppose it's possible that she returned to where ( I think) she came from - Culsalmond. Her husband - again, I think - came from Marnoch, Banffshire. I know! There's too much 'thinking' going on here, but I'm finding it really difficult to firm it all up!

Given that they had 4 sons (Alexander, William, Thomas and Charles), it's strange that it seems all 4 have moved away from their home district. I know Charles moved to England but I don't think he brought his mother with him.

I think Old Machar is a possibility, especially as there are a couple of references on OPRs to relations of her husbands ( probably brothers, James and George Shepherd, both gardeners) living there in the early years of the 19th century.

Thanks again for your efforts. I'll be really grateful if you could try Old Machar.

Best wishes,
Jill.

[JackyHSF]

Hi Jill

Had a look at the three Elizabeth SHEPHERDs in the 1851 Census index for Old Machar, these are the results (I'm afriad)

1. 84 Jacks Brae, Sched No 294

James SHEPHERD Head Mar 22 Comb Maker bn Aberdeen
Elizabeth SHEPHERD Wife Mar 20(?) bn Aberdeen

2. Don(?) Street, Sched No 175

Duncan SHEPHERD Head Mar 24 Wool Scourer bn Aberdeen
Margaret SHEPHERD Wife Mar 25 bn Strichen
Elizabeth SHEPHERD Daur 2 bn Aberdeen

3. 92 ? Street, Sched No 89

Christian SHEPHERD Wid 41 bn Kemnay
Agnes SHEPHERD Daur 14 Flax Mill Spinner bn Aberdeen
William SHEPHERD Son 12 Flex Mill Jou? Preparer Bn Aberdeen
Christian SHEPHERD Daur 7 Scholar bn Aberdeen
Elizabeth SHEPHERD Daur 5 Scholar bn Aberdeen
John SHEPHERD Son 2 bn Aberdeen

So, no good news this time either, unfortunately.

Next time I'll have a look for some of the children in Old Machar in the hope that this might help.

Regards

Jacky

[jillruss]

Thanks, Jacky.

I really appreciate all the trouble you're going to. It might be worth trying Culsalmond - where I think she was born - but I'm beginning to think she may have been already deceased.

Don't you just love circular arguments? I'm trying to find her on the census so I can find out where and when she was born, but to do that - I need to know where and when she was born!

Oh well, no one said it would be easy.

Thanks again, Jacky. Perhaps the children will come up trumps!

Best wishes,
Jill.