Hello everyone!
Rather than an ancestor who left the country, I have an ancestor, William Brown, supposedly born in Jamaica and came to Scotland. Found this out from the poor relief application filed by his spouse, Elizabeth, in 1888 in Greenock. It lists William's parents, Robert Brown and Catherine McLachlan, and states that he was born in Jamaica. The only other record I have of him is when he married my great-grandmother in 1876 in Greenock. Someone has checked the records in Jamaica and says that they couldn't find any record of the birth and I'm wondering why someone would come to Scotland from Jamaica. Anyone have some thoughts on where I go from here?
Chaplain Allison Cline-Dean
Tracing an ancestor who came to Scotland.....
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Allison
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DavidWW
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Re: Tracing an ancestor who came to Scotland
AllisonAllison wrote:Hello everyone!
Rather than an ancestor who left the country, I have an ancestor, William Brown, supposedly born in Jamaica and came to Scotland. Found this out from the poor relief application filed by his spouse, Elizabeth, in 1888 in Greenock. It lists William's parents, Robert Brown and Catherine McLachlan, and states that he was born in Jamaica. The only other record I have of him is when he married my great-grandmother in 1876 in Greenock. Someone has checked the records in Jamaica and says that they couldn't find any record of the birth and I'm wondering why someone would come to Scotland from Jamaica. Anyone have some thoughts on where I go from here?
Chaplain Allison Cline-Dean
I suspect that he may not have been born in Jamaica, but was there by reason of his own occupation, or that of his father, and he then came back to Scotland, or the UK, - his mother's name infers a Scottish connection.
So that he could have been born in Scotland or England............
Davie
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AMBLY
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Re: Tracing an ancestor who came to Scotland
Hi Allison
I wonder if William was a "military" birth - could his father have been serving in Jamaica and his wife with him, and son William born there? Perhaps if so the birth is in Military records as opposed to civic? I have had such an occurence with a birth of a child in India to military parents.
Some questions came to my mind:
1) Widow Elizabeth in 1888 - was her street address recorded in Poor record?
2) Can she be found in Census 1881 (perhaps under a maiden name?)
3) When approx was William born?
4) On their marriage, does it state his father's occupation or was he deceased? What was WIlliam's occupation? What was their address then?
5) Did they have children who may be found on Census 1881?
There a number of William BROWN on IGI as born in Jamaica.
CHeers
Anne
I wonder if William was a "military" birth - could his father have been serving in Jamaica and his wife with him, and son William born there? Perhaps if so the birth is in Military records as opposed to civic? I have had such an occurence with a birth of a child in India to military parents.
Some questions came to my mind:
1) Widow Elizabeth in 1888 - was her street address recorded in Poor record?
2) Can she be found in Census 1881 (perhaps under a maiden name?)
3) When approx was William born?
4) On their marriage, does it state his father's occupation or was he deceased? What was WIlliam's occupation? What was their address then?
5) Did they have children who may be found on Census 1881?
There a number of William BROWN on IGI as born in Jamaica.
CHeers
Anne
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Andy
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Loads of folk from the Greenock area, particularly those involved with Sugar, frequently moved back and forward between Jamaica and Greenock.
William clearly thought he was born there:
Dwelling: 51 Nicholson Street
Census Place: West Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203574 GRO Ref Volume 564-3 EnumDist 16 Page 26
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
William BROWN M 32 M (Foreign), Jamaica
Rel: Head
Occ: Fireman At Railway
Elizabeth BROWN M 22 F Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland
Rel: Wife
Robert BROWN 2 M Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland
Rel: Son
Jane BROWN 6 m F Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Mary CLARKE 11 F Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland
Rel: Visitor
Occ: Scholar
Who were the witnesses on William's marriage to Elizabeth Gillespie? And what was the father's occupation?
William clearly thought he was born there:
Dwelling: 51 Nicholson Street
Census Place: West Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203574 GRO Ref Volume 564-3 EnumDist 16 Page 26
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
William BROWN M 32 M (Foreign), Jamaica
Rel: Head
Occ: Fireman At Railway
Elizabeth BROWN M 22 F Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland
Rel: Wife
Robert BROWN 2 M Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland
Rel: Son
Jane BROWN 6 m F Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Mary CLARKE 11 F Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland
Rel: Visitor
Occ: Scholar
Who were the witnesses on William's marriage to Elizabeth Gillespie? And what was the father's occupation?
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AMBLY
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Hi
AHh! I learned something from your reply Andy - I had looked for William in C81 with birthcountry or birthtown "Jamaica" and got no result - it's indexed under "Cari" ("Caribbean")!!
I did find this web site that looks like it would have a mine of information on Jamaican records - much of it 'pay for view"
though doesn't appear outrageousley expensive:
http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/index.htm
Cheers
Anne
jj
AHh! I learned something from your reply Andy - I had looked for William in C81 with birthcountry or birthtown "Jamaica" and got no result - it's indexed under "Cari" ("Caribbean")!!
I did find this web site that looks like it would have a mine of information on Jamaican records - much of it 'pay for view"
though doesn't appear outrageousley expensive:http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/index.htm
Cheers
Anne
jj
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Allison
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Good morning everyone!
The Poor Relief application was made in 1886 and gives the address as 40 Anderson Street, Partick. Elizabeth's husband is listed as William Brown, aged 38 years of Falmouoth Jamaica, born in Valparaisa Hospital, son of Robert Brown, carpenter, and Catherine McLachlan, both dead. Elizabeth gives many addresses, three more in Partick, one in Glasgow, and six in Greenock the last being her mother's home on Holmscroft Street. She moved to Partick in 1882 when William was in the Infirmary. William died at sea in 1888.
On the marriage certificate between William Brown and Elizabeth Gillespie, William is shown as a ship steward and Elizabeth as a domestic servant. Parents of William are Robert Brown, Shipwright, and Catherine Brown ms McLachlan. Parents for Elizabeth are Joseph Gillespie, Blacksmith (deceased) and Jane Gillespie ms. McDougall (Elizabeth's parents are a very complicated story, but reducing it down to simplest terms, they were living together but not married and Elizabeth's mother had three surnames: McDougall, McKellar (her first marriage) and Gillespie, which she used interchangeably.). Witnesses were Archibald Houston (no idea as to who this gentleman was) and Mary Martin (Elizabeth's sister). Address given is 66 Holmscroft Street, Greenock.
The 1881 census shows William and Elizabeth, with children Robert and Jane (Jane died in 1883). I don't have a death certificate for William as I have conflicting stories as to where the death would be recorded due to citizenship, etc.
Further suggestions appreciated.
Allison
The Poor Relief application was made in 1886 and gives the address as 40 Anderson Street, Partick. Elizabeth's husband is listed as William Brown, aged 38 years of Falmouoth Jamaica, born in Valparaisa Hospital, son of Robert Brown, carpenter, and Catherine McLachlan, both dead. Elizabeth gives many addresses, three more in Partick, one in Glasgow, and six in Greenock the last being her mother's home on Holmscroft Street. She moved to Partick in 1882 when William was in the Infirmary. William died at sea in 1888.
On the marriage certificate between William Brown and Elizabeth Gillespie, William is shown as a ship steward and Elizabeth as a domestic servant. Parents of William are Robert Brown, Shipwright, and Catherine Brown ms McLachlan. Parents for Elizabeth are Joseph Gillespie, Blacksmith (deceased) and Jane Gillespie ms. McDougall (Elizabeth's parents are a very complicated story, but reducing it down to simplest terms, they were living together but not married and Elizabeth's mother had three surnames: McDougall, McKellar (her first marriage) and Gillespie, which she used interchangeably.). Witnesses were Archibald Houston (no idea as to who this gentleman was) and Mary Martin (Elizabeth's sister). Address given is 66 Holmscroft Street, Greenock.
The 1881 census shows William and Elizabeth, with children Robert and Jane (Jane died in 1883). I don't have a death certificate for William as I have conflicting stories as to where the death would be recorded due to citizenship, etc.
Further suggestions appreciated.
Allison