The elusive Janet/Jessie Simpson

Looking for Scottish Ancestors

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ggrocott
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2006 11:49 am

The elusive Janet/Jessie Simpson

Post by ggrocott » Wed Mar 03, 2010 8:07 pm

Desparately seeking the mother of Janet Simpson!

Janet Simpson married John Blair at the parish church, Shincliffe, Durham on 13th May1861. Her father is shown as George Simpson, labourer, the witnesses were Charlotte Mains and Margaret Ramsay. I have a copy of the marriage certificate.

The 1871 census shows her as Janes Blair age 37 born Scotland living with husband John age 38 born Durham and children Charlotte age 8, William age 6 and John age in Tottenham and they are still there in 1881 when Janet, now shown as Jessie is stated as having been born in Dumbarton, Scotland.

In 1891 Jessie Blair age 57 born Dumbarton, Scotland is with daughter Charlotte, now the wife of John Barrett and their children and still in Tottenham.

I have been unable to find Janet/Jessie Blair nee Simpson in 1861 but I have found

1841 Scottish census
Janet Simpson age 7 living Main Street, Bonhill, Dumbartonshire with mother Jean age 25 and brother John age 2.

1851 census HO107; Piece: 2392; Folio: 166; Page: 13
Shows
Janet Simpson a female servant age 17 British Subject with
Edw N V Boydell 38
Jane Marianne Boydell 2
Mary Longstaffe 26
at Castle Eden

If these are both the correct Janet/Jessie Simpson then I am looking for a Janet Simpson born about 1834 daughter of George Simpson, a labourer and Jean Simpson with a brother John born about 1839 in Dumbarton.

I have found Janet Simpson daughter of George Simpson and Jean Brotchie born 1 OCT 1835 Christening: 08 NOV 1835 Dunnet, Caithness, Scotland . Trouble is George Simpson and Jean Brotchie were baptising children in 1828 so Jean would be too old to be the Jean in the 1841 census and there is no brother John.

Then I found Jean Simpson 3rd child of George Simpson and Jean Aitken bp 17 Nov 1833 Barony, Glasgow City, Lanark. George and Jean married in 1829 so if Jean was actually 29 in 1841 and was a very young bride there is a possiblility that they could be Janet's parents and that she was baptised Jean but called Janet to avoid confusion. However, again there is no brother John. George is shown as a baker on Jean's baptism records and of Union Street on the marriage certificate.


I have also found Janet Simpson bp 8/2/1837 Glasgow, Lanark less than 20 miles from Dumbarton. Daughter of George Simpson and Elizabeth Hamilton who married 12/10/1835 at Gorbals, Lanark. Siblings George 1841 Barony and Elizabeth 1844, Glasgow. Looks as if George may also be in Durham with wife Mary and children Jno and Lizzie in 1881 working as a ship plater.

I have been trying to find Jean and brother John in 1851 - the best I have found is -

1851 Steveton Lanarkshire

George Simpson 53 born Larbert, Stirling Coalminer
Jean Simpson 51 born Old Monkland, Lanark
Elizabeth Simpson 20 born Barony, Lanark
Margaret Simpson 16 born Barony, Lanark
George Simpson 13 born Old Monkland
John Simpson 11 born Old Monkland, Lanark
David Simpson 9 born Old Monkland

I have also found

1851 46 Canal Terrace, Woodside, Aberdeenshire

George Simpson 37 Drain contractor born Foveran
Jean Simpson 40 born Udny
Peter Simpson 17
Jean Simpson 15
James Simpson 11
Margaret Simpson 8
George Simpson 5
Ann Simpson 11 Mo

1851 Carron
Jean Simpson 40 Pauper former smith's wife born Montrose
Elizabeth Simpson 18 born Larbert, Stirlinghshire
Jean Simpson 15 born Larbert Stirlingshire

Any help with this longstanding brickwall would be much appreciated!

JustJean
Posts: 2520
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2004 12:52 am
Location: Maine USA

Re: The elusive Janet/Jessie Simpson

Post by JustJean » Wed Mar 03, 2010 11:54 pm

I haven'et studied this one through entirely but is this a possible for Mother Jean being remarried in 1851 with Janet and brother John?? Trouble being that if it is them then Janet now states she was born in Stirling???

Name: Janet Simpson
Age: 17
Estimated birth year: abt 1834
Relationship: Stepdaughter
Mother's Name: Jean
Gender: Female
Where born: Kelearn, Stirling
Parish Number: 493
Civil parish: Bonhill
Town: Alexandria
County: Dumbartonshire
Address: Main Street
Occupation: Werker At Printfield
ED: 3
Page: 26 (click to see others on page)
Household schedule number: 103
Line: 17
Roll: CSSCT1851_105
Household Members: Name Age
Fenley Henderson 42
Jean Henderson 37
Janet Henderson 6
Peter Henderson 4
Jean Henderson 1
Janet Simpson 17
John Simpson 11

Best wishes
Jean

JustJean
Posts: 2520
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2004 12:52 am
Location: Maine USA

Re: The elusive Janet/Jessie Simpson

Post by JustJean » Thu Mar 04, 2010 1:28 am

Ok I'm back....home from work...had my supper and the dishes are not done!!

Is is possible that your George Simpson and family had all moved to England and won't be found in a Scottish census at all?

What about this family for example....

Name: Jessy Simpson
Age: 15
Estimated birth year: abt 1836
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: George
Mother's Name: Susannah
Gender: Female
Where born: Scotland

Civil parish: Conside and Knitsley
County/Island: Durham
Country: England



Registration district: Durham(Street Indexed)
Sub-registration district: Tanfield
ED, institution, or vessel: 6b
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 38
Household Members:
Name Age
George Simpson 35
Susannah Simpson 30
Jessy Simpson 15
Hannah Simpson 13
Mary Simpson 11
Rebecca Simpson 9
Thomas Simpson 7
James Simpson 5
John Simpson 2
Joseph Simpson 1 Mo

Jessy is born in Scotland as is her mother Susannah....George Simpson is a labourer....how far is Tanfield from Shincliffe????

Just tossing out maybes for you to look at........

Best wishes
Jean

JustJean
Posts: 2520
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2004 12:52 am
Location: Maine USA

Re: The elusive Janet/Jessie Simpson

Post by JustJean » Thu Mar 04, 2010 2:05 am

AHhhhh this one is looking better methinks....

1861 has Susannah and crew minus hubbie George (but she does state she is married...hmmmm)

ame: Susannah Timpson
[Susannah Simpson]
Age: 41
Estimated birth year: abt 1820
Relation: Head
Gender: Female
Where born: Scotland

Civil parish: Conside and Knitsley
County/Island: Durham
Country: England

Registration district: Durham
Sub-registration district: Lanchester
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 118
Household Members:
Name Age
Susannah Timpson 41
Mary Timpson 22
Elizh Timpson 18
Thos Timpson 18
John Timpson 11
Henry Timpson 7
James Timpson 1 4 Mo
William Fawliss 24
George Fawliss 1

BUT here is the real excitement....

1871
Name: Susannah Simpson
Age: 52
Estimated birth year: abt 1819
Relation: Head
Gender: Female
Where born: Dumbarton, Scotland
Civil parish: Cockerton
Ecclesiastical parish: St Paul
Town: Harrowgate Hill
County/Island: Durham
Country: England
Registration district: Darlington
Sub-registration district: Aycliffe
ED, institution, or vessel: 2g
Household schedule number: 159
Household Members:
Name Age
Susannah Simpson 52
Rebecca Simpson 27
John Simpson 20
Harry Simpson 16
Michael Niery 20
James Simpson 1
David Reece 22
Mary A Reece 21
Charles Reece 10 months

I'm thinking Susannah has all the right markings to be your mystery mum....now if we only could figure out her maiden name.....

Best wishes
Jean

JustJean
Posts: 2520
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2004 12:52 am
Location: Maine USA

Re: The elusive Janet/Jessie Simpson

Post by JustJean » Thu Mar 04, 2010 2:17 am

And so now I'm back with one final piece to toss in your lap....

Do we believe what the IGI submitter would have us believe..... Susannah's maiden name was SIMPSON??????

You'll find all these births recorded with parents named George SIMPSON and Susannah SIMPSON. Can it really be that simple??..............

22. JESSIE SIMPSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 1836 , , Scotland
23. REBECCA SIMPSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 1842 Sunderland, Durham, England
24. JAMES SIMPSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 1846 Sunderland, Durham, England
25. JOHN SIMPSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 1849 Sunderland, Durham, England
26. THOMAS SIMPSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 1844 Sunderland, Durham, England
27. MARY SIMPSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 1840 Sunderland, Durham, England
28. HANNAH SIMPSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 1838 Walker, Northumberland, England
29. JOSEPH SIMPSON - International Genealogical Index

Best wishes
Jean

JustJean
Posts: 2520
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2004 12:52 am
Location: Maine USA

Re: The elusive Janet/Jessie Simpson

Post by JustJean » Thu Mar 04, 2010 2:47 am

Here's the family in 1841 in England....just where Hannah's census birthplace predicted...township of "Walker"...just don't ask me to explain the Isabella bit..... :-

Name: George Simpson
Age: 25
Estimated birth year: abt 1816
Gender: Male

Civil parish: Long Benton
Hundred: Castle (East Division)
County/Island: Northumberland
Country: England

Registration district: Tynemouth
Sub-registration district: Long Benton
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
George Simpson 25
Isabella Simpson 20
Janet Simpson 3
Hannah Simpson 1

and now that we've learned from this census that George's occupation is what appears to be Shingler of Iron...well...I hate to say it but I think maybe they went their separate ways after 1851. The census shows Susannah to be Married...but there is also this fellow who is an Uncle to the head of household and also a "shingler of Iron" and claims he's a widower....

Name: George Simpson
Age: 48
Estimated birth year: abt 1813
Relation: Uncle
Gender: Male
Where born: Sheffield, Yorkshire, England

Civil parish: Whitworth
Ecclesiastical parish: Whitworth
County/Island: Durham
Country: England

Registration district: Auckland
Sub-registration district: Bishop Auckland
ED, institution, or vessel: 26
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 41
Household Members:
Name Age
Charles Strithing 30
Mary Strithing 23
George Simpson 48

Best wishes
Jean

ggrocott
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2006 11:49 am

Re: The elusive Janet/Jessie Simpson

Post by ggrocott » Thu Mar 04, 2010 6:25 pm

Wow, well that certainly gives me a whole new set of things to consider. Thank you so much. I had almost convinced myself that Janet/Jessie was the daughter of George Simpson and Jean Aitken but it looks as if I should think again!

Gill

JustJean
Posts: 2520
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2004 12:52 am
Location: Maine USA

Re: The elusive Janet/Jessie Simpson

Post by JustJean » Fri Mar 05, 2010 10:54 pm

Hi Gill

I hope you can find some sort of link between the Susannah and family and your Jessie after Jessie had left home and married. That would pretty much seal this with a nice little bow!! It's a shame that they never ventured over the border into Scotland again for a birth so that Susannah's maiden name could be confirmed. I hope you enjoy tracking down all these new folk looking for clues! Don't forget to come back and keep us informed if you have a massive breakthrough!!!

Best wishes
Jean

garibaldired
Posts: 642
Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2005 2:42 pm
Location: Dorset, UK

Re: The elusive Janet/Jessie Simpson

Post by garibaldired » Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:52 am

An English birth certificate should give the mother's maiden name and don't forget civil registration started in England Sept qtr 1837. Looking at www.freebmd.org.uk you should find some of them.

Best wishes,
Meg
Main family lines are Harpers from Midlothian, Fife & Kinross-shire, and Dobies/Dobbies from Midlothian. Also Strathearn, Stobie, Layden and Downie.

JustJean
Posts: 2520
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2004 12:52 am
Location: Maine USA

Re: The elusive Janet/Jessie Simpson

Post by JustJean » Sat Mar 06, 2010 2:53 pm

Thanks for the further clarification on that Meg.....I was too busy lamenting the fact that the information couldn't be readily viewed online as in on SP and made it sound like it couldn't be uncovered at all. If they act quickly a cert or two can still be obtained at the "cheap price" even!!!

Best wishes
Jean

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