Another sad success story (Stewart/Campbell)

[csa]

I had been finding it impossible to track down my great great grandmother who had been recorded on her daughter Elizabeth's marriage and death certificates as Agnes Stewart (Campbell) deceased.

By chance I searched under her maiden name Campbell and found her death certificate. She died in 1867 shortly after childbirth and her daughter Elizabeth Stewart was brought up by her (Elizabeth's) father (Daniel Stewart from Grantown) and her grandmother (Elizabeth Forsyth from Inverness or Dingwall) .

I was able to confirm via a very helpful Lothian Health Services archivist that Agnes was unmarried and a domestic servant and that Daniel and his mother agreed to bring up the baby. Agnes had been a patient at the Royal Edinburgh Maternity hospital. At that time puerperal fever was a common cause of death after child birth, affecting 20% of women.

I am very keen to trace Daniel's mother Elizabeth Forsyth who was born in 1813.

[claudette]

Hi

Welcome to Talking Scot. I hope you enjoy being a member as much as I do.

How do you know that Elizabeth Forsyth was born in 1813 and that she was from Inverness or Dingwall?

Presumably Forsyth was her maiden name?

It's always helpful to know where you have already searched.

Best wishes
Claudette

[csa]

Hi Claudette

Great to hear from you-my first reply!

You were right to pick me up on Elizabeth's birth year. I have tracked her down on 5 consecutive censuses ( 1851-1891 ) with estimated year of birth between 1812/1814/1816/1816/1814 . So actually 1813 is wrong!

Her place of birth also varies with each census ( Inverness / Inverness /Dingwall Rosshire/ Inverness/ Grantown)

I found out Elizabeth Stewart's maiden name from Alexander Stewart's (her husband and Daniel's father) death certificate.

Thanks again. I am very new to this family history business, so very pleased to get any advice.

Carolyn

[claudette]

Hi Carolyn

It's not surprising that you could only find Agnes's death certificate by looking under her maiden name, as you said she wasn't married! It's perfectly possible that Elizabeth never ever knew that her parents weren't married when she was born.

I've just found out that my great-great-grandfather wasn't born in June 1798 like it says on his headstone. Nor was he born in Kirkcaldy like it says in the census. He was actually born in March 1797 in Eskdalemuir and his mother didn't get married until several months later! I reckon he never knew the truth about his birth - or if he did, then he kept it very quiet!

As regards Elizabeth - where have she and Daniel been living when you've found them on all the different censuses?

Have you looked for her marriage to Alexander Stewart at all? Also what about Daniel's birth - do you have information on that?

Lots of questions I'm afraid, but it often helps to put you onto a different track.

We're all very friendly here on TS and I hope that between us we can help you find out more.

Of course, you are searching in the times when BMD registration wasn't compulsory, so it depended on whether your ancestors were church goers and if so, then which church they attended.

Forgot to ask - what about Elizabeth's death certificate? If you've got that, it should tell you her age.

Best wishes
Claudette

[AnneM]

Actually I think your Elizabeth was abducted by aliens as I can see no sign of her death. Have you found any trace whether in South Leith where she was in 1891 or anywhere else.

In addition do you know where Daniel disappears off to after 1891 as I can't see him in 1901 or find a death for him.

Anne

[csa]

Hi Claudette and Anne

Many thanks.

Just to recap as there are two Elizabeth Stewarts which is confusing.

Elizabeth Stewart (Forsyth), born (1812-1816) somewhere in the Highlands and Daniel, born (abt 1832) in Grantown (no record of baptism), lived in Leith for all 5 censuses. In 1851/61 they lived with Alexander (Elizabeth's husband born 1805, died 1863) and Daniel's younger brother George (born Peterhead abt. 1834); and then (in 1871/81/91) they lived with Daniel's daughter Elizabeth (married name Johnstone). No sign of brother George after 1861 census where he was recorded as seaman (merchant lewice [?])

Yes Anne, I can't get any info re Elizabeth Stewart's (Forsyth) baptism / marriage/ death and Daniel's baptism/death/wherabouts beyond the 1891 census. My grandmother (who I think never met Daniel) also said he was in the Black Watch, however he seemed to be living with his mother continuously after Elizabeth was born. Maybe he went away for short spells in the army. He was a cooper journeyman as was his father Alexander.

I would also like to find out more about George. Anne do you have any thoughts. I understand there may be relevant records at Rosemount library, Aberdeen?

I have been using Ancestry and Scotland's People on line data bases. I also visited Grantown museum (Dr Dixon very helpful) to search (unsuccessfully) for record of Daniel's baptism and his mother's marriage. Any other suggestions?

Very best wishes

Carolyn

[AnnieMack]

Hi Caroline - the term you couldn't get is probably service as that is what the merchant navy is known as.

Annie

[csa]

Many thanks Annie. Must have been wrongly spelt .
Best wishes
Carolyn

[claudette]

Hi Carolyn

Have you tried using wild cards for any of your searches on Scotlands People, especially for the deaths?

Also for Daniel's individual service records (if indeed he was in the Black Watch) you can try writing to

Public Record Office
Ruskin Avenue
Kew
Richmond
Surrey
W9 4DU

I don't know if they charge anything and they probably take months to reply but it's a way of trying to verify whether he was in the Black Watch or not.

Also have you tried the Aberdeen and NE Scotland Family History Centre? According to their website, they have a Research Centre at 158-164 King Street, Aberdeen, which is open 6 days a week. It might be worth going through them to search for Elizabeth Forsyth to see if she was born in Grantown.

There's also a Highland Family History Society with a website. They have a library open on Tuesdays.

You might have no joy continuing your research with either of these societies, but at least they are other places to try!

Good luck!

Keep us up to date with how you get on.

Best wishes
Claudette

[csa]

Hi Claudette

Thanks

I have already phoned the Public Records Office. They were very helpful and suggested that it would be cheaper to get an independent researcher (listed on their site) to search their records, rather than use their own.
I was quoted £20 per hour plus expenses as the going rate. I think I will wait until I am "down south" later in the year.

I was aware of the Family HIstory Resource centre in Aberdeen and I must pay them a visit.

I haven't tried the Highland Family History Society.

Thank you again for all your help Claudette.

I shall be taking some time out from family history searching for a few days as I am off to my parents with new family history info for my mother.

Best wishes
Carolyn