Peter and Marion Carmichael

[Brian Holcroft]

Peter and Marion Carmichael born abt. 1735, were brother and sister and their father is quoted as James Carmichael a Dyer in Skirling.
Can anyone help me to find records of their births.
Patrick (peter) Carmichael married Katherine Plenderleith in Biggar, Skirling 1768.
Brian

[SarahND]

Hello Brian and
I'm not seeing any OPR births for them either in Skirling, Peebles or nearby Biggar, Lanark. Doesn't help that they are in different counties, although only 2.5 miles apart! It is often hit or miss with finding records this old, as it all comes down to 1) whether the children were actually baptized in the local church (there was no requirement to do so) and 2) whether the records still survive.
Tell us more about these people and how you came to know the approximate year and place of their births.

All the best,
Sarah

[paddyscar]

Hi Brian:

Have you checked Family Search http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/ ... _form=true?

You may be able to pick up some nearby places that may have been alternate christening sites close to Skirling.

Frances

[Brian Holcroft]

Hello Sarah,
I have been researching James Carmichael a clerk at the post and tax office Ednburgh b c. 1775 and died 1850.
It appears his sister was Lady Helen Halliday and their parents were Peter ( Patrick) Carmichael and Katherine Plenderleith married in 1768 Biggar Skirling
There are two wills for Peter C. a porter in Edinburgh/Leith.
In the second will there is a sister for Peter called Marion who married Andrew Fogo in Leith and she states that her father was James Carmichael a Dyer in Skirling.
I have therefore been trying to progress the family tree by searching for the births of Peter and Marion. The nearest for Marion born to James Carmichael of Drumablin and Christened at Biggar 1743, although there is mention of 6 other children there is no mention of Peter(Patrick).
When Peter Married Katherine the scots people record stated Biggar Parish Skirling, I thought Biggar was in Lanarkshire and Skirling was in Peebleshire was this different in 1700's?
Thanks for your comments.
Brian

[AndrewP]

Hi Brian,

The 1768 marriage (proclamation of banns) record from Skirling parish, Peebles-shire of Patrick Carmichaell (sic) and Katharine Plenderlieth (sic) refers to Patrick of Biggar parish and Katharine of this parish (Skirling). This record was of the proclamation of banns in Katharine's home parish. The should have been a similar record for the banns being called in Biggar parish for Patrick - that record, if it existed, may no longer survive. If the couple were not from the same parish, it was a requirement that the banns were called in both parishes to give both sets of parishoners the opportunity of saying if they knew of any lawful reason that either of the couple should not marry.

There is no inference there or on any of the old maps that I looked at on the NLS website that any parish or county boundaries moved between Biggar, Lanarkshire and Skirling Peebles-shire.

All the best,

AndrewP

[Brian Holcroft]

Hello Andrew
Your response clears up the mystery about Biggar and Skirling.
I have ordered LDS film for Biggar Parish 1700's and I am hopeful this will show both the Banns as you mention and also the christening records for Patrick(Peter) and Marion.
Fingers crossed.
I will advise how I get on.
Best Wishes
BRIAN

[Currie]

Hello Brian,

According to GROS’s “Detailed list of the old parochial registers of Scotland” published 1872, for Biggar: http://books.google.com.au/books?id=xic ... CEEQ6AEwAA

“M. Exc. a few entries, 1806-10, recorded among the B. for same period, there is no Register of Marriages before 1836."

Births look reasonable but watch for “Entries out of order of time of frequent occurrence throughout”.

All the best,
Alan