Family of John Proctor and Margaret Macrae

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isk
Posts: 22
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:13 pm

Family of John Proctor and Margaret Macrae

Post by isk » Tue Mar 30, 2021 9:43 pm

Good evening. I wonder if someone can please help me with information regarding the family of John Proctor and Margaret Macrae who married at Elgin on 5 November 1822. According to the Marriage Record he was a Private in the Royal Artillery. The first 2 children were Barbara Isabella Proctor born 21 August 1823 and John Grant Johnston Proctor born 25 November 1825. The 1851 census shows Margaret, a widow aged 50 living at 9 Collie Street, Elgin with John, aged 25, a Coach Builder, May, aged 15, born Toronto, Canada, a British Subject and Robert, aged 11, born Upper Canada, a British Subject. I cannot find Margaret in 1861 but by 1871 she is living at 229 High Street, Elgin aged 70 years. She died In Elgin in 1877 aged 82 years. All this information is taken from Scotland's People records.
I would be so grateful for any further information regarding John & Margaret's time in Canada.

Thank you in advance. isk

WilmaM
Posts: 1870
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 10:46 am
Location: Falkirk area

Re: Family of John Proctor and Margaret Macrae

Post by WilmaM » Wed Mar 31, 2021 9:56 am

I had a quick look on Ancestry's Military section:
UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Soldier Service Records, 1760-1920, had 1 of interest
Name: John Proctor
Enlistment Age: 21
Discharge Age: 40
Birth Date: abt 1800
Birth Place: Saint Andrew Moray
Enlistment Year: 1821
Discharge Year: 1840
Regiment: Royal Regt Of Artillery Sixth Battalion
Reference Number: WO 97 I can't view the original as I'm on a library account.

Another Chelsea list [Horse Artillery 1st - 6th Battalions 1814-1857] , 6th Battalion Artillery, has a John Proctor admitted 8th April 1940 residence Elgin [possibly Invernesshire ] died 27/8 [or 6] 1947 [there are figures below the death date]
The same date and battalion appears on another list, but no further details.
Lots of references to a John Proctor in Canadian Militia lists of the late 1830's, but no identifiable details and no mention of 6th Btn so likely another John Proctor.
That may be enough for some military folk or sites to glean more information for you.

I tried looking for May or Robert's births, but no joy [there are at least 2 May Proctors giving birth in Ontario which confuses things]
Wilma

WilmaM
Posts: 1870
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 10:46 am
Location: Falkirk area

Re: Family of John Proctor and Margaret Macrae

Post by WilmaM » Wed Mar 31, 2021 11:09 am

The OPR's on Scotlands people has a death of a 49 year old John Proctor 27/8/1847 at Elgin.
Which ties in, have you got that one?
Wilma

isk
Posts: 22
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:13 pm

Re: Family of John Proctor and Margaret Macrae

Post by isk » Wed Mar 31, 2021 9:16 pm

Good evening Wilma. Thank you for the military information and the reference to the OPR death record in 1847. I will certainly make further enquiries. I am very grateful for the information and your interest. isk

Currie
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Location: Australia

Re: Family of John Proctor and Margaret Macrae

Post by Currie » Fri Apr 02, 2021 9:25 am

While it is possible to pin down the location of a infantry regiment at any particular time the Royal Artillery were “everywhere” which is what their cap badge motto, “Ubique”, means. Because they were in a support role and in relatively few numbers they tended not to be mentioned much in the newspapers and suchlike.

However I did find some notices in the Elgin newspapers which may be of some use. Children who were born and died between censuses can easily be overlooked.

Elgin Courant, and Morayshire Advertiser, Thursday, December 31, 1852
MARRIAGES.
At 233 High Street, on the 24th inst, by the Rev. Adam Lind, Mr. John Proctor, coach-builder, to Jessie, eldest daughter of Mr. Thomas Ross, mason.

Elgin Courant, and Morayshire Advertiser, Friday, September 12, 1856
BIRTHS.
At 229 High Street, on the 8th inst., the wife of Mr John Proctor, coachbuilder, of a son.

Elgin Courant, and Morayshire Advertiser, Friday, January 2, 1857
DEATHS.
At 229 High Street, on the 27th ult., John, infant son of Mr John Proctor, coachbuilder.

Elgin Courant, and Morayshire Advertiser, Friday, March 19, 1858
DEATHS.
At 229 High Street, Elgin, on the 16th instant, Margaret, infant daughter of Mr John Proctor, coachbuilder, aged 5 months.

Elgin Courier, Friday, December 13, 1867
BIRTHS.
At 229 High Street, Elgin, on the 10th instant, the wife of Mr John Proctor, coachbuilder, of a son.

Elgin Courant, and Morayshire Advertiser, Friday, September 25, 1857
BIRTHS.
At 229, High Street, on the 17th instant, the wife of Mr J Proctor, coachbuilder, of a daughter.


Hope that’s useful,
Alan

AndrewP
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Re: Family of John Proctor and Margaret Macrae

Post by AndrewP » Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:36 am

The IGI's view (shown in blue text) of the family group that Alan found the births of:

Thomas Ross Proctor
** [baptism 31 December 1854, Elgin - Scotlands People (OPRs)]
** [died 1869, aged 14, Elgin - ScotlandsPeople]

John Proctor
birth: 8 September 1856; Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland, United Kingdom
father: John Proctor; mother: Jessie Ross

** [died 27 December 1856 - Alan's notes above]

Margaret Proctor
birth: 17 September 1857; Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland, United Kingdom
father: John Proctor; mother: Jessie Ross

** [died 16 March 1858 - Alan's notes above]

Jessie Shand Proctor
birth: 4 February 1859; Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland, United Kingdom
father: John Proctor; mother: Jessie Ross


[1861 census]
John Proctor (35), Jessie Ross (32), Thomas Ross Proctor (6), Jessie Shand Proctor (2)

Margaret Jane Proctor
birth: 28 February 1865; Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland, United Kingdom
father: John Proctor; mother: Jessie Ross


John Grant Johnston Proctor
birth: 10 December 1867; Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland, United Kingdom
father: John Proctor; mother: Jessie Ross


Isabella Munro Proctor
birth: 24 June 1869; Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland, United Kingdom
father: John Proctor; mother: Jessie Ross

** [died 1870 - ScotlandsPeople]

[1871 census]
John Proctor (45), Jessie Proctor (42), Jessie Proctor (12), Margaret Proctor (6), John G J Proctor (3)

[1881 census]
John Proctor (54), Jessie Proctor (51), Maggie C Proctor (16), John G J Proctor (13)

All the best,

AndrewP

isk
Posts: 22
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:13 pm

Re: Family of John Proctor and Margaret Macrae

Post by isk » Sat Apr 03, 2021 6:53 pm

Currie and Andrew P my sincere apologies for not responding earlier. I will check your information with what I already have. I cannot find Margaret Proctor m/s McCrae on the 1861 census though she does appear in Elgin in 1871 and dies there in 1877. The son, John G J Proctor, Coachbuilder, is the direct line for the tree I am building for a dear friend with a special birthday in July.
Again my apologies and my most sincere thanks for your information. isk

WilmaM
Posts: 1870
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 10:46 am
Location: Falkirk area

Re: Family of John Proctor and Margaret Macrae

Post by WilmaM » Sat Apr 03, 2021 7:21 pm

Is this perhaps her in 1861?
Piece: SCT1861/135 Place: Elgin -Morayshire Enumeration District: 2
Civil Parish: Elgin Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: Elgin Burgh
Folio: 0 Page: 11 Schedule: 62
Address: 229 High Street

Surname First name(s) Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
MCCRA Margaret Head W F 60 Laundress Inverness-shire - Urquhart 2 rooms

Found on freecen.
Ancestry has a lodger in her household
Name: Roderick Mcdonald Age: 40 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1821
Relationship: Lodger Gender: Male Where born: Inverness, Invernesshire
Registration Number: 135 Registration district: Elgin
Civil parish: Elgin County: Moray
Address: 229 High Street Occupation: Basket Maker
Scotlands people has the same spelling in the index.
Wilma

isk
Posts: 22
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:13 pm

Re: Family of John Proctor and Margaret Macrae

Post by isk » Sat Apr 03, 2021 10:37 pm

Wilma you are a genius, that sounds like her. I thought that I had tried every permutation of Proctor & McCrae. Thank you so very much. isk

runmerry
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Aug 01, 2008 6:52 pm
Location: Scotland

Re: Family of John Proctor and Margaret Macrae

Post by runmerry » Sat Apr 03, 2021 11:59 pm

Moray Heritage Centre at Elgin Library http://libindx.moray.gov.uk/mainmenu.asp has Margaret Proctor on file and
I see she has Poor Relief Records listed, they're a great source of information but I'm not sure how you could
access them at this time though the library is manned but not open to the general public yet, perhaps a phone call.

Regards
Jenny

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