Deciphering help please

ellenavon · Post by **ellenavon** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:21 pm

Will try to upload birth cert of Robert Campbell 1855 to gallery - haen't done so for ages, so wish me luck!

Would appreciate your learned opinions as to:

Father John Campbell's Occupation, age and birthplace

Date in April 1844 of parent's marraige

What on earth is says after "1 girl".

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-1353

Many thanks in advance.

Ellen.

Gallery URL added - AndrewP

Post by **AndrewP** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:39 pm

Hi Ellen,

The only offerings I can make from that certificate are:

Child's place of birth: St Ninians
Parents' date and place of marriage: 11th April 1844, Stirling

I suggest that you complete a contact form on ScotlandsPeople explaining that much of the information is illegible. They should send you a photocopy from the register, which hopefully will be much clearer.

All the best,

AndrewP

Post by **Jean Jeanie** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:41 pm

Hi Ellen

I would hazard a guess at Occupation Merchant. Age 36. Birthplace is a mystery

Birthplace of the child is St Ninians.

Date of marriage looks like 11th April 1844.

What it says after "1 girl" I have no idea! Normally is states the number of children who are deceased. However I can't make this out at all.

Hopefully someone else will be along soon with some answers.

Best wishes
Jean

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:50 pm

I think the word after 1 girl is 'before'. It kind of looks like the one above in the register. Meaning she had 2 boys and 1 girl before this birth.

Regards,
Annette M

ellenavon · Post by **ellenavon** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:53 pm

Thanks for your input Andrew, I will send a contact form. Just being impatient!

Fitting in with what I know, I am reading John Campbell's occupation as Mercht, his age as either 30 or 36 - is the 0 the same as in Mary's 30, or is it a 6?, and his place of birth as Beith or Beath.

This man is driving me potty, but at least his age is a bit more realistic here than in the 1851 and 1861 censuses when he reckons he is 23 and 33 respectively! Age 30 or 36 in 1855 fits much better with the 1844 marraige, which fits with the age of their eldest son in 1851/1861 censuses.

In the 1851 he says he's born Glasgow, but in the 1861 he says Beath. I'm assuming (dangerous I know!) that means Beith, Ayrshire.

Oh well wil have to wait for the photocopy from SP!

Thanks anyway.

Ellen.

Post by **AndrewP** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:58 pm

nelmit wrote:I think the word after 1 girl is 'before'. It kind of looks like the one above in the register. Meaning she had 2 boys and 1 girl before this birth.

I agree with Anette that this word is probably "before". In the 1855 birth certificates it is often unclear if the count of children is including the one being registered on that certificate, or not. So this use of "before" removes the ambiguity.

All the best,

AndrewP

ellenavon · Post by **ellenavon** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:58 pm

Thaks Jean and Annette for your replies while I was typing!

Jean - merchant would be great - and fit in with his stated occupations in censuses, albeit the less grand "hawker of china". On his daughter's marraige cert he is described as China Merchant

Annette - before would make sense, as there are a son and a daughter I know of, plus a five year gap with a missing male child to fit the naming pattern, so this would all fit in nicely.

Thanks for all your interest.

Ellen.

Post by **Jean Jeanie** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 11:06 pm

Hi Ellen

"Before" looks great

I was so intent on trying to see "Deceased" that I couldn't see the wood for the trees

Best wishes
Jean

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 11:18 pm

Hi Ellen,

If this is him in 1881 (did he marry again?) he says Bar, Ayrshire - so 2 strikes for Ayrshire!

Dwelling: Main St
Census Place: St Ninians, Stirling, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203544 GRO Ref Volume 488-1 EnumDist 7 Page 18
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
John CAMPBELL M 55 M Bar, Ayr, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Hawker
Mary CAMPBELL M 40 F Culross, Perth, Scotland
Rel: Wife
Thomas Easson CAMPBELL 8 M Calder, Stirling, Scotland
Rel: Son
Annie CAMPBELL 5 F Campsie, Stirling, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Janet CAMPBELL 3 F Ardoch, Perth, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Charles CAMPBELL 1 M St Ninians, Stirling, Scotland
Rel: Son
James CAMPBELL 54 M Stirling, Stirling, Scotland
Rel: Boarder
Occ: Basket Maker

Regards,
Annette M

StewL · Post by **StewL** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 1:18 am

My two bobs worth

Mercht
Age 36
Beath?

M 11Th? April 1844 Stirling
2 boys
1 Girl
1 Girl (this is deceased child?)