decipher 1871

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:25 pm

Me again with a pretty poor 1871 census.

I spent my last 5 credits trying to find Thomas Mackay the father of illegitimate Catherine Munro.

Obviously I'll be sending a contact form but can anyone rise to the challenge of deciphering this chap's occupation and place of birth? I'd be interested to see what Ancestry say too.

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-1456

Kind regards,
Annette M

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:36 pm

I've just realised that I was looking at the wrong person. Thomas has no occupation.

A very frustrated,
Annette

Post by **AndrewP** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 2:47 pm

Hi Annette,

The one I read as Thomas McKay on that page is the last (fifth) person in the fourth household. He is listed as age 32, an unmarried boarder, and his occupation could be seaman ______ _____, and I think he was from Wick.

I cannot find him on Ancestry, even after trying by some of the other illegible names on this page. I am assuming Ancestry used a copy of the same microfilm as is used on SP, so after their processing, it more likely came out something more resembling Morse Code.

All the best,

AndrewP

Post by **SarahND** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 8:51 pm

I think I found the page on Ancestry

Never mind... Whoever or whatever transcribed this can't even do it as well as we can with this poor copy. Most of the entries are either blank, or festooned with question marks. If I'm reading it correctly, the only thing they were sure about that entry was that the relation to head of household was "daughter". Now surely anyone can tell which column the age is in, even if the age itself is hard to decipher?

For example, on line 10 they have:
Name: Aldine
Age: 44
Relationship: Son,
Occupation: Black Men ??

Two lines above Thomas is clearly a brother, age 42, a brush maker. Ancestry has a no-name boarder with the occupation: "Wms Saker??"

So in other words... no point in asking Ancestry about this one!

Look forward to hearing if you can get a better image!
All the best,
Sarah

speleobat2 · Post by **speleobat2** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 9:29 pm

I think it would be interesting to send that page out in Morse Code and see what happens!?

You really drew a doozy with this one, but I think the words after Seaman are Merchant Marine. I tried finding a couple of the other families but got nowhere with that so I went to SP and looked for Ann Munro in 1871. I thought maybe she was living on a street that would give us a clue to the McKay street, but it isn't obvious.

Ann Munro was living at 163 Skene St. as a servant for John Erskine and family in 1871. Ancestry has her name as Murrey! Anyway, John Erskine's occupation was Seaman Tailor. Could be Ann met Thomas McKay when he came to buy a uniform?

Carol

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:29 am

Hello Andrew, Sarah and Carol,

I told you it was challenging.

I was looking at the correct person the first time Andrew but later saw his age as 52 and decided he was further up the page.
I don't think it's even worth sending a contact form by the sound of Ancestry's attempts but will to satisfy your curiosity Sarah.
I will never know if this is the right Thomas or not as in 1875 my chap was a comb maker.
I like the idea of him going to the tailor's shop for a uniform

you're as big a romantic as me Carol.

I'll let you know the outcome of the contact form.

Thanks all,
Annette M

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 4:30 pm

Thought you'd like to see the result of my contact form - received within an hour of sending I may add.

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-1458

Do you think a naval rescue seaman would become a comb maker within 4 years????

Kind regards,
Annette M

ROY M · Post by **ROY M** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:31 pm

Hi Annette,
It's Seaman-Naval Reserve, which I think was seamen who had left the regular navy but were kept in reserve for times of need a bit like the Terratorial Army. There is still a Naval Reserve today.
What a difference between the two scans.
Hope this helps.

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 7:41 pm

ROY M wrote:Hi Annette,
It's Seaman-Naval Reserve, which I think was seamen who had left the regular navy but were kept in reserve for times of need a bit like the Terratorial Army. There is still a Naval Reserve today.
What a difference between the two scans.
Hope this helps.

I see reserve now Roy, thanks.

Yes, my ex was in the reserve after leaving the Royal Navy(can't remember now how many years you could be called upon).

That puts a different light on Thomas as he would probably have had to get a 'regular job' at some point. I can't find him in 1881 though, perhaps he went back to the sea.

Regards,
Annette M

Archiver · Post by **Archiver** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 12:17 am

On the subject of comb making, it was big business in Aberdeen - the largest comb factory was there! David Stewart, who was Provost of Aberdeen from 1889 - 1895 was the owner of the comb factory on Hutcheon Street (it's now PC World). Unfortunately, though his family papers survive there are no records of the business itself. So it would be quite likely that he took up comb making as an occupation to keep him going!