help me trace Ann Forbes

[douglas]

Ann Forbes married Archibald Davidson in 1873. Her age on marriage cert is 28 and she was then resident in Juniper Green. Marriage cert shows father as William Forbes and Mother as Helen Paul.

Later census show her as born in Edinburgh and suggest a birth year of around 1847.

I was hoping that cenuses before 1871 may point me to any siblings or birth places of parents however I cant find her in 1851, 1861 or 1871 census.

Can anyone help.

Douglas

[SarahND]

Hello, Douglas.
How's this for 1851?

1851
19 North Street, Aberdeen North
Helen Forbes, 37, Head, born Keith, Banffshire, Formerly Servant
Helen Forbes, 6, Daughter, born Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scholar
Ann Forbes, 4, Daughter, born Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scholar
James Forbes, 10 Mo, Son, born Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire

All the best,
Sarah

[SarahND]

She might well be this one in 1861:

1861
24 Albyn Pl, Old Machar, Aberdeenshire
William C Hunter, 59, Head, born Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Proprietor of Land
Rachel C Hunter, 58, Wife, born Halifax, Nova Scotia, Wife of Proprietor
Margaret C Hunter, 21, Daughter, born Foveran, Aberdeenshire
John Harvey, 16, Grandson, born Old Rayne, Aberdeenshire, scholar
Rachel Harvey, 15, Grandaughter, born Old Rayne, Aberdeenshire, Scholar
Helen Christie, 48, Servant, born Rathven, Banffshire, Domestic Serv
Ann Gordon, 28, Servant, born Marnoch, Banffshire Domestic Serv
Jessie Rae, 32, Servant, born Newhills, Aberdeenshire, Domestic Serv
Ann Forbes, 14, Servant, born Edinburgh, Domestic Serv

Here's the rest of the family:

1861
Hardgate, Old Machar, Aberdeenshire
Hellen Forbes, 47, Head, born Ruthven, Banffshire, Laundress
Hellen Forbes, 16, Daughter, born Aberdeen, Factory
James Forbes, 10, Son, born Aberdeen

Not sure what happened to William. It would help to find him if you could tell us what his occupation was supposed to be on the marriage cert. Were both of her parents deceased at her marriage?

Regards,
Sarah

[douglas]

Sarah

Thanks for this.

On Ann's marriage cert, William's occupation was shown as Mechanical engineer. He was shown as deceased but Helen was not.

Douglas

[nelmit]

I believe Sarah has the correct family but it's proving difficult to find them in 1871. I wonder if this is Ann's daughter who appears in the 1881 census.

JANE ANN DRYDEN FORBES

06 MAY 1868 Saint Nicholas, Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland

Parents:
Mother: ANN FORBES

I'm hoping the address on the birth entry may help to find her in 1871.

Later......................definitely the right family as here is Jane (Jessie) with her gran in 1891 at St Nicholas -

Helen Forbes 75
Helen Forbes 45
Jessie Ann Davidson 22

Regards,
Annette

[douglas]

More is now becoming clearer. I often wondered about Jane in the 1881 census but this is now explained by the illegitimate birth.

It's also interesting that Jane was living with her grannie in 1891. I dont think I's ever have found that.

Now the mystery of 1871 remains and whatever happened to William!

Douglas

[SarahND]

Hi all,
What do you think of these two, who were on adjacent streets in Aberdeen in 1841. Could William's profession either have been misrepresented on the marriage cert, or changed over time?

Helen is in a house full of interestingly different people:

1841
Loch Street, Aberdeen West
Elisabeth Walson, 20, born Scotland, Dress Maker
Robert Hunter, 2, born Scotland
Helen Paul, 15, born Scotland
Margaret Durn, 25, born Aberdeenshire, Midwife
Margaret Durn, 8, born Aberdeenshire
David Durn, 6, born Aberdeenshire
James Collie, 40, born Aberdeenshire, Cooper J
Elsia Collie, 35, born Scotland
John Beathe, 35, born Aberdeenshire, Mason J
Helen Beathe, 35, born Aberdeenshire
Haneth Beathe, 11, born Aberdeenshire
Margaret Beathe, 9, born Aberdeenshire
Helen Beathe, 7, born Aberdeenshire
John Beathe, 4, born Aberdeenshire

And William is (depending on exactly where on George St this house was) very close to Helen indeed, according to Google Maps:

1841
Geo St, Aberdeen West
George Forbes, 45, born Aberdeenshire, Porter
Jeant Dean, 41, born Aberdeenshire
Barbra Forbes, 15, born Aberdeenshire
William Forbes, 15, born Aberdeenshire, Ap Sh Maker
Jean Forbes, 10, born Aberdeenshire
Margt Forbes, 6, born Aberdeenshire
Elsie Forbes, 1, born Aberdeenshire

Something to think about, anyway.
Cheers,
Sarah

[douglas]

It certainly looks like William's occupation changed over time.

Helen's death certificate in 1895 shows her as widow of William Paul, shoemaker (journeyman). Quite a change from Mechanical engineer.

Douglas

[SarahND]

Helen's death certificate in 1895 shows her as widow of William Paul, shoemaker (journeyman).

So maybe that was him in 1841! (I assume you mean William Forbes, not William Paul, as above...)

In that case, I think this is the family, all but Elsie born in Old Meldrum. This is all from the IGI:

George Forbes married Jean Den 10 Jun 1820 in Old Meldrum


George Forbes
Christening: 12 Apr 1820 Old Meldrum
Father: George Forbes
Mother: Jean Den

Barbara Forbes
Christening: 22 May 1822 Old Meldrum
Father: George Forbes

James Forbes
Christening: 26 Dec 1824 Old Meldrum
Father: George Forbes

William Forbes
Christening: 19 Feb 1826 Old Meldrum
Father: George Forbes

Thomas Forbes
Christening: 13 Oct 1828 Old Meldrum
Father: George Forbes

Jane Forbes
Christening: 7 Mar 1832 Old Meldrum
Father: George Forbes

Margaret Ann Forbes
Christening: 25 Jan 1835 Old Meldrum
Father: George Forbes

Elsy Forbes
Christening: 27 Oct 1837 Saint Nicholas, Aberdeen
Father: George Forbes
Mother: Jane Dean

Someone on Ancestry has this family in their tree, but the only child they follow forward is Thomas.

Regards,
Sarah

P.S. Who are Helen's parents given in her death cert?

[douglas]

Sarah

Thanks for all this info.

Yes, sorry, I should have said widow of William Forbes.

Helen's death cert showed her parents as John Paul, joiner (journeyman) and Helen Stewart.

Douglas