Bigamist or not.....

[Skene Dhu]

Hi all,

Can anyone tell me how this one should be handled

Whilst researching the Connacher`s in Scotland, I came across this character John Connacher, b. 2 Jan 1807 in Cumbernauld, a Tailor to trade.

He first married Elizabeth Wood on the 31 May 1825 in Lambert, Stirling, and had the following children:-
Mary Ann, b. circa 1831, David b. circa 1833, John b. 1834, Helen b. 1836, Alexander b. 1838, Thomas b. 1840, Charles b. 1843,.

He then married Jean Watt on the 6 Aug 1854 at Larbert, Stirling, and had the following children:-
Jean Graham b. 1860, Robert & James b. 1861 and Catherine b. 1865.

The problem arises when I found that John and Elizabeth Wood had a daughter Jane (Jean) Connacher b. 1 Sep 1857 in Clyde, Glasgow, 3 years after he married Jean Watt, and there is no death cert. for Elizabeth Connacher (m.s. Wood) after 1857.

When John died on the 26 Mar 1878 at Newington, Edinburgh, his death cert stated married to (1) Elizabeth Wood (2) Jean Watt.

Anyone got an answer or should I change ma name by Deed Poll.

John

Researching Connacher, Conacher, Greig, Stewart, Innes, Blackley, Borthwick, Boswall, Hutchison, Boyd, Cowie, Jappy, Sutherland, Rose, Mackie, Scantlebury, Laird, Forsyth, Colburn, Frew, Kay and many more

[WilmaM]

Are you certain that :

1. JANE CONNACHER
Birth: 01 SEP 1857 Clyde, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland

was born to the same couple? the mother is noted as Eliza Wood on that birth.

Have you looked at that birth certificate on Scotlands People to see if there is a date for the parent's marriage?

[Andy]

Possiblity that he was "Wetting the Baby's head" before reporting the birth and got his wife's name wrong.

[Jack]

Hi John,
I'd similar thoughts to Andy! John just forgetting who he was married to...
Have you found John Connacher & 2nd wife Jean Watt in the 1861 census? With wee Jane born 1857?
If she isn't with them, then check for a DC 1857-1861?
Jack

[JustJean]

Hi John

You have my sincerest sympathies!! What a difficult family to pin down!!! From such an easy start in 1841 I can't find them in 1851...can't find them in 1861...and then 1871 is fine. From lining up all the places of birth of the kids and the marriages etc. I too am agreeing with the experts here that John was forgetting who he was married to when registering the 1857 birth. All my attempts at proving his first wife was dead though have failed. I've looked for censuses....I've looked for the a marriage of one of his first lot of offspring.....and yes I've even looked for the death of wee Jane and all I've done is waste credits

Best wishes
Jean

[JustJean]

A new development.....finally found a 2nd marriage for one of the early kiddies.....David.....in 1870 in which he states his father is deceased which is not correct at that time....and in which he states his mother is not.....hmmmmmmm....

Unfortunately his first marriage occured in 1854

Best wishes
Jean

[JustJean]

It's nae lookin' guid for ol' John Connacher .....according to Helen's MC in 1861 both her parents were still alive

Best wishes
Jean

[Skene Dhu]

Thanks all,

To Wonka2 & JustJean, sorry I should have mentioned that I have all the certificates, birth death and marriages for this side of the clan its on http://wc.rootsweb.com/~108at016 its just that the dates puzzled me for the two marriages, I was hoping to find a connection with my lot on http://wc.rootsweb.com/~jc011c9687 but ah well I suppose thats what makes the world go round

I wonder what the family will think of ma new name JOCK TAMSON

John

[Jack]

Hi John,
The most likely place for John CONNACHER & Jean WATT in 1861 would seem to be Greenock,
so i'm supposing you already have them in that year?
Just curiousity; was wee Jane born 1857 with them as a daur?

Is this 3 of John's children in Glasgow? and if so then Helen's hubby Donald Campbell doesn't seem to be with her.
Not sure if it's only the 3 of them in the house, but you very probably already have this too!
(this was the name order in the index)
--
1861 cens 644-5 Ed 62 p 6 (Clyde)
Thomas CONACHER, 21, b Muthill, PER
Alexander CONACHER, 22, b Muthill, PER
Helen CAMPBELL, 23, b Muthill, PER
--
Jack

[Skene Dhu]

Hi Jack,

Jane Connacher was born 1 Sep 1857 at Clyde, Glasgow, 9:00 p.m. at 46 Jamacia St., Glasgow, and died 3 Jan 1859 at Anderston, Glasgow, 1:00 a.m. at Bothwell St., Anderston. The parents are registered as John Connacher, a Tailor and Elizabeth Wood.

Unfortunately John is not on the 1841, 1851 and 1861 censuses.

His first 7 children to Elizabeth Wood were born in Fowls & Muthill, Perth, then Jane was born in Clyde.

His 4 children born to Jean Watt were born in Greenock, Clyde, and the last one was born in Nairn.

His Marriages were (1) 1825, Larbert Stirling (2) 1854, Larbert Stirling, so he`s well travelled throughout Scotland, probably with a Sherriff Officer on his tail.

John