1861 Census Help - Annie GILCHRIST …..

[Rockford]

I'm trying to find out where my 3 x great grandmother, Annie Gilchrist, was at the 1861 Census. Her husband, Archibald, a ploughman, is living at Cornbank Farm Cottages in Penicuik all by himself. Annie and the children Alexander (b1855, Pettinain), John (b1852, Pettinain) and Elizabeth (b1859, Temple, Midlothian) are nowhere to be seen. John's middle name was Gray and Elizabeth's middle name was Thorburn (which is how I found her in 1871). Annie was born in Dunsyre, but gave her birthplace as Carnwath in 1871.

I think she was born in 1836, although she is listed as 46 at the 1871 Census, when Archibald (now a shepherd!), Annie and Elizabeth had been reunited and were living in Currie. However, Archibald was listed as 47, when I know that he was born in 1830.

In 1871, Alexander is labouring on a farm in West Linton and I haven't looked for John yet.

There are a number of options on SP for Annie and the children in 1861 but I'm going to melt the plastic if I look at them all. Could some kind soul help me narrow the options?

Thanks

Brian

[JustJean]

Hi Brian

This looks like them in Peebleshire but the indexing is dreadful! It appears they were visitors in the household. The places of birth of Alexr 6, Elizabr 1, and a second? Alexr (or perhaps should be John?) age 10 all line up with the info you've provided.

'll leave it in your hands to find the corresponding image on SP.....

1861 Scotland Census
about Arne Gitorist
Name: Arne Gitorist
Age: 35
Estimated birth year: abt 1826
Relationship: Visitor
Gender: Female
Where born: Dunsine, Lanarkshire
Registration Number: 760
Registration district: Eddleston
Civil parish: Eddleston
County: Peeblesshire
Address: Milberton Cottage
Occupation: Plowman Wife
ED: 2
Page: 1 (click to see others on page)
Household schedule number: 2
Line: 11
Roll: CSSCT1861_138
Household Members: Name Age
Elizabr Giterist 1
Alexr Gitorist 10
Alexr Gitorist 6
Arne Gitorist 35
Elisa Gitorist 3
George Gitorist 9 Mo
Janet Gitorist 12
John Gitorist 8
Mary Gitorist 40
William Gitorist 37
Willm Gitorist 5

Best wishes
Jean

[AndrewP]

Hi Brian,

I don't see any obvious sign of the Annie and the children in 1861.

There is only one death in Scotland for a John Gray Gilchrist and his age is a good fit with the information you have. There is an Elizabeth Thorburn Gilchrist who died as a baby. She is the wrong age/year to be the one you are looking for, but is a possibility for a child of one of Annie's children.

All the best,

AndrewP

[AndrewP]

Hi Brian,

Following Jean's information above, they can be found on ScotlandsPeople as GILCRIST (no h in the middle). Use no first name (to get around spelling issues) and search for them in Eddleston, Peebles-shire.

All the best,

AndrewP

[joette]

The road between Eddlestone & Penicuik must have been a well used one as my ancestors flitted between the two in a way that I assumed they wouldn't.I always percieved them as being born,married & dying in the same wee villages.My Scotts& Veitches floated between the two & even married there but returned/moved to Penicuik to live.
I will have a trawl through my papers as these names seem familiar to me.I am sure I have come across them in my searching.

[Rockford]

=D>

Jean and AndrewP - thank you both so much for your help. She is indexed on SP as "Ame G Gilcrist" and I don't think I ever would have found her, as there so many hits even with Gilchrist spelled correctly. Mind you, with the handwriting on the census it's no wonder that the indexers didn't find it easy.

The family she and the weans are living with seem to be Archibald's eldest brother, William (b1824) about whom I knew nothing apart from the date of birth. So it's a double whammy finding Annie here.

AndrewP - I have death certificates for John Gray Gilchrist and Elizabeth Thorburn Gilchrist. John lived to the age of 71 (and is probably the one you found), and Elizabeth died young at only 37.

Joette - I know what you mean about the road being well worn. My great grandfather (Archibald Gilchrist's grandson) had at least six different residences in five different parishes during his working life and the Gilchrists as a whole never seem to be where you expect them at Census time! My 'connection' to Eddleston is really through my great great grandmother, Isabella Stark, who was born there in 1857. Having said that, her father, Thomas, was from Penicuik, so I suppose that proves your point!!

The other names I have that may be connected to the Peebles area are Farquharson, Cairns Dalling and Airlie, although some Gilchrists do seem to have settled there.

Thank you all again for your help. It's really appreciated.

[edit later: Joette, I've found a Mary Fraser (15) in the 1871 Census for West Linton, where she is working as a Domestic Servant in a house where one of my relations is also working. Mary was born in Temple Parish, Edinburgh. I notice you're collecting Frasers!]
Brian