The Wilsons of Fife

Wilson · Post by **Wilson** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 11:10 pm

Where should I look to determine when my great grandfather emigrated from Ireland between 1871 and 1875? Daniel Wilson settled in Saline, Fife.
With thanks
John

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 11:30 pm

Hi John
And welcome to Talking Scot

As far as I'm aware, there were no lists of passengers on boats from Ireland to UK, so you may not be able to put a precise date on his arrival. I'm guessing from what you have said that he is not showing on the 1871 census, and that you have found a marriage or the birth of a child around 1875 which places him in Saline?

I think only those longer voyages e.g. to America, are likely to have a chance of a passenger list or similar. Do you know what part of Ireland he came from, or is that also something you were hoping to establish?

Best wishes
Lesley

WilmaM · Post by **WilmaM** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:06 am

Was he married in Scotland or Ireland?
If the later then any children born in Scotland 'should' have the place and date of parent's marriage noted [though here are some years without that info] on thier Birth certificates.

You might strike lucky with the census returns and a county could be there instead of just 'Ireland'

Post by **SarahND** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:03 am

Hi John, and welcome.

Daughter Agnes, age 5 in 1881, was born in Dunfermline and daughter Annie, age 2 in 1881, was born in Saline. Looks like the marriage was in Dunfermline in 1875, so this is likely why John has that year as the latest one for his arrival. Unless there are some directories or other records of Daniel either in Ireland or Scotland during those years, it will be difficult to determine exactly when he came over. In the U.S. passport records, sometimes it is stated exactly how long the person has been in the country, and in the later census records, the exact year is supposed to be given. But... is there anything comparable in Scotland?

Regards,
Sarah

Wilson · Post by **Wilson** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:04 am

You are quite correct. There is no mention of him in the 1871 census. He was married to Martha Pollock in 1875 in Dunfermline. She was also born in Ireland.
I am trying to locate the origin in Ireland in order to pursue the research. I hoped that a passenger list would lead me there.

Kind regards
John

Post by **SarahND** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:14 am

Hi John,
I think we posted simultaneously!
Do you know if Daniel is related to the two other Wilson boys, born in Ireland, who were in Saline already in 1871? Alexr, born abt 1857 and John, born abt 1860, both farm servants.

Regards,
Sarah

Wilson · Post by **Wilson** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:33 am

Hi Sarah
Wow! This is certainly a busy site. And so helpful.
I hadn't thought of other siblings but I'll check that out. It might help to know all the family when looking in Ireland.

All the best
John

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:33 am

Hi Sarah

In the U.S. passport records, sometimes it is stated exactly how long the person has been in the country, and in the later census records, the exact year is supposed to be given. But... is there anything comparable in Scotland?

Not unless there is something similar in the 1911, but I don't remember reading about it.... such a pity there isn't, as it would have helped a lot of people with their research.

John - how long was Danel in Scotland and did he die here in Scotland? Have you found him in all the census years? Just sometimes the placename is mentioned rather then just "Ireland", so worth checking if you have not done so already.

This is sometimes a useful tool to determine where in Ireland are likely areas for a given surname:
http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/index.htm
But not a great help with Wilson!! They are all over the place! I've not looked it up, but I suspect Wilson is possibly a Scots or English name in origin in anycase, and they were possibly in Ireland as a result of the Plantation, but just a guess...there are many more Wilsons in the north of Ireland which would also suggest this.

Is your Daniel at the time of his marriage, (check first column of marriage entry) married in a Protestant or Catholic Church?

Best wishes
Lesley

speleobat2 · Post by **speleobat2** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:13 pm

Hi John and everyone,

I found Daniel and Martha on the 1891 Census, but only Daniel and two children on the 1901 Census so I went looking for Martha's death certificate. I have posted it on the gallery because I couldn't read Martha's mother's maiden name.

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-1778

Maybe someone else can help? This will give John a little more information if he didn't already have it.

Carol

Gallery URL added - AndrewP

Post by **AndrewP** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:30 pm

Hi Carol,

Thankfully Martha's marriage certificate is more legible. Her mother's maiden surname was Haston. It looks like the registrar at Saline at the time of her death started all of his words with a large flourish, so no wonder Haston was not obvious there.

All the best,

AndrewP