Just had a computer crash and lost some of my data. Have been searching for my connection to Thomas The Doughty Dickson but so far have failed. I was starting with me and working my way back but now need to do the other angle and start with Thomas Dickson and try working my way forward however I now dont have any dates for him. Can somebody help me out here please
Thanks
Gloria
Thomas 'the doughty' Dickson.....
Moderator: Global Moderators
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gloryer
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- Location: england
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CatrionaL
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- Location: Scottish Borders
Hello Gloryer
A computer crash! Nasty! I can just hear the experts on the Forum and those who've had a similar experience to you saying "BACKUPS" !!!! I guess that after what happened, we don't have to remind you.
I got excited when a Google revealed your Thomas. Unfortuanately, it was on the Scotlands People Discussion Group and there is no access to that anymore.
However, could you give us some idea datewise? Even the century or the number of generations back from you. Perhaps you remeber a place connected with him, or the name of those close to him.
Let us have anything at all that you remember in connection with Thomas.
Thanks.
Catriona
A computer crash! Nasty! I can just hear the experts on the Forum and those who've had a similar experience to you saying "BACKUPS" !!!! I guess that after what happened, we don't have to remind you.
I got excited when a Google revealed your Thomas. Unfortuanately, it was on the Scotlands People Discussion Group and there is no access to that anymore.
However, could you give us some idea datewise? Even the century or the number of generations back from you. Perhaps you remeber a place connected with him, or the name of those close to him.
Let us have anything at all that you remember in connection with Thomas.
Thanks.
Catriona
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gloryer
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Wed Aug 24, 2005 8:29 am
- Location: england
He was famous for his part in a battle at Douglas. I di hire the book from my local library. 'Castle Dangerous' by Sir Walter Scott which he features in. Thats the problem I dont have any dates for him. My ggrandfather James Dickson McKerrow was named after him so he is pre 1867 as that is his birth year. It is said that my connection comes from James mpaternal grandmother but I am unable to make a connection there as I have a different name to the one that needs to tie us in. James paternal grandmother I have was born 1812 so Thomas Dickson would have been around before then.
And yes I know about backing up my data. I do have my tree backed up but it was just the info about Thomas that I am missing. Somebody did a search on scotlandspeople and said that there were only a couple of possibilities and then work my way forward. That seems okay if each generation only had a couple of kids but I fear that not to be true!!
Any help would be great
Thanks
GLoria
And yes I know about backing up my data. I do have my tree backed up but it was just the info about Thomas that I am missing. Somebody did a search on scotlandspeople and said that there were only a couple of possibilities and then work my way forward. That seems okay if each generation only had a couple of kids but I fear that not to be true!!
Any help would be great
Thanks
GLoria
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AndrewP
- Site Admin
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- Location: Edinburgh
Hi Gloria,
Working your way forward is difficult with ScotlandsPeople unless you are researching an unusual name, or a small rural parish. Without these, you need a good knowledge of the names to expect, but you will still spend a lot of money viewing certificates that you find not to be the ones you were seeking.
For births up to 1875, the online IGI is a useful tool, particularly good for 1855 to 1875, where the births were extracted from the civil records. The unique search yo have there is the parent search. Normally all you need to enter are the names of the two parents, and British Isles as the region. That should return the children born to that couple.
All the best,
Andrew Paterson
Working your way forward is difficult with ScotlandsPeople unless you are researching an unusual name, or a small rural parish. Without these, you need a good knowledge of the names to expect, but you will still spend a lot of money viewing certificates that you find not to be the ones you were seeking.
For births up to 1875, the online IGI is a useful tool, particularly good for 1855 to 1875, where the births were extracted from the civil records. The unique search yo have there is the parent search. Normally all you need to enter are the names of the two parents, and British Isles as the region. That should return the children born to that couple.
All the best,
Andrew Paterson
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Davie
- Posts: 607
- Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2005 4:36 pm
- Location: Glasgow
Greetin’s Gloria.
I am new on this board as well.
Everyone has been great since i signed on, and I have learned more here than on any other site of this kind.
There are so many people willing to help.
And as Andrew P says, you are better working your way back,
As for “ Castle Dangerous” it is a work of fiction, which is set in the 14th century.
I would hae ma doots if any person called Doughty Dickson ever existed.
Mind you Watty did write aboot Rob Roy as well.
I have a few nice sets of the Waverley Novels, they do not sell for very much, but look nice on yer shelves.
Awrabest
Davie
I am new on this board as well.
Everyone has been great since i signed on, and I have learned more here than on any other site of this kind.
There are so many people willing to help.
And as Andrew P says, you are better working your way back,
As for “ Castle Dangerous” it is a work of fiction, which is set in the 14th century.
I would hae ma doots if any person called Doughty Dickson ever existed.
Mind you Watty did write aboot Rob Roy as well.
I have a few nice sets of the Waverley Novels, they do not sell for very much, but look nice on yer shelves.
Awrabest
Davie
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AndrewP
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6189
- Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2004 1:36 am
- Location: Edinburgh
Davie,
As much as Castle Dangerous is classed as a work of fiction, is it not fiction based around historical characters and legends. Hence its classification as a historical novel. On that basis, I wouldn't dismiss Gloria's research as leading to fiction.
Have a read at http://www.electricscotland.com/webclan ... glases.htm for some background information.
Gloria, as these people are over 500 years back, I wish you all the luck going to prove family lines going back that far. Most people do well to reach 250 years back.
All the best,
Andrew Paterson
As much as Castle Dangerous is classed as a work of fiction, is it not fiction based around historical characters and legends. Hence its classification as a historical novel. On that basis, I wouldn't dismiss Gloria's research as leading to fiction.
Have a read at http://www.electricscotland.com/webclan ... glases.htm for some background information.
Gloria, as these people are over 500 years back, I wish you all the luck going to prove family lines going back that far. Most people do well to reach 250 years back.
All the best,
Andrew Paterson
Last edited by AndrewP on Thu Aug 25, 2005 5:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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JimM
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2005 4:11 pm
- Location: Scotland
Hi Gloria
I agree with Davie and Andrew that it is very difficult in searching forward, there is the possibility that you could spend a lot of time and money and find there is no connection.
You say that James' paternal grandmother was born in 1812 - so trying to make the link to someone born in the 1400s will be very difficult, and scotlandspeople do not have records that go back to this period.
There was an interesting post on the OPR's forum - "tracing back with OPR records", this explains the difficulties of searching back to the 1400s.
Good luck
Jim
I agree with Davie and Andrew that it is very difficult in searching forward, there is the possibility that you could spend a lot of time and money and find there is no connection.
You say that James' paternal grandmother was born in 1812 - so trying to make the link to someone born in the 1400s will be very difficult, and scotlandspeople do not have records that go back to this period.
There was an interesting post on the OPR's forum - "tracing back with OPR records", this explains the difficulties of searching back to the 1400s.
Good luck
Jim
researching
McIntyre, Menzies, Cowley, Pearson, Copland, McCammond, Forbes, Edgar etc. in Scotland
Skinner in Northumberland
McIntyre, Menzies, Cowley, Pearson, Copland, McCammond, Forbes, Edgar etc. in Scotland
Skinner in Northumberland
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Davie
- Posts: 607
- Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2005 4:36 pm
- Location: Glasgow
(It is guid when yer admin, an' kin correct yer wee typin' errors.
Castle Douglas indeed!)
I do want to get into a literary debate with you Andrew.
(weel ah dae really)
I would love to meet a single person who is actually related to anyone in a Scott Novel.
I am sure you know the old adage “Never let the facts get in the way of a good story”.
You just have to look at the mince that the media are churning out this month on Wallace.
There are people living on this planet truly think they are related to him.
The problem for people who do not read up on their history, is they believe the novelists like Scott, McCrone, Fraser. etc.
The movies are a darn sight worse, Braveheart being the prime example, and I have a dozen like it in my collection.
Elizabeth, Gunpowder Treason and Plot, Cromwell, To Kill a King, Rob Roy, Kidnapped (3 versions) including the one with Michael Caine “Ah’m ah no a bonny fichter Davie” plus several more.
It is bad enough the Colonials believing in the Wallace and McGregor myths, but it awfy that half of Scotland are also taken in with them.
And Gloria,
If ye want tae know anything on the Douglas family or history, just go onto Tartans and ask Liz Doyle, she is the expert on them, and the Lassie is frae Tennessee!
A Douglas A Douglas
Awrabest Davie
Castle Douglas indeed!)
I do want to get into a literary debate with you Andrew.
(weel ah dae really)
I would love to meet a single person who is actually related to anyone in a Scott Novel.
I am sure you know the old adage “Never let the facts get in the way of a good story”.
You just have to look at the mince that the media are churning out this month on Wallace.
There are people living on this planet truly think they are related to him.
The problem for people who do not read up on their history, is they believe the novelists like Scott, McCrone, Fraser. etc.
The movies are a darn sight worse, Braveheart being the prime example, and I have a dozen like it in my collection.
Elizabeth, Gunpowder Treason and Plot, Cromwell, To Kill a King, Rob Roy, Kidnapped (3 versions) including the one with Michael Caine “Ah’m ah no a bonny fichter Davie” plus several more.
It is bad enough the Colonials believing in the Wallace and McGregor myths, but it awfy that half of Scotland are also taken in with them.
And Gloria,
If ye want tae know anything on the Douglas family or history, just go onto Tartans and ask Liz Doyle, she is the expert on them, and the Lassie is frae Tennessee!
A Douglas A Douglas
Awrabest Davie
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AndrewP
- Site Admin
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- Location: Edinburgh
Davie,
You don't need to be Admin to correct your typing errors. On your own messages, you should have the [edit] button in the top right corner. You can use that for later corrections, additions or the like.
Don't challenge me to a literary debate - it wouldn't take long. I read no fiction (or historical legend). In my house there are no "story books". I read just enough of these things to get me through school. Non-fiction - that's fine by me - I will find time for that.
All the best,
Andrew
You don't need to be Admin to correct your typing errors. On your own messages, you should have the [edit] button in the top right corner. You can use that for later corrections, additions or the like.
Don't challenge me to a literary debate - it wouldn't take long. I read no fiction (or historical legend). In my house there are no "story books". I read just enough of these things to get me through school. Non-fiction - that's fine by me - I will find time for that.
All the best,
Andrew
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Davie
- Posts: 607
- Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2005 4:36 pm
- Location: Glasgow