Margaret Laidlaw nee Mcghee married to William Laidlaw 1915

[SarahND]

Hello Cindy,
I also started my genealogy searching by trying to find my mother's birth family-- it's a fascinating journey.

I have sent you a pm about your grandmother.

All the best,
Sarah

[SarahND]

Hi again,
I've had a look for Margaret's mother Isabella McMichael this morning with the following results:

According to Margaret's birth certificate, Francis McGhee and Isabella McMichael were married in Greenock 8 Oct 1897, just over a month before the birth of Margaret …
You'd have to download the marriage to be sure, but this is the Isabella McMichael in 1881 who fits most closely with her age and birthplace as was given in the 1901 census:

1881
13 Ingleston St, Greenock East, Renfrewshire
Robert Steel, 60, Head, born Renton, Dumbartonshire, Iron Works Labourer
Isabella Steel, 60, Wife, born Caithness, Caithnessshire
Jane Brown, 33, Stepdaughter, born Paisley, Renfrewshire, Laundress
Robert McMichael, 11, Nephew, born Greenock, Renfrewshire
Isabella McMichael, 5, Niece, born Greenock, Renfrewshire

A Jane Brown in the household is interesting!

I've found brother Robert in 1891, a general labourer boarding with the McKendrick family in Grangemouth, Stirling, but can't find Isabella.

There is an Isabella Mcmichael born in Greenock in 1876 on ScotlandsPeople. Her birth is just too late to find it for free on the IGI on FamilySearch.org, but her brother Robert's is there in the index:

Robert McMichael
Birth: 31 Dec 1869 Middle or New Parish, Greenock, Renfrew
Father: John McMichael
Mother: Jane Brown

The mother's name of Jane Brown seems too much of a coincidence to discount it. Surely these are Isabella's parents? Now how that works out that Jane is Robert Steel's stepdaughter, yet her children are his nieces and nephews, I don't know

John McMichael and Jane Brown were married 13 Feb 1868 in Middle or New Parish, Greenock, Renfrew according to the IGI. They had a son William born the following June.

Have fun with this!
Sarah

[Currie]

Hello Cindy,

For people with Greenock connections the Watt Library Index of Births, Marriages and Deaths may be worth a look. It’s compiled from the announcements made in local newspapers from the early nineteenth century to around 1913. (the pdf files may take a while to load) http://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/community- ... aths-index

Alan

[Cinderella35]

Hi,

Thankyou its looks like a real interesting site, help very much appreciated!
Regards
Cindy

[Alan SHARP]

Hello Cindy,

For people with Greenock connections the Watt Library Index of Births, Marriages and Deaths may be worth a look. It’s compiled from the announcements made in local newspapers from the early nineteenth century to around 1913. (the pdf files may take a while to load) http://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/community- ... aths-index

Alan

Hi there Alan, across the ditch.

The Watt Index is one I have not previously come across, so thanks for the mention. Found approx 140 SHARP/E's all nicely typed out. After work will have some sorting to do, cross referencing with other data collected, so thanks. Even on my dial-up service the "S" index, though smaller than some, did not take too long. Excuse to make a cuppa.

Alan SHARP.