Dicksons of Aberdeen, Scotland

[nelmit]

Hello Richard,
I'm not sure what the problem is with the Scotland's People site. What web browser are you using? Have you enlarged the font quite a bit so that the HELP and FAQ links are overlapping the password area? Just trying to think what might be the problem.

The only sure way to track down the correct family is by going backwards from what you know for certain to be true.

All the best,
Sarah

This is definitely where to start.

What was your grandfather's name and who did he marry?

The first thing you have to do at Scotlands People is register - did you do that?

Sorry that sounds like a bit of an interrogation so I'll add a wee smile.

Regards,
Annette

[dicksonhawaii]

Hi Again Sarah, Yes, the Cork Cutter from Dalkeith is surely mine as the children and mainly the John in 1861 was 15 which makes his year of birth at 1846 which squares with my information. His father John born 1814 and married to Mary Wyper was as far as I could go until today when I ran across a death certificate for the John born in 1814. His parents are listed as John Dickson abt 1790 and Mary Bennet. They were married in 1808. So now another big hurdle is over.
I was not willing to accept this John Dickson born about 1790 as some lists have him (or someone else) as being born in England. But since his son John b 1814 was born in Dalkeith I'm thinking now this John born in 1790 is probably someone in the Midlothian, Delkeith or even Edinburgh area.
I will try again to get on the site for the death notices, and meanwhile, if any one has some information on this John Dickson abt 1790 and married to Mary Bennet b. 1778-1888 it will be a big help. By the way he was a House Painter.
Thanks again Sarah!!-Richard

[AndrewP]

A search on the online IGI (on the Familysearch website) gives the following children to John Dickson and Mary Bennett, from records extracted.

• John Dickson
  birth: 28 May 1811 , DALKEITH, MIDLOTHIAN, SCOTLAND
  father: John Dickson
  mother: Mary Bennet
  
  Abraham James Scott Dickson
  birth: 21 May 1814 , DALKEITH, MIDLOTHIAN, SCOTLAND
  father: John Dickson
  mother: Mary Bennet

Also on the online IGI, as contributions to the IGI:

• Isabell Dickson
  birth: 6 December 1808
  christening: 27 December 1808 Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
  father: John Dickson
  mother: Mary Bennet
  
  John Dickson
  birth: 28 May 1811 of Dalkeith, Edinburgh, Scotland
  father: John Dickson
  mother: Mary Bennet
  
  Abraham Dickson
  birth: 21 May 1815 of Dalkeith, Edinburgh, Scotland
  father: John Dickson
  mother: Mary Bennet
  
  David Dickson
  birth: 24 May 1824
  christening: 15 July 1824 Cannongate, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
  father: John Dickson
  mother: Mary Bennet

All four given on the 'contributed' list can be found on the ScotlandsPeople website, where you can view the entries from the OPRs on a pay per view basis.

All the best,

AndrewP

[killearnan]

All four given on the 'contributed' list can be found on the ScotlandsPeople website, where you can view the entries from the OPRs on a pay per view basis.

Definitely encourage getting the original entries via ScotlandsPeople. Often there are details that will help ~ occupation of father, the name of the farm or other residence, witnesses who may be relatives, and so on.

Hope this helps,
BJ

[dicksonhawaii]

Hi Annette, You mentioned I should "register" and I'm not sure what you mean by that. I do have a user name and password, is that what you meant?
Also, Andrew P mentioned the OPR site, which I found, but didn't see where I pay and where is the "Contributed list" and "family site"? I realize I have to get to know the TalkingScot web site better as some of the terms and locations are brand new to me. Thanks, Richard

[dicksonhawaii]

Hi Andrew P. Thanks lots for the info on the children of John Dickson married to Mary Bennet. I had run across some of them but not all together. Also there are two Andrews mentioned born on the same day a year apart, I'm thinking it could be the same person, but will do some checking. Where is the Family Search Site, I haven't found it as yet. Anyway, thanks again!-Richard Dickson

[killearnan]

Hi Annette, You mentioned I should "register" and I'm not sure what you mean by that. I do have a user name and password, is that what you meant?
Also, Andrew P mentioned the OPR site, which I found, but didn't see where I pay and where is the "Contributed list" and "family site"? I realize I have to get to know the TalkingScot web site better as some of the terms and locations are brand new to me. Thanks, Richard

Familysearch.org has extracts of the OPRs (surviving Church of Scotland records from before the start of civil registration in 1855). Additionally, they have entries that were submitted by people using the Family History Library (main location Salt Lake City, Utah, with many small local branches, mostly in LDS {Mormon} churches) and its various databases. Some submitted entries are accurate and/or helpful; many are not.

If you want to see the original OPR records and you aren't in Scotland, you have two options:

a) use the website by the National Records of Scotland at http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/. You pay a small amount per search and bit more for each image.

b) if there is an LDS (Mormon) church near you, you can order a microfilm of the records to use at their site. Upside: you can often get a whole parish's records on one film, so helpful if you have several families or one large family in the same parish. Downsides: center may have short hours, paper copies instead of saving a file (and sometimes the center doesn't have a microfilm printer), time lag to get film.

Whichever way you access the records (whether via Scotlandspeople or Familysearch.org/Family History Library/local centers, which have no formal affiliation with each other), I highly recommend that you look at the actual records and not just the extracts. There are often additional details that weren't extracted: place of residence, father's occupation, names of witnesses (who may be relatives ~ I have untangled families with similar names based on witness patterns), and even occasionally things like a non-Church of Scotland minister doing a baptism.

Hope this helps!
BJ

[killearnan]

Also there are two Andrews mentioned born on the same day a year apart, I'm thinking it could be the same person, but will do some checking.

The two sons named Abraham with dates a year apart could be several things. Most likely possibilities, in my experience:

- older one died, second one given same name (even more likely if those turn out to be baptism and not birth dates)

- the second listing is (according to Andrew P.) a contribution ~ submitted by a user, just like you and me The chances of errors with that type of entry is quite high

I'm sure other people here can come up with other possible scenarios.....

Hope this helps!
BJ

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