The elusive Janet/Jessie Simpson

[bolemo]

I have found this 1841 Census, and like you, I think that Mary Simpson in the later censuses is in fact Mary Brogan…
In Sunderland, on FreeBMD, I found those birth registration indexes:

Mary Brogan - Sep 1840 - Sunderland, Durham - 24 - 249
William Brogan - Sep 1841 - Sunderland, Durham - 24 - 254
William Brogan - Dec 1841 - Sunderland, Durham - 24 - 254
Elizabeth Brogan - Jun 1842 - Sunderland, Durham - 24 - 258 / (D Sep 1844 - Sunderland, Durham - 24 - 144)
Rebecca Brogan - Mar 1844 - Sunderland, Durham - 24 - 255
Ellen Brogan - Mar 1844 - Sunderland, Durham - 24 - 263 / (D Mar 1844 - Sunderland, Durham - 24 - 170)
Thomas Brogan - Jun 1845 - Sunderland, Durham - 24 - 275
James Brogan - Sep 1845 - Sunderland, Durham - 24 - 279

Father Thomas Brogan - Death Mar 1846 - Gateshead, Durham - 24 - 92

Seems there was two Brogan families giving birth in Sunderland… If we can sort who's kids are they…
Susannah Duffie and Thomas Brogan got married in Scotland in 1839, and moved not long after to Sunderland. They were apparently both Scottish. Mary, born in the first quarter 1840 is definitely the one in the census. One of the William is probably theirs. Elizabeth is also probably the Elizabeth Simpson that appears only once in the 1861 census with Susannah and other kids. The Death record might be another Elizabeth. Rebecca Brogan could very well be the Rebecca Simpson we see later, so can be James… It starts to make sense… When those kids got married, they probably got registered under the name Brogan and not Simpson… We don't have any formal proof yet, but it seems more and more logical.

[bolemo]

I found the proof, I think.

I found a marriage, in 1859 between a Mary Brogan and a William Fairless, in Co. Durham.
In the 1861 Census with Susannah, we have Mary Simpson, married, servant, listed as a Daughter (of Susannah). Farther in the same household (and census), we have a boarder: William Fairless, married, with a kid, George who is 1 yo. So they are Mary's husband and son.
Why is the person who answered to the census mentioned Mary as Mary Simpson, when she was born Brogan, and was married to a Fairless, and why is George Fairless not listed as a grandson in relation to head is beyond me… Apparently, Susannah had this tendency to name all of her children and step-children, from her previous or actual marriage: Simpson. This is not helping us…

But now, we have enough proof to validate the theory of Isabella Barcley and Susannah not being the same person!
We know also that Mary is Susannah and Thomas Brogan daughter.
Elizabeth might as well be a Brogan (born in 1844), but there is a Eliza Jane Simpson born in Sunderland in 3rd quarter of 1845, so it needs to be checked.
There is no Rebecca Simpson born in Sunderland around 1844, but there is a Rebecca Brogan. Furthermore, in the 1871 census, we see Rebecca Simpson, daughter of Susannah, in Darlington. There is a Rebecca Brogen, who died in Darlington, last quarter of 1871… So that would leads to the fact the Rebecca was the daughter of Susannah and Thomas Brogan.
As for James, there is no James born in Sunderland before 1851, but a James Brogan was born in 3rd quarter 1845.

There is an Isabella Simpson who died in Darlington during the 2nd quarter of 1847. She might very well be our Isabella, and is compatible with a marriage between George Simpson, widower and Susannah Brogan, widow in 1848… John Simpson would be their first kid together, and that would explains why Susannah did live in his household later, until her death, and not at Thomas for exemple, who was not her (biological) child… This complex family situation can also explains why George is not visible in 1861… Was he working elsewhere? In the family of his first wife? Sick in a hospital? In jail? who knows… We are making progress though!

[bolemo]

Received Henry SIMPSON Birth Certificate today, and that definitely confirms what I have found:
Father is George SIMPSON and was (drumroll) a Shingler.
Mother is Susanna SIMPSON late BROGAN formerly DUFFEY.

So far, I have found this:
Thomas BROGAN and Susannah DUFFEY got married in Alloa, Clackmannan, Scotland the 09 Jan 1839.
They moved to Sunderland, Durham, England.
They got Mary BROGAN, born 3rd Quarter 1840.
They are in the 1841 Census at Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland, Durham, England.
They got Rebecca BROGAN, born 1st Quarter 1844.
They probably got Elizabeth in 1842, James in 1845, and others…
Thomas died 1st Quarter 1846.

Meanwhile, George SIMPSON and Isabella BARCLEY got married probably in Scotland as well.
They got Janet/Jessy SIMPSON in Scotland, possibly Dundee or Dumbarton.
Then they move to Walker, Longbenton, Tynemouth, Northumberland, England.
They got Hannah SIMPSON, 11 Feb 1840.
They are in the 1841 Census at Walker.
They move to Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland, Durham, Engand. Same town as the BROGANs.
They got Thomas SIMPSON, 22 Dec 1844.
Isabella died 3rd Quarter 1847 in Darlington, Durham, England.

In 12 Jun 1848, George SIMPSON then a Widower, and Susannah BROGAN then Widow got married at Monk-Wearmouth, Durham, England.
They move to Consett, where they got John, Joseph, Henry and James.

Among the kids, I was able to follow Mary BROGAN (got married to William FAIRLESS, got kids named George, Isabella, Susannah, Mary Ann, James and Elizabeth).
I was able to follow Rebecca BROGAN, who died in Darlington in 1871.
I was also able to follow Janet/Jessy SIMPSON (got married to John BLAIR, got kids names Charlotte, William and John).
I was able to trace Hannah SIMPSON until 1851. After that, I don't know.
I was able to trace Thomas SIMPSON (got married twice, to a Widow first, Margaret FERGUSON, then Barbara Jane HENDERSON, and got kids with both: Jessie, Annie, Margaret, Robert Davies, Barbara Jane).
I was able to trace John SIMPSON (got married to Jane STEEL, they got John William, Harry and Ethel).
I couldn't trace Joseph SIMPSON, he must have died before 1861. Several records in BMD, so don't know which.
I was able to trace Henry SIMPSON until 1881. No wife known until 1881.
I was not able to trace James SIMPSON after 1861. Cold not even find for sure his Birth in BMD…

The father George SIMPSON died between 1868 and 1871 I suspect, but I don't know where. The only birthplace we have is Sheffield, Yorkshire, in only one Census (1851), so that may not be true as some mistakes were made in Censuses. Don't know where he was in 1861, maybe a Shoemaker in Yorkshire (there is one shown as married, but alone in household). But shoemaker? Or he is listed as Widower and from Scotland in that other 1861 Census… But why? We know his father was Thomas SIMPSON.

I also wonder if Isabella, Susannah, George and Thomas knew each other… Maybe they met in Scotland? Why is Susannah first Daughter with Thomas BROGAN naming her first child George, then the second Isabella, then the third Susannah…?

A lot to dig still, but progress!!! A lot of progress!!!

[ggrocott]

Yep, I am with you on all that. My money is on George being in the 1861 with Charles Strithing age 30 and his wife Mary, both born in Scotland in Whitworth. George is a widowed iron shingler and is shown as an uncle. Interestingly that is the only mention I can find of Charles and his wife at the moment but I suspect that Strithing is not their actual name - Streeting, Stirling .....................?

[bolemo]

I agree, this George Simpson with Strithings is becoming more and more interesting…
Moreover, he has been a widower with Isabella, and maybe Charles or Mary answering the census gave that information or they did not know he was remarried (that brings a lot of questions).
I cannot find them either anywhere… Probably misspelled as you suspect.
He can be Mary's uncle, then she could be a Simpson (any of her parents can be a sibling of George).
If he is Charles uncle, then his mother is George's Sister.


Or…

He is an uncle by marriage with his first wife…
That could explain the Widower part, and then any of Mary's parents could be a Barcley, or Charles mother is a Barcley…

Still a little possibility that they are related to Susannah Duffey instead, but less probable… (there is an Ellen Duffy two households before in the Census, but she is a servant from Ireland, so not likely to have any link…).

That one is a hard one… But that can leads somewhere about George's parents and siblings!

[bolemo]

Maybe the name is Strachan?

Found those in Scotland in 1851:

1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Place: Kidd Street, Arbroath, Ladyloan, Forfarshire (Angus), Scotland

• William Ross, Head, Married, 27yo male, Flax Dresser (Hand), born in Arbroath, Forfarshire (Angus), Scotland
• Christina Ross, Wife, Married, 24yo female, born in Montrose, Forfarshire (Angus), Scotland
• Mary Ross, Daughter, Unmarried, 5yo female, Scholar, born in Montrose, Forfarshire (Angus), Scotland
• Martha Ross, Daughter, 2yo female, born in Montrose, Forfarshire (Angus), Scotland
• Charles Strachan, Lodger, Married, 19yo male, Ropemaker, born in Montrose, Forfarshire (Angus), Scotland
• Mary Strachan, Lodger, Married, 19yo female, Flax Spinner (Reeler), born in Montrose, Forfarshire (Angus), Scotland

What is interesting here is that Arbroath (and Montrose) is not far from Dundee… All in Forfarshire (Angus). In an early census, Janet was said to be born in Dundee. And we still have this potential marriage in the same region:

Scotland Marriages 1561-1910 Transcription

• First name: Isabell
• Last name: Barclay
• Marriage year: 1837
• Marriage date: 09 Jun 1837
• Marriage place: Dundee, Angus, Scotland
• Spouse's first name: George
• Spouse's last name: Simson
• Place: Dundee
• County: Forfarshire (Angus)
• Country: Scotland

Again, we cannot link anything to our people, but that is very interesting and might leads somewhere.

[ggrocott]

Possible marriage

'Charles Strachan
GENDER: Male
MARRIAGE DATE: 9 Aug 1850
MARRIAGE PLACE: Saint Vigeans,Angus,Scotland
SPOUSE: Mary Mitchell'

[ggrocott]

Hmm.
1891 Scotland Census
Charles A Strachan 58 born Montrose
With Spouse Mary Ann C Strachan age 59
OCCUPATION: Rope & Sailmaker Porter
106 Hawkhill Dundee


1881 Scotland Census
Charles Strachan 48 Montrose, Forfarshire
Spouse Mary Ann Strachan 49
ADDRESS: 9 Crofts Lane Dundee
OCCUPATION: Twine Employing 1 Boy Manufacturer

Cannot find them at the moment in 1871 census but in 1861 Charles Strithing was an iron worker. I guess he may have given up ropemaking for a while and then returned.

[bolemo]

Interesting…

I did firmly find Susannah Birth and Christening info, in 1820. She is definitely from Dumbarton, she was Catholic, and her parents were James DUFFEY and Anne SMITH. Another interesting fact is that in the Baptisms register, the witness of the previous entry is a William BROGAN.

I might have found Isabella, but not certain. Born and baptized under the name of Isabel BARCLAY in 1821 in the Parish of Craig, Angus. Father is Joseph BARCLAY and mother Jean PETER. Can't be certain it is her though… yet…

[bolemo]

Tried to dig deeper in that Strithings/Strachan possible link.

The rope maker is very interesting, and I was able to find him in several more censuses, but the problem is the birth years. In all the Scottish censuses, the are same age, or she is 1 year older.
In the English 1861 census, he is 30, she is 23… So she would have been 13 or around in 1851, so definitely not married.
Moreover, the change in occupation does not make much sense… Possible though.

Charles Strithings could have been a Widower before, making things a lot more complicated, because George could then technically be the uncle of his first wife (Charles would still call George his uncle…).

And we are not even fully sure that this George is our George… It is likely, but we can't be sure.


Meanwhile, I got more information on the family of the Isabel Barclay I found. Got her parents in censuses, and her father birthdate. So if it happens that she is our Isabella, I will have good information about her. But unable to confirm her yet.