The Ross Family of Tullich, Kilmuir Easter, Ross & Croma

patren · Post by **patren** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:29 pm

Help please!
Can anyone help me find Donella Ross? I have her birth from SP and IGI records as 29 Nov 1873, Tullich, Kilmuir Easter - parents Hugh Ross and Catherine Campbell. After this I can't find any trace of her. I have tried death records (her sister Annabella died in 1876 of scarlet fever and thought she could have caught it too), but nothing. I've also tried Census records in case she was visting someone else, but no luck. I have also tried marriage records for the time when she would have had the correct age, but nothing. She has just disappeared!
Pat

Post by **emanday** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:28 pm

With that name, my curiousity just wouldn't be stilled

Found these on SP. Now either this is two different lassies, or she could have married twice, but you'll have to look and see.

1904 ROBERT AITKEN married DONELLA ROSS in DENNISTOUN GLASGOW CITY/LANARK 644/03 0430

Or

1899 WILLIAM JOHN BALDWIN married DONELLA ROSS in LEITH NORTH EDINBURGH CITY/MIDLOTHIAN 692/01 0112

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:41 pm

One of these shows a 31 year old Donella, so born 1873/72, father Hugh, a Gardener, but the mother's name doesn't match ........

BTW "Donella" appears to be a distinctly Roos & Cromarty name

David

patren · Post by **patren** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:42 pm

Many thanks Mary and David. Sorry to say the Donella's didn't match
mine. I have a feeling that she died as a child - maybe they forgot to register the death!
I have found a few Donellas in the Census' for Ross & Cromarty, so as you say David, the name must originate from that area.
Again than k-you both.
Regards Pat

Post by **SarahND** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:18 pm

Here's an odd one for you: In the U.S. 1880 census there are only 48 Donella's in the whole country. HALF of these are in South Carolina

, the majority being in Marlboro County

(None of them were born in Scotland

) Don't ask me what this means, but there it is

Sarah

Post by **emanday** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:27 pm

Hi Pat,

Were either or both of her parents still in Scotland for the 1881, 1891 censuses? If they and she never left Scotland then I would have thought her death would surely have been registered in the Statutory Records. Like you, however, using some fairly creative wildcard combos there's nothing coming up on SP at all.

I'm foxed!

Post by **SarahND** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:57 pm

Could this possibly be her in 1891? If you don't like Rose for the spelling of her last name, note the spelling of her county of birth

I know her name isn't Donella, but it's close...? And so is Invergordon...

1891
No 1 Glengyle Ter, Edinburgh St Cuthberts, Midlothian
Daniel Campbell, 47, head, born Rothesay, Buteshire, Bank Teller
Elisa Campbell, 51, wife, born Edinburgh
Neil Campbell, 21, son, born Edinburgh, Insurance Clerk
Margaret Campbell, 18, daur, born Edinburgh
John R Campbell, 17, son, born Edinburgh, Scholar
Charles M Campbell, 14, son, born Edinburgh, Scholar
Donaldina Rose, 18, Servt, born Invergordon, Roseshire, General Domestic Serv

Well, that's the best I can do at the moment

Regards,
Sarah

patren · Post by **patren** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 8:00 am

Thanks Mary and Sarah,
Donella's parents never left Scotland - Hugh her father is on all the census' until 1891(he died in 1897) Catherine, her mother, appears on the1901 census as she died in december of 1901. In the 1881 census Annabella is missing (she died in 1876) also William and John. William moved to Newcastle and I have a trace of John in Liverpool in 1881. In the 1891 census Hugh (son) and Catherine(daughter) have disappeared,
also Mary. Mary probably went into service as later she emigrated to Canada and worked for a family in Montreal. Hugh and Catherine I can't find, but due to the names which are very, very common in ROC , I presume they either married or emigrated and will check them later. In the 1901 cenesus Robert is missing as he left home and married and went to Invergordon to live. Margaret and Donald are still at home. Margaret married Thomas Wilson in 1904 and kept the croft on, she had only one daughter who never married and died in 1987. Donald emigrated to Canada, married and died in 1926. So really, Donella is the only elusive one!
Thanks, Sarah for looking, but sorry the Donaldina Rose is not her.
Regards Pat

Post by **emanday** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 11:36 am

If what I found on IGI is that same family, Anabella was born in 1866 so would have been 10 when she died of scarlet fever. Donella would have been 3 at that time.

DavidWW might be able to answer this, which is only a theory...

Scarlet fever was a killer and it seems a strong possibility to me that the much younger Donella might have died at the same time. Stressful situation! Could a mistake have been made when the deaths were being registered and Donella's was actually omitted/overlooked?

(Scenario: Upset parent goes to registrar, "need to register death of weans" Registrar takes details but by the time Annabella's has been done, father is so upset he can't continue. Registrar and father don't realise that 2nd death still not in book).

Over to you David.

patren · Post by **patren** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 4:51 pm

Mary, I have had the same feeling as you. Annabella did die of Scarlet Fever, so I think you could be right. Another theory - Annabella and Donella have a similar sound, could be the Registrar thought he was registering the same child twice.
Regards Pat