Missing Keith Stewart

[pawcards]

I have been looking for the family of Keith Stewart b1821, Rayne(?). It seems, according to IGI - but no reference source, that he married Ann(e) Diack in 1847 & they had a son William in 1850/51. However in the 1851 census Keith has vanished, Ann is living with her mother, sister and son William. Ann then remarries George Murray in 1857 and they have 3 children, the middle one being my great-grandmother. Meanwhile young William grows up, becomes a stone mason and in 1878 emigrates to New Zealand.
The big mystery is where did Keith Stewart come from, did he have any other family and what happened to him?

All this happens before the Scotlandspeople records begin so rather hard to get anywhere.

The NZ relatives seem to think that Keith was a farmer but not sure where they got this info.

[LesleyB]

Hi Pawcards
and welcome to Talking Scot.

It seems, according to IGI - but no reference source, that he married Ann(e) Diack in 1847 & they had a son William in 1850/51.

This looks like William here on IGI - an extract
WILLIAM STUART
Birth: 13 DEC 1850
Christening: 05 JAN 1851 Rayne, Aberdeen, Scotland
Parents:
Father: KEITH STUART
Mother: ANNE DIACK

The records on Scotlands People begin in 1553 for births and baptisms and as the above IGI record is an extract it will be most likely be there on SP as it is probably taken directly from the OPRs. It would be worth checking the Scotlands People image to see if it mentions if he is a "lawful son" or wording to that effect. That may be one reason which might explain why you have not found a marriage - the only mention on IGI seems to be a submission as you have noted.

in the 1851 census Keith has vanished, Ann is living with her mother, sister and son William.

Is Ann listed as a widow in 1851? What is Ann's surname given as...and what about William's surname?

Best wishes
Lesley

[LesleyB]

Just noticed that also on IGI there is a submission for William's death in
1926 at Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand, so looks like he did end up there.

Have you checked the 1841 census for Keith Stewart - just to see how many there are in the area?
There is a 20yr old in Culsamond (next door parish to Rayne ) at Freecen... just about the right age, I reckon!
A check in the 1851, if he is still around, either on Freecen or Scotland People should reveal his place of birth.

Best wishes
Lesley

[LesleyB]

The 1851 census entry you mentioned above is available to view on Freecen and it suggests that Ann was not married....
I suspect the OPR entry for William's birth may confirm that.

Ann then remarries George Murray in 1857

...and my guess would be that Ann is mentioned as a spinster in this marriage entry - but you can probably confirm that.


Best wishes
Lesley

[pawcards]

Thank you, Lesley, for your suggestions - I wish I had known about Freecen before I topped up my Scotlands People credit!
Yes it seems Ann was not married but gives her child the Stuart/Stewart surname.
I found a birth for Keith 1821, in Chapel of Garioch and then a death in Dyce in 1891 but nothing in between!

[LesleyB]

Hi pawcards
A look at the actual OPR entry on SP for William's birth which is mentioned on IGI

WILLIAM STUART
Birth: 13 DEC 1850
Christening: 05 JAN 1851 Rayne, Aberdeen, Scotland

may give you an occupation or location for Keith if you are really lucky and that might just be enough to indentify him. I expect there will be something in the Kirk Session records too, given that it looks like William is illegitimate, but those are not yet available online.

Let us know how you get on with it. Freecen is at http://www.freecen.org.uk
Best to check what has been transcribed and what is still in the pipeline before searching - click on Database Coverage .

Best wishes
Lesley

[LesleyB]

...found a birth for Keith 1821, in Chapel of Garioch and then a death in Dyce in 1891 but nothing in between

There is a 48yr old Keith Stewart in Aberdeenshire in 1871 on SP - many people drop in age as they get older. Could be a possible. And a 59yr old somwhere in Aberdeenshire in the 1881.....also on SP. This was just using the free search on SP, not actually looking at the results - I'll leave that bit for you if you think they look likely!

Best wishes
Lesley

[speleobat2]

Hello pawcards,

There is an entry in the Dyce MI's for a Keith Stewart who died April 3, 1891 aged 70 years, also his wife Ann Reid, who died Oct. 13, 1898 aged 81 years.

The MI booklets are available from the Aberdeen and NE Scotland Family History Society and the indexes are on line on their website at www.anesfhs.co.uk.

Hope this helps sort things out.

Carol