Robert and Margaret Strathearn

[garibaldired]

Hi All,

Please can anyone help me find Robert and Margaret Strathearn?
Robert was born !856 and Margaret born 1858 in Newbattle Midlothian to John Strathearn and Margaret Grant Strathearn ms Dobbie. Father John died in 1880 and mother Margaret in 1873.
In 1871 Margaret is at home in Crichton with the rest of the family but no Robert. By 1881 Margaret is missing too!
In 1881 older brother John has become head of the house and has the youngest siblings, Christina, William and Jane with him in Borthwick; Georgina (born 1864) and Hannah (born 1854) are working as servants in the local area. Two other younger siblings Elizabeth (1862) and Isabella Agnes (1868) died young.
I can't find a death for either Robert or Margaret; nor a marriage.
Have they been abducted by aliens ?

Any ideas received with open arms!
Best wishes,
Meg

[SarahND]

Hi Meg,
Could this be your Robert in 1871?

1871
Bassendean Hill, Westruther, Berwickshire
David McDougal, 62, Head, born Gordon, Berwickshire, Farmer of 190 Acres 225 Arable 65 In Marable
Isabella McDougal, 45, Wife, born Gordon, Berwickshire
James McDougal, 12, Son, born Westruther, Berwickshire, Scholar
George McDougal, 6, born Westruther, Berwickshire, Scholar
Betsy Campbe, 22, Servant, born Legerwood, Berwickshire, Domestic Servant
Mary McLaren, 13, Servant, born Linlithgow, West Lothian, Worker
George Rae, 21, Servant, born Hume, Berwickshire, Ag Lab
Robert Strickearn, 16, Servant, born New Battle, Midlothian, Ag Lab

Cheers,
Sarah

[garibaldired]

Hi Sarah,

Yes that must be him

Thank you very much!
Now off to look in that same area in 1881........

Best wishes,
Meg

[SarahND]

Hi Meg,

Now off to look in that same area in 1881........

Any luck? If not, I have a brilliant candidate in the Simi Valley of California. I hope it's him, since he ended up a well-respected and wealthy rancher...

Cheers,
Sarah

[garibaldired]

Hi Sarah,

No, no luck I'm afraid.

Now a rich Californian rancher sounds good.........

Meg

[SarahND]

I think it has to be him! I traced his wife back and she appears to be his first cousin

Mary Lamb
Birth: 11 Apr 1855 Newbattle, Midlothian
Father: James Lamb
Mother: Marion Strathearn

Here is their house in California:

http://www.simihistory.com/StrathearnHouseTour.htm

Google will give you lots of info on him.


Sarah

[garibaldired]

Wow!

Could this one really be one of mine?
It does look convincing but I'm a bit concerned about that initial"P". Where does that come from?
And he apparently shipped over a very large dining table from Scotland - along with the cattle! Does this sound likely?
Let's face it I'm just not used to finding a rich relative!

Thanks Sarah - you're a star =D>

Best wishes,
Meg

PS I was a bit concerned about the "Visitor's Center" for that large historical estate - are they only let in one at a time?

[SarahND]

Hi Meg,
I am still trying to find proof that he is yours... his obituary would be just in the years that Ancestry doesn't have the relevant newspaper. I was hoping his actual birthplace might be mentioned. However, his wife being born in Newbattle and her mother's maiden name being Strathearn is pretty suggestive...!
You could probably get a librarian in Ventura or Oxnard to find the obit for you. From an index on the Ventura County GenWeb site I believe he died around 17 March 1928. If you click on Librarian on this page:

http://www.oxnard.org/localhistory.html

you can send a message asking about his obit. I'm sure the local history librarian can give you lots of info.

I see he has a nice probate packet also, that one could dig up in the local courthouse. A pity... up until a year ago, I was driving by there all the time, since my mother was in southern California and my daughter in San Francisco. Ah well, best to first try to prove he's the right one!

Let us know how it turns out!
Sarah

[garibaldired]

Hi Sarah,

Thank you for all that.
I'll continue my searching in the morning as my husband is moaning at the time I'm spending on here on a Saturday night!

There are lots of things which don't add up but his wife being from Newbattle is pretty compelling. I'm clinging to that one fact - I can dream for a while anyway!

Thanks again for your help, Sarah.
I'll let you know if I do find anything.
Best wishes,
Meg

[SarahND]

Hi Meg,
I hope you had nice dreams, because... I think I found Robert P... and he is unfortunately not your Robert, but is probably a relative

Here is the damning evidence:

1861
Church Street West Side, Tranent, East Lothian
George Streatharne, 44, Head, born Pencaitland, Haddington, Retired Grocer
Isabella Streatharne, 39, Sister, born Pencaitland, Haddington
Robert Streatharne, 35, Brother, born Pencaitland, Haddington
James Streatharne, 25, Brother, born Pencaitland, Haddington
Robert P Streatharne, 8, Nephew, born Tranent, Haddington, Scholar
Margaret Stocks, 11, Niece, born Pencaitland, Haddington, Scholar

No indication as to whose son Robert P is, but I suspect he is Robert's. In any case, I found these people going backwards from an 1880 census showing Robert born abt 1825 and his sister Isabella born abt 1820, both living in Ventura County, California... A very good reason why Robert P ended up there. However, these people were all born in the same place as your Robert's father-- surely they are all related? And thus it wouldn't be too unusual for this Robert to marry his cousin, either...! I suspect the ship manifest I sent you is actually your Robert, but the census records are the other one. Sorry! He is perhaps the one in Kansas... although he is a stone mason. Hmmm. k More thought needed and my brain just went to sleep.

All the best until tomorrow,
Sarah