Robert Mackay / Margaret ? - Caithness

[andcrobla]

Hi,

I am looking to trace the name (and any other details) of the mother of my GG Granda. My GG Granda was John Mackay (b abt 1850 d bef 1895) and I have a note of his marrige to Catherine Bremner (gros 037/00 0008) marriage date was the 7th of July 1882 in Halkirk. I have been able to get the names of their parents from the registrars entry, but I cannot make out the surname of John's mother..... her first name was margaret but I really cannot make out her maiden name.... i think it starts with 'B'. John's father was Robert McKay/Mackay (d bef 1882). (I think John may have had a brother Donald)

If anyone can help with the maiden name of margaret it would be much apreciated.

Many thanks,
Averil

[nelmit]

Hi Averil,

Could you upload the image to something like photobucket then we can see it.

The most obvious marriage around the right time is for a Robert Mackay to a Margaret Macdonald.

This looks like them in 1851 at Halkirk -

Elezabeth Macdonald 80
Janet Macdonald 38
Robert Mackay 38 son in law
Margaret Mackay 32
John Mackay 4
Hugh Mackay 1 1 MO

Regards,
Annette

[Currie]

I don’t know whether this one is a possibility from the IGI.

JOHN MACKAY
Birth: 09 MAR 1842
Christening: 04 MAY 1842 Wick, Caithness, Scotland
Father: ROBERT MACKAY
Mother: MARGARET BREMNER
Extracted birth or christening record for the locality listed in the record

ROBERT MACKAY
Marriages: Spouse: MARGARET BREMNER
Marriage: 18 JAN 1839 Wick, Caithness, Scotland
Extracted marriage record for locality listed in the record

A parent search using those names doesn’t bring up John, only a submission for a Williamina?

Alan

[AndrewP]

Hi Averil,

The answer can be found on his death certificate. 1895 - Bower, Caithness - age 42. On SP he is indexed under both surnames (normal practice where the parents were not married).

His parents were unmarried. The marriage certificate lists the mother's surname and occupation, but no maiden surname. The death certificate confirms this by stating the mother's surname and listing Robert Mackay as the reputed father.

Margaret is listed as deceased on her son's death certificate, but not on his marriage certificate. A search for her death between 1882 and 1895 in Caithness yields three results. Only one has no 'other' surname - an indication of not being married, and that is in a parish that borders Bower. That is almost certainly her. Her brother informed the registrar.

All the best,

AndrewP

[andcrobla]

Hi Annette, Alan and Andrew,
Thank you all very much all for your replies..... it was much appreciated. Andrew... opened up the documents and this was exactly who I was looking for. I'm a bit of a novice in looking up family history, but I'm slowly making progress. Finding it facinating.
Thanks all very much again.
Regards,
Averil