Stevenson Family from Errol, Perth (Robert Stevenson [b. 1836?], James Ramsay Stevenson [b.1863])

[Ktrangsrud13]

I belong to the Stevenson line from Perth. My 2nd great grandfather James Ramsay Stevenson, I believe had at least two sisters. He was born in 1863 to Robert Stevenson and Elizabeth Ramsay. It looks like Elizabeth passed away around age 30, leaving three young kids Jean (joan, jennie, jeanie) and Ann (Annie, Mary Ann, Marion?). I can find the family of 5 in I believe the 1861 census as a family, 71 in isabella rodgers home (their maternal aunt?) without their father, and by 1881 Jean was a servant at a young age alone.

What I know for sure, Katlynn Stevenson-Curt Stevenson(Dorothy)-Richard Stevenson(Patricia)-James Benjamin Stevenson-James Ramsay Stevenson(lovina)-Robert Stevenson(elizabeth)

I can find James Ramsay's immigration records to illinois in 1888 and I can verbally verify the line from there.

My misguided attempts have traced his sister Ann Stevenson to marrying a Wilson, having a Helen who married a Galbraith, had a daughter named Ann Wilson Galbraith, who had another daughter Annie Stevenson Galbraith9b. 1928?) (maybe marrying a James McEwan and having an amber Galbraith)

For Jeans line I've traced her to marrying a James herd, having a Doreen Maragaret herd who married William gray c Roy, they had Douglas William Roy who married Edna Salvin. from there I'm unsure if craig William Roy is Edna's son or grandson. This family line travels to Aberdeen around WWII and it seems as though some of their kids may have been double registered, suggesting moves or traveling for birth.

Other trees and resources I've looked at combine Jean with Annie or Combined two people with crazy similar details (same parent names in same areas at the same time). Annie Stevenson May have Married a Christoper Black instead of a Wilson. Jean may have immigrated to Illinois right before or after her brother James and Married and John Johnson. If the sisters stayed in Scotland, it looks like they both may have married in the Dundee area.

Because the family split and these few decades get weird with records, I'm struggling very much to discern the correct lines. For my research I used Scotlands people with the narrowed filters and came up with very precise results. Without purchasing the records, I do feel confident based on limited available matches.

Also, I can find absolutely ZERO record of Robert Stevenson, my 3rd great grandfather, beyond his census records with his wife. I'm struggling to find his birth, death, or if he would've left the country after leaving the kids with his sister-in-law? Some trees have Robert marrying Isabella but I don't believe that to be correct, I believe she married a charles and took in her nieces and nephew. He seems to literally only exist for a few decades as a grown adult.

Jeanie would've been born around 1866, Ann around 1865, and James around 1863. I'm unable to verify more kids than the three, regardless of the trees that list more kids. Robert couldve married Isabella if Charles also passed away, I suppose.

Everytime I feel like I get close, I get hit with a big ol whoops. If any of these names ring any bells to anyone please reach out, and if I'm way off track let me know. I'm not trying to trust the family trees I see online and verify the information for myself. The biggest pitfall is solidifying who Robert Stevenson was, and what he did. (Not the Robert Louis line, he's like a 7th cousin)

[Elwyn 1]

I can see a marriage for Robert Stevenson & Eliza Ramsay in 1861 in Cumlodden. That’s in Argyllshire, on the west side of Scotland. A long way from Perthshire. If you look at that certificate it should give you the couples parents names etc. You will also find Robert’s profession which you say you do not know. He moved around a bit so perhaps a profession that involved that eg stonemason? Pay to view a certificate and find out.

What looks to be Eliza’s death was registered in 1868 in High Kirk, which is in Glasgow. That should tell you whether Robert was still alive then. She was aged 31.

I can see a likely birth for Ann in 1862 registered in Cumlodden; James in 1863 in Errol and Jean in 1866 in Kilspindie, Perthshire. There are other children born around that time with parents named Stevenson and Ramsay (which others may have copied into their trees) but I suspect there was more than one couple around with those same surnames. The only way to check them out is to pay to view the certificates.

If the 3 children married in Scotland, their marriage certificates should tell you whether Robert was alive or dead at that date. If dead, it should say “dcd” or “deceased.” If alive, it will just record his name.

The 1861 census should tell you where Robert & Eliza were born. You need to know that to have any chance of finding their births/baptisms. If they married in Argyll, that could well be where they originate. You should get their parents names from the 1861 marriage cert. You can then search for their baptisms in the Old Parish Registers, on Scotlandspeople. (I'd be surprised if Robert was born in Perthshire).

You say Jean Stevenson may have married James Herd and had a daughter Doreen Margaret Herd. I searched the birth records and the only Doreen Margaret Herd I can find was born in Aberdeen in 1929. Jean was born in 1866 so would have been 63 then. Seems a bit unlikely to me that this is correct.

You won’t get very far with your research if you are unwilling to pay to view a few certificates. You need to do that to be sure you have your facts right, and to learn more about the people. Otherwise your tree will likely be wrong (as you have found with other folks efforts).

[Elwyn 1]

Adding to my previous comments, you say you think you can find the family of 5 in the 1861 census. I am puzzled. The couple only married in 1861. They didn’t have any children then. So surely that can’t be right? Not sure you have found the right couple at all. I think I can see Robert in Cumlodden in the 1861 census. He was 25, single and born in Kilsyth, Stirlingshire. The census was taken in April 1861 so evidently he married after that.

If you are struggling with this research, as seems to be the case, you might want to consider employing a Scottish professional researcher to help. Or ask us for help. We are here to help.