Buchanan and Harper.....

[garibaldired]

Hoping someone can help me here please.

I have an AGNES HARPER who married DAVID BUCHANAN in June 1890 St Cuthbert's Edinburgh. She was 29 (born July 1860) and he was 50 (lots of my females married late to older men, was this a social phenomenon of the times? sorry I digress!)
She was a domestic servant, daughter of James Harper deceased (he wasn't!) and he was a cab driver, son of John Buchanan. It was a first marriage for them both. Their addresses were 162 Fountainbridge (her), 5 West End Place (him).
Agnes died 3 May 1894 at the home of her brother in Saline, Fife though her home address is given as Pitlochry.

I have several problems here. I can't find them on the 1891 census - ages don't tally. Or perhaps they weren't together? Why was her home address Pitlochry not Edinburgh? And most importantly could there be any children? Buchanan births in Edinburgh and Pitlochry in that time are numerous! Is there any way of narrowing my search?

I've probably given you all an information overload now! But I would be delighted for any advice or help.
Thanks.

[Andy]

The cheapest way to do this on Scotland's people would be to check all David BUCHANANs age between 45 and 55 in Scotland.

Same for Agnes BUCHANANs age 26 to 35.

Cut and Paste the results of each into a word processor (Notes or Wordpad is fine) then compare the GROS numbers.

If any match it's possible that it's your couple.

[Andy]

Agnes is in Edinburgh in 1881:

Dwelling: 19 Albany St
Census Place: Edinburgh St Marys, Edinburgh, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0223998 GRO Ref Volume 685-2 EnumDist 85 Page 5
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Thomas PURVES M 73 M Dunse, Berwick, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Coachman
Lily PURVES M 66 F Dysart, Fife, Scotland
Rel: Wife
Margaret PURVES U 34 F Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Governess
Maria P. PURVES U 31 F Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Works At Home As Gen Serv
William PURVES U 29 M Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Commercial Traveller Ter
Agnes HARPER U 21 F Cleish, Kinross, Scotland
Rel: Serv
Occ: Housemaid
Chrisina SHARP U 18 F Kinross, Kinross, Scotland
Rel: Serv
Occ: Cook
Sophia H. GRANT W 55 F Kelton, Kirkcudbright, Scotland
Rel: Lodger
Occ: Annuitant
Jane GRANT U 22 F Kelton, Kirkcudbright, Scotland
Rel: Lodger
Occ: Annuitant Daur
Henry GRAHAM M 35 M N Berwick, Haddington, Scotland
Rel: Lodger
Occ: Minister Of Nerthorn Parish
Alice GRAHAM M 28 F England
Rel: Lodger
Occ: Ministers Wife


I reckon that David was only 30 at the time of marriage ... Why?

The parents are listed as John and Susan McIntosh, on IGI there are the following:

1. MAGGIE BUCHANAN - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 13 MAR 1861 Perth, Perth, Scotland
2. DAVID CRAIGIE BUCHANAN - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 30 JUN 1859 Perth, Perth, Scotland
3. MARY ANN BUCHANAN - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 30 JAN 1862 Brechin, Angus, Scotland
4. WILLIAM BUCHANNAN - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 25 APR 1857 Auchtermuchty, Fife, Scotland

The marriage was on 6th of June he wouldn't have tuned 31 until 30th June.

The mother died in 1868 in Brechin, Angus. Confirming that the husband John was a Gardener

So now change your search to Davids aged 30 - 32 and Agneses 29 - 31

This looks like your best bet but no image:

5 1891 BUCHANAN DAVID M 31 ST GEORGE EDINBURGH CITY MIDLOTHIAN 685/01 0C5/01 005 No Image ORDER

[Andy]

Here's Agnes family in 1881:

Dwelling: Westmains Of Cleish
Census Place: Cleish, Kinross, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203533 GRO Ref Volume 460 EnumDist 1 Page 2
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
James HARPER W 62 M Lamington, Edinburgh, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Forrester
Hanah HARPER U 36 F Cleish, Kinross, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Housekeeper
James HARPER U 34 M Cleish, Kinross, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Forrester
Margaret HARPER U 25 F Cleish, Kinross, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Domestic Servant
Jane HARPER U 11 F Cleish, Kinross, Scotland
Rel: Grand Daur
Occ: Scholar
George HARPER U 6 M Cleish, Kinross, Scotland
Rel: Grand Son
Occ: Scholar

Margaret was born in 1855 and the father must have died between 1881 and 1890. The mother Hannah (Dobbie) Harper died in 1878

[Andy]

Since Agnes died of TB she was probably away from home when she died. David may have been working in Pitlochry at the time.

[garibaldired]

Andy,

Thanks very much for all that.
I had the two census entries for 1881 thanks and the IGI info. And I will follow your advice on SP. However the marriage cert does say 50 so I was rather confused!
I just thought it was odd that if you had TB you'd go to your brothers' home where there were several children and not stay with your husband.
He seems to be in Edinburgh in 1901.

Anyway thanks for all that Andy - it's much appreciated.

[garibaldired]

Andy,

Me again! Just re-reading your post I see you have James (father) as having died before 1890. In fact he died 5 November 1891.

Meg

[Andy]

Father, James, only dead according to the marriage cert. However every bit of evidence says that David WAS 30 NOT 50 AT TIME OF MARRIAGE.

[garibaldired]

Andy,

I'm sure you're right. That does look likely to be David in St George but Agnes isn't with him. Another little mystery for me

Thanks for your help.
Meg