Kate Findlay McRae.....

Wee Ina · Post by **Wee Ina** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 12:48 am

I have asked for help before on this before but I got a virus lost my old comp. I have a new one but without some of the information I was previously given as to where to look next So with that in mind I will apologise now.

My Grt Granny was Jane Thomasina Findlay McRae, Born 2, John Street Rothesay 19/12/1904 – Illegitimate and was brought up by a Jean Hyndman nee Currie at 36, Mill Street Rothesay.

Jane's mother was Kate Findlay McRae – Domestic Servant – Domicile Furness Quarry Inverary.
Now I have found Kate on the 1901 Census living at Acholter Rothesay aged 24 – servant.
This means she would have been born approx 1877.
Working on the basis Kate would have been approx 4 on the 1881 census and 14 on the 1891 census I went searching.
The only Kate I can find on the 1881 Census aged 4 states the birth place is Strath, Inverness, Scotland.
I did try searching on the 1891 census to see if I could find more but every Kate McRae I find is born in a different place and has different parents.

So then after banging my head of the desk a few times I thought – look for a birth cert.
Yep your right I should have carried on banging my head.

The only one I could find date wise (1878) was for a Kate McRae Parish of Kiltearn in the county of Ross but no mention of the name Findlay & different parents again.

Now the only other Birth Cert I could find was (1873) Kate McRae Parish of Old Kilpatrick, County of Dumbarton. Now on that Certificate the registrar’s name was Findlay - what’s the chances the name Findlay was pinched! And that a few porkies were told about her age??

If someone out there on the WWW could give me some direction I would be sooooo very very grateful as im not sure what to do next and not being rich I cant really afford to be making so many mistakes.

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 1:10 am

Hi Wee Ina
...and welcome to Talking Scot.

Its late and I have to go, but just a quick thought - remember a "Kate" is probably a Catherine of some sort in disguise!
Catherine, Catharine, Katherine, Katharine and all of those with out the final "E" e.g Catherin, Katharin
So, on SP maybe try: ?ather?n

No guarantees, and it might not help, but worth a try if you are stuck..

Best wishes
Lesley

Wee Ina · Post by **Wee Ina** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 9:31 am

Hi Lesley and thanks for the welcome and reply.

Just done a few searches on SP using your ideas and again nothing.

There must be another way around this so i will have to get saving and thinking before more looking.

Just wanted to say this site is great - I found it hard to click on that X. I was stiill reading till gone 4am !!!! tut tut

Wee Ina

Post by **Ina** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 9:49 am

Hi Wee Ina,

Welcome to talkingscot.

The names Currie, Findlay and Hyndman are all popular names on the Isle of Islay (all of those names on my family tree). Have you searched for Catherine on Islay?

Ina
Current AG chair

PS Love your name

Post by **Jean Jeanie** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 1:26 pm

Hi wee Ina

I have found the name McRae spelled McCrae and McCray on some censuses in 1841 and 1851.

Jean

Wee Ina · Post by **Wee Ina** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 5:24 pm

Hello to you all and many thanks for your responses.

Where do i start without you all banging your heads off the desks.

Right i know - My Grt Granny Jane Thomasina McRae - who im named after.

We were all (mum and granny) under the impression that Jean Hyndman (nee currie) later Platt was my Grt Grannys real mum. It was only by accident we found out that she wasnt. Jean is buried on Rothesay.

When I started this family tree I started looking for links under the Hyndman name which took me to the Currie name which is really well documented. But now i know in reality no relation.

No one even knew my grt granny's name was Jane as she was always called Ina (Thomasina on offical docs).

Grt Granny was Big Ina
My Mum was Ina
and me Wee Ina

My aunt went to Rothesay to find more information as we had dates etc and she was able to look at the registar which said my Grt Grannys REAL
NAME. But she didnt have the money at that time to get the certificate etc.

Now having the cert and finding her mothers name as Kate Findlay McRae I have a need to know more.

As I said i found her on the 1901 census and was able to see she had stated she was born in Ullapool G & E i take this as being able to speak both. She must have been able to write as she has signed her name quite neatly on Jane's Birth Cert.

The 1841 and 1851 census would be too early as i have calculated she wouldnt have been born till approx 1877. But unless i can find a birth cert for Kate im stumped.

Ive even tried looking for a Death Certificate thinking that maybe she died sometime soon after giving birth (maybe thats why Jean Hyndman took Jane on) but i cant even find a Death certificate for her.

Anyone reading this now will think im a nutter - and yes there probably right but any good ideas will always be welcome (a wee voice keeps sayin give up hen) but i just cant give up yet.

Ullapool - Argyllshire - is this correct as on SP i cant do a search for Ullapool only.

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 5:40 pm

Wee Ina wrote:Hello to you all and many thanks for your responses.

......much snipped .............

Anyone reading this now will think im a nutter - and yes there probably right but any good ideas will always be welcome (a wee voice keeps sayin give up hen) but i just cant give up yet.

Not in the least!!

BTW, are you making a special effort to be polite

".......give up, hen" - dae ye mean "gie up, hen"

Wee Ina wrote:Ullapool - Argyllshire - is this correct as on SP i cant do a search for Ullapool only.

The Ulllapool that you want is in Lochbroom parish in the county of Ross & Cromarty.

David

Wee Ina · Post by **Wee Ina** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 6:31 pm

Thats exactly what i mean.

Ive just found the Ullapool Museum so ive emailed them to see if they can help with a birth cert - to hell with the cost surely if she was born there they will probably have something written down somewhere.

Right im off to cook and promised myself not to look at this site again until after 8pm - i think im becoming a talkinScot ADDICT I just cant stop reading all the posts.

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 6:45 pm

Hi wee Ina
This is a long shot, but based on what you said about her stated as being born Ullapool in the 1901 census , does this 1881 entry look likely?

Dwelling: Argyle Street
Census Place: Lochbroom, Ross & Cromarty, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203411 GRO Ref Volume 075-1 EnumDist 1 Page 13

Catherine MACRAE W 67 F Ullapool, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Fishermans Wid
John MACRAE U 34 M Loch Broom, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Fisherman
Mary MACRAE U 31 F Loch Broom, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Domestic Servant
Catherine MACRAE 6 F Ullapool, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
Rel: G Daur
Occ: Scholar

She is, I think, the only one born Ullapool between 1872-1881. You'd need to do a bit of digging about to see if it was the correct Kate.

Best wishes
Lesley

Wee Ina · Post by **Wee Ina** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 1:00 am

Omg Thanks you so much - at last something really positive to work from.

I was beginning to think the Ullpool bit was in there in her imagination and possibly fibs were being told but this is fantastic i will get on SP with this info and see what i can turn up.

Once again THANK YOU very much

Wish i could buy you a c[_] <<<< Beer