Mary Nicol who married Thomas Morton Rodger in South Africa.

[kellyelsam]

Hi

I am trying to locate information about a Mary Nicol who married a Thomas Morton Rodger. They married in Durban, South Africa on the 13/4/1906, then they moved to New Zealand in 1907.

On the marriage certificate no ages or parents are stated.

The death certificate we have from when she passed away in New Zealand, is incorrect as the person who supplied the information was not sure of her parents names or occupations, so they made it up!!!!

The things I do known about Mary are
I have a First Communion Certificate, details as follows
St George's in the West, Parish Church of Aberdeen, First Communion, 6th October 1901, Mary Nicol, 11 Chestnut Row, James Smith B D Minister

I emailed the Church and they couldnt help with her parents as they were not listed in their records, they did say that the first communion was held usually at age 16.

On her husband death certificate it states she would have been born in 1885.

So I have a birth year of 1885.

I think her birthday was the 25/7.

I checked the 1901 census but I could not see a Mary Nicol at Chestnut Row.

I do know that she had a nephew called Robert Nicol who lived in 1955 at 16 Mid Stocket Road, Aberdeen.

From family stories both of her parents died of TB before her marriage in 1906.

I have looked at the Birth Records for Mary Nicol's in Aberdeen and tried to see if the parent named had passed away before 1906 but with not great success.

Any help on where to go next would be appreciated.

Cheer
Elsa

[JustJean]

Hi Elsa and welcome to TalkingScot!

This is a puzzler! Nothing has leapt out at me yet so I'm coming back for more info. Do you happen to know if Mary ever had or used a middle name? Do you happen to know the names of Mary's offspring in the order of their birth? How do you know about the nephew in 1955?? Any idea his age?? When you say you've checked the 1901 census did you mean you've veiwed the actual fiche and located the Chestnut Street address and surrounding area on it and still no sign of a Nicol?

Sorry so many questions!

Best wishes
Jean

[kellyelsam]

Hi Jean.

Thanks for posting your reply.

To answer your questions -

I dont think Mary used a middle name havent seen one in the information I have.

Her offspring were all born in the greater Wellington area in New Zealand and they were
Mary Rodger born 1907 in Wellington, New Zealand
Christina Morton Rodger born 1909 in Petone New Zealand
Thomas Morton Rodger born 1912 in Petone New Zealand

Sadly they have all passed away now.

Mary Brown nee Rodger (born 1907) daughter Margaret Brown visited Scotland when she was in her 20 and meet up with Robert. I have a diary record and his address in her address book attached to this. As most 20 year old she wasnt that interested in the family history/connections. It mentioned he had a girlfriend of about 20 years standing. Whether this is correct or not, who knows.

1901 Census - I looked at the name Mary Nicol and used the age of 15 or 16 years. I used the Scottish People web site.

I wasnt sure which Parish Chestnut Row would have come under, so looked around at the most likely, but got a little confused. Also was thinking since the census was done in March and the first communion done in October, maybe they might have moved?

Is there a way to use the address in the cenus?

Thanks again for your reply.
Cheers
Elsa

[JustJean]

Hi Elsa

Unfortunately there is no way to use the address as a search parameter in the ScotlandsPeople indexes of the census records. The only way to find out who was living at Chestnut Street in 1901 is to order the Aberdeen microfilm in at your nearest Family History Library (for a small fee) and then you would have to trawl through looking for that address. A tedious task to be sure!!!

I've had quite a rummage about in the SP indexes and have eliminated several of the likely looking Mary's just like you have...by following forward to see if the parents had died or if the Mary had married. I've reached the conclusion you may have to engage a researcher with access to New Register House to attempt to track down the nephew that was visited in 1955 in Aberdeen. This too could be a tedious task but not one that you could attempt yourself without visiting Scotland in person. If a link could be established it is very likely that further family connections could be found.

I was hoping that Mary had used an identifiable name for one of her children but it looks like she might have gone to hubbies side for the naming

Is it possible there are further clues in the diary of the visit to Aberdeen? Is it also at all possible that there was a grain of truth in the details on her DC????? I've found oftentimes when ficticious facts are given there is still a tiny piece of truth in them.

Not much help I fear. I'm at a loss as to any other approaches.

Best wishes
Jean

[kellyelsam]

Hi Jean

Thanks for all your help, I will keep plodding away.

Cheers
Elsa

[kellyelsam]

Hi Jean,

I was going back over the stuff I had about Mary, as you suggested. Thanks. Found written Fraserburgh, Dyce and Alford written in relation to her name on a letter from a relative and in the margin of the diary. I hadnt taken much notice of these word before.

So thought I would try this angle. When I searched for Mary before I did find one born the right day and month but not year (birthdate 25/7/1883), I asked one of my older relatives if she thought it was the right one but she had had a stroke so couldnt talk but she indicated strongly it wasnt the right one.

So I typed Mary Nicol in the 1891 census and Fraserburgh as the location and found the same family. So this got me thinking maybe I had found the right one before and maybe there are skeleton!!

So I checked to see if I could see deaths for her parent's a Alexander Nicol and Isabella Nicol nee Anderson. And I found one in 1892 in Fraserburgh for Alexander and then thought I would try Isabella and found one for her in 1896. So when I looked at this certificate she passed away at 16 Chestnut Row from TB. Going back to the Communion Certificate the 11 could well be a 16 Chestnut Row. Have I finally found them????

I then looked for a marriage certificate for Alexander and Isabella and found they were married in Alford in 1867.

On the 1891 Census it lists the Siblings of Mary as Catherine aged 18, Alexander aged 17, Helen aged 15, William aged 13, John aged 10, Annis? aged 2 and Francis aged 1. The informant on Isabella death certificate was a James Nicol who was noted as a son.

I looked at the Latter Day Saints IGI and found an Isabella Nicol Born 19/3/1868, Jean Ann Born 25/3/1870 with the correct parent's names.

So maybe Mary was moved around in the family and wasnt located at Chestnut Row on the night of the 1901 census. I am going to order the microfiche as you suggested as maybe one of the older girls had got married and was living there.

So thanks again for your help, every little bit of information should not be over looked.



Cheers
Elsa

[JustJean]

Hi Elsa

Nice going! I do believe you've cracked it!

From the other data you gave this looks like your family in 1881.

Dwelling: Firemans House
Census Place: Alford, Aberdeen, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203452 GRO Ref Volume 171 EnumDist 4 Page 12
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Alexander NICOL M 36 M Alford, Aberdeen, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Fire Man
Isabella NICOL M 33 F Cromar, Aberdeen, Scotland
Rel: Wife
Occ: Wife
Jane A. NICOL 11 F Alford, Aberdeen, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Scholar
Alexander NICOL 7 M Alford, Aberdeen, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Scholar
Helen NICOL 5 F Alford, Aberdeen, Scotland
Rel: Daur
William NICOL 3 M Alford, Aberdeen, Scotland
Rel: Son
John NICOL 3 m M Alford, Aberdeen, Scotland
Rel: Son

Looks like Mary had a lot of family!!

Best wishes
Jean

[JustJean]

Hi Elsa

There are a couple other births on the IGI too.....

1. ISABELLA NICOL - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 19 MAR 1868 Alford, Aberdeen, Scotland

2. CATHERINE NICOL - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 19 MAY 1872 Alford, Aberdeen, Scotland

3. ALEXANDER NICOL - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 03 DEC 1873 Alford, Aberdeen, Scotland

4. JEAN ANN NICOL - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 25 MAR 1870 Alford, Aberdeen, Scotland

Perhaps the skeleton that you refer too was the scant 3 month pregnancy that produced Isabella? ......which from what I've observed was pretty standard practice for a first child back then

I'm sure you'll enjoy many hours tracking down all these new found connections!!

Best wishes
Jean

[JustJean]

and two more on the 1881 census.....

here's what look to be Isabella

Dwelling: West Gallowhill School House
Census Place: Alford, Aberdeen, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203452 GRO Ref Volume 171 EnumDist 2 Page 8
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Anthony MC CREADIE U 35 M Ayr, Ayr, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Teacher Mr Of Arts Edinr.
Annie PATERSON U 59 F Alford, Aberdeen, Scotland
Rel: Serv
Occ: Housekeeper
Isobella NICOL 13 F Alford, Aberdeen, Scotland
Rel: Serv
Occ: Domestic Servant

and just maybe this is Catherine...

Dwelling: 3 Ardgethan
Census Place: Alford, Aberdeen, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203452 GRO Ref Volume 171 EnumDist 2 Page 11
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Jane MITCHELL O 48 F Alford, Aberdeen, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Pauper
Kathirine NICOL 8 F Alford, Aberdeen, Scotland
Rel: Visitor
Occ: Scholar

Best wishes
Jean

[kellyelsam]

Hi Jean

Thanks for the extra census information.

I have been looking at marriages for the girls and seeing how many of their husband names are on the 1901 Census in Old Machar. No luck yet.

You would'nt know if Chestnut Row is in the Old Machar district for the 1901 Census, as I was using it, as that is where Isabella death was.

Cheers
Elsa