Searching for Robert McHaffie as I hit the brick wall.....

[GailKM]

Well, here is my first foray into TS with a request for help

I have been searching the birth or death of Robert McHaffie for a number of years and have not had any success with locating either events

Robert McHaffie, an Ironmonger married a Janet Finlay in 1830 in Glasgow (from Proclamation of Banns and Marriages), both residing there. I recently found Robert, Janet, and their 3 sons, residing in England for the 1841c. At last I finally discovered that Robert was apparently born in Scotland The 1841c has his age as 30 (rounded up or down). After the 1841c, Robert is never again listed with his family on any other census
Janet and her sons return to Scotland for the 1851c and she is not listed as widow, neither is she is listed as a widow for the 1861 or 1871 England census (where she resides at that time). It is finally in the 1881c for England that Janet is listed as widow.

I have searched SP for a death of Robert, to no avail, neither have I found a death index on the English records. Just where did my ancestor go

Gail

[Jean Jeanie]

Hi Gail

The first thing that strikes me is the name McHaffie The numerous ways of spelling this are enormous. McAfee, McAffee, Macafee, Macaffee, McAfie Macafie etc etc. Have you used wildcards in your search on SP?

Jean

[momat]

Hi Gael,

A search on SCOTS ORIGINS brings up a ROBERT McHAFFIE
born August 5th 1800
I looked on S P and there is one entry for that year but I have no credits to follow it up.
Maybe some can check it for you.

Cheers

[emanday]

Hi Gail,

Found this on LDS...

Husband - David McHaffie - Birth: < 1762> <Of, , Lanark, Scotland>

Wife - Betty Johnston - Birth: < 1766> <Of, , Lanark, Scotland>

Marriage: About 1787 Of, , Lanark, Scotland

Children

1. Alex'r. McHaffie - Birth: 15 FEB 1807 Rutherglen, Lanark, Scotland

2. John McHaffie - Birth: 19 APR 1809 Rutherglen, Lanark, Scotland

3. Margaret McHaffie - Birth: 01 MAY 1799 Rutherglen, Lanark, Scotland

4. David McHaffie - Birth: 02 FEB 1798 Rutherglen, Lanark, Scotland

5. Robert McHaffie - Birth: 05 AUG 1800 Rutherglen, Lanark, Scotland

6. William McHaffie - Birth: 23 JUL 1801 Rutherglen, Lanark, Scotland

Could this be any help?

[GailKM]

Hi Jean,

I know that I have tried various wildcards on SP but perhaps I just haven't put them in the best places. I will have another look at what I have done in the past and see if there are other combinations that need to be tried.
Thank you for the input.

Gail

[GailKM]

Hi Maureen and Emanday,

The Robert McHaffie born in 1800 is not mine; unfortunately Many years ago (before DC images came online) I ordered and received the DC. This Robert was the widower of 1st Janet Smith and 2nd Agnes Graham Smith.

Thanks for taking the time to look for my Robert.

Gail

[GailKM]

I wish I could find Robert, and yes there are way too many ways to spell McHaffie. I have searched through the IGI, under various spellings, for the birth/christening, but with no luck. It's quite possible that he was christened in one of the other churches of the time.
As Robert's wife and 2 sons returned to England for the 1861 census, I have looked at every death entry index from 1861 to 1881 (and beyond) in England and still can't find a death
Any suggestions

Gail

[Tracey]

Hi Gail

Dont know if you have seen this on http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/search.pl

Deaths Jun 1881
McHaffie Robert (age) 61 Liverpool 8b 38

[GailKM]

Hi Tracey,

Yes, I had seen this entry and it wasn't my Robert There was another researcher who was looking for that individual and obtained the death certificate.

Robert and his wife Janet did not appear to have had a large family; just three boys, all born in Scotland although their christenings have not been found in the OPRs.

Thanks for your help,
Gail

[GailKM]

Well it's been about six years since I first posted my message about my x times great grandfather and I'm not much further ahead. I have still not found him on any census beyond the 1841 English census, nor a confirmable death record.
Not to long ago, I found an indexed death entry for a Robert McHaffie in Tasmania, Australia; however, as the index doesn't provide the names of his parents or whether or not he was married, it's just a "possible".
There is a possibilty that Robert declared bankruptcy just before 1841. Unfortunately, there was another Robert McHaffie who was having some financial difficulties around the same time period...so it's been a bit challenging to fiqure out which is which, or one in the same.
Robert's wife, Janet, is still listed as married in the 1861 and 1871 UK Census, but then listed as a widow in the 1881 UK Census. Based on what I have been able to find, Robert and his wife Janet (nee Finlay) had three sons: David, John Finlay, and Robert (all born in Glasgow). David marries in 1852 in Glasgow, while his two other brothers marry in England.
It might be of import to note that Janet Finlay was the sister of Robert Gilchrist Finlay, a gingham manufacturer in Scotland, who did mention her in his will.

I'm not sure where to turn to next in determining the origins of Robert McHaffie, possibly born around 1805. Any suggestions?

Hoping for some insight,

Gail