Finding the right Boyds

[trish1]

My gg grandmother was Janet Boyd, who arrived in Australia with 2 brothers in 1857. Two sisters also arrived at some stage & the death records (and some marriages) give the parents as Peter Boyd and Barbara Kilgour. With this information, plus some notes from family, using the IGI and SP I found
Peter Boyd m Barbara Kilgour 1821 - 2 records, one in Kinghorn & 1 in Abbotshall - Fife. I found baptisms for all of the children who were mentioned in the family records except for the youngest - George viz
Janet 1822 Peter 1824 Betty 1825 Barbara 1828 Robert 1830 William 1832 Hendry 1835 and John 1838. I traced all the children except William (supposedly came to Oz), Peter - said to have gone to US; and George.

Wanting to go backwards, I found possible birth for Barbara Kilgour parents Robert and Janet Ross - Abbotshall Fife - fits the marriage location and the naming patterns.

Possible birth for Peter Boyd - father Peter mother Bety Miln 1791 - Leslie, Fife. Also fits the naming patterns.

I then decided to trace Barbara and Peter through the census, hoping they died after 1855, so I could confirm the parents. I found them all in 1841 in Abernethy Perth. In 1851, I thought I found them with only Henry, John and George at home living in Markinch.
1861 had Peter and Barbara alone in Markinch (both saying born in Leslie)
1871 I found Barbara alone in Leslie

I then found the death certificate for Peter Boyd - died 1869, father Peter, mother Elizabeth Mile BUT wife is given as Barbara Baxter. Ahhhhhhhh
Informant is son Robert (The only child who stayed in the UK that I have traced)

I found a death for Barbara Boyd - 1871 - Miss Baxter - parents given as Alexander Baxter and Helen ?urrer and on SP I find a birth for
Barbara Baxter - parents Alexander and Nellie Currier 1804. The informant for the death is a nephew (difficult to read).

While thinking up various options, I thought to look for a marriage post 1838 (the last date I found a baptism for a child of Barbara Kilgour) and I found a marriage in January 1851 for Peter Boyd and Barbara Baxter.

Thus, am I correct in assuming Barbara Kilgour, was wife 1 & she died before 1851. Any clues as to where I would look for a burial. It would presumably be wife 2 on 1851 census.

Do certificates in Scotland only show the last spouse? In Australia they often show multiple wives. Son Robert would have presumably known his mother's maiden name (he took it as his 2nd name later in life).


Trish

[SarahND]

Hi Trish
I have seen a number of death certificates that list multiple spouses, but have also seen them that only list the last one. So it doesn't prove anything, unfortunately

If you'll forgive me, and I know this was not what your question was about... I just couldn't resist trying to track the children you said you hadn't yet traced. So, here are some census records to entertain you:

George
You said you had already found George in 1851, with his parents, so I checked and George is 9 and was born in Abernethy, Perth

1861
Mid Street, Pathhead, Dysart, Fife
Walter Martin, 30, head, born Wemyss, Fife, Blacksmith
Janet Martin, 23, wife, born Dysart, Fife
James Martin, 2, son, born Dysart, Fife
George Boyd, 19, born Abernethy, Perth, Engine Fitter


Can't find him in 1871, but there is a George Boyd, born in 1841, who died in Kemback, Fife in 1866. could that be him?

************************
Peter
1851
Clunie, Abernethy, Perth
Peter Boyd, 27, head, born Kinghorn, Fife, Bleacher Journeyman
Jane Boyd, 28, wife, born Kirkcaldy, Fife
Peter Boyd, 1, son, born Abernethy, Perth

1861
Baidlin, Kinghorn, Fife
Peter Boyd, 37, head, born Kinghorn, Fife, Toll Collection and Lab on Turnpikeroad
Jane Boyd, 38, wife, born Kirkcaldy, Fife
Peter Boyd, 11, son, born Abernethy, Perth, Scholar
Barbara Boyd, 8, daughter, born Abernethy, Perth, Scholar
William Boyd, 5, son, born Abernethy, Perth
Jane Boyd, 3, daughter, born Brechin, Forfar

By 1871 Peter has disappeared:
1871
Morningside, Kirkcaldy, Fife
Jane Boyd, 49, head, born Kirkcaldy, Toll Collector
Barbra Boyd, 18, daughter, born Abernethy, Perth, Yarn Bleacher
William Boyd, 15, born Abernethy, Perth, Engineer (fitter)

Young Peter appears to be in the home of David Sutherland, an Enginefitter from Caithness:
1871
5 Blackwood Crest, Edinburgh St Cuthberts, Midlothian
Peter Boyd, 21, Lodger, born Fifeshire Abernethy, Scotland. Enginefitter At Works

It looks like Peter died. At least, there is a Peter Boyd, born in 1824, who died in Kirkcaldy, Fife in 1861. Worth a look, I think.
*********************
William
1851
Abernethy S O, Abernethy, Perth
William Garrick, 31, head, born Dron, Perth, Carpenter Joiner Employing 2 men
Elisabeth Garrick, 6, daughter, born Abernethy, Perth, Scholar
William Boyd, 18, boarder, born Kinghorn, Fife, Joiner Ap
James Stark, 15, boarder, born Wellfield, Fife, Joiner Ap

Hmmm. I don't find William in 1861 (perhaps he was in Australia), but could he have come back by 1871? The birthplace is slightly off, but the occupation fits.

1871
Duncans Close, Dysart, Fifr
William Boyd, 38, head, born Kirkcaldy, Fife, Joiner
Euphemia Boyd, 38, wife, born Dysart, Fife
Margret M Boyd, 4 mo, daughter, born Dysart, Fife
Margret Duncan, 42, sister-in-law, born Dysart, Fife, Milner

Here he is in 1891, having changed jobs and got a new wife

Elm Bank, Dysart, Fife
William Boyd, 58, head, born Kirkcaldy, Fife, Inspector of Works
Jane Boyd, 52, wife, born Milnathort, Kinrosshire
Margaret M Boyd, daughter, 20, born Dysart, Fife, Normal School
Euphemia D Boyd, daughter, 17, born Dysart, Fife
James K Boyd, 15, son, born Falkland, Fife, Pupil Teacher
Thomas Davidson, 8, visitor, born Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scholar

Well, that's all I'm good for tonight. Hope someone else comes along and actually answers the question you asked!

All the best,
Sarah

[trish1]

Hello Sarah

Many thanks for all that looking - I almost didn't post as while I was writing down what I had found - the penny dropped as to a second wife called Barbara. I had originally thought I had the family completely upside down.

I agree that William may have come to Australia and returned as I can find no trace of him here. I have found a few "lies" in the family stories, however, so I do like to find everyone to prove them true or not. Many of my relatives reinvented themselves when they reached Australia. Daughter Janet lost about 10 years from her age when she married a man somewhat younger than herself. She was also supposedly sent to Australia to "visit her brothers" and recover from a broken heart - but she was on the same boat with her brothers (then again - this could have been a 2nd trip for the boys - perhaps they all went home for a visit & William didn't return).

So many thanks for the searching. I shall no doubt spend another 6 pounds on SP - at least I can get 7 for the price of 1 compared to English and Australian certificates

thanks again

Trish

[trish1]

Hi again Sarah

Just to let you know 2/3 were spot on. The 1866 George was not my George. Sadly the death index did not include Mother's maiden name so I looked further. He may be a distant relative.

Peter jnr did die not long after the census of 1861. As luck would have it the index did show his mother's name - but I bought the image for the extra details. (I do wonder where the America story came from. The family in UK that our Australian branch kept in contact with - was the family of brother Robert & it was Robert who was the informant in the death of Peter )

I checked for the marriage of William to Euphemia & this is, indeed our William. He was 37 when he married so a trip to Oz may have happened.
Our family records say the family came from Kirkcaldy - the IGI was the first time I saw mention of Kinghorn - but they are not far apart.

I will check England for George - brother Robert went to England so this is possible.

Thanks again for the help - I now have more cousins to find.

Trish

[SarahND]

Hi Trish,
Glad my ramblings paid off! My only other offering for George is a George Boyd in 1870, 35 (too old), born in Scotland, who worked in a Carpet Mill in Enfield, Connecticut Not convinced by him, but at least he could stand in for the one who was supposed to have gone to America
Let me know if he shows up in England.
Regards,
Sarah

[SarahND]

Aha! The Enfield one has the right age in 1880, with a wife named Mary. (in 1870 she was just called "wife" ) so maybe it's him after all.
Got to go to bed now, but that one is looking more hopeful.
Regards,
Sarah

[trish1]

There is also a George in 1880 married to Jane with child John born in Scotland. I think I have found this marriage - George Boyd and Jane Cuddie Falkirk, Stirling with son John born New Monkland. There is a George born in Falkirk at about the right time, so probably not mine. I can't pin down a marriage for George and Mary at the minute.

Nothing I can instantly see in England - I found a George in the navy but he is also there in 1861 when my George is still in Scotland.

Trish

[Caroline]

.
Any clues as to where I would look for a burial.

Hi Trish,

You could see if her death was on one of the Fife Pre-1855 Death Index CDs which are available from Fife FHS or SKS on this site might look it up for you. It would then prove beyond a doubt that there were two Barbaras

Good luck!

Caroline

[Russell]

Hi Trish

I had a look for Barbara Boyd/Kilgour on the pre-1855 Fife record and could not see a match at all
Sorry.

Russell

[trish1]

Many thanks Caroline and Russell for your help - my next thought may be that she died in Perth as in 1841 they are living in Abernethy and the last three children are listed as born there. I haven't found a birth/baptism for the youngest c. 1842 so wonder if she died at the birth or shortly after. One of the older girls perhaps raised the younger ones - until Dad remarried

Trish