Christina Melville - Brickwall

PaulaD · Post by **PaulaD** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 4:42 pm

Hi All,

I'm trying to find out more about my great grandmother Christina Melville.
The information I have at the moment is as follows:-

Born c 1838 Edinburgh
Marriage cert 1856 to James Finlayson states parents Alexander Melville & Helen Given (neither deceased). Her age was given as 18.
Have found her in census 1851 to 1891 and her age remains constant giving a birth year of 1838 and birthplace of Edinburgh.
Death cert 1899 age 61 informant son Archibald. Parents given as ____ Melville and Helen Given (both deceased).

Now my problem is I can't find her birth and have searched SP, Freecen and Ancestry but no sign of her on the 1841 census.
I have her mother Helen Givens birth in 1812 but nothing at all on her father and can't find them in any census either. Have searched for parents deaths too but found nothing. As she didn't say they were dead at her marriage in 1856 there should be some sign of them.

I am hoping fresh eyes will be able to poke a little hole in this brickwall cos its driving me mad

Paula

JustJean · Post by **JustJean** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 7:20 pm

Hi Paula

Does her MC state the mum's name as Helen MELVILLE ms GIVEN...or just Helen GIVEN?? Do you know of any siblings to Christina? Is it possible they were not married and maybe the birth is under GIVEN??? Just looking for options here.......

Best wishes
Jean

PaulaD · Post by **PaulaD** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 7:31 pm

Hi Jean,

MC just says Helen Given but on the other hand hubbie James's mother is down as Janet Marjoribanks. The other marriage on the page has just maiden names too. Just off to check for Given births (hadn't thought of that

)

Paula

PaulaD · Post by **PaulaD** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 7:39 pm

Hi again Jean,

Searched for C*ris* Giv*n, no parents, all records and 1835-40 and nothing unfortunately. Thought you might have cracked it there!

Paula

PS Have never found any siblings either.

JustJean · Post by **JustJean** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 7:56 pm

That would have been too easy I guess! Looks like maybe that registrar had his own way of recording. Easy enough that soon into statutory registration.

Ok..one more question....where is Christina and with whom in 1851?

Best wishes
Jean

PaulaD · Post by **PaulaD** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:53 pm

Hi Jean

In 1851 she was a farm servant age 13 at Westown, Pettain, Lanarkshire Parish number 653. Other occupants were

Thomas Lockie 50 Head farm servant
Catherine Lockie 15 housekeeper
Margaret Lockie 13 scholar
Mary Barrie 19 housemaid
John Drummond 24 farm servant
Robert Howieson 17 farm servant
Robert Scott 21 farm labourer
All born in various bits of Lanarkshire.

There doesn't appear to be any connection with any of them.
The only little snippet I have found was in the 1871 census where Christina and James had a visitor by the name of Christina Given age 64 born West Linton, Peebleshire. Unfortunately I can't find her birth, death nor can I find her in any other census.

Paula

Post by **SarahND** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:23 pm

Hi Paula,
I think your Christina Given from 1871 is the one who is indexed as Christina Levan in 1861

Carmichael Boat Bar, Carmichael, Lanarkshire
Christina Levan, 54, born West Linton, Peeblesshire, Ag Labourer

And here she is in 1851
Hyndfordbridge, Hyndford, Lanark
Tynlylor Givin, 76, head, born West Linton, Peebleshire, Pauper Formerly Farm Servant
Christina Givin, 44, daughter, born West Linton, Peeblesshire
Finlyton Irvine, 4, Grandson, born St Cuthkirk, Midlothian

Are those names for real, or is this just Ancestry?

The grandson was born in Midlothian, like your Christina... hmmm.

Regards,
Sarah

Post by **SarahND** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:47 pm

How's about this for Christina in 1841? The Ancestry transcription of her last name is a bit odd, but there is no person on Scotland's People with the surname Zuain, so I am quite sure that's not what it really is!

1841
Queen Street 15, Edinburgh St Andrew, Midlothian
Mary Bruce, 82, born Scotland
Margaret Bruce, 40, born Scotland
Marjory Bruce, 40, born Midlothian
Helen Lamont, 35, born Scotland, F S
Elizabeth Watson, 29, born Scotland, F S
Eliza Lamont, 9, born Midlothian
Barbara Lamont, 7, born Midlothian
Margaret Bruce, 2, born Midlothian
Christian Zuain, 30, born Scotland, F S

Regards,
Sarah

PaulaD · Post by **PaulaD** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:52 pm

Hi Sarah,

Wow thats fantastic.
Carmichael Boat was where Christina Melville was living when she got married!
And also Christina Givens birthplace West Linton was where my Christina ended up.
So Christina Given has got to be an aunt or something. Trouble is still can't find her birth either.

Had a look at 1851 census on SP and I can understand where Ancestry got those names from. The writing is bad with lots of lines corssed through but I think both father and son are called Fynlator.

Paula

Post by **SarahND** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:56 pm

Hi Paula,

Surely our Tynlylor is this stalwart soul named Pindlayter in 1841?

1841
Dean Village
Edinburgh St Cuthberts, Midlothian
Pindlayter Gavin, 60, born Scotland, Ag Lab
Christian Gavin, 60, born Scotland
Margaret Gavin, 30, born Scotland
Adam Gavin, 20, born Midlothian, Ag Lab
William Gavin, 20, born Midlothian, Ag Lab
Christian Gavin 14, born Midlothian

Regards,
Sarah