Lewis McDonald and Elspet McGregor

John Bird · Post by **John Bird** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 4:20 am

Hi

I am trying to find the marriage date of Lewis McDonald and Elspet McGregor which I believe to be about 1803-1805 in Banffshire. Lewis was born/chr on 20 February 1788 in Parish of Kirkmichael Banffshire. Their only child that I am aware of is Charles McDonald my great x3 grandfather born/chr on 21 July 1807 in Parish of Kirkmichael Banffshire. It is probable that Lewis had earlier married an Elspet Stuart in late 1790s as there are 2 children George (bn/chr 12 June 1800)and John (bn/chr 21 June 1802) to Lewis McDonald in Parish of Kirkmichael Banffshire.

I would also like to find the date of birth/christening of Elspet McGregor.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

John Bird

trish1 · Post by **trish1** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:00 pm

Hi John

Just to mention if Lewis was born 1788, he was unlikely to be the father of children baptised 1800,1802. Sorry, just checked the IGI, the birth of Lewis is given as 1778 so I assume this is the one meant. There is another child Ann born to Lewis and E. Stuart in 1804. I am wondering if the two Elspets could be the same person - who was either married prior to marrying Lewis & was unsure which name to use OR a mistake was made in the register (or index) when Charles was baptised.
There are a couple of Elspet Stuarts born around the right time in Kirkmichael on the IGI - but I didn't see a McGregor. (Apart from Elizabeth McGregors in other parishes of Banff)

Trish

John Bird · Post by **John Bird** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 4:15 am

Hi Trish

Thanks for your response.

My mistake regarding birthdate of Lewis McDonald. He was born in 1778.

I am fairly confident that Lewis married twice, firstly to an Elspet Stuart. I have a copy of their son John's death certificate of 21 June 1873 which states his mother was an Elspet Stuart. My great x 2 grandfather Charles McDonald born in 1807 in Parish of Kirkmichael and married Isobel Duncan on 17 November 1830 at Cabarch ABD. On their marriage certificate it shows that Charle's parents were Lewis McDonald and an Elspet McGregor.
I am confident that Lewis and Elspet Stuart had a least 3 children- George bn 1800, John 1802 and Ann 1804 (thanks for that information as I was unaware of her existence). It would appear that Elspet Stuart may have died shortly after Ann's birth and Lewis married Elspet McGregor closer to 1806 than the 1804 I had originally thought.

So the mystery remains when did Lewis marry his two wives.

regards

John

trish1 · Post by **trish1** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:48 am

Hi John

Sorry I was not alot of help with your mystery (glad I found something extra

). Given that he had 3 small children, I am sure Lewis would have remarried quickly if his first wife died. It might be worth checking for any burial records on the register/film for Kirkmichael - somewhere there is a link where you can check if any burial records exist - I will look for it

Trish

Edit: Just found the link, no burials for Kirkmichael

http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/famrec/h ... r-cov.html

John Bird · Post by **John Bird** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:20 am

Hi Trish

Thanks for your assistance. It maybe that Lewis died in Aberdeenshire. I cannot find any reference to Lewis or Elspet McGregor in the 1841 Banff census. I just realised that it wasn't Charles McD and Isobel Gordon's marraige certificate that referred to Elspet McGregor but Charles' birth/baptismal certificate. So they could have died anytime between 1808 and 1841.

Will keep searching.

regards

John