Emily Grant - Aberlemno & Montrose, Angus, Scotland

caljam371 · Post by **caljam371** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:26 pm

I have been searching for information on my Great Great Grandmother, Emily Grant, b. abt1855, Aberlemno, Angus.

From Emily's marriage and death certificates I know she was born around 1855 to William Grant and Jean or Jane McHardy. The marriage certificate does not state that her parents had died but in the 1861 census she is a lodger with a family called Gordon at Muirside of Melgund, Aberlemno, this is also where she married. I cannot find any trace of her parents in the 1861 census.

I have been in touch with a decendant of the Gordon family but they could not shed any light on this.

By the 1871 census Emily is a servant at Auldbar Castle (close to Aberlemno) as is her future husband Alexander Spence (b. June 1852, Brechin, Angus).

Emily and Alexander married in 1874 (a son was born a year earlier in Perthshire - odd???)

There were the following children:
William b. abt 1873, Prisie, Perthshire
Alexander b. abt 1876, Lunan, Angus
Emily b. abt 1879, Lunan, Angus
Isabella, b. 1882, Montrose, Angus
Ethel b. abt 1888, Montrose, Angus
Robert b. abt 1893, Montrose, Angus

Emily died in 1933 in Montrose.

The problem is I can't find any trace of Emily's birth, her parents marriage or any siblings.

Any ideas would be appreciated!

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 9:47 pm

Hi caljam371
...and a warm welcome to Talking Scot

From what I'm seeing on the marriage of Emily, it looks to me as if her parents were not married. (her mother's name is not expressed in the form of Jane Smith m.s. Brown, that you would expect if they were married - see the other marriage on the same page where this is the format) That may explain both why no marriage has been found , or any siblings.

Alexander's parents look to be in the same boat!

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **SarahND** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 9:49 pm

Hello there! Welcome to Talking Scot

Since William Grant is a common name, do you have any other details that could help us out? What was his occupation according to Emily's marriage and death certificates? It would be nice to find him in 1851 and discover his place of birth, to begin with. Have you found the parents in any census at all?
All the best,
Sarah

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 9:54 pm

Hi Sarah
William was an Innkeeper & farmer according to Emily's marriage. Jean McHardy was given as a farm servant.

Banns were acording to Established Church, so looks like no irregularities to explain a missing birth there!

The witnesses, interestingly enough were both Gordons: what looks to be Chas. & Elizabeth

Emily is married at, and stated as residing at Muirside of Melgund - I suspect that might be the Gordon residence on the census.....
Alexander's residence is stated as Lunan, and his occupation was coachman.

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **SarahND** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 10:08 pm

Well, in that case, here's a possible Jean in 1851... a servant in the Grant household

Although no William in sight. The Vintner occupation goes nicely with the Innkeeper theme

South Side East High Street
Forfar, Angus

Elsper Grant, 69, head (female), born Meigle, Perthshire, Vintner
James Grant, 32, son, born Forfar, Forfarshire, Flesher
Jean Grant, 26, daughter, born Forfar, Forfarshire, Assestant
Jean McHardy, 21, Servant, born Kerkden, Forfarshire, House Servant

Regards,
Sarah

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 10:26 pm

Hmm... that Jean in the Grant household is looking pretty good, Sarah....In 1881 here are Emily & husand in Montrose:

Market Street, Montrose, Forfar, Scotland
Alex. R. SPENCE M 28 M Head, Coachman, Brechin, Forfar, Scotland

Emily SPENCE M 26 F Wife, Aberlemno, Forfar, Scotland

William G. SPENCE 8 M Son, Blairgowrie, Perth, Scotland

Alex. SPENCE 5 M Son, Lunan, Forfar, Scotland

Emily E. SPENCE 2 F Daur, Lunan, Forfar, Scotland

John SPENCE 23 M Brother, hairdresser, Brechin, Forfar, Scotland

Best wishes
Lesley

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 10:42 pm

I'm sure this is very far fetched and it certainly doesn't help find Emily's birth but make what you will of this.

1881 census -

Dwelling: Slochnacraig Cottage
Census Place: Kirkmichael, Perth, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203507 GRO Ref Volume 370-2 EnumDist 1 Page 1
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Jane MC HARDY U 48 F Glenshee, Perth, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Housekeeper
Jessie LAMOND U 9 F Glenshee, Perth, Scotland
Rel: Dau
Occ: Scholar

When I checked for the birth of Jessie I found this -

JESSIE ANNE LAMONT OR MC HARDY Female

Event(s):
Birth: 18 AUG 1873 Crathie And Braemar, Aberdeen, Scotland

Parents:
Father: WILLIAM LAMONT
Mother: JANE MC HARDY

1851 Census (from FREECEN)-

Piece: SCT1851/183 Place: Craithie & Braemar -Aberdeenshire Enumeration District: 1
Civil Parish: Craithie & Braemar Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: -
Folio: 152 Page: 5 Schedule: 21
Address: Bovaglie

Surname First name(s) Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
GORDON Donald Head M M 79 Farmer 600 Acres Of Grazing Aberdeenshire - Crathie
GORDON Donald Son U M 39 Cattle Dealer Aberdeenshire - Crathie
GORDON James Son U M 25 Employed On Farm Aberdeenshire - Crathie
GORDON George Grnson U M 10 Scholar Aberdeenshire - King Edward
KELLAR John Servnt M M 45 Farm Servant Aberdeenshire - Strathdon
MCHARDY Jane Servnt U F 24 House Servant Aberdeenshire - Strathdon
MORGAN Jessie Servnt U F 14 Errand Girl Aberdeenshire - Glenmuick
MCPHERSON Alexander Visitr U M 25 Sadler Perth - Perth City

I found a Jane McHardy whose mother's name was Anne so ...................
how about this

ANN MC HARDY
Event(s):
Birth: 07 OCT 1855 Crathie And Braemar, Aberdeen, Scotland

Parents:
Mother: JANET MC HARDY

As I said all very far fetched and these names are pretty common in that region but I think her birth entry might be worth a look.

Regards,
Annette M

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 10:45 pm

Hi
Just noticed on IGI, only the mother is given for the birth of William - perhaps Alexander is not the father of William?

WILLIAM GRANT (extract)

Event(s):
Birth: 15 JUL 1872 Persie, Perth, Scotland

Parents:
Mother: EMILY GRANT

Best wishes
Lesley

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 10:49 pm

Could not resist a wee peek on SP. No father given for William.....

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 11:01 pm

It took me so long to insert my post I've just seen Sarah's input which makes mine seem all the more unlikely.

Regards,
Annette M