McKelvies in Arran and Ayrshire

David Lang · Post by **David Lang** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:43 pm

Hi

I am wondering is anyone else looking for McKelvie’s from Bute/Ayrshire , specifically Arran and Ardrossan, Salcoats Areas.

I can get as far back as Isabella McKelvie who marries Robert Brown in Ardrossan on 31st December 1852. OPR States that they are both of that Parish at that time. Robert I know is from Dundonald.

On the 1861 Census they are living in Dundonald, Isabella is Listed as being born in Brodick , Arran. She is aged 28, giving rough Birth year of 1833.

Isabella die sin 1869 in Dundonald, age on her Death Certificate is 38 suggesting a birth date of 1831. Her Father is listed as Archibald McKelvie and Catherine , the maiden surname is unclear.

In 1871 the youngest son and the oldest daughter Catherine (Age 12) and Archibald (Age 2) are staying with their maternal Grandmother in Raise Street Ardrossan , Catherine is aged 71 and is lasted as born in Arran , also there is Mary McKelvie a daughter of Catherine born in Arran aged 41 and Thomas Bell , Grandson aged 20 born Saltcoats. I assume Thomas to be Mary’s son. The other 2 children Janet and Daniel are staying with their Father and Paternal Grandmother in Dundonald.

By 1881 , Father Robert is dead, older sister Catherine is married to Robert Glen , Archibald is now living with her, Janet has disappeared ( although there are numerous Jnaet Browns in Ayrshire that fit Bill) , Daniel is listed as a Baker and is staying in Ardrossan with an Aunt Janet Dickie.

Janet Dickie is aged 47 and born in Brodick, Arran . Her maiden name was McKelvie. She was married twice first to Matthew Sims , in 1865 in Ardrossan and later to Robert Dickie in 1878 in Ardrossan. On both marriage certificates parents are Archibald McKelvie and Catherine Davidson.

Janet McKelvie dies in 1882 aged 48 , her Death Certificate is signed by her Brother James McKelvie, who is resident in Port Glasgow. In the 1881 Census James is stated as being born on Arran aged 45.

I am trying to find birth dates for the children and if there is any other children , and where they might have disappeared to

David

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:55 pm

Not quite sure which direction you want to go with your McKelvies but here they are in 1841 from FREECEN. Lots of siblings there.

Piece: SCT1841/576 Place: Ardrossan -Ayrshire Enumeration District: 9
Civil Parish: Ardrossan Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: Ardrossan
Folio: 9 Page: 17
Address: Drake-Myre, Saltcoats

Surname First name(s) Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
MCKELVIE Archd M 40 Agricultural Labourer Outside Census County (1841)
MCKELVIE Cathrine F 40 Outside Census County (1841)
MCKELVIE Daniel M 15 Outside Census County (1841)
MCKELVIE Neil M 13 Outside Census County (1841)
MCKELVIE Isabella F 10 Outside Census County (1841)
MCKELVIE Janet F 9 Outside Census County (1841)
MCKELVIE James M 7 Outside Census County (1841)
MCKELVIE Wm M 4 Ayrshire
MCKELVIE David M 2 Ayrshire

kind regards,
Annette M

David Lang · Post by **David Lang** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:45 pm

Thanks for that Annette

I am just trying to establish , first of all the parents , then to try and track the various siblings down through the years.

This has been a troublesome area of my tree for a wee while now, but we seem to be off and running now

Post by **SarahND** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 6:24 pm

Hi David,

By 1851 Archibald has died, so can't get his exact birth place, but Catherine is still there. Unfortunately, they all are indicated as having been born in Saltcoats, although in 1841 all but the youngest were born "outside census county"

But as you have the later censuses which give the correct birthplaces, it doesn't really matter.

1851
Drakemyre Street 52, Saltcoats, Ayrshire
Catherine McKelvie, 53, Head, born Saltcoats, Ayrshire, Sewer
Isabel McKelvie, 20, Daughter, born Saltcoats, Ayrshire, Sewer
Jannet McKelvie, 18, Daughter, born Saltcoats, Ayrshire, Sewer
William McKelvie, 14, Son, born Saltcoats, Ayrshire, Scholar
David McKelvie, 12, Son, born Saltcoats, Ayrshire, Scholar
Archibald McKelvie, 9, Son, born Saltcoats, Ayrshire, Scholar
Thomas Bell, 1, Grandson, born Saltcoats, Ayrshire

Brodick is in Kilbride parish, Bute, and two of the children can be found there in extracted christening records from the IGI:

CATHERINE MC KELVIE
Christening 18 FEB 1832 Kilbride, Bute, Scotland
Father: Archibald McKelvie
Mother: Catherine Davidson

MARY MC KELVIE
Christening: 23 OCT 1827 Kilbride, Bute, Scotland
Father: Archibald McKelvie
Mother: Catherine Davidson

The odd thing is, these are two children who we don't see with their parents in 1841 and 1851

This looks to be one of the parishes that only has female births in the online IGI. However, Daniel's birth/christening is on Scotland's People on 1 Dec 1825 in Kilbride parish.

The marriage of Archibald and Catherine is not in the IGI, except for two submitted records, both giving the date of 15 MAR 1825, one in Kilbride, the other in Kilmory

The one in Kilbride appears to be there on that date on Scotland's People. So, if you haven't done so already, I'm afraid the next step is to fork out a bit of cash to Scotland's People and download the OPRs...

All the best,
Sarah

Post by **SarahND** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 8:32 pm

Hi again,

To try to track the children... I don't find Daniel in 1851-- perhaps he died

Then again, I don't find James, either and he resurfaces in 1861 so maybe there's hope.

Here is Neil:

1851
Loudon St, Dundonald, Ayrshire
Neil McKelvie, 25, Head, born Avrar, Bute Island of, General Labourer
Janet McKelvie, 26, Wife, born Dresham, Ayrshire

From the IGI:

Niel McKelvie married Janet Wyllie on 31 Dec 1850 in Dundonald, Ayr

In 1861 he claims to have been born in Whiting Bay, Buteshire, which is south of Brodick. I assume this is the right Neil?

If so, he has plenty of children for you to trace

1861
Halfway St, Dundonald, Ayrshire
Neil McKelvie, 35, Head, born Whiting Bay, Buteshire, Carter
Janet McKelvie, 36, Wife, born Dreghorn, Ayrshire, Carter's Wife
Alexander McKelvie, 9, Son, born Irvine, Ayrshire, Scholar
Janet McKelvie, 7, Daughter, born Irvine, Ayrshire, Scholar
James McKelvie, 5, son, born Irvine, Ayrshire, Scholar
John McKelvie, 3, Son, born Irvine, Ayrshire
Isabella McKelvie, 9 Mo, Daughter, born Irvine, Ayrshire
James Ritchie, 52, Lodger, born Irvine, Ayrshire, Fisherman
John Duonion, 22, Lodger, born Irvine, Ireland, Flesher
Andrew Forbes, 27, Lodger, born Ayr, Ayrshire, Blacksmith

Here's James in 1861, back in the same street as the family in 1841:

1861
Drakemire St, Saltcoats, Ayrshire
James McKelvie, 25, Head, born Arran, Buteshire, Silk Weaver
Martha McKelvie, 28, Wife, born Ireland
Catherine McKelvie, 6, Daughter, born Saltcoats, Ayrshire, Scholar

Note that Catherine in 1861 has yet another grandchild with her:

1861
Raise St, Saltcoats, Ayrshire
Catherine McKelvie, 62, Head, born Kilbride, Buteshire, Dressmaker
Thomas Bell, 10, Grandson, born Saltcoats, Ayrshire, Scholar
William Hall, 8, Grandson, born Saltcoats, Ayrshire, Scholar

Okay, time for dinner

Cheers,
Sarah

q98 · Post by **q98** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:44 pm

I was born and raised in Saltcoats. Your "Drakemire" Street is most probably "Drakemyre" Street which was renamed Vernon Street.

Jim McCreadie
Fremantle
Western Australia

David Lang · Post by **David Lang** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:09 pm

Thanks to all for the information.

Its Interesting about the 2 Children in the OPR but not in the census, i see the problem and Daniel and Catherine couls so easily be morphed into other names but McKelvie shouldnt be too hard to track down !!!!

Had James' marriage but not Neil's so again a whole host of relativee to investigate , and no doubt a host of problesm to encounter.

I wonder what happened to Mary between 1841 and 1871 , i suspect a Grandparent may be out ther elurking with the children.Mary Dies in 1876 unmarried.

I used my last credits to Check Thomas Bell's marriage certificate IN 1875 and 1881 census info. he lists his father as Thomas Bell (Seaman) and Mother as MARY McKelvie no mention of maiden surname , so i am assuming he illegitimate??? He was also living in Govan at this time.

1881 he is south Kiscadle with wife and 2 children , born in saltcoats

Need to investiage the second Grandchild , suspect this to be Mary's as well

Post by **SarahND** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:23 pm

Hi David,
Here's a follow-up on Thomas Bell. He appears to have died between 1891 and 1901. I'm confused by the seemingly identical Margarets in the Ancestry transcription for 1901. Was her maiden name Hardie on the marriage cert?

1891
19 Back St, Dalkeith, Midlothian
Thomas Bell, 42, Head, born Ardrossan, Ayr, Labourer (General)
Margaret Bell, 38, Wife, born Strathmiglo, Fife
Thomas W Bell, 14, Son, born Saltcoats, Ayr, Butchers Messenger
Charles G Bell, 12, Son, born Glasgow, Lanark, Scholar
David G Bell, 7, Son, born Falkland, Fife, Scholar
Christina G Bell, 3, Daur, born Letholm, Berwick

1901
3 Gowrie Place, Hawkhill, Liff and Benvie, Angus
Margaret Hardie, 47, Wife, born Strathmiglo, Fifeshire, Grocer & Provision Merchant
Margaret Bell, 47, Wife, born Strathmiglo, Fifeshire, Grocer & Provision Merchant
Thomas W Bell, 24, Son, born Saltcoats, Ayreshire, Carter
David G Bell, 17, Son, born Falkland, Fifeshire, Van Boy
Christina M Bell, 11, Daur, born Berwickshire
Maggie L Bell, 8, Daur, born Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scholar
Ellen T Bell, 7, Adopted Daur, born Edinburgh, Edinburghshire, Scholar

Whose child do you suppose Ellen is?

Lots of fun with this group!
Regards,
Sarah

David Lang · Post by **David Lang** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 10:01 pm

Hi Sarah

Thomas wife's maiden name was Hardie on the marriage certificate , daughter of Charles and Chrisitna Gould, guess that what the G in th emiddle name stands for !!!

Ellen havent a clue and 2 Margaret's of the same Age on the same census!!

I knew this was going to be problematic!!!

Post by **SarahND** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 10:07 pm

David Lang wrote: I knew this was going to be problematic!!!

Interesting, is the word