Hoping for help with a birth lookup...

LesleyO · Post by **LesleyO** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 8:09 am

My great grandmother's sister, Emily Gertrude Thomson, was born in Glasgow in 1850. This is according to the 1850 census, which has her 8 months old in the household of her parents, Alexander Thomson and Emma Jane East.

I have tried to find Emily's birth on Scotland's People, to no avail. I've found my great grandmother Ann Baldwin Thomson (born 6 Oct 1848) and her sister Emma Morell Mackenzie Thomson (born 15 Dec 1843) at SP. Also see from the census that younger sister Helen (Nellie) was born in Gloucester in 1853. But neither Emily nor Helen shows up in SP, and I have used an awful lot of credits looking for them!

There is no chance I can get to the Archives in Scotland, and wonder if anyone could do a search for me. Emma and Ann were both born in Glasgow City; Ann was christened in the Gorbals, Lanark district that I understand was (is?) part of Glasgow.

My great grandaunt Emily Gertrude Thomson was an artist, illlustrator, and painter of miniatures. Among other things, she was a friend of Charles Dodgson (AKA Lewis Carroll) and illustrated the cover of "The Nursery Alice", a version of Alice in Wonderland that he did for very young children. She was known for her drawings of fairies, which were very popular in her time; later on in her life, the family lived in Manchester, England, and the museum there has a collection of her work.

In 1909, she also did a miniature portrait of Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, then aged 9, who later became the Queen Mother. This portrait recently sold at auction.

I really would like to have Emily's birth date for my files.

If no-one is able to assist, could you recommend a professional who doesn't charge exorbitant fees? We are on pension and do not have a lot of money to spend on this project.

Thanks to everyone.
Lesley (Dalrymple) O'Neil
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Post by **Ina** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 10:09 am

Hi Lesley,

Welcome to Talkingscot

I couldn't find her on SP either. The IGI doesn't show a child by the name of Emily born to Alexander Thomson and Emma East. However, the IGI is not always accurate.

The IGI shows:

Ann Baldwin Thomson, female, b. Oct. 6 1848 Gorbals, Lanark
Emma Morell Mackenzie Thomson, female, b. Dec. 15, 1843 Barony, Lanark
William alexander East Thomson, male, b. dec. 16, 1844, Barony, Lanark
Thomson, male b. Mar. 12, 1855, Blythswood, Glasgow, Lanark

Regards,

Ina

Post by **joette** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 1:19 pm

I would check out the 1855 birth as it should give the number of children born to the Mother & how many are still living-you are apt to find there are more children than you have found previously.

As one child was born in England any chance the children's christenings you are missing were performed there?

Welcome to TalkingScot.

Also presume you have checked under various spellings of the surname
Thompson,Tomson,Tamson etc. Spellings were by no means uniforms in those times.

Post by **joette** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 1:38 pm

Had a wee look at the 1855 Birth & it's well worth a look!
Here's the ref.
Thomson-m-Blythswood Glasgow City/Lanark 644/06 0096.
There are three unnamed Thomson's in that period-as it's early on in the year I suppose they didn't want to be fined for not complying with the new Stat Reg.& with this being the seventh child maybe they had run out of names.
It gives Father's age(40) & birthplace (aberdeen) & the fact they have had seven children with 1 boy & 4 girls surviving & 1 boy & 1 girl deceased.
It gives date & place of marriage & Mother's birthplace.
I would also check the deaths in case this wee boy did not survive.
Was this ancestor GGgrandfather working at Glasgow Uni?If so that may be another place to search the Archives.I am going by his title-MA & Professor of Theology(?) that he may have been teaching there??

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 3:32 pm

Every census shows Emily born at Scotland. Ann born 1848 was baptised at Gorbals. Since that was where they were living in 1851, theoretically, Emily should have too.

Ancestry has a very strange transcrition of Alexander's occupation in 1851. From what I can decipher though he could have been a member of a Congregational Church. Could that be why Emily's baptism isn't recorded in the IGI?

Might be worth contacting The Mitchell regarding Alexander.

Regards,
Annette

Post by **SarahND** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 3:59 pm

joette wrote: Was this ancestor GGgrandfather working at Glasgow Uni?If so that may be another place to search the Archives.I am going by his title-MA & Professor of Theology(?) that he may have been teaching there??

Good thing you checked, Joette, since according to Ancestry he's a "Reporter of Thorbeggys Congregabouchet" in 1851

In 1861 he is an Independant Minister, which is a relief

Regards,
Sarah

Post by **joette** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:34 pm

Yes on second look he is a "MA" professor of Theology(Congregationalist)

LesleyO · Post by **LesleyO** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:19 pm

Wow, Ina, nelmit, joette, and SarahND, you've been working on this one! Thanks!

Yes, Emily was born in Scotland as far as any source I've seen states.

Her father was actually professor of theology at the University of Edinburgh. (Why, I don't know, when they lived in Glasgow; presumably this was later on?) I searched City of Edinburgh and her birth doesn't show up there, either.... Yes, I've checked all the surname variants, as well, including using the phonetics. Also checked for whether she may have been listed as just listed as Gertrude. And under just E as well as just G.

Nothing!

Will take a look at the 1855 birth, thanks. Didn't run across that one myself. Off to SP again!

LesleyO

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:44 am

Hello Lesley,

I don’t know whether you’ve covered this ground but thought I’d post it just in case.

Towards the end of an article “Honour to Whom Honour is Due” in connection with Glasgow on pages 62-63 of this Google Book “Evangelical Christendom” published 1849, is a reference to “He was followed by Professor Alexander Thomson, whose subject was "The Pulpit, worthy of the services of the noblest intellect—the rising ministry."
http://www.google.com.au/books?id=GnoAA ... g=RA1-PA62

If you search “Full View” Google Books for

"professor thomson""glasgow""theology"

you’ll find 4 more probably relevant books. You’ll find other possible search terms within those articles.

Is it possible that he wasn’t a teaching Professor at the University of Edinburgh but that he studied and picked up his qualifications there.

Hope this helps,
Alan

LesleyO · Post by **LesleyO** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:50 am

Currie wrote:Hello Lesley,

I don’t know whether you’ve covered this ground but thought I’d post it just in case.

I'd not, so thanks very much!

Is it possible that he wasn’t a teaching Professor at the University of Edinburgh but that he studied and picked up his qualifications there.

Hope this helps,
Alan

Hadn't thought of that, Alan -- another thanks due you!
LesleyO