Alexander Rankine

[chenrezig]

I am trying to trace the Birth Entry in the OPR's for my three times Great-Grandfather Alexander Rankine.

I have found him on the 1841 Scottish Census as living at Auchterderran in Fife, occupation as Coal Miner, and aged 50 which by my reckoning he was born circa 1787-1791 but if I read it right he was not born in Fife which means I have about 20 Alexander Rankines to choose from. I have found his marriage entry in the OPR - he married a Janet Simpson 16 Nov 1814 in Edinburgh. He does not appear on the 1851 census - his wife is now a widow. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I could narrow them down?

[Russell]

Hi Chenrezig

The 1841 census always poses problems since it tells where folk weren’t born rather than, as in later censuses, where they were born.
One approach might be to look at areas outside Fife where there were concentrations of coal mines. Around that time many mines were fairly shallow as deep mines were dangerous from collapse and lack of mechanical ventilation. Prime search areas would be Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and, of course the Lothians. At least that way you would narrow down possible locations.
Since the marriage was in Edinburgh that would be a fair indication to me at least that Lothian would be a good starting point.
Miners had been released from their indentures by that time so were free to choose an employer and mine. Several of my family moved from Ayrshire and from Lanarkshire to the coal fields in Fife although this was the mid-1850’s.
Have you used wildcards in your search since there are several variants on the names Rankine and Simpson
If you need some guidance on this try our advice at
viewtopic.php?t=10334

I forgot to welcome you as a first poster here on TalkingScot.

Have a look at the other headings and guidance we offer at the start of the Index as there are are a few, only a few, topics and recent event records which we are not able to offer help on,
Apart from those we are a fairly relaxed, helpful bunch who don't consider questions as stupid or simple, or too hard to tackle.

Good luck and we hope you come up with some interesting queries.

Russell

[IRankine]

I just came across this message. He is also an ancestor of mine. If you still have not found his birth entry I may be able to help. Contact me at irankineATtelus.net

Ian Rankine

e-mail address modified (AT = @) to bamboozle spammers . Russell

[Russell]

Welcome to TalkingScot Ian

Chenrezig has not been on site for a four years so may not get notification of your post. If they still use the same e-mail address you could try our PM -personal message to get in touch. The PM button is just under the members name on the right hand side of their posts.

Fingers crossed for a successful contact.

Russell