"Disappearing" Mcnicols.....

[LesleyB]

I've completely lost track of a couple (well, three and a bit actually!) of Mcnicols and wondered if anyone could provide some inspiriation as I've been banging away at this one for a while now with wildcards all over the place!
Problem areas are marked with

Last seen in the 1881 census as follows:
(Parents were Daniel Mcnicol who d. 1872 and Susan Davie who d.1867 - the children are living with their "Auntie Janet" )
Dwelling: No 492 Paisley Road
Census Place:Govan, Lanark, Scotland
Source:FHL Film 0203681 GRO Ref Volume 644-14 EnumDist 3 Page 1

Archd. MC NICOL, U, 25, M, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Rel:Head, Occ: Commercial Clerk Unemployed (b.1855, did not marry, Died 11 May 1881)

James MC NICOL, U 24 ,M, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Rel:Brother, Occ:House Factors Clerk (b. 1857 m. Annabella a.k.a Annie Isabella Dick in 1890 in Edinburgh, died 1926 Bearsden, but can't find in 1891 census. Caught up with him again in 1901 though, so not a major problem, just a minor niggle!) )

Daniel MC NICOL, U, 19 , M, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Rel:Brother Occ:Builders Clerk ( b. 1861, no sighting after 1881 census)

Alexr. MC NICOL, U 17, M, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Rel:Brother Occ:Ship Brokers Clerk (b. 1864, no sighting after 1881 census)

Janet MC NICOL, U, 48 , F, Bonhill, Dunbarton, Scotland
Rel:Aunt (sister to Daniel who d. 1872, Janet was b. July 1830 Bonhill, so age not accurate on this census - should be 50, parents were Arch. Mcnicol and Mgt. McKenzie, no sighting after 1881 census.)


background info:
In 1871 the family was at Eastwood 562 En dist 12 page 27, no.107, 8 Elgin Villas:
Daniel Mcnicol H wid 45 Master Mason, employing 12 men, 2 boys and 3 [labourers?] born Bonhill
Archibald son un 15 scholar
James un 14 scholar
Maggie dau un 13 scholar, (Margaret died 1878, did not marry)
Daniel son un 9 scholar
Alexander son 7 scholar
William son 5, born Eastwood (died in 1875),
Jennatt, aunt(! sister surely?), un 30***, (should be 40ish?) housekeeper, Bonhill
*** just noticed I've typed age wrongly - Jennatt is noted as 38, not 30 as I stated.

In 1861 they were in Barony Parish, 644/8 en dist 72, page 15
17 Elderslie Street, (Anderston) (9 families at same number)
Daniel Mcnicol H M 36 Mason and Builder, born Dumbartonshire
Susan Davie, Wife, M 33, born Dumbartonshire,
Archibald Mcnicol son aged 5 scholar, born Glasgow,
James Mcnicol aged 4 born Glasgow,
Margaret Mcnicol aged 2 born Glasgow
- they also had a daughter Susan who was born 1853, died in 1855 and was buried at the Southern Necropolis, Glasgow.

I'd be very grateful for ANY help with this one, as Daniel, Alexander and "Auntie Janet" just seem to disappear after the 1881, and I've spent a fortune on likely looking marriage, census and death entries with no success. There are no family story "clues" to help out with this one either.

Best wishes
Lesley

[LesleyB]

Additional info:
I thought for a bit that Alexander (b.1864) had appeared as a witness to the marriage of his niece, the daughter of James McNicol and Annabella Dick in Bearsden 1927. Alexander would have been 63 at time of the marriage (if he was still around?) and would have perhaps been a good "stand-in" for her father James McNicol who had died the year before. It states A.B. McNicol as a witness,but the address given is that of (by then) widow Annabella/Annie Isabella McNicol and I suspect it may just be a mis-representation along the lines of: Anna Bella McNicol and in any case, Alexander's birth entry in 1864 contains no middle name.

Someone at NAS suggested the valuation rolls, so I will be following this up on my next visit there. It may at least show if they were still at the same address after the 1881 and who took over as head of household following Archie's death.

However - if anyone can suggest ANYTHING else I might follow up I'd be very grateful. They can't just disappear!!!!!

Best wishes
Lesley

[JustJean]

Hi Lesley

Doubtful this will be any help at all but there is one fact you've stated that is bugging me. The assuming Janet has to be a sister and cannot be an aunt to Daniel. Do you have absolute proof that she can't be an aunt to him? The reason why I ask is that there is a death entry in 1898 for a Jane McNicol who was "abt. 67", single, formerly domestic servant, and died in St. Georges Rd. Milton District (literally I would say as there is also an RCE notation). The informant was a policeman so I really wonder how he could have known who her parents were??? Anyhow they were named as Andrew McNicol and Jane Ramsay both deceased of which the IGI spits out nothing and neither is there an SP death for Jane Ramsay McNicol .....so....I'm really clutching at straws.... but then there isn't another closely likely Jane(t) McNicol on the 1881 census other than the "aunt" with your family.....

Have you found Daniel and Janet on 1841 or 1851 Census records?

I'm still thinking...but it's really been too hot to do much of anything here today... k

Best wishes
Jean

[LesleyB]

Hi Jean
Thanks for your reply and thoughts.

Census info-
Here's what I have for the 41:
1841 Bonhill En.Dist 10 page 3
looks like Rochartness? = Ruchetmoss
(There is a burn called Ruchetmoss burn - place names nearby fit with later census: near Nairn Cottages)
Archibald McNicol age 50 (i.e. between 50 and 54) , Ag.Lab, no, (=NOT born in County i.e. Dunbartonshire, but in Scotland [suspect 1792 Aberfoyle on IGI based on names, dates etc. but no actual proof ], died 1847, buried Bonhill, occupation: carter)
Margaret 40 (i.e. between 40 and 44), no, (but she was?! Not in PARISH, but in County of Dunbartonshire - Cursnoch, Roseneath...parents were Janet McCunn and John McKenzie)
Donald 16 Mason App. Yes, (born as Donald, later known as Daniel - parents names confirmed on death entry)
John 14, Smith App. Yes,
Janat 10, Tearer? Teaser? yes,
Margaret aged 6,
Archibald aged 4

1851 I only have Daniel's mother and brother:
Bonhill: 493 en dist 7 page 33, line 7
_ns Land, (probably Buntins Land, follows on from Nairn Cottages 2 pages back.)
Margaret Mcnicol 51, head, widow, born Roseneath (died 1856 buried Bonhill - age at death on Scot. People was incorrectly transcribed, given as 36 instead of 56 as registrar wrote his 5s like 3s - have advised them of birth, marriage etc. said they'd correct it)
Archibald son age 14 Ap.Smith, born Bonhill.

I suspect Daniel is in Barony Parish by 1851. I have a CD of the 1851 census index for Dunbartonshire and I've not found him on that - he was married on 2nd December 1852 in Barony Parish. Don't know where Janet was by that date - possibly also in Glasgow. I've checked the 1851 Dunbartonshire disk -and no sign. I'll look the disk out and check again though.

I agree I have assumed it is "Auntie Janet" in the 1871 - it was based on the fact that the children are with her in the 1881 census. And have just noticed I've typed her age wrongly in 1871 - Jennatt is noted as aged 38, not 30 as I stated, so this ties her in as being the correct Janet - sister to Daniel, aunt to the children.


I agree the Jane Mcnicol you found is a bit strange and have not discounted it as a possibility. The age is about right. I don't know what to make of that one. The only angle I can think of that I've rather ignored is that the three of them, Auntie Janet, Daniel and Alexander left the country! (or Auntie Janet died as "Jane", above and the other two went) Thats one of the reasons that not finding James in the 1891 is annoying. I'd like to check where he was and who he was with apart from his new wife. Perhaps they are all hiding from me in the one household!!

Still doesn't explain the apparent absence of deaths for them though.

Best wishes
Lesley

[LesleyB]

Update:
At NAS today I discovered that Daniel and Alexander were still alive in February 1885 (along with James, but I knew about him) and they were all still at 492 Paisley Road at that date. The document at RD5/2006 involved the "children" the youngest of whom, Alexander, was now "of age" discharging the trustees who were appointed by their father Daniel in his will.

As the residue of the estate was split 3 ways between James, Daniel and Alexander they had a reasonable amount of money each, so I suspect they may all have gone their separate ways at this point... but that can maybe be proven one way or another at a later date with the Valuation Rolls.

No mention of Auntie Janet, but I doubt that there would be in this kind of document.

Best wishes and thanks to anyone who is still following this!!

[LesleyB]

At NRH today I found a reference to a death in Marine Records:

022MR ent.212
no.1770 Ship: Sardhana
official number: 87421
date of arrival 28/3/1887
date of death 18/3/1887
Alexander McNicol, male, 23, able seaman
nat: Glasgow, last place of abode: Glasgow
death cause:dropsy, member of crew.

The age at which this Alexander died is "spot-on" for Alexander McNicol b.1864. In the 1881 he was a Ship Brokers Clerk and my last sighting of him is in a legal document in 1885, so he was still alive then. Could this be the same guy? Is it way too far fetched that a Ship Brokers Clerk would end up as an able seaman? Its a bit of a change in career direction.

Does anyone know how I find out more about the record above? Is there ANY way to cross-reference the Marine Record? Ideally if I can check parents' names or even find an address for the above Alexander this would be a big help. I'd like to follow this one up and find out if he is, or isn't, the missing Alexander McNicol. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Best wishes
Lesley