Henry Gordon - where did he go and where did he come from?

JMDPotter · Post by **JMDPotter** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 5:35 pm

I have a Henry Gordon attached to my family tree who just appears on 1881 census

in 1881 he is in Rose Street Edinburgh age 2 and his reletionship to head of house is son others in house are
John Gordon Head 43
Margaret Gordon Wife 36
Elizabeth Gordon Dau 10
Jessie Gordon Dau 7
HENRY D GORDON son 2

In 1891 he is with his mum at 18 Earl Grey Street Edinburgh

Margaret Gordon Head 46
HENRY D GORDON son 12

Margarets maiden name was Drysdale so I am assuming that D stands for Drysdale. I know that there was a daughter Mary Drydsdale Gordon born 5 May 1878 who does not appear on any census birth registered in ST Andrews Edinburgh and as yet I have been unable to find death for her but Henry I can find nothing for he could be Mary's twin and it does say that he was born in Edinburgh on census. Any help would be most appreciated.

Jackie

Post by **SarahND** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:14 pm

Hi Jackie,
Could this be him in 1901?

2 Hampden Pl, Burntisland, Fife
Thomas Downie, 35, born Burntisland, Fife, Coal Trimmer
Elizabeth Downie, 38, Wife, born Burntisland, Fife
Harry Gordon, 24, Lodger, born Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Grocers Assistant

Regards,
Sarah

Post by **SarahND** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:25 pm

JMDPotter wrote: I know that there was a daughter Mary Drydsdale Gordon born 5 May 1878 who does not appear on any census birth registered in ST Andrews Edinburgh and as yet I have been unable to find death for her but Henry I can find nothing for he could be Mary's twin and it does say that he was born in Edinburgh on census.

Could there be a mistake on the birth entry or the indexing and, for example, Harry > Mary? I take it you have Mary's birth cert. Is she definitely entered as female?

Just a thought...
Sarah

P.S. I assume you have checked out the Henry Gordon born 1879 in Canongate, Edinburgh and it is not him?

And also, there are four Mary Gordons, born 1878 +/- 1, who died in Edinburgh City between 1878 and 1881. Have you checked them all?

JMDPotter · Post by **JMDPotter** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:59 pm

Hi Sarah

Thankyou for taking time to reply. I have viewed both Mary's birth record and the census in Register House I did think that Henry could have been Mary but the census definately says Henry and now that you have found him with the Downie family I am certain they are two different people Margaret Drysdale's mum was Elizabeth Downie and they all come from the FIfe area so he must be staying with relies I have yet to uncover.

Now I know that he was alive in 1901 I can start a search from there to see what else I can find, his birth must be registered somewhere I must be looking in all the wrong places although I have been in register house about a dozen times looking for him but none of the births for any Henry Gordon's match.

As for Mary's death I think that I have searched all the Mary Gordon's in reg house I am so glad that today we do not tend to give our children "family" names there are so many Mary, Henry, Jessies and Margarets in my tree that I am confused

Thankyou once again

Jackie

Post by **SarahND** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:14 pm

Hi Jackie,
Certainly an elusive one, your Henry! Maybe you can find his marriage and/or death and learn something more from those certs.

Good luck!
Sarah

speleobat2 · Post by **speleobat2** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:19 pm

Hi Jackie,

Makes you long for a nice Basil or Shaylene, doesn't it?! I have 29 Isabellas and counting in my tree!

SP has a death cert. for Henry Drysdale Gordon 1917 Fife. Have you checked that one yet?

Carol

JMDPotter · Post by **JMDPotter** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:19 pm

It certainly does not help that Henry can change to Harry at the drop of a hat and then others drop their first names and fill in forms using middle names. I bet they are all all laughing at us now.

Jackie

Post by **AndrewP** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:07 pm

Hi Jackie,

I've had a look at the birth certificate indexed as Mary Drysdale Gordon (female). The writing is a bit scruffy, he is listed as male. Closer examination shows him to be Henry Drysdale Gordon (male).

See http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-1815

All the best,

AndrewP

Post by **SarahND** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:10 pm

=D> Thanks, Andrew!
That's one fewer person to go hunting for. A contact form should be sent to SP so others can find him in the future.

Regards,
Sarah

JMDPotter · Post by **JMDPotter** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 9:19 pm

Andrew

Thank you, I have downloaded that image and looked at it quite a few times and have always saw it as Mary how daft am I lol it clearly has male in the sex column. I have spent so much time looking for a marriage of death for somebody who doesn't even exist and for the birth of Henry that I am nearly on first name terms with the staff at Reg House. Well I can now scrub Mary from my tree and concentrate on Henry whereabouts after 1901 Thank you ever so much

Jackie

TalkingScot.com

Henry Gordon - where did he go and where did he come from?

Henry Gordon - where did he go and where did he come from?

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