John Campbell

[quests]

Hi all, This is my first posting, so hope I get my spelling correct!

I have a John Campbell who was born in 1831 (not confirmed) but died in 1904 (confirmed) He was a fisherman and I am assuming that he was born in Campbeltown. He was married on the 07/03/1850 to a Christina McTaggart and he and his family are on the 1861, 1871, 1881 and 1891 census for Campbeltown.

My query is that I am trying to find both sets of parents and further back if possible.

Is anyone searching the same family, or offer some advice please.

[WilmaM]

Hi Quests
Welcome to talking Scot.

If you have comfirmed that your man died in 1904, you will have his death certificate?
On it will be his parents names his and thier occupations and his wife or widow's name. Plus perhaps a son as the informant.

If you dont have this information it can be downloaded from Scotlandspeople website - the official Scottish records site.

There you should also find his and his parent's marriages and birth - after 1855 plus records from before 1855 if they were registered by the Church of Scotland.

It is a pay per view site but good value and the only source of these documents.

Having the family on censuses are good for a wider picture.

[JustJean]

Wilma is right about searching for the deaths on SP. Scottish records are the best when it comes to quantity of information contained within them.

Here's a boost to help you find the death of Christina....you'll find it indexed on SP like so:

1909 CAMPBELL CHRISTINA MCTAGGART F 79 CAMPBELTOWN /ARGYLL 507/00 0062

This states her parents names and confirms her hubbie John has pre-deceased her.

Best wishes
Jean

[JustJean]

Have you considered this household for the 1851 census?

I'm thinking that perhaps ancestry has it all wrong...or perhaps even the enumerator has it all wrong....but my hunch is that the 60 years old Christina is the mother of John and perhaps the 17 year old Christina is his wife. Since John has a "reputed father" on his DC then it looks like his mum might never have married. Perhaps the other members are siblings or cousins to John..... all conjecture at this point but surely it bears some deeper research!!!

Name: John Campbell
Age: 23
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1828
Relationship: Son
Mother's Name: Annabella
Gender: Male
Where born: Campbelton, Argyll
Parish Number: 507
Civil parish: Campbeltown
County: Argyll
Address: High St
Occupation: Fisherman
ED: 2
Page: 6 (click to see others on page)
Household schedule number: 29
Line: 14
Roll: CSSCT1851_108
Household Members: Name Age
Annabella Campbell 54
Christina Campbell 60
Christina Campbell 17
John Campbell 23
Catherine Campbell 12
James Campbell 15
Neil Campbell 10

Best wishes
Jean

[quests]

Jean,
Many thanks for the information. I am getting confused with the birth date of Christina, and now John Campbell.
If you look at my 1861 census, you will see what I mean.

1861 Census High Street Campbeltown
Campbell John 30 Fisherman
Campbell Christina 29
Campbell John 9 Scholar
Campbell Mary 8 Scholar
Campbell William 7 Scholar
Campbell Christine 4
Campbell Neil 2

1871 Census 46 High Street Campbletown
Campbell John 40 Fishman
Campbell Christina 39
Campbell Christina 14
Campbell Neil 12
Campbell Margaret 9
Campbell Catherine 7
Campbell Agnes 5
Campbell Flora 3
Campbell Charles 9mn

Comparing this information with yours, the dates do not tally, and what's more, FamilySearch.org show the following:

Christina McTaggart Pedigree Female
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Event(s):
Birth: 17 JUN 1829 Of, Campbeltown, Argyll, Scotland

Christening:
Death:
Burial:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parents:
Father: Alexander McTaggart Family
Mother: Christian Shaw

Now it gets interesting! I suppose I am going to have to buy some credits and sort it out.

Thanks again for your help.

Regards.

[JustJean]

Well that is what conjecture gets you......hints in the right direction but not always the correct answer Basically you'll just need to buy a view of the original 1851 census on SP and it's fine to go ahead and search on Annabella to get to the right page...but you'll quickly see that it's not her household that interests you. Matter of fact Ancestry has muffed up the household entirely as 60year old Christina doesn't even belong there!!!!! Shes in the household just above......but keep looking up and just above that is your John age 20 and wife Christina McTagg age 19!!

As for the parents of Christina per IGI being Alexander McTaggart and Christian Shaw. I guess you already know that is not what her DC states. The IGI is a match on age and the DC info was provided by a son. Until you prove otherwise you should stick with the son but believe me they have been known to get their grannies way wrong before!!!

There is only one Chris* McTag* on the 1841 that fits and she's an orphan....

Name: Christine McTaggart
Age: 12
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1829
Gender: Female
Where born: Argyll, Scotland

Civil parish: Campbeltown
County: Argyll
Address: Saddel Street
Occupation: Orphan
Parish Number: 507
Household Members: Name Age
Janes McGregor 68
Margaret McGregor 58
Christine McTaggart 12

I'm working on a theory at present that would make this household of folks possible older siblings or half siblings to Christina as I have the death of a Charles in 1879 age 64 at the poorhouse and his parents are given as Charles and Christina mn Stalker.

Civil parish: Campbeltown
County: Argyll
Address: Georges St
Occupation: Labourer
Parish Number: 507
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Neil McTaggart 29
Charles McTaggart 26
Mary McTaggart 19
Margt McTaggart 16

Not making much headway on it yet though.....

You might consider a trip to Edinburgh to try out the new research Centre there so you could maximise your access to the records. It's starting to look like the whole of Cambeltown has the potential to be relatives

Best wishes
Jean

[JustJean]

Ummm...just one other point I forgot to make....on that 1851 census page where you'll find John with new wife......that Christina Campbell age 60 that didn't fit in the household below.....well you should take a close look at the name of the chap she's living with/married to and then take a close look at the DC of your John in 1904 where it states parents names.

Best wishes
Jean

[JustJean]

Just to add a bit of credibilty to the reputed father angle......this could be your John Campbell in 1841....

1841 CENSUS

Civil parish: Campbeltown
County: Argyll
Address: Main St

Household Members: Name Age
Neils McGibbon 55
Christina McGibbon 35
John McGibbon 12

But don't ask me to explain the ages!!!!!!

This family deserves much more time than I have to give at the moment

Best wishes
Jean

[quests]

Jean,
I have not got the death certificate, it's the one thing that I will have to get sorted out sooner than later.

Regards.

[JustJean]

The death records are really the place to begin and both are easily viewed and downloaded from the www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk website. If you purchase the minimum 30 credits you'll have enough to buy both John and wife Christina's and also the 1851 census page and still have some left!

If you're not familiar with using the website please just yell and we'll talk you through it.

Best wishes
Jean