Jessie Alexander - Family in Sutherland.

Printer · Post by **Printer** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 1:26 pm

Hi,

Hoping that someone might be able to help. I am trying to find the parents/siblings of Jessie Alexander (b 1827 Helmsdale, Sutherland). Some Census entries show Urray.

In 1842 she married Peter Clark (b 1809 Comrie) in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. He was a schoolmaster there. They had 10 children. Peter Clark died 1872 in Glasgow. In 1874 Jessie Clark emigrated to NZ with three daughters: Alice Marion (b 1854), Mary Ann (b 1859) and Georgina (b 1861).

I have recently discovered that Jessie Clark died in Balclutha, NZ in 1892. I have obtained her death certificate, but parents details are blank! Place of birth shows Scotland only. Informant was a son-in-law.

I would like to know more about the Alexander family if at all possible. Thankyou.

Printer

Muriel · Post by **Muriel** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 1:38 pm

Hi Printer

I'm sure someone wil be along soon to formally welcome you to TS. In the meantime here's some ideas about tracing Jessie. If you look on the IGI - go to www.familysearch.org - and put in the name Janet (Jessie is a diminutive of Janet) Alexander, b. 1827 in Scotland you'll find one born in Urray. The entry is an extract, which means that it is taken from the Old Parish Records and should, therefore, be available to view on Scotlands People. This is a pay-per-view site but it quite reasonable - see the Sources tab above - & may give you some valuable information about her.

Muriel

Post by **paddyscar** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 6:40 pm

Hi Printer and a Warm Welcome to TalkingScot

The IGI has Janet Alexander (or Paterson) birth as 01 Aug. 1827, and Christening 10 Sept 1827, Urray, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. This christening record is extracted from parish records and is also recorded in the OPRs on ScotlandsPeople. The church record gives the location of the church, which is often not the same as the place of birth.

Parents are James Alexander and Janet Paterson (IGI). I don't know why her surname is in question, but that might become apparent viewing the ScotlandsPeople record.

The 1841 census only shows one Jessie Alexander aged 10-15, but entering her father's or mother's name as well, yeilds no returns. So she may already have been working away from home as a domestic.

The 1841 census shows James Alexander with a second person forename Janet 25-50 years,all districts, all parishes, as having 21 hits.

The 1851 census shows James Alexander with a second person forename Janet 35-60 years,all districts, all parishes, as having 19 hits.

The 1851 census shows Peter Clark with a second person forename Jessie 23-45 years,all districts, all parishes, as having only 2 hits.

It may be worth looking at the lists to see if Jessie's location could be near any of the James and Janet records?

That may be grasping at straws, but I don't know how high your brick wall is, and how desperate you might be to follow any possible route.

Frances

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 7:06 pm

I'm sure you'll have seen this but this has got to be her in 1841 from FREECEN unfortunately living with neither a Paterson nor Alexander-

Piece: SCT1841/88 Place: Stornoway -Ross and Cromarty Enumeration District: 5
Civil Parish: Stornoway Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: -
Folio: 0 Page: 35
Address: Francis Street

Surname First name(s) Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
KIRKPATRICK Janet F 40 Ag Lab Outside Census County (1841)
ALEXANDER Jessie F 13 Outside Census County (1841)
MCLENNAN Farquhar M 15 Ag Lab Ross and Cromarty

Have you looked at her marriage entry just in case it gives any more info? Like Muriel said maybe the birth entry would also throw some light.

Regards,
Annette

Printer · Post by **Printer** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 8:27 pm

Kia Ora, hello to you all,

Thankyou very much. It never occurred to me that her name was Janet! Anything I have seen, including the death certificate, gives the name as Jessie. That has certainly put a hole in the brick wall.

I have seen the 1841 extract from Stornoway, and after reading your advice, I am wondering, perhaps the Head, Janet Kirkpatrick, might be her mother, who has remarried? Just a thought. Relationships not given in 1841 Census. It seemed odd that Jessie, so young, was living away from home. Different times I know. Then the marriage date also threw me.

As you are probably aware, I am grabbing at anything I can. Having one christian name doesn't help much when searching. But I will follow your suggestions, thankyou. After searching for 16 years, I couldn't believe my eyes in April when I discovered Jessie Clark was alive (until 1892 of course) here in NZ. It was a fantastic feeling. For anyone wanting to search for family in old NZ newspapers, check paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/

I am also so very pleased I found this forum.

Best wishes.

Printer