Cameron, Inverness - Brick Walls

[Fiona C]

I have been looking again at some of the areas of my family history where I have come up against a brick wall. The most frustrating ones are concerning the same family - my great-grandparents, Isabella and John Cameron. I wondered if anyone has any ideas of how I could move forward on this.

John Cameron b. 16/3/1858 in Tomnahurich Street, Inverness.
Married 26/11/1880 in the parish of Inverness to Isabella Fraser

Isabella was born on 8th January 1863 at 13 Simpson Street, Nairn. Her birth was illegitimate and she was originally registerd as Isabella McDonald (her mother was Anne McDonald). I have her original birth certificate (see below) and the surname Fraser has been added onto it. I presume Anne eventually married a Mr Fraser but have not managed to confirm this. When Isabella died in 1941 only her mother's name was noted on her death certificate. However my middle name is Fraser, which I was told was after Isabella, so she was obviously known by this name.

I have the original certificate of Proclamation of banns for John & Isabella's marriage, which is signed at the bottom by the Minister, that he married them.
The certificates should be viewable here:
http://s1189.photobucket.com/albums/z433/fcrowther/
However, I cannot find an actual record of the marriage. I have wasted a huge number of credits on Scotland's People and have also searched when I visited the centre but have had no luck. Any ideas as to why it can't be found? I was hoping it would give some info on the missing Mr Fraser. I have searched both under McDonald and Fraser for Isabella, although she is shown on the certificate of banns as Fraser.

The next brick wall I have come up against is concerning the first of Isabella and John's children.

My Gran was the youngest, born in 1900, and I knew she had 3 older brothers. I have found details of all of them. However, on the 1891 census for Inverness (see link) the couple are living in Upper Kessock Street with their 2 oldest sons, John & George and an older daughter - it looks like Alexina - aged 9, a scholar. Again I have spent a huge number of credits and searched at the Scotland's People Centre for the birth, marriage or death of Alexina to no avail. She had disappeared by the time of the 1901 census, by which time the family have moved to Glasgow and are listed with 3 sons and my Gran their only daughter.

I don't know whether I am having no luck because the records don't actually exist or just because I am missing something obvious when I have been searching. If anyone can point me in the right direction to solve these mysteries I would be very grateful. I would like to find an actual record of the marriage and I would love to know more about Alexina.

Fiona

[LesleyB]

Hi Fiona

On SP there appears to be an Alexina Cameron born in 1880 in the county of Inverness - have you checked this one out? Seems to be born in Sleat though, which does not quite fit with what one might be expecting....

There is another in 1883, in Kilmallie called alexandrin* Cameron, but name is not Alexandrina - sorry I got fed up playing SP hangman!!
Also, not quite where expected - have you ruled out this one too?

Best wishes
Lesley

[Fiona C]

Yes Lesley, I'm afraid I have ruled those both out. I was very excited about the one in Sleat as it looked quite likely, but when I looked at the entry it was the wrong person!

I did also try searching under the surnames of McDonald and Fraser as I thought that maybe Isabella had an illegitimate child who later changed her surname - although on the 1881 census it is just Isabella and John shown at their address - but again nothing came up!

I wondered if perhaps it was a mistake on the census and Alexina was maybe another relative who had been mistakenly listed as their daughter.

Like you, I spent ages playing "SP Hangman" when I was searching!

Thanks for trying,

Fiona

[nelmit]

One more to try is Alexandrina Fraser born at Inverness in 1882 unless you've already looked at that one.

Regards,
Annette

[Fiona C]

I didn't look at the actual entry for that one Annette, as I felt that if Alexina had been illegitimate she would have to have been born before November 1880, when John & Isabella married. After that date she would surely have been registered as Cameron.

I don't know why there is no actual entry for their marriage though. Especially as I have the original certificate of proclamation of banns signed by the minister, saying he married them. It's all very mysterious (and frustrating!)

Thanks

Fiona

[AndrewP]

Hi Fiona,

it may be worth an e-mail to GROS, attaching a copy of the Banns certificate, asking them to look in their registers, to see if the marriage is there, but has not been indexed for some unknown reason.

Like you, I had a good look for the marriage and births on ScotlandsPeople and came up with no results.

All the best,

AndrewP

[Fiona C]

Thanks Andrew. I think I will do that! I have searched fairly exhaustively and can't understand why there doesn't appear to be a record of the marriage.

Fiona