Mary Mackay where are you?.....

[fmackay]

Thought I would post one of my brick walls , one which has me baffled and which I have left alone for a while to see if I can find some inspiration.
Mary Mackay born 1873 in parish of Tongue - no problem - have a copy of birth certificate so I know she existed.
Problem is she is not listed a single census with the family - why? I would've assumed she must have died but no - my aunt assures me that she married and had kids. So where is she? I thought perhaps she might've been brought up by other family (huge families all related to each other)but because of her name and area the task left me cold and skint.
I've tried alternative names ( her sister Jessie was born Janet)but can't think what would be used instead of Mary.
Would I have to have a rough date of marriage, death etc to search the records in Edinburgh?
Would be very interested in your thoughts on this one.
Fiona

[JustJean]

Hi Fiona

If Mary's parents are Donald and Hughina then you're correct she is not in the household in 1881! By searching the 1881 census disks for any Mary McKay born within a range to include 1873 as the birth is stated in the IGI.....then this is the only possibility to be her....

Dwelling:
Census Place: Tongue, Sutherland, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203406 GRO Ref Volume 056 EnumDist 10 Page 17
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Christina MACKAY W 66 F Tongue, Sutherland, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Crofter
William MACKAY M 26 M Tongue, Sutherland, Scotland
Rel: Gr Son
Occ: Fisherman
Christina MACKAY M 20 F Tongue, Sutherland, Scotland
Rel: Gr Daur
Dolina GUNN U 15 F Tongue, Sutherland, Scotland
Rel: Gr Daur
Occ: Crofters Daur
Mary MACKAY 7 F Tongue, Sutherland, Scotland
Rel: Relative
Occ: Scholar

Your job now is to figure out if there is a connection!!

Best wishes
Jean

[fmackay]

Hi Jean
thanks for that - I will try and work out what the connection is but with these Mackay's it can a huge task!
I guess by the 1891 she could well have been in service somewhere but again because of her name it's impossible to find out.
Why does the 1881 census not give you the actual census address? Although the parish is tongue, the place they lived is actually another village so there's not telling from the data where this family were in relation to my lot.
thanks again
Great to bounce ideas off someone
Fiona

[JustJean]

Hi Fiona

Not sure why a more explicit address is not given. This is Mary's family and they just have "Tongue" too....

Dwelling:
Census Place: Tongue, Sutherland, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203406 GRO Ref Volume 056 EnumDist 10 Page 15
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Donald MACKAY M 48 M Tongue, Sutherland, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Joiner
Hughina MACKAY M 41 F Tongue, Sutherland, Scotland
Rel: Wife
Alexander MACKAY U 16 M Tongue, Sutherland, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: General Labourer
John MACKAY U 15 M Tongue, Sutherland, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: General Labourer
Jane MACKAY U 13 F Tongue, Sutherland, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Scholar
Janet MACKAY U 11 F Tongue, Sutherland, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Scholar
Alexanderina MACKAY 9 F Tongue, Sutherland, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Scholar
Murdo MACKAY 6 M Tongue, Sutherland, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Scholar
Daniel MACKAY 4 M Tongue, Sutherland, Scotland
Rel: Son
Catherine MACKAY 1 F Tongue, Sutherland, Scotland
Rel: Daur


You'll note they were in the same Enum dist of 10 and only 2 pages separate the households......that is what I would consider in the same neighborhood!

Best wishes
Jean

[Caroline]

? Although the parish is tongue, the place they lived is actually another village so there's not telling from the data where this family were in relation to my lot.
thanks again
Great to bounce ideas off someone
Fiona

Hi Fiona,

Jean just got there before me !

However noticed that this family is just 4 doors away from Donalds family.

Caroline

[fmackay]

Hi Jean and Caroline
Thanks for your replies - that helps a great deal - I know where I am now so I'll get cracking!
Fiona

[JustJean]

Hi Fiona

I have great sympathy for you when it comes to tracing this lot! Thought I'd try to give you a hand and found the birth of Dolina GUNN just to see who her parents were. No prob.....it's William GUNN and Catherine McKAY (as might be expected). But finding their marriage is a bit of twist in that Catherine is married under the given name of Ketty. .....it get's worse though. William Gunn's mother's maiden name is McKay, Catherine (ketty) parents names are both McKay (as in no other maiden name!)....the two witnesses were both McKay's...and why not?....the minster too is a McKay!! You might just never find the marriage of Mary McKAY!!! I can tell you that she doesn't seem to have married in Tongue (that would have been too easy )

Best wishes
Jean

[fmackay]

Hi Jean
That is very kind of you - yes I've struggled with the Mackay's from Skerray for quite some time although I have had a lot of help and quite a lot of success. Just trying to tidy up some loose ends so to speak.
Mary(according to my aunt) married a guy surname Ross!! She didn't say where though!!
thanks again
Fiona

[fmackay]

Good morning
Have just returned from my first visit to New Register House - what a wonderful place! I was in second heaven with all the info at my fingertips
On the second day we were in the dome - , I was truly overwhelmed by the size of the place, looking up to the top and seeing all the BDM's .
anyway I digress
I found my Mary's death(I think), she died at the great age of 102! The only query was her mother is listed as Mary Mackay ms Manson, her father's name and occupation is correct so I'm thinking this is the right person.
Still couldn't find her marriage and searched everywhere but am more than happy with what I found.