Ross.....

[Bertha]

Help!!!
I have just been into NRH and had a fruitless search for the birth of my gr gr grandfather Robert Ross, so far I have the following info
Robert Ross m Margaret Robertson 1872
Children James Ross, John Ross, Margaret Campbell Ross (my gr gran) & William
Margaret senior passed away 1882
Robert m Mary Jones 1883 in South Leith (this info from childrens bcs but no trace of this marriage at NRH) they had 3 children, Robina, Robert & David.
Robert passed away June 1891
On his marriages he gave his parents as John Ross & Margaret Primrose.
Have found at least 3 siblings, Ellen Primrose Ross (who married John McVicar), Elizabeth Ross who according to the 1881 census was born in Broxburn West Lothian (someone also has submitted this info to the LDS site) Elizabeth married William Taylor and lived at 8 Tennant St Leith according to the 1881&1891 census, she was the informant on Margaret Ross's death cert, Elizabeth died aged 58 in 1897 still living at Tennant St.
In 1881, Robert, Margaret & family are living at Giles St Leith, he gives his birth place as Tain, occupation maltman. (I may have found him lodging with a leith family in the 1871 census).
In 1891 census he Mary and family are living at 112 Kirkgate Leith and Robert is now a Marine Fireman/Stoker.
After Robert's death, Mary brought up all the children, the 2 eldest James & John had by this time left home, she then met and married John Keegan.
I know it might be a shot in the dark but is this familiar to anyone out there? Do you belong to this family?
Any hints on where I should look next!
All the best
Bertha

[LesleyB]

I'm not sure when you think your Robert was born but a couple of thoughts spring to mind having had a similar "missing" birth.

If your Robert was from Tain, is it possible his family were Free Church Members? If so, he will not be in the OPRs. Between the Disruption in 1843 and the introduction of Statutory Registration in 1855 (which seems a possible time for Robert to have been born if he married in 1872) anyone who was with the Free Church will NOT appear in an OPR. Try CH3 at National Archives of Scotland as it is possible his birth might have been recorded by the Free Church. I know there are records for Fearn Parish and Logie Easter.

Also, you probably know this already, but having a Ross in Easter Ross is a bit like having a Smith elsewhere, but, er, ...worse! In the 1851 Fearn Parish census as far as I remember, over 40% of the people living there had the surname Ross!

Best of luck!
Lesley

[LesleyB]

Hi Bertha
Went off and checked! Yes, it seems some records do exist at NAS which might be worth checking:

CH3/748 Tain Free Church, United Free 1843-1936

Best wishes
Lesley

[Bertha]

Thanks Lesley. It doesn't appear the records are searchable online so I guess that's a wee trip into see the folks at the East End of Princes St.
By the way I too have Goalen in one of my lines, can't remember which one of the top of my head but will dig around a bit.
All the best
Bertha

[LesleyB]

Hi Bertha
Nah, not searcheable on line. If you are lucky though, you will be able to see the original document. That's a real thrill. Not a film or copy!

However, NAS have digitised a lot of documents now and they can be viewed using "Virtual Documents" at NAS on their PCs. I reckoned that since you were talking about being at NRH that a trip next door was "do-able"!

Goalen? Brilliant. Probably the same lot. As far as I'm aware, although at one time there seem to have been quite a few families in Fife and Midlothian called Goalen there only seemed to have been one family who survived, based in and around Leith after around 1780-1800ish. I know who ALL of them are after 1855 - BD & Ms. Not at all sure what happened to the others in Fife and Midlothian - either they all had girls who married, died out due to not marrying or succumed to the many spelling variations and became Gullans, Guillans, Goolens, Gollans etc....

Do let me know who your Goalen is when you find him/her.
Best wishes
Lesley

[Bertha]

Ross update.
Had a look at the Free Church archives but no trace of my family.
However, in at NRH one evening last month and getting very frustrated, I decided to look for Robert Ross's father John's death cert by keying in his name and just hitting every John Ross from 1855 on - Eureka not long after I started this, a John Ross appeared at the top of a page, death registered in Dean & Morningside (way other side of town from Leith!), I couldn't believe what I was reading and got my friend to check. Yes I found him, the death cert didn't show a wifes name but I knew it was my John as the death was registered by John Primrose his brother-in-law!
But this unfortunately would seem where my search ends as there were no parents names given.
There is another puzzle I would like to solve concerning the certificate though, it would appear John died in Tyncastle Police Depot on the 18th of June 1856 of injuries he received to the chest. There is no RCE notation on the certificate. I would like to follow this up, does anyone know how I can get a hold of the police records, I have looked on Scottish Archives with no luck. It also gave burial info, he is buried in Dalry cemetry which I pass almost everyday does anyone know who I contact to get some info on this.
Many thanks
Bertha

[AndrewP]

Hi Bertha,

It also gave burial info, he is buried in Dalry cemetry which I pass almost everyday does anyone know who I contact to get some info on this.

The cemetery records for Edinburgh are held in the office at the back of Mortonhall Crematorium. You can view the lair books there and they have maps of the lairs for the cemeteries. As their facilities are limited, you should phone ahead and make an appointment if you want to visit there. (There is limited parking at the back of the building if you prefer not to be amongst the mourners.)

• Cemetery Records Office
  Mortonhall Crematorium & Cemetery
  Howdenhall Road
  Edinburgh
  EH16 6TX
  
  Tel: 0131 664 4314
  Fax: 0131 664 2031

All the best,

Andrew Paterson

[DavidWW]

Bertha

There was some confusion in the early years as to whether the RCE process applied only when it was necessary to correct information, or also to add information.

I'd doubt that the police records exist, but try NAS (for possible procurator fiscal and sheriff court records), Edinburgh District Library, and Lothian & Borders Police archivist.

Even then, your best source is probably Edinburgh newspapers, the Edinburgh Library again or the National Library ............ There has to be a good chance or a para or two on such a story...............

David

[Bertha]

Andrew and David thanks for the guidance will do both on my next days of in Oct. Really curious to know why he was in Police Station, could it have been an early derby between the Hibees & Jambos, makes you thinks!
Regards Bertha

[LesleyB]

Hi Bertha
Pleased to hear you found something on your John Ross. That's great. Hope you find something more illuminating about his death.

Best wishes
Lesley