Im in OPR territory - HELP !! .....

Post by **Tracey** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 2:28 pm

Afternoon all

My gt x3 William Donaldson - parents James Donaldson Isobel Moggach.
Isobel i have managed to find something out about via IGI. James i know nothing about. I have been told that he was born 1760 Blairman Aberlour. This statement cant be backed up and no parents were mentioned either. Although a lot of mine were long lived i doubt he lasted to 1855

So how do i start to find Williams father ?

Tracey

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 4:03 pm

Hi Tracey
Is this your couple here? Just checking I'm looking at the correct ones as your William doesn't seem to be showing on a simple parent search - maybe there's a spelling blip... should imagine Moggach has its variations!!

from IGI:
JAMES DONALDSON
Marriages:
Spouse: ISABEL MOGGACH
Marriage: 27 NOV 1802 Rathven, Banff, Scotland

(Extracted marriage record )

and kids:
1. JAMES DONALDSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 28 JAN 1805 Rathven, Banff, Scotland

2. JEAN DONALDSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 26 JAN 1806 Rathven, Banff, Scotland

3. HELEN DONALDSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 21 SEP 1811 Rathven, Banff, Scotland

4. JANNET DONALDSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 09 JUL 1809 Rathven, Banff, Scotland

5. Jessie Donaldson - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 1812 Rathven, Banff, Scotland
Jessie Donaldson - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Death: 27 JAN 1878

Ah, is this William?

WILLIAM DONALDSON
Male
Birth: 15 SEP 1819

Christening: 03 OCT 1819 Cullen, Banff, Scotland
Parents:
Father: JAS DONALDSON
Mother: ISOBEL MUGGACK

Have you seen the OPR entry for their marriage? Any clues there?

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **Tracey** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 4:12 pm

Hello Lesley

Yes thats them, minus a few more children.
And no clues (from what i remember) on thiers or any other OPR marriage i have just their names........ in the parish of......... were married

Tracey

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 6:06 pm

Hi Tracey
OK, so area there any sign of any wills or testaments for any of them? You might be lucky. Do kirk session records exist for the parish?

Thats the areas I'd be thinking of checking next, but I'm sure someone else may have other suggestions. The only other thing I can think of off the top of my head is the OPR entries for the births of the children, which may state the James' occupation which would give you something further to identify him by. What about the kids names? Does the order of them give you any clues as to James's parents names, if the Scottish naming pattern was followed (and providing you don't have any kids missing!)

I'll keep thinking...

Best wishes
Lesley

angel · Post by **angel** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 6:10 pm

Hello Tracey

Are they on libinx if not send me the details and I will look tthem up soon for you as the centre is moving to a new building and won't be open until the 16th of this month.

Heather

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 6:41 pm

On NAS (www.nas.gov.uk) these exist:

Rathven Kirk Session
CH2/308/1 Minutes 1716-1736 Minutes 1746-1756 1716-1756
CH2/308/2 Minutes 1799-1828 Accounts 1799-1827
CH2/308/3 Minutes 1828-1857 Accounts 1827-1862
CH2/308/4 Minutes 1858-1895
CH2/308/5 Proclamation register 1918-1956

But the degree of detail in the content could be a bit of a lottery...

There certainly is a James born Aberlour Banff:

JAMES DONALDSON
Christening: 14 DEC 1760 Aberlour, Banff, Scotland
Parents:
Father: JOHN DONALDSON
Mother: ELSPET STUART

but there is also one born 1759:

JAMES DONALDSON
Christening: 17 MAY 1759 Deskford, Banff, Scotland
Parents:
Father: WILLIAM DONALDSON
Mother: HELLEN HILTON

...whose parents names to me look like they have more connection to the kids names in your family, but this is pure speculation at this point! Can you post the full list of kids you have for James and Isobel?

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **Tracey** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 6:47 pm

I was just looking at the kirk sessions and got distracted by rootsweb mailing list

A lot of q.s and im in the middle of my reply to all the above

Post by **Tracey** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:34 pm

phew !

Naming pattern.........Possibly if i knew what pecking order James was ie 1st 2nd ect.........
As far as i know James was the first born son to James and Isobel and if they followed tradition then he would have been named after his grandfather ?
The only ones not on your list are Andrew then William (who you have further down).
Andrew (who according to tradition should have been named after his mothers father David) 1st son was Andrew then James then Alexander
William (should have been James !) 1st son William then Alexander (x2) James, George, Peter and John (x2)

But as you say providing there are no missing kids !

James and Alexander seem to be popular

Post by **Tracey** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:39 pm

No Wills or Testaments for this lot that ive been able to find. James was a Tailor and have been told his son James also followed suit (no pun intended !)

Post by **Tracey** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:57 pm

Hello Heather

You know how much time ive spent on that site

but nothing so far concerning James Donaldson

or his equivellent on the other side - Geddes

Tracey