John Easdon Mary Adam marriage, 1768.....

[ninatoo]

Hi all,

The furthest I have been able to get back is the marriage between Mary Addam and John Erston (according to the IGI spellings) who married at Abbey (Paisley), Renfrew, Scotland on 15 January 1768. At the IGI there is also another entry for Mary Adam and John Airston on 16 January 1768 but at Neilston, Renfrew, Scotland.

I am fairly sure that these entries are for the same couple but would like to know what you all think.

Also I would like to find out how to go further back, because it seems to me that anything from here back would just be educated guesses, as it is too far back for much written evidence. What do you all do when you get to this part of the tree?

Nina

[AndrewP]

The furthest I have been able to get back is the marriage between Mary Addam and John Erston (according to the IGI spellings) who married at Abbey (Paisley), Renfrew, Scotland on 15 January 1768. At the IGI there is also another entry for Mary Adam and John Airston on 16 January 1868 but at Neilston, Renfrew, Scotland.

I am fairly sure that these entries are for the same couple but would like to know what you all think.

Hi Nina,

The two IGI entries extracted from the records for this couple (both in 1768, not one in 1868 as above) should be for the same couple. Almost certain that one was in the bride's parish and the other in the groom's parish. When the OPR images come online you could download each of them. They normally say something like "John Erston of this parish and Mary Addam of xxxxx parish"; and the other "John Airston of yyyyyyyy parish and Mary Adam of this parish". These records are more than likely of the calling of the banns in each parish, rather than the marriage itself.

All the best,

AndrewP

[ninatoo]

Oops! Thanks for that Andrew...yes I knew it was 1768 but I automatically typed 1868 as most stuff is in the 1800's! I have edited accordingly.

So now I can't wait to see the OPR's for this!

What happens now however? Is it just guesswork after that...their parents and further back? Is that what others do? Because I am at a loss as to how to prove anything beyond these two since there won't be death registrations etc available, so I am amazed at how some people have gotten back to the 1600's. What else can I look for to prove my line beyond these two?

Nina

[AndrewP]

Hi Nina,

My own thoughts are, if you have exhausted all available avenues (OPRs, MIs etc) is to accept that is as far as I am going to get tracing that line. Some people are happy to take a guess at a "best fit" answer picked from the IGI and add that into their tree as if it was a fact, but my own viewpoint is not to do that. You could easily be linking to a family with no connection at all to your line.

All the best,

AndrewP

[ninatoo]

Well that is how I feel Andrew...I have tried so far to be as accurate as I can, and so I don't want to add anything I cannot prove and thereby spoil the whole tree!

I can make guesses as to who John Easdon (various spellings) are, but I think it would take more than the IGI records to convince me.

Thanks again,

Nina

[Russell]

Hi Nina

You may be in luck with earlier records where there are middle names or nicknames used. As Andrew says, MIs can be very helpful although dates are not always too accurate.
We were able to track down siblings and used naming patterns to separate out the different family lines.
It can only be an 'educated guess' where precise detail is unavailable but Kirk Session records plus MIs can sometimes eliminate a line as well as pinpoint your direct line.

Its easier for us since we can go to a churchyard or archive and see for ourselves. Sometimes a local archive has additional material that only the local archivist can dig out as we found in Kirkcudbrightshire and Ayrshire.
At least posting possible names and dates here brings it to the attention of everybody and SKS may be in a position to take a look when searching out their own material.
Don't ever give up on a line. We recently got lots on info and a further two generations back from a poster in Oz.

Russell

[ninatoo]

Thanks for the great encouragement Russell,

No I will never give up! With this line, my Easton family, it is the only true Scottish line I have. It is from my dad's maternal grandfather, and for a number of reasons is precious to us. My dad has Easton as his middle name, as did my departed brother. My dad was born 59 years to the day that his much loved grandfather was born...oh and a lot more reasons...you know how it is.

So I want to do the line justice (as we all do)...too important for mere guesswork. One day I will come back to Scotland and do all the footwork required, but for now it is so comforting to know that someone out there might just have a look for me one day.

And as for discovering more...yes, I did that just recently when an unknown son of my great grandfather on another line turned up. You are NEVER finished with this hobby...it is what I love about it.

Thanks again,

Nina

[ninatoo]

Just an update!

I obtained both OPR's and I am sure they are the same couple. The Neilston one is for John Airston of Barrhead and Mary Adams of Roughmuscle (?) in Paisley who gave up their names for proclamation of marriage and it looks like this parish had a 'give to the poor' fee...as all on the page gave something to the poor, John and Mary 1/6...is that the right way to write it?

The Abbey Paisley one says John Erston of "Nether Arthowrly" in the parish of Nilston (sic) and Mary Addam of this parish daughter of William (thrilled with that bit ) I haven't heard of that town before!

At the bottom of this entry it says 16 Instant....any ideas what this means? Others on the page have other numbers preceding the word 'instant'.

Nina

[LesleyB]

Hi Nina

At the bottom of this entry it says 16 Instant....any ideas what this means? Others on the page have other numbers preceding the word 'instant'.

Inst. or instant usually means "of this month", so it refers to a date in the current month.

Best wishes
Lesley

[ninatoo]

Ah...thanks Lesley!

Any ideas why I can't find the towns mentioned in these records on the internet (except for one reference to Roughmuscle which wasn't really helpful)? Oh...the search had to include Paisley, because otherwise it obtained a lot of questionable sites int he results!

Nina