Kirk Session Minutes Help

Moray_Lass · Post by **Moray_Lass** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 9:23 pm

Thanks for that Sarah

I pursued this John Symon and Georgina Chisolm marriage and unfortunately this isn't my John Symon - his father is John Symon - possibly the John Symon mentioned in LibIndx, where I'd expect mine to be John Young or blank and Margaret Symon on the marriage certificate.

The 1901 census entry I found isn't my John Symon either, I thought he might have been with his paternal grandparents, but this one is with his parents.

So all I have is John's birth in 1891 and a story. He didn't marry or die in Scotland under the Symon name (or *ymon, I have to use on SP

)

I discovered a fifth child born in 1985 and died in 1900 who didn't have a Kirk Session entry either.

So I am back to scratching my head over this generation.

Post by **SarahND** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 10:13 pm

Hi Maggie,
Could this be the other John, or is this one yours?

1901
Blackhill Farm House, Dyke, Moray
John Milton, 30, Head, born Keith, Banffshire, Farm Grieve
Jane A Milton, 26, Wife, born Keith, Banffshire
John Symon, 12, Nephew, born Huntly, Aberdeen, Scholar
Alexander Ross, 29, born Rafford, Elginshire, Ploughman
Henry Findlay, 20, Servt, born Portsoy, Banffshire, Ploughman

As for the parents' names on the marriage cert, I wouldn't dismiss it too quickly. I have seen before where an illegitimate child changed the father's surname to make it look like they were legitimate. What name did the cert give for the mother?

Regards,
Sarah

Moray_Lass · Post by **Moray_Lass** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 11:39 pm

Thanks for that Sarah.

Just ran John Milton through LibIndx and found him married to a Jeanie Ann Symon, so unfortunately this John Symon isn't mine either.

The parents of John Symon from the Symon/Chisolm marriage is James Symon (deceased) and Mary Mair, just checked. So unless he changed his mothers name too...

And if he did how could we be sure?

I just bought my second lot of credits today and did another search on SP for John Symon's death with a wider range and found him - died at 6 months, weeks before the Kirk Session that I discovered him in.

So the emigrating was just a story told to a teenager.

I am sorry for the wild goose chase.

Post by **SarahND** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 11:43 pm

That's the first time I've heard "emigrated" as a euphemism for death!

But I guess it's appropriate!

Cheers,
Sarah

Moray_Lass · Post by **Moray_Lass** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 2:00 pm

Just goes to show you that your shouldn't put any faith in 'family stories'

If he did have a brother, John, who emigrated, it must be on his father's side - who I can't identify

Thanks for your help

Moray_Lass · Post by **Moray_Lass** » Mon Nov 03, 2008 12:23 pm

Hi I have another Kirk Session question now.

Anyone know what the proceedure between Kirk Sessions was? I have a GG Granny called before the Deskford Kirk (where she was working) and once it was settled, it was refered to in the Bellie Kirk Session Minutes where I found it (home). Would it be normal practice to tell other parishes and would the father's Kirk have record of it too? I am wondering if this is a way to prove who the father was. I have a likely suspect based on proximity, but as I would really like to trace this line to the present day to prove/disprove another family 'story' I'd like something a little more solid.

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Mon Nov 03, 2008 1:46 pm

Hi Maggie
As far as I'm aware, the Kirk Sessions did communicate a fair bit about parishoners...so if a kirk member from one parish was brought before the kirk session, but he or she actually belonged to another parish, I would not be at all surprised if the "home" parish kirk session were informed of any wrongdoings.

Have you seenthe actual entries? If not, there may some more detailed information to be gleaned from them, depending on the style and detail of the minutes.

Best wishes
Lesley

Moray_Lass · Post by **Moray_Lass** » Mon Nov 03, 2008 4:06 pm

Hi Lesley

Yes this all started because I got to NRH a couple of weeks ago and got the print offs - sadly the Deskford (I keep wanting to type Deskirk, which is what we call it locally

) Minutes don't survive to cover this (1863-5), and all I have is a quite long entry in 1865 in the Bellie records saying they had seen the Deskford Minutes. GG Granda held out for nearly two years before admitting paternity

I think the Deskford Minutes would have been a gold mine

So I am going to put on my list for whenever I next get down to Edinburgh checking the three Alexander Symon's parishes, hopefully one will have an entry that pins him down. Don't want to go accusing the wrong one

Post by **Anne H** » Mon Nov 03, 2008 4:38 pm

Hi Maggie,

Also look in the NAS catalogue to see if their might have been more than the Kirk Session Records such as a 'Defence' from the father. I have one from Larbert Kirk Sessions that lasted about two years then a distant cousin found more goodies in the NAS 'Bill Chamber Processes, Old Series', Reference CS271 a rather lengthy document in defence of the father. If there is something like this, it might give you a bit more information.

Regards,
Anne H

Moray_Lass · Post by **Moray_Lass** » Mon Nov 03, 2008 5:38 pm

Thanks Anne, that is a good tip. Unfortunately the surviving Deskirk Records stop at 1858

Bellie Minutes makes reference to a Deskford Discipline book (I think - it is at home), which doesn't seem to have survived at all. But maybe this Bill Chamber Processes or something similar will have something I can use, I will search the NAS catalogue at home tonight.