Monday, July 18, 2016

Scottish Marriage Records Reveal Family Secrets!

Sample Scottish Statutory Marriage Record from ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk
If you have Scottish ancestors, you will be pleasantly surprised at the bounty of information available in a Scottish marriage record.  Images of statutory marriages from 1855 to 1940 are available to view on ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk. A digital image is a scan of the microfiche copy of the original register page containing the entry in which you are interested. It therefore contains the same information you would normally see when looking at the actual record. 

My client, Lynn Fleming, asked me to research her Scottish ancestor, John A. Mackie.  His profile is available on her public tree at Ancestry.com at the following link: John A. Mackie profile.  I sent Lynn instructions on how to share her tree with me and make me an editor.  This enables me to evaluate the information that she had already compiled on her Scottish ancestor.

The marriage event on the profile of John Mackie stated that he married Mary Weir on July 2, 1868 in Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland. There was a note that stated that they were married in the United Presbyterian Church by Rev. W.R. Thompson.  This very specific information about the minister and the church was apparently based on a marriage record that was not yet attached to the family tree.  Marriage records from the United Kingdom and Ireland typically give at least the name of the fathers of the groom and the bride and therefore would be quite helpful as a source of information. 

Further research on the marriage record on the page for Greenock, Renfrewshire at the Family Search Wiki provided additional information about how to locate the names of ministers and the names of the churches they served.  Here is further information about the church and the minister:

Greenock is a seaport town in Renfrewshire, on the left bank of the Firth of
Clyde, 22 miles west of Glasgow, and 16 from Paisley...
[LIST OF CHURCHES includes:]
SIR MICHAEL STREET. [Name and perhaps location of the church]
This congregation originated in the want of church accommodation in Greenock.
Supply of sermon was afforded to the persons taking interest in the movement by
the Relief Presbytery of Glasgow in September 1806. First church built 1807…
[INCLUDED IN LIST OF MINISTERS]
William Reid Thomson, previously of Glasgow (Regent Place).
Admitted 3d June 1863. Author of "The Friend of Christ Asleep, a Discourse on
occasion of the Death of the Rev. James Law, of Kirkcaldy."

SOURCE: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873.

The records of this church are available on microfilm as follows: Microfilm Number 0889485; Item 8: Church records, 1839-1861; Author:   St. Michael Street Relief Church (Greenock, Scotland)

A marriage record was found on the Scotlands People website.  A transcript of that marriage record follows:

1868 Mackie, John Anderson to Weir, Mary [Statutory Marriages Volume 564/03, Marriage Number 0135, Image generated 15 July 2016 from ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk.

TRANSCRIPT:
Page 68
1868 Marriages in the West Parish of Greenock in the County of Renfrew
No. 135
When Where and How Married: 1868; On the second day of July at 8 Ann Street, Greenock; After banns according to the forms of the United Presbyterian Church
Signatures of Parties; Rank or Profession, whether Single or Widowed and Relationship (if any):
GROOM-(signed) John Anderson Mackie, Blockmaker, journeyman, (Bachelor); Age 21; Usual Residence: 8 Ann Street, Greenock
BRIDE-(signed) Mary Weir, Domestic Servant, (Spinster); Age 20; Usual Residence: 8 Ann Street, Greenock
Name, Surname, and Rank or Profession of Father -- Name and Maiden Surname of Mother
PARENTS OF GROOM: John Mackie, Coal Miner and Helen Mackie, Maiden Surname: Anderson
PARENTS OF BRIDE: Archibald Weir, Sugarhouse labourer and Anne Weir, Maiden Surname: Rusk or Leisk [Spelling unclear] (Since there is a daughter of John Mackie and Mary Weir with the middle name Lusk it is presumed that the correct spelling would be Lusk.)
If a regular Marriage, Signatures of officiating Minister and Witnesses.  If irregular, Date of Conviction, Decree of Declarator, or Sheriff's Warrant
(Signed) W.R. Thomson Minister of Sir Michael Street Church
(Signed) D. Mackie, Witness
(Signed) Euphemia Skinner, Witness
When & Where Registered, and Signature of Registrar.
1868 July 2nd at Greenock; H. Macmillan, Assistant Registrar

As you can clearly see, this marriage record is packed with family secrets that were previously unknown to Ms. Fleming.  All of this information was added to her Mary Williams Family Tree on Ancestry.com.


The following records were added to the family tree and digital copies were made for her:


John Anderson Mackie was found in the 1871 Scotland Census as follows:
Name: John Mackie
Age: 24
Estimated birth year: abt 1847
Relationship: Head
Spouse's name : Mary Mackie
Gender: Male
Where born: Dalry, Ayrshire
Registration Number: 564/2
Registration district: Greenock East
Civil Parish: Greenock East
Town: Greenock
County: Renfrewshire
Address: 13 Crescent St
Occupation: Ship Block Maker
ED: 10
Household schedule number: 120
LINE: 19
Roll: CSSCT1871_98
Household Members:
Name Age
John Mackie 24
Mary Mackie 23
John Mackie 1
Source Citation
Parish: Greenock East; ED: 10; Page: 21; Line: 19; Roll: CSSCT1871_98
Source Information
Ancestry.com. 1871 Scotland Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

This census record was taken in 1871, three years after the marriage had occurred.  They have one child named John.  The family is still residing in Greenock, the same city where the marriage was performed in 1868.  His birthplace matches with Dalry and his occupation of Ship Block Maker matches the occupation in the marriage record.


John Mackie, Sr., father of John Anderson Mackie, was found in the in the 1861 Scotland Census as follows:
Name:     John Mackie
Age:         37
Estimated birth year:      abt 1824
Relationship:       Head
Spouse's name :  Helen Mackie
Gender:   Male
Where born:        Kilbirnie, Ayrshire
Registration Number:     587
Registration district:       Dalry
Civil Parish:         Dalry
County:    Ayrshire
Address:  Kilbirnie Station
Occupation:         Coal Pit Foreman
ED:           14
Household schedule number:     58
LINE:        18
Roll:         CSSCT1861_84
Household Members:    
Name      Age
John Mackie        37
Helen Mackie      35
Jenat Mackie       16  [This is probably Janet or Jeannette]
John Mackie        14  [This is our subject ancestor, John Anderson Mackie]
David Mackie      11
Robert Mackie    7
James Mackie     5
William Mackie  1
John Crawford     22
Source Citation
Parish: Dalry; ED: 14; Page: 13; Line: 18; Roll: CSSCT1861_84
Source Information
Ancestry.com. 1861 Scotland Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
Original data: Scotland. 1861 Scotland Census. Reels 1-150. General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland.

This census record matches with the approximate age of John Mackie, Sr. and his wife Helen Anderson and their son John Anderson Mackie.  The family is in Dalry which is the known place of birth of John Anderson Mackie.  The occupation of John Mackie, Sr. here in the census is Coal Pit Foreman which matches with the occupation given in the marriage record of Coal Miner.

The identification of John Mackie Sr. and Helen Anderson as the parents and location of Beith for the marriage is further confirmed by the marriage record as follows:

John Mackie  in the Scotland, Select Marriages, 1561-1910
Name:     John Mackie
Gender:   Male
Marriage Date:   14 Dec 1844
Marriage Place:  Beith, Ayr, Scotland
Spouse:    Helen Anderson
FHL Film Number:           1041335
Source Information
Ancestry.com. Scotland, Select Marriages, 1561-1910 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
Original data: Scotland, Marriages, 1561-1910. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.

The family continued to reside in Dalry, Ayrshire in 1871 as shown in this census record:

John Mackie, Sr. in the 1871 Scotland Census
Name:     John Mackie
Age:         48
Estimated birth year:      abt 1823
Relationship:       Head
Spouse's name :  Helen Mackie
Gender:   Male
Where born:        Kilbirnie, Ayrshire
Registration Number:     587
Registration district:       Dalry
Civil Parish:         Dalry
County:    Ayrshire
Address:  Laigh Auchengree Kilbirnie Holm
Occupation:         Grocer Or Sub Tose Master
ED:           14
Household schedule number:     85
LINE:        5
Roll:         CSSCT1871_108
Household Members:    
Name      Age
John Mackie        48
Helen Mackie      46
Robert Mackie    17
James Mackie     15
William Mackie  11
Ann Mackie         9
Helen Mackie      5
Malcolm Black    5
Source Citation
Parish: Dalry; ED: 14; Page: 21; Line: 5; Roll: CSSCT1871_108
Source Information
Ancestry.com. 1871 Scotland Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.
Original data: Scotland. 1871 Scotland Census. Reels 1-191. General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland.

John Mackie, Sr. was found in the 1881 Scotland Census as follows:
Name:     John Mackie
Age:         58
Estimated birth year:      abt 1823
Relationship:       Head
Spouse's name :  Helen Mackie
Gender:   Male
Where born:        Kilbirnie, Ayrshire
Registration Number:     587
Registration district:       Dalry
Civil Parish:         Dalry
County:    Ayrshire
Address:  Paton & Browns (Old) Land
Occupation:         Sub Post Master
ED:           14
Household schedule number:     108
LINE:        3
Roll:         cssct1881_183
Household Members:    
Name      Age
John Mackie        58
Helen Mackie      56
William Mackie  21
Annie Mackie      19
Helen Mackie      15
Source Citation
Parish: Dalry; ED: 14; Page: 26; Line: 3; Roll: cssct1881_183
Source Information
Ancestry.com. 1881 Scotland Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.
Original data: Scotland. 1881 Scotland Census. Reels 1-338. General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland.

John Mackie, Sr. was found in the 1851 Scotland Census as follows:
Name:     John Mackie
Age:         28
Estimated birth year:      abt 1823
Relationship:       Head
Spouse:    Helen Mackie
Gender:   Male
Where born:        Kilbirnie, AYR
Parish Number:   587
Civil Parish:         Dalry
Town:      Den
County:    Ayrshire
Address:  1 Shedden's Row
Occupation:         Coalminer
ED:           4
Page:       37
Household schedule number:     132
LINE:        18
Roll:         CSSCT1851_130
Household Members:    
Name      Age
John Mackie        28
Helen Mackie      26
James Mackie     6 [This should be Janet.  The entry shows the child as a daughter.]
John Mackie        4
David Mackie      1
Source Citation
Parish: Dalry; ED: 4; Page: 37; Line: 18; Roll: CSSCT1851_130; Year: 1851
Source Information
Ancestry.com. 1851 Scotland Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
Original data: Scotland. 1851 Scotland Census. Reels 1-217. General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland.


John Anderson Mackie was found in the 1910 United States Federal Census as follows:
Name:     John A Mackie
Age in 1910:        63
Birth Year:           abt 1847
Birthplace:          Scotland
Home in 1910:    McAlester Ward 6, Pittsburg, Oklahoma
Race:       White
Gender:   Male
Immigration Year:          1879
Relation to Head of House:         Head
Marital Status:    Married
Spouse's Name:   Bessie Mackie
Father's Birthplace:                 Scotland
Mother's Birthplace:       Scotland
Native Tongue:    English
Industry:  Own Income
Home Owned or Rented:            Own
Home Free or Mortgaged:         Free
Farm or House:   House
Naturalization Status:     Naturalized
Able to Read:      Yes
Able to Write:     Yes
Years Married:    1
Household Members:    
Name      Age
John A Mackie     63
Bessie Mackie     70
Source Citation
Year: 1910; Census Place: McAlester Ward 6, Pittsburg, Oklahoma; Roll: T624_1270; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0240; FHL microfilm: 1375283
Source Information
Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
Original data: Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

This census record shows John Anderson Mackie married to another woman named Bessie after the death of Mary Weir Mackie.  The census says that they were married one year so their marriage record can probably be obtained in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma.  The census also notes that he was naturalized so that record can also be obtained.  The address of this home was on Sixth Street in McAlester.  The McAlester City Directory shows John and Bessie residing at 703 East Rock Avenue in 1910, 1913 and 1914.

Mary Weir was found in the 1861 Scotland Census as follows:
Name:     Mary Weir
Age:         15
Estimated birth year:      abt 1846
Relationship:       Daughter
Father's name:    Archibald Weir
Mother's name:  Rose A Weir
Gender:   Female
Where born:        Greenock, Renfrew
Registration Number:     564/3
Registration district:       Greenock West
Civil Parish:         Greenock West
County:    Renfrewshire
Address:  8 Ann Street
ED:           7
Household schedule number:     29
LINE:        4
Roll:         CSSCT1861_77
Household Members:    
Name      Age
Archibald Weir    48
Rose A Weir        40
Margaret Weir   19
Rachel Weir        17
Robert Weir        16
Mary Weir          15
Jane Weir            12
Elizabeth Weir    7
Ann Weir 7
Archabald Weir   5
John Weir            3
Alexander Weir   1
Source Citation
Parish: Greenock West; ED: 7; Page: 6; Line: 4; Roll: CSSCT1861_77
Source Information
Ancestry.com. 1861 Scotland Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
Original data: Scotland. 1861 Scotland Census. Reels 1-150. General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland.

This family matches closely what we know about the Archibald Weir family from the marriage record of John Mackie and Mary Weir.  The fact that is especially helpful is that this family is residing at the same address where the marriage was performed.  The address of 8 Ann Street was also given as the residence of the bride and groom.  The only discrepancy is that the mother is described as Rose A. Weir instead of Ann Weir.  The middle initial A. is probably for Ann so this record was attached to the family tree to identify the parents and siblings of Mary Weir.

The name, Rose Ann Lusk, is supported by several birth and christening records which have been attached to the tree for the children of Archibald Weir and Rose Ann Lusk.  These baptisms were performed at Sir Michael Street United Presbyterian, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland which is the same church where the marriage of Mary Weir and John Anderson Mackie was performed.

In conclusion, you can see how one Scottish marriage record opened the door to a treasure trove of records about John Anderson Mackie and his wife, Mary Weir and their parents and siblings.  If you would like my help in revealing your family secrets, please contact me through the Contact Form in the right hand column at the top of this blog.

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