Part 961sr - Searching For My Next Robertson Grandfather

Good Day,

I'm attaching a number of documents that I have found from the East Lothian, Scotland area. All-things-being-equal I can create a far-fetched logical argument that could lead us, maybe to my 7-times Great-Grandfather Robertson.

Here are my current facts.

1. Haddington, Innerwick, and Oldhamstock are relatively close together in East Lothian. There is about 6 hour walk from Haddington to Oldhamstock, passing Innerwick along the way.

2. 4-times Great-Grandparents John and Christian Dudgeon were married 1778 in Butterdean Mains, Oldhamstock. Check out the 2 witnesses - John Dudgeon and Thomas Dudgeon.

3. 4-times Great-Grandfather John Robertson was baptized 17 Oct 1759 in Oldhamstocks. Parents - 5-times Great-Grandparents John and Ann (née Lyle) Robertson. Witnesses - James Robertson and James Lyle.

FHL #1067850

4. 4-times Great-Grandmother Christian (née Dudgeon) Robertson was baptised 22 May 1774 in Roxburghshire. Her parents are 5-times Great-Grandparents Thomas and Janet (née Hope) Dudgeon. I do have an issue with the baptism year of 1774.

5. 4-Times-Great-Grandparents John and Christian (née Dudgeon) Robertson had 6 sons. I have been able to find documentation for all 6 sons. They were

- John (Oldhamstocks, bc. 1779);
- Thomas, my 3-times Great-Grandfather (Oldhamstocks, bc. 1780);
- Alexander (Oldhamstocks, bc. 1781);
- James (Oldhamstocks, bc. 1783);
- William (Oldhamstocks, bc. 1786); and
- Robert (Glasgow, bc. 1792);

Generally accepted Scottish naming convention is as follows, as provided by Family Search -

The Scottish, for the most part, had a naming pattern which can be seen in many families. The pattern generally went as follows:

The first son was named after the father’s father.
The second son after the mother’s father.
The third son after the father.
The first daughter after the mother’s mother.
The second daughter after the father’s mother.
The third daughter after the mother.

According to "The Scottish Onomastic Child-naming Pattern," by John Barrett Robb, another naming system called the "ancestral pattern," generally went as follows:

The first son was named for his father's father.
The second son was named for his mother's father.
The third son was named for his father's father's father.
The fourth son was named for his mother's mother's father.
The fifth son was named for his father's mother's father.
The sixth son was named for his mother's father's father.
The seventh through tenth sons were named for their father's four great-grandfathers.
The eleventh through fourteenth sons were named for their mother's four great-grandfathers.
The first daughter was named for her mother's mother.
The second daughter was named for her father's mother.
The third daughter was named for her mother's father's mother.
The fourth daughter was named for her father's father's mother.
The fifth daughter was named for her mother's mother's mother.
The sixth daughter was named for her father's mother's mother.
The seventh through tenth daughters were named for their mother's four great-grandmothers.
The eleventh through fourteenth daughters were named for their father's four great-grandmothers.


I have also included a working copy of our Robertson Descendant Chart. Please check out my thought-notes on the chart diagram.

I am purely basing the possibility that Alexander Robertson may be our 7-times Great-Grandfather on number of coincidental possibilities.

1. The surname Robertson.

2. The location of the 1711 Marriage Registration for John Robertson and Jean Shoarswood and the 1725 Baptism for John Robertson are both of Haddington.

3. Haddington, Innerwick, and Oldhamstock are relatively close considering distance.

4. The 1758 Marriage Registration for John Robertson and Ann Lyle includes the listing of John Robertson as John Robertson's "Cautioner" and "Father"

5. The 1711 Marriage Registration for John Robertson and Jean Shoarswood includes the listing of Alexander Robertson as "Cautioner" for John Robertson.

6. Naming convention.

7. 3-times Great-Grandparents John Robertson and Christian Dudgeon named

a. Their eldest son, 3-times Great-Granduncle John Robertson, after his father's, 4-times Great Grandfather John Robertson's, father, 5-times Great-Grandfather John Robertson.

b. Their 2nd son, 3-times Great-Grandfather Thomas Robertson, after his mother's, 4-times Great-Grandmother Christian (née Dudgeon) Robertson's, father, 5-times Great-Grandfather Thomas Dudgeon.

c. Their 3rd son, 3-times Great-Granduncle Alexander Robertson, may have been named for his father's, 4-times Great-Grandfather John Robertson's, if it is possible, Great-Great-Grandfather Alexander Robertson. And if this is correct Alexander Robertson could be our 7-times Great-Grandfather.

I may be grasping at straws but as as the names John and Thomas were already used in the naming of the 1st and 2nd sons, there may have been a "fall-back" to the name Alexander, as keeping current with the "ever-present" Scottish naming convention.

Your thoughts?

The search continues.  And I just keep on going.

Also, let me know if you would like an invitation to access to my Smith Robertson Family Tree on Ancestry. You can email me at jsmith58@gmail.com.

If you have any comment, question, thought, idea please feel free to contact me via email at A Genealogy Hunt or jsmith58@gmail.com.

Regards,

Jim

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Part 960sm – 1841 Marriage Great-Great Grandparents John and Hester/Esther (née Bailey) Merrifield

Parish Church of Westbury On Trym

Good Day,

In days gone past, I have been somewhat frustrated that I had not been able to discover anything about Great-Great Grandmother Esther (née Bailey) Merrifield. I figured that this would be one of those doors that one encounters in the search of one’s genealogy.

I know that based on the discovery of more and more documentation, the direction of my Smith Robertson Family Tree can and may change.

This past weekend I believe that I have discovered and am able to create a ancestor path following back from Great-Great Grandmother Esther (née Bailey) Merrifield.

First, for several years I have had Great-Great Grandmother’s name down as “Esther”. I did some digging and I discovered that “Esther” can also be known as “Hester”. This simple onomastic provides a few new directions and possible searches.

The information that I had in my Smith Robertson database was that GG-Grandmother Esther (née Bailey) was married to GG-Grandfather John Merryfield in Gloucester, England. They were married in the 4th quarter of 1841. See Part 438bm.

Today I finally found the 1841 Marriage registration for GG-Grandparents John and Esther (née Bailey) Merryfield.

Here is the image –

And my transcription –

Page 43


1841 Marriage solemnized at the Parish Church in the Parish of the Parish of Westbury On Trym in the County Gloucester


No. – 85
When Married. – October 17thName and Surname. – John Merryfield, Esther Bailey
Age. – Of full age, Of full age
Condition. – Bachelor, Spinster
Rank or Profession. – Carpenter
Residence at the Time of Marriage. – Hotwells, Clifton, Hotwells, Clifton
Father’s Name and Surname. – William Merryfield, George Bailey
Rank or Profession of Father. – Servant, Mariner


Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church after Banns by me, John Morris, Curate


This Marriage was solemnized between us, John Merryfield, Esther Bailey in the Presence of us, John Bailey, Mary Bailey.

Source: Family History Library, FHL 7567337 Image 1505 of 1718.

And of course, I am very interested in the Bailey Branch of my Family Tree. I believe I have discovered more. Check out the new Bailey Descendant Chart.

If you would like a copy of the 1841 Marriage Registration or Bailey Descendant Chart, please free to contact me a jsmith58@gmail.com.

The search continues.  And I just keep on going.

Also, let me know if you would like an invitation to access to my Smith Robertson Family Tree on Ancestry. You can email me at jsmith58@gmail.com.

If you have any comment, question, thought, idea please feel free to contact me via email at A Genealogy Hunt or jsmith58@gmail.com.

Regards,

Jim

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Part 959sm - The Mystery of Great-Grandaunt Mary Ann (née Irwin) formerly Partlett, Merrifield

Good Day,

Here’s a puzzle.

When did Great-Grandaunt Mary Ann (née Irwin) formerly Partlett, Merrifield marry her 1st husband Partlett, surname?

Here are the facts:

1. According to the 1881 and 1891 UK Census Great-Grandaunt Mary Ann was born about 1843.

2. She married Great-Granduncle George Baily Merrifield, the son of GG-Grandparents John and Esther (née Bailey Merrifield, 5 August 1889 at All Saints’ Church, Newington, Surrey, England.

3. The 1889 Marriage Registration includes Mary Ann Partlett’s father’s name as “James Irwin”.

4. Great-Grandmother Elizabeth Charlotte (née Merrifield) Robertson was Great-Granduncle George Baily Merrifield’s youngest sibling.

5. The ages given in the 1889 Marriage Registration for Great-Granduncle George Baily Merrifield and Great-Grandaunt Mary Ann (née Irwin) are 45 and 47, respectively.

6. Great-Granduncle George Baily and Great-Grandaunt Mary Ann’s 1st daughter Clara M. Merrifield, 1st cousin twice removed, was born about 1872 Gravesend, Kent, England.

7. Two more children were born in 1874 and 1877, Frances M. and Henry D., respectively.

8. There is a notation, in several family trees on Ancestry regarding an 1854 Marriage between one Mary Ann Irwin and George Partlett in Chalk, Kent, England. If this is Great-Grandaunt Mary Ann’s 1st marriage she would have been 11-years old.

9. I just located the 1854 Marriage Registration of Mary Ann Irwin and George Parttlett. Mary Ann Irwin is registered as “Spinster” which of course she would be considerably older that 11 years old, as above mentioned.

10. Her father listed in the 1854 Marriage Registration is entered as “John White”, not as James Irwin.

Here is a copy of 1889 Marriage Registration –

Transcription –

1889. Marriage solemnized at All Saints’ Church in the Parish of Newington in the County of Surrey.

No. – 258When Married – 4th August 1889Name and Surname – George Bailey Merrifield, Mary Ann PartlettAge – 45, 47Condition – Bachelor, WidowRank or Profession – Labourer, --Residence at the time of Marriage – 36 Czar Street, 36 Czar StreetFather’s Name and Surname – John Merrifield (deceased), James Irwin (deceased)Rank of Profession of Father – Carpenter, Seaman

Married in the Church of All Saints according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church, after Banns by me, O. Mitchell, Vicar.

This Marriage was solemnized between us, George Bailey Merrifield, Mary Ann Partlett in the presence of us, Richard Winter, Caroline Winter.

Here is a copy of the 1854 Marriage Registration in question –

Notice that the name of Mary Ann Irwin’s Father is John White, as opposed to Mary Ann Partlett’s father, James Irwin, in the 1889 Registration.

Several other facts are that that all in the 1881 UK Census there are 3 children registered to parents George B and Mary Ann Merrifield. The 3 are Clara M, Frances M, and Henry D. The 3 have approximate birth years of 1872, 1874. And 1877, respectively. All 3 are also dittoed as Merrifield. All-things-being-equal these three could be Great-Granduncle George Bailey’s and Great-Grandaunt Mary Ann’s children. The only thing is that Great-Granduncle George Bailey and Great-Grandaunt Mary Ann were married in 1889.

Are the 3 their children or are they Great-Grandaunt Mary Ann’s and her 1st husband’s children?

Any thoughts?

The search continues.  And I just keep on going.

Also, let me know if you would like an invitation to access to my Smith Robertson Family Tree on Ancestry. You can email me at jsmith58@gmail.com.

If you have any comment, question, thought, idea please feel free to contact me via email at A Genealogy Hunt or jsmith58@gmail.com.

Regards,

Jim

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Part 958sm - Tracing My Maternal Merrifield Family Line

Good Day,

I decided that I would take, what I thought would be a short detour in my research. As you know I have been following and uncovering documentations and sources of information for my Paternal Great-Grandmother Ella Margaret Louise (née Scott) Smith. The finds have been quite extensive. I believe I have found links that could lead me back to some 9-times and 10-times Great-Grandparents.

As a diversion, I thought I would see whether or not I could find any information for my Maternal Great-Grandmother Elizabeth Charlotte (née Merrifield) Robertson. And guess what?

I stumbled upon another wealth of information. I believe that I have have found intertwining information back to my 6-times Great-Grandparents.

But I can quickly get myself confused. My Scott line appears to focus back to the area of Leith in Midlothian, Scotland. My Merrifield line appears to center around Leigh upon Menkip in Somerset, England.

Here is my first draft of my Merrifield Family Descendant Chart

Source: Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1531-1812 Leigh on Mendip 1670-1771

The search continues.  And I just keep on going.

Also, let me know if you would like an invitation to access to my Smith Robertson Family Tree on Ancestry. You can email me at jsmith58@gmail.com.

If you have any comment, question, thought, idea please feel free to contact me via email at A Genealogy Hunt or jsmith58@gmail.com.

Regards,

Jim

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Part 957ss - 1853 Obituary - GGG-Grandfather Alexander Reid Scott

Good Day,

While I am currently in FB jail for 24 hours, I stumbled upon, via Newspapers.com, published in 1853 in The Liverpool Mercury, the Death Obituary for GGG-Grandfather Alexander Reid Scott.

According to the published obit, GGG-Grandfather Alexander passed away on March 28, 1853, on Chatham Street in Liverpool.

Chatham Street
Liverpool, England

The search continues.  And I just keep on going.

Also, let me know if you would like an invitation to access to my Smith Robertson Family Tree on Ancestry. You can email me at jsmith58@gmail.com.

If you have any comment, question, thought, idea please feel free to contact me via email at A Genealogy Hunt or jsmith58@gmail.com.

Regards,

Jim

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Part 956ss - Am I Related to Sir Walter Scott?

Good Morning,

Yesterday I spent my research time, hoping that I may “stumble” across a connection and to source, what some people have in their online family trees, to Sir Walter Scott.

Not sure whether I did.

Sir Walter Scott was born in the Edinburgh area in 1771. He became a lawyer and a famous writer.

GGG-Granduncle Cumberland Reid Scott, GGG-Grandfather Alexander Reid Scott’s younger brother was born in 1805. He was born in the Edinburgh area.

GGG-Granduncle Cumberland was noted as a writer. In the 1830s an Act was passed in Jamaica appointing him as a lawyer.

GGG-Granduncle Cumberland had 2 wives: Isabella Ferme in Edinburgh and Elizabeth Dunn in Jamaica. At this point I have not determined whether Isabella passed away or whether she was separated from Cumberland.

One of his 2 sons with Isabella, George survived infancy. The 3 children he had with Elizabeth all died in infancy.

I was able to follow George and his marriage to Jane Graham. Together they had 6 children, all 2nd cousins. Two passed away in infancy. The other 4 all reached adulthood; all of them passed away being single. I am not sure whether the 4 had any children.

This is the first time that I am really at a loss. I was hoping that I may be able to “find” a distant cousin of GGG-Granduncle Cumberland who may have had some information about a possible connection to Sir Walter Scott.

As GGG-Granduncle Cumberland Reid Scott is the 13th child of GGGG-Great-Grandparents James and Anne (née Reid) Scott, guess I’ll have to follow another Scott line.

The search continues.  And I just keep on going.

Also, let me know if you would like an invitation to access to my Smith Robertson Family Tree on Ancestry. You can email me at jsmith58@gmail.com.

If you have any comment, question, thought, idea please feel free to contact me via email at A Genealogy Hunt or jsmith58@gmail.com.

Regards,

Jim

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Part 926s – New Autosomal DNA Results – CRI Genetics

Good Day,

Well my results are in. That is, the results of my Autosomal DNA testing from CRI Genetics.

The breakdown provided by CRI Genetics fit into 5 main area categories. I've added the "Unassigned" area category to make sure that there is a sum total of 100%. These are

• European
• South Asian
• AdMixed American
• East Asian
• African
• Unassigned (to add up to 100%)

• 86.2%
• 6.5%
• 4.5%
• 1.7%
• 0.9%
• 0.2%

I have now had my Autosomal DNA testing done by the following companies. (These are not in any specific order.)

1. Family Tree DNA

2. Ancestry

3. 23andMe

4. Living DNA

5. My Heritage

6. National Geographic Geno 2.0

7. CRI Genetics

I have attempted to breakdown the results and tried to lump similar area categories together. As you can see from the Comparative Chart there are some similarities in test results, based on the way each company focuses with their testing procedures. But there are also some differences.

The International Society of Genetic Genealogy provides a very good company to company comparison for 4 of the organizations that provide Autosomal testing. The two (2) that are not included are Living DNA and CRI Genetics.

And as I have always said, genealogy is not necessarily only taking the details of one Autosomal DNA test. It is the search and research into the sources of documentation and family history that can lead one back into the resources of their ancestors.

Autosomal DNA testing is a tool that can assist. It is NOT the definite answer as to who you are descended from.

If you have any question about testing either your Y-DNA, mtDNA, or Autosomal DNA, please make sure that you research and decide which type of testing is the one that you should get. Do not be swayed by the slick advertisements.

If you have any comment, question, thought, idea please feel free to contact me via email at A Genealogy Hunt or jsmith58@gmail.com.

Regards,

Jim

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Part 923 - Autosomal DNA is NOT Necessarily Genealogy

Good Day,

I read a very good and concise article recently, posted at NJ.com dated November 2, 2018 by David Klein - "One genealogist's impressions of Ancestry DNA's testing service".

"First, based on what I know about my family, the ethnicity percentages are way off. Please notice I didn't say they were wrong; they might not be. I know that these figures are based on probability and subject to change, but my numbers are skewed more Irish (and British even though I don't know of any British ancestors) and less Italian than what I expected. Suffice it to say I'm more than a bit skeptical about these numbers."

I am a very strong proponent of DNA testing, for the purposes of genealogy. And I can say that I personally am not using DNA testing to find immediate relatives. I am more concerned in learning and discovering about my ancestry.

The corporate tendencies of the larger ancestry, albeit companies and their marketing schemes appear to be a consistent tendency to increase the firm's bottom line.

That being said, and as I volunteer to assist persons to delve into their pasts, I have tested my Y-DNA, mtDNA, and Autosomal DNA. My purpose, is to maintain a comparison of, especially Autosomal DNA results, and to keep abreast of the the plethora of companies in the market. Having tested with this many companies also assists me when helping someone with their family history search and research.

To date I have tested with Family Tree DNA; Ancestry; 23andMe; Living DNA; My Heritage; and National Geographic Geno 2.0. I am currently awaiting the results of CRIGenetics.

Here is a comparative schedule of my test results.

If you have any question about testing either your Y-DNA, mtDNA, or Autosomal DNA, please make sure that you research and decide which type of testing is the one that you should get. Do not be swayed by the slick advertisements.

If you have any comment, question, thought, idea please feel free to contact me via email at A Genealogy Hunt or jsmith58@gmail.com.

Regards,

Jim

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Part 918s - Autosomal DNA Testing - Is It Genealogy?

Good Day,

Following up to my Autosomal DNA comparison exercise, I, serendipitously, stumbled upon an article at the online magazine Vice. Please, understand that I am not trying “to trash” Autosomal DNA testing. I am just trying to point out that it has become an immature tangent of what one could consider is correct genealogy research.

Is it a tool? Yes. Is Autosomal DNA testing providing the answers to the pure science of genealogy and genetic research? In my humble opinion, again Autosomal DNA does not provide the complete and correct end to the questions of one’s genealogy, the study of family origins and history.

Does it provide possible answers to unknown connections and answers to unasked questions? Yes, maybe, and no.

The Vice article by Moses Monterroza, March 21, 2018, “I Tested My DNA and Learned About Self-Delusion”  

“Obviously, nothing actually changed. After all, these results are really just percentages vaguely indicating that I am associated with several specific regions on Earth. And really, that’s it. There’s no renewed sense of self, no reconnection with my past, just a bunch of percentage points.”

Take a few moments and read Monterroza’s article. He does present an interesting point of view.

And note, that genealogy is a formidable task of wading through reams and reams of papers and films. It is the searching for and the researching of those glimpses into the past of who and when your ancestors and ancient family existed. It is not necessarily a percentage or estimate provided by a corporation. A corporation and/or organization that is currently examining their bottom line and net return on subscription dues.

Just my opinion.

Regards,

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Part 917sb - Autosomal Tests Comparison

Good Day,

I've been asked a number of questions regarding the postings of my and Andy Brunhammer's Autosomal DNA results with respect of the various testing companies and organizations.

Why are there differences and varied numbers across the results?

The logical explanation(s) is that certain companies/organizations test only within certain and/or limited capabilities. In other words, some may not test for specific "ethnicities". Also there may be a void of the number of ethnic-specific results in their overall databases.

Does that mean your "lieder-hausen" should be traded in for a "kilt"? Or should your blue eyes mean you are "definitely" localized to a specific country?

As the results are not necessarily 100% absolute, if you should decide on getting an autosomal DNA test done, please remember that "family matches" may be implicit and should be realized with the necessary sources and documentation.

Regards,

Jim

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Part 916b - Brunhammer Autosomal DNA Tests - Comparison

Greetings,

If you are thinking about the autosomal DNA testing here are several tests completed. These are Andy Brunhammer's tests. Each includes the associated percentages as they apply to specific "ethnicity" labels.

The International Society of Genetic Genealogy Wiki is an excellent reference site. Check out the Autosomal DNA testing comparison chart link. (It does not include LivingDNA.)

https://isogg.org/wiki/Wiki_Welcome_Page

Regards,

Jim

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Part 915s - Smith Autosomal DNA Tests - Comparison

Greetings,

If you are thinking about the autosomal DNA testing here are several tests completed. These are my tests. Each includes the associated percentages as they apply to specific "ethnicity" labels.

The International Society of Genetic Genealogy Wiki is an excellent reference site. Check out the Autosomal DNA testing comparison chart link. (It does not include LivingDNA.)

https://isogg.org/wiki/Wiki_Welcome_Page

Regards,

Jim

Click here to continue reading...