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Case Study Scottish Case Study: The Nelson Family Diane L. Richard chronicles her search for her Scottish ancestors

MYGRANWASALWAYSvery proud of tish records and, essentially, find her Scottish ancestry and she George with his mother in 1861 always considered us to be part of and then work backwards through the Gunn Clan as a sept. Through 1851 and 1841 to find the family research, I identified that “lone” and learn its composition (e.g., Scotsman in our tree, though he what siblings did George have). appears to be a lowland Scotsman Here is a summary of the records and not a highland one (the group found. associated with tartans). And, I have suspicions that his heritage 1841: Penningham, 13 Old Bridge might be Irish, but that’s another End story for another article. Mary Nelson 24 not born in county This Scottish story starts in Jane 2 born in county Lancashire, England, though it Jefsie 1 born in county could just as easily start anywhere, including the US or Canada. 1851: Penningham, Gorbals Despite having stories from my Mary Nelson 34 Sewing Agent gran that her maternal grandfather Kirkcudbright, Minnigaff was Scottish, it was going to take Jane Nelson 12 Sewer Wigtown, more to convince me. See, Gran Newton-Stewart was an only child and her mother Jessie Nelson 11 Sewer Wigtown, didn’t have close connections with Newton-Stewart her parents, siblings or the Mary Nelson 8 Scholar Wigtown, extended Gunn “Clan” and so Newton-Stewart what she knew was limited; but Hamilton Nelson 3 At Home this small amount of information George Nelson, the author’s Scotsman Wigtown, Newton-Stewart was not to be discounted and gave ancestor! Margaret Nelson 3 At Home me clues to get started. Wigtown, Newton-Stewart born in county or not born in John Nelson 10 mos At Home Wig- Family Lore county was documented. This can town, Newton-Stewart As with many genealogy projects, be very helpful indeed! we often start with some family After finding George in the 1861: Penningham — Main St - lore. Please see the box which Lancashire census records in 1881 Newton-Stewart summarizes the family lore I was and 1891 and eventually 1901 Mary Neilson 44 Midwife Minnigaff, told by my gran about her grand- (more recently available), I was Kirkcudbrightshire father and his family. then able to jump back to the Scot- John Neilson 10 scholar Penning-

The Beginning: Census Records Family Lore Fortunately, England, like the US, • Part of the Clan Gunn and entitled to wear the Gunn Tartan. took a decennial census — some • George born in Newton-Stewart or Minnigaff. differences are: • George entered the family trade of saddler. The family shop in • England’s started in 1841 versus Newton-Stewart only changed hands in the 1970s and there are still 1790 • The 1841 census did list the Nelson’s Saddlers’ shops in other parts of Scotland. names of all householders and • After serving his apprenticeship in Newton-Stewart, he went as a relationships were stated journeyman to Dublin where he worked for a few years and then • The 1891 survives (unlike the went to Hollinwood. mostly missing 1890 US census) • George had a brother John who married an Irish girl and went to • The census entries typically, live in Ireland and of whom nothing more is known. except for 1841, included “county” • George had two sisters, Jessie and Maggie (or Margaret) who never of birth (e.g., Lancashire) or some- married and became cooks at big mansions in the area. times the exact parish of birth (e.g., George’s mother was a local midwife and was named Hamilton. Newton-Stewart). In 1841, only

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hame, Wigtownshire also found out that George Neilson 8 scholar Minnigaff, there was a probate file Kirkcudbrightshire for him. For all the By the time of the 1861 census, great detail that English two of George’s sisters (Margaret birth and marriage and Jessie) are working at local records can provide, area mansions as servants and by this is a case where the the 1871 census, we only find death certificates are George still in Newton-Stewart less than informative, (aka Penninghame), suggesting compared to Scottish that his mother has died and his ones. It only lists date brother has moved or died. of death, name, sex, • 1871: Penningham [living with a age, occupation, cause Christie family] of death, informant and George 18 Saddler Minnigaff, when registered. Note Kirkcudbrightshire that no information on A few observations about parents is included on these Scottish census results: an English death certifi- • They consistently list birthplace cate. • Penninghame is a “parish” So, next was located in Newton-Stewart (notice obtaining George’s mar- that both forms are used) riage record. It tells us • Kircudbrightshire and Wigtown- that George Nelson shire are the counties of Kircud- married Sarah Ann Above: Gunn Clan tartan. bright and Wigtown Torkington 28 August Below: 1891 Census —George Nelson & family • NO father is ever found with the 1875 at Union St. at 409 Manchester Rd., Hollinwood, Lancashire, family on census night! England.

Geography You probably are wondering where these towns are? These are two towns on either side of the river Cree and were located in two different jurisdictions in Scotland. Newton-Stewart and Penningham parish were in Wigtownshire and Minnigaff was in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright (also called Kirkcudbrightshire). Both are now part of Dumfries and Galloway. Nothing like multiple jurisdictions to add some excitement. Basically, Mary was born on one side of the river and ended up marrying and having her children on the other, as shown by the census records and will be con- firmed by found church records. This reminds us that, as in the US, Chapel, Oldham, according to the Oldham and no father was listed. it’s important to get a sense of the rites and ceremonies of the Inde- This tells us that George’s geography — knowing where pendents [this would be consid- mother and father are deceased by people lived and where churches ered a non-conformist church — 1875. The former is consistent with and markets were located, can tell see sidebar on Nonconformists on the 1871 census entry and we now you a lot about their lives and the next page]. At the time, George know that his father had been where to look for records. Nelson was 23 years old, a Bach- named John and had been a elor, Saddler, lived at 51 Lee St, weaver (one presumes a jour- Vital Records Oldham, his father was John neyman weaver based on the Given that George lived much of Nelson (deceased) who had census records!). his life in a country where worked as a Woollen weaver. His Unfortunately, though George country-wide civil registration was wife was Sarah Ann Torkington was married and died in a country established in 1837, I easily who was 30 years old, a Spinster, that started civil registration in obtained his death certificate and Cotton Weaver, lived at 51 Lee St 1837, Scotland did not start civil

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Case Study registration (where all births, mar- riages and deaths had to be regis- tered at the register office in the district where the event took place) until 1855, about three years after George’s birth. And, since George was the youngest of the family, this precludes any birth vital record being found for any of his siblings.

Church Records Though vital records may not have been required at the time of George’s birth in Scotland, most church denominations kept their own records of baptisms, mar- riages (when applicable) and burial records. Next was to see if we could find any church records for George, his known siblings and his parents. A drawing of what was the old chapel at Union Street, where George and Sarah I knew that the Church of Ann married in 1875. Latter-day Saints had the Old Parish Records (OPR) collection by the IGI Scotland, the OPR Gordon Johnson, KinHelp which covered the “established” Index or the LDS CD, “Scottish Genealogical Services, Aberdeen (or “conformist) churches for Eng- Church Records”, many people in a reply dated 4 February 1997 to land, Scotland and Wales — I born between 1843 and 1854 are soc.genealogy.uk +ireland news- could not find George or any of not normally findable, except in group). the family listed in these records the 1851 census. Surviving Free Corresponding with the — searching on Penningham, Min- Church registers are mostly held National Archives of Scotland, nigaff and the surrounding in the Scottish Record Office in which holds many of the non-con- parishes. What was going on? Edinburgh, but are not indexed, formist church registers, I was able They are incomplete, were these and not microfilmed …” (source: to acquire the entries for George’s parishes not covered? Subse- quently, I learned that the cov- erage for these parishes was as Nonconformists complete as the extant records The situation was a little more complicated than that individuals allowed. I did a bit more research either “conformed” or were deemed “non-conformist” or a “dis- into these records and then senter” with regards to the Church of England, Scotland or Wales remembered the mention in the (each a different denomination). These two articles tell you about marriage record of “according to Scottish non-conformists and also the impact to your research of the rites and ceremonies of the having non-conformists in your tree. Independents” versus the “rites 1. FamilySearch wiki article on Scotland Church Union Lists, and ceremonies of the Established https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Scotland_Church_Records_Union_Lists Church.” An important clue, 2. Society of Genealogists (UK) publication on English/Welsh almost overlooked, that told me non-conformists gives a sense of the complexity of the issue, that I would need to look else- www.sog.org.uk/leaflets/nonconformists.pdf where for any baptism records for For example, some ‘dissenters’ still considered themselves part of the George and his siblings. state church and, in many cases they continued to use their parish Upon learning that the family church for the rites of baptism, marriage, and burial. was non-conformist, I noted in my Rules about who could perform marriages means that many non-con- research notes “The Free Church formists married in the state church. of Scotland was formed in 1843 as Non-conformists were influential in the establishment of Civil Regis- a result of a major schism within tration in 1837 (England and later in Scotland and Ireland) as this the (Established or state church) allowed Superintendent Registrars to register births and deaths and Church of Scotland. The split was also to perform marriages in register offices. variable, with some parishes This means do not assume that because your ancestor was not a having 70 percent of the members member of the Church of England or Scotland, etc., that they will not becoming Free Church, others in be found in parish records — this is definitely not true from 1754-1837 smaller percentages. As the Free (1855 in Scotland) with regards to marriage records! Church registers are not covered

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three oldest siblings in the Records the local newspaper — the Wig- daughter of Mr James Lillie, late of for the United Presbyterian town Free Press. This particular Glasgow (Wigtown Free Press, Church (a secession Church), local newspaper had a reputation 17/6/1875) Newton-Stewart. Unfortunately, for frequently reporting non-con- Unfortunately, no entry for the register which would have formist items (a little gem shared George. Nor any death notice for contained George’s baptism does by a “local” to the area). Several Mary nor her invisible spouse not survive. entries were found relevant to the John Ne(i)lson. And, let me tell The details for his oldest sib- family, though, as you can see, you that John Nelson/Neilson lings were: little information is provided! was a very, very common name at • Jane Cowan — born 28 Dec These did confirm the birth of the this time, all over Scotland! 1838, lawful daughter of John twins and the marriage of John to Short of pursuing whether Neilson and Mary McCartney an Irish girl (matching family George was officially apprenticed • Jessie Aitken — born 21 March lore). The two entries for 1843 and to become a saddler and the same 1840, same parents listed 1854 are interesting — son born in for brother John as a watchmaker, • Mary — born 12 September 1843, not seen in 1851 census and there is little further research that 1842, same parents listed This gave us George’s mother’s maiden name, confirmed the father’s name and the middle names of the children suggest family names since Cowan and Aitken were local surnames at the time. This information was used to look for the marriage for the par- ents. It was found that John Nelson and Mary McCartiney were married 18 February 1838 at Penninghame in the established church. As mentioned in the sidebar on non-conformists on the previous page, it is highly likely during this time period to find non-conformists marrying in the established church, since non-con- formist churches were not autho- rized to marry. Using this information, it was then possible to find Mary’s death A group shot of a Nelson family holiday taken in 1925 — Edith is in the back certificate since we now had her row, second from the right. maiden name. Unlike the English death certificates of the time, hers daughter born in 1854, not seen in could be done in the Scottish lists out who her parents were, the 1861 census. records. including the maiden name of her • At Newton-Stewart, on the 9th mother. And, it also lists who she inst., Mrs John Neilson, of a son A Cousin’s Memories and was married to. Given that George (Wigtown Free Press, 14/9/1843) Memorabilia provided this information and • At Newton-Stewart, on the 31st The story might have ended with states in 1875 that both his parents ultimo, the wife of Mr John what I had already learned, except were deceased, suggests that his Neilson, of twin daughters (Wig- I inadvertently learned of an father died between 1870 and town Free Press, 10/2/1848) untapped source of information! 1875. [Hamilton & Margaret] Remember when I mentioned that • At Wigtown Row, Newton- Gran’s mother didn’t have close Newspaper Articles Stewart, on the 2d inst., the wife of connections with the Nelson At this point, we now knew the Mr John Neilson, of a daughter family? Well, several years after I names of George’s parents, the full (Wigtown Free Press, 6/4/1854) initially did this research, Gran names of three siblings, the names • At Gloucester Street Presby- put me in touch with her cousin of his maternal grandparents, had terian Church, Dublin, on the 8th “Auntie Edith” (another only documented his parents’ marriage inst., by the Rev. Robert Hanns, child). Well, where Gran’s family and his mother’s death. I still assisted by the Rev. James didn’t hang out with the Nelson wanted to document George’s Stevenson, John Walker Nelson, family, Auntie Edith’s family did! birth and the death of his father. later of Newton-Stewart, Wig- And, did she have stories to So, next up was research into townshire to Mary Ann, eldest tell! Here are some excerpts from

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Case Study her stories: “Grandfather George at one time was a bit of a “wrong’un”. When he first came to Oldham and lived at the Lee St. address, it was as a lodger and eventually he mar- ried his landlady’s daughter Sarah Ann. He was a very heavy drinker and lost all his money and their home and all their belongings were taken to pay his debts. Their next address was a very small cot- tage on Manchester Road, Hollinwood where my mother was born. Apparently, he was so ashamed about this, he became converted and a somewhat bigoted “teetotaller”. He joined the Lodge of Good Templars and later, my This photo of a gathering at a Temperance hotel was found in the family files — mother was the Secretary of the maybe George spent time here? Junior branch of the Lodge. He obviously worked very hard to was expected to make his own census and the envelope’s 1901 redeem himself and provide a “chest” to carry all his tools, postmark. good home and living for the clothes and personal belongings.” family and finally became a [At her death, Edith was still in Revisiting Vital Records “Master” Saddler with a good possession of this chest, which Based on the postmark informa- business in much larger premises. held his surviving thimbles.] tion from the envelope, it made When he died, the business was Besides sending me a photo of sense to investigate Inverness, sold and granmother lived on the George, photos of other various Scotland and its records to see proceeds for over six years and members of the family, the silk how this locale played into the when she died, she left all three of shawl that his bride Sarah Ann family … It did in many and sur- her children 100 pounds each, Torkington wore at their 1875 wed- prising ways! which was pretty good in those ding and the aforementioned thim- First, I found the death of days.” bles, there was an envelope (with George’s brother John who died in “He was very strict, the chil- no contents) included. 1887 in Inverness. The death cer- dren all went to Hudson Street This envelope was dated 1900 tificate lists his parents, both Methodist Chapel and Sunday Inverness and sent to George at deceased (as expected) and states School, but he was a member of 199 Manchester Road. This that his father had been a lace the Scottish Presbyterian Church matches the address where George manufacturer (a form of weaver) in Oldham and went regularly and family lived in the 1901 census and that the informant was his every Sunday morning, walking and also matches the information brother-in-law, Samuel Alexander. the four miles there and four back, learned through a search of local Who was this Samuel because it was “sinful” to ride on a directories. Alexander? The long and the short tram on the Sabbath, whatever the is that this led me to the 1891 weather. No games, books (except Directories census, where I found his family the Bible) newspapers or music Since you never know what a including a wife named Jessie. Fol- were allowed in the house on directory might tell you, I queried lowing the trail to their marriage, Sunday. the Local Oldham Studies Office we finally discover Jessie marrying Grandfather would not go to about looking at the Oldham direc- Samuel Alexander in 1860 in the any of the weddings and when tories for how George was listed District of Govan (apparently near asked to “give the Bride away”, during the Oldham years. George Glasgow) in the county of Lanark) refused, saying “he hadn’t done was always listed as a Saddler at and her subsequent death con- with them yet.” the addresses shown. firmed that she was a sister to Seemingly, when a young • 1880 — 51 Lee Street, Oldham. George and John Nelson. It will apprentice completed his years of • 1884 to 1891 — 409 Manchester end up that 38 High Street (where training, he was sent out into the Road, Hollinwood. John died in 1887) is where Jessie world for a couple of years to find • 1901 — 199 Manchester Road, Aitken Nelson Alexander lived in work with a variety of other Hollinwood. 1891. employers, so that he had a good • 1905 — 215a Manchester Road, Her family has been found in all around experience of the dif- Hollinwood. the 1881, 1891 and 1901 census for ferent types of work he might be As mentioned, the entry for Scotland. During that time, they asked to do. Before he went, he 1901 is consistent with the 1901 moved from Glasgow (Lanark-

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shire) to Inverness (Invernesshire) How Good Was the Family Lore? sometime between 1871 and 1875. • Appear to have been lowland Scots and not highland ones — I also learned that Jessie died though, until George’s father is found — an open issue and some of in 1915 while still living in Inver- ness. By that time, she was a George’s siblings did live in Inverness (a highland location) widow and her death was • George was born in Minnigaff Kirkcudbright Scotland reported by her son Samuel. Inter- • George entered the trade of Saddlery/Harness Maker (have not estingly, it is the only time that her found a link to it being a “family” trade) name is given as Jessie Aitken • George has not been found as having spent time in Dublin yet Alexander; a middle name not • George did have a brother John that went to Ireland, married and seen since her baptism entry! stayed • George did have sisters, Jessie and Margaret, who appeared to work Things We Might Never Know at local mansions As with any research project, there • Sister Jessie married, moved away, had a family and remained in is more we would like to know and that we may also never get contact with at least her brothers definitive answers to. Unfortu- • George’s mother was a midwife at one time nately, though the father John is • George’s mother was named Mary, he had a sister and grand- consistently listed as a weaver in mother both named Hamilton the found marriage records of his children, and we can possibly assume that he died between 1870 What Else Did We Learn About George & Family? and 1875, he has proven elusive. • There were Nelson’s Saddlers Shops in the Newton-Stewart/Minni- gaff area and NO connection to George 1. Further document George’s • George’s father was a weaver and never lived with the family on father — can we find a death, census night — probably worked as a journeyman learn where he was born and who • The family were non-conformists (e.g., not Presbyterian) his parents were? • George’s brother did not stay in Ireland, he returned to Scotland and 2. Solve the mystery of brother lived briefly in Inverness before dying (a whole other article can be John Walker Nelson’s name … George named his first son John written on tracking John through Ireland) Walker, which was also George’s • George had other sisters, named Jane, Mary and Hamilton brother’s name. Walker was George’s maternal grandmother’s the family lore was able to be warrant coverage in a national maiden name. And, John Walker proven. And, along the way, I newspaper, but always worth happened to be the name of the learned other things about checking) Minister of the Free Church at George’s family as well. You now know that Scotland Newton-Stewart at this time. Even as I write this article, I has some wonderful records. If 3. George’s father was a weaver know that there are newer you have any Scottish ancestors, (and apparently an itinerant one). resources now available to be con- do explore these records. If I How did George become a sad- sulted. These include: could learn what I did about a dler? Is there a connection to the • Historical Indexes for Dumfries non-conformist, non-landowning Nelson’s Saddlers shops (around and Galloway, www.dgcommunity. family, imagine what riches await until the 1970s)? Distant relatives net/historicalindexes/default.aspx, as you if your family attended the maybe? On a related note, how well as the database for the hold- established church and owned did John become a watchmaker? ings of the Dumfries and Gal- land! loway archive, http://archives. Conclusions dumgal.gov.uk:8814/ Using the various Scottish records • Scotlands People — A partner- available (both offline and online), ship between General Register we were able to learn quite a bit Office for Scotland, the National FC about George, his mother and his Archives of Scotland and the siblings. Court of the Lord Lyon, In the future, when time per- www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk Diane L. Richard has been doing genealogy research for 23+ years. mits, I hope to revisit the Scottish • Indexes to editions of the This Scottish research was some records and learn what happened Wigtownshire Free Press, http:// of the first non-US research she to Jane, Mary, Margaret and freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry. tackled way back when. She cur- Hamilton. And, eventually find com/~leighann/wfp/intro.html rently does professional research out where George’s family mem- • The Edinburgh Gazette, the in North Carolina and she can be bers are buried. official newspaper of Scotland, found online at www.mosaicrpm How did what we learn stack www.edinburgh-gazette.co.uk (not .com/Genealogy. up against the family lore? A lot of that the family would typically

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