2010/1/12 Schani Biermann <ussenterprise1701@accesscomm.ca> wrote: ... > to break down some more walls i thought i would ask all listers if they > could possibly identify the names below who were witneses at the > baptisms/marriage of my GARDENS living in Old machar/Aberdeen City ca > 1780-1855. > ... > Is it safe to assume that most likely there is some family connection to my > GARDEN family if they were "witnesses". was there any "customary" tradition > in 19th century Scotland when "witnesses" appeared > _______________________________________________ Hi Schani Ther is no common tradition of who should be witnesses to births although some families do have a personal choice. The many ways witnesses can be chosen have been examined on this List in the past. Here are some reasons for choices: a.-- Grandparent[s], e.g. both grandfathers or both grandmothers [sometimes identified as such. b.-- Parent's sibling[s], i.e. uncles & aunts c.-- Distant relative[s] [possibly with hope of inheritance???] d.-- Best friend[s] of one or both parents e.-- Work colleagues f.-- Employer g.-- Minister, Doctor, Kirk Elders, or other local worthy h.-- One parish for a period always had two people with the same forename as the child sometimes with a family connection but not necessarily There are certainly others but these are all I can remember for now. I know this doesn't help you in your search for the link to the witnesses you name but it's as well to be realistic. At a remove of 200 years and so far away, the chances of finding out why witnesses were chosen are vanishingly small. In the period post 1855 of Statuory Registration the witnesses to marriages may be traced through census neighbours and the like, but for OPR records this is not likely. Mind you, like all this adventure we are on, you may be lucky. It is worth continuing to hope that there is a family connection and use it to try to establish grandmotherly surnames and we wish you luck. The OPR entries ususally had the habitation for the witnesses which can often be as much of a clue as the actual name especially for identifying (e) and (f) in the above list. -- Best wishes Ray ********************************************************** >From Ray Hennessy Forenames website: www.whatsinaname.net Preferred Email address: ray@whatsinaname.net Hints for Scotland's People at http://bit.ly/WIAN-SCP **********************************************************