Hi Frank I stay in Scotland and my Great Aunt Pollys name was Mary Hope this helps Clare

Polly is one of the more usual Scottish (and English) nicknames or pet forms of Mary. Whyte's 'Scottish Forenames' also lists alternative pet forms for Mary as including Molly, Minnie, Mami and (occasionally) Maisie. For those without a specialist forenames book to consult there is also a website for Nicknames at www.tngenweb.org/franklin/frannick.htm which I sometimes find useful. Duncan, Dundee

Polly in the US can also be a nickname for Pauline Brigid On Nov 3, 2009, at 11:10 PM, Jacquie wrote: > The only females named Polly that I've come across were named Mary > but they were in the US. > > Jacquie > Winnipeg, MB > > -----Original Message----- > From: midlothian-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:midlothian-bounces@rootsweb.com > ] On Behalf Of frank > Sent: November 3, 2009 8:33 PM > To: Lanarkshire; Midlothian > Subject: [MIDLOTHIAN] Scottish nick names > > I have run across a situation where my cousin in Scotland advises > that all > they knew about an Aunt was that she was called "Polly". There was > no one > called that in the family but it could have been one of two. It was > either > Mary Jane or Janet. > > Any suggestions on which it might have been. > > Frank Easton > Sherwood Park > Alberta Canada > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MIDLOTHIAN-request@rootsweb.com > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and > the body of the message

Seems like your query has been well sorted , Frank, (in Midlothian too !) but I had an Aunt Polly who caused me trouble, until I found that she was named after her mother, MARY. Archie Gilbert ----- Original Message ----- From: "frank" <frank@telusplanet.net> To: "Lanarkshire" <LANARK-L@rootsweb.com>; "Midlothian" <MIDLOTHIAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 2:32 AM Subject: [Lanark] Scottish nick names >I have run across a situation where my cousin in Scotland advises that all > they knew about an Aunt was that she was called "Polly". There was no one > called that in the family but it could have been one of two. It was > either > Mary Jane or Janet. > > Any suggestions on which it might have been. > > Frank Easton > Sherwood Park > Alberta Canada > > > ------------------------------- > > LANARK, SCOTLAND MAILING LIST > > LIST TOPIC: The discussion and research of genealogy or history > information pertaining to Lanark, Scotland at any point in history. > > Contact the List Admin at lanark-admin@rootsweb.com, or to search the list > archives or find other useful information to help you use the list more > effectively, please click on the following link to the list information > page online: > > http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/index?list=lanark > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > LANARK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.423 / Virus Database: 270.14.43/2474 - Release Date: 11/01/09 07:38:00

Pam is right, Frank. Polly = Mary. We just can't leave names alone, us Scots :-) Janet = Jessie, Helen = Nellie; Alastair/Alexander = Sandy.... I've also come on the Polly/Mary practice in Devon & Cornwall, so it's not limited to us. Not sure if the rest of England did it. Not surprised at all that the habit got carried overseas :-) :-) le durachd Fionnghal in the bright sunny but frosty Highlands of Scotland > I have run across a situation where > my cousin in Scotland advises that all > they knew about an Aunt was that she was called > "Polly".  There was no one > called that in the family but it could have been one of > two.  It was either Mary Jane or Janet. 

BOY - What a response. Thank you one and all, both Lanark and Midlothian! As everyone can see the responses very much point to "Polly" for Mary. I am glad I asked as I must admit I could never have guessed that. Out of eleven children, there were four girls and two did not marry. My cousin knew one that did not marry was named and referred to as Margaret and the other always called Polly. As noted in my request for info, one of the two choices was Mary Jane and the other Janet. The name of Janet also gave me "fits" for a while as I had a great grand uncle marry a Jessie who was often referred to as Janet. However it does make this hobby very interesting, and, a bit challenging at times, but we would not have it any other way. The amount that I have learned about Scotland since starting this project (finding where my gg grandparents came from and the stories) is just amazing! Again thank you very much and just another reason to contribute to and belong to the rootsweb lists. Frank Easton Sherwood Park Alberta + 8c today. -----Original Message----- From: midlothian-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:midlothian-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of archie gilbert Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 3:11 AM To: lanark@rootsweb.com; Lanarkshire; Midlothian Subject: Re: [MIDLOTHIAN] [Lanark] Scottish nick names Seems like your query has been well sorted , Frank, (in Midlothian too !) but I had an Aunt Polly who caused me trouble, until I found that she was named after her mother, MARY. Archie Gilbert ----- Original Message ----- From: "frank" <frank@telusplanet.net> To: "Lanarkshire" <LANARK-L@rootsweb.com>; "Midlothian" <MIDLOTHIAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 2:32 AM Subject: [Lanark] Scottish nick names >I have run across a situation where my cousin in Scotland advises that all > they knew about an Aunt was that she was called "Polly". There was no one > called that in the family but it could have been one of two. It was > either > Mary Jane or Janet. > > Any suggestions on which it might have been. > > Frank Easton > Sherwood Park > Alberta Canada > > > ------------------------------- > > LANARK, SCOTLAND MAILING LIST > > LIST TOPIC: The discussion and research of genealogy or history > information pertaining to Lanark, Scotland at any point in history. > > Contact the List Admin at lanark-admin@rootsweb.com, or to search the list > archives or find other useful information to help you use the list more > effectively, please click on the following link to the list information > page online: > > http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/index?list=lanark > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > LANARK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.423 / Virus Database: 270.14.43/2474 - Release Date: 11/01/09 07:38:00 ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MIDLOTHIAN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.698 / Virus Database: 270.14.49/2480 - Release Date: 11/04/09 00:37:00

Frank, On what I have read recently I would go with Mary Jane, as usually Janet is also know as Jessie. Hope this helps. Kind Regards Pam Groves Portsmouth, UK -------------------------------------------------- From: "frank" <frank@telusplanet.net> Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 2:32 AM To: "Lanarkshire" <LANARK-L@rootsweb.com>; "Midlothian" <MIDLOTHIAN-L@rootsweb.com> Subject: [MIDLOTHIAN] Scottish nick names > I have run across a situation where my cousin in Scotland advises that all > they knew about an Aunt was that she was called "Polly". There was no one > called that in the family but it could have been one of two. It was > either > Mary Jane or Janet. > > Any suggestions on which it might have been. > > Frank Easton > Sherwood Park > Alberta Canada > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > MIDLOTHIAN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

I had an aunt names Mary Jane and we all called her "Molly" I never knew her correct name until I started researching my family tree Cath I have run across a situation where my cousin in Scotland advises that all they knew about an Aunt was that she was called "Polly". There was no one called that in the family but it could have been one of two. It was either Mary Jane or Janet. Any suggestions on which it might have been. Frank Easton Sherwood Park Alberta Canada

I forgot about a website called What's in a Name. They have a database of names used in Scotland. Here's a link to what they say about Polly: http://www.whatsinaname.net/php/search.php?action=search2&search_name=Polly Jacquie Winnipeg, MB -----Original Message----- From: midlothian-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:midlothian-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of frank Sent: November 3, 2009 8:33 PM To: Lanarkshire; Midlothian Subject: [MIDLOTHIAN] Scottish nick names I have run across a situation where my cousin in Scotland advises that all they knew about an Aunt was that she was called "Polly". There was no one called that in the family but it could have been one of two. It was either Mary Jane or Janet. Any suggestions on which it might have been. Frank Easton Sherwood Park Alberta Canada

I guess it not only happens in Scotland. My Grandmother's name was Martha Harriet, her family in England called her "Pat" and my Grandfather called her "Jane". Go figure!!! I would suggest process of elimination. If you can find out anything about either one of them for sure, then you could be fairly certain that the other one was Polly. Sometimes dates, other relatives, addresses, etc. can be a help unexpectedly. gretchen Michigan USA

The only females named Polly that I've come across were named Mary but they were in the US. Jacquie Winnipeg, MB -----Original Message----- From: midlothian-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:midlothian-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of frank Sent: November 3, 2009 8:33 PM To: Lanarkshire; Midlothian Subject: [MIDLOTHIAN] Scottish nick names I have run across a situation where my cousin in Scotland advises that all they knew about an Aunt was that she was called "Polly". There was no one called that in the family but it could have been one of two. It was either Mary Jane or Janet. Any suggestions on which it might have been. Frank Easton Sherwood Park Alberta Canada

I have run across a situation where my cousin in Scotland advises that all they knew about an Aunt was that she was called "Polly". There was no one called that in the family but it could have been one of two. It was either Mary Jane or Janet. Any suggestions on which it might have been. Frank Easton Sherwood Park Alberta Canada

Thanks to all who responded to my Hillhousefield inquiry. I know a lot more about the place and it's histsory. Thanks. Bill in Montana

Bill in Montana was asking about Hillhousefield, where his AITKEN and WILLIAMSON ancestors once lived. My MACDONALD, NEILSON, STRATTON and ABERNETHY ancestors all lived in the Hillhousefield area during parts of the 19th century. The street name of Trafalgar Lane came up quite often, but they also lived in nearby Pitt street, Industry Lane and North Fort street. According to the 'Place Names of Edinburgh' (which also includes coverage of Leith) by Stuart Harris, Hillhousefield was an estate recorded as early as 1484 .... bounded on the west by Bonnington ... and on the east by the templelands of North Leith. In 1985 a street formed in the course of redeveloping the area of Fort Place and Hamilton Street at Bathfield in the north of the historic Hillhousefield was named North Hillhousefield. This road is still there today, even though, being at the North end of North Fort street, it is a wee bit away from where the original estate used to exist. Duncan, Dundee

Hello, again, Bill Following on from my earlier email, this is a reference to what happened to the Hillhouse Field estate, and others like it, from the 1860s onwards. http://books.google.com/books?id=-CYhImMjBk0C&pg=PA196&lpg=PA196&dq=Hillhousefield,+Leith&source=bl&ots=ocZRuDrTtz&sig=r8flUH4x2IWbUODxZCPSMaPwJIA&hl=en&ei=JjvsSoG3E87ajQehpbGXDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CBkQ6AEwBzgo#v=onepage&q=Hillhousefield%2C%20Leith&f=false Rhoda

Hello Bill This is a little bit of the history of Hillhouse-field which I found by googling. It was in North Leith. http://www.leithhistory.co.uk/2008/06/24/hillhousefield-leith/ Rhoda ----- Original Message ----- From: "William Dunbar" <bill_dunbar@msn.com> To: "MIDLOTHIAN" <midlothian@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, October 31, 2009 5:18 AM Subject: [MIDLOTHIAN] Hillhousefield > > Hello: I've found that some of my AItken and Williamson ancestors lived > and worked at Hillhousefield, Leith. I see a few references to it but > really don't know much about it. Was it an old estate or something? They > were there during the 1820' to 1870's +-. Any information about the > history of Hillhousefield would be appreciated. Thanks. Bill in Montana >

Bill My ggrandmother Jean Williamson b.1814 Unst, Shetland Islands died 1872 at Hillhousefield, Leith. Would be interested in hearing from you if you receive any further info regarding Hillhousefield. I have quite a history of the Williamson Family. Tom Wallace San Francisco In a message dated 10/30/2009 10:19:14 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, bill_dunbar@msn.com writes: Hello: I've found that some of my AItken and Williamson ancestors lived and worked at Hillhousefield, Leith. I see a few references to it but really don't know much about it. Was it an old estate or something? They were there during the 1820' to 1870's +-. Any information about the history of Hillhousefield would be appreciated. Thanks. Bill in Montana ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MIDLOTHIAN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hello: I've found that some of my AItken and Williamson ancestors lived and worked at Hillhousefield, Leith. I see a few references to it but really don't know much about it. Was it an old estate or something? They were there during the 1820' to 1870's +-. Any information about the history of Hillhousefield would be appreciated. Thanks. Bill in Montana

I have just received a copy of "The Life of Joseph Mitchell" which I paid for, ordering it from the collection at the Edinburgh University Collections. In it, it describes how John Mitchell, (Joseph's father) had made a coffin shaped headstone for himself years before he died. And that John is Interred in the Ratho Graveyard. John died 1749 at the age of 80 and was a well known well liked stone mason. who did much work in the Ratho area (and others) Would it be possible, or could someone tell me how to find out more information about this stone. I found a picture of it at SCRAN http://www.scran.ac.uk/database/record.php?usi=000-299-989-345-C&PHPSESSID=cfe928f64 however, scran states that the memorial is for a William Mitchell. Since the document I got from the University was written about 30-50 years after the death of John (William) Mitchell, I am trying to figure out which name is correct, John or William.. I am also wondering if there is any wife info for the person this stone is for. The person under this stone is suppose to be Joseph Mitchell (the famous poet's) father. Thanks in advance for any tips! Tammy Mitchell

I have come across Minny or Minnie as a variant for Marion in the past, so it may well be them, even if she was referred to as Marion on other documents. It does seem to be the case that parish registers sometimes used informal variants of names, while civil registration indexes were more likely to use formal versions (though not invariably). Perhaps Marion started insisting on formality more as she grew older! Catherine > > I haven't found a marriage entry for James BELL and Marion CAMPBELL. > I have seen the marriage listed > in the OPR for James BELL and Minny CAMPBELL in 1812. While it seems > unlikely to be them, the fact > that it indicates that Minny Campbell's father, James, was a > labourer in Dunbar and James and > Marion's daughter, Mary, was born in Dunbar is just a little too > coincidental for me to rule it out > completely. It should be noted though that every conclusive document > that I have, Marion is never > referred to by any other name than Marion. >