I have been lucky and found a lot of records in the old OPR's all buried in Inveresk Church burial grounds. You can also go to Brunton Hall Musselburgh (write for an appointment first) and look up all there old books, £21 for an hour. Write down all info before you go. It was worth ever penny as I found lots of my family. The gentleman in charge at the burial grounds was great as I could not find my Gt.Grandmother's grave so he marked the place for me and dug out a piece of turf so I would not miss it. Wonderful! Regards Eleanor -----Original Message----- From: Sally Taylor [mailto:taylor.sally@comcast.net] Sent: 23 March 2005 22:56 To: MIDLOTHIAN-L@rootsweb.com Subject: RE: [MLN] Clutching at straws I don't think paying the GRO to search a pre-1855 death will be of any use, since there was no official death registration in Scotland prior to 1855. The 1801-1806 range for year of birth is likely acceptable. People did not always know exactly when they were born, and sometimes only gave their children an inkling of their age. Bear in mind that the information on the death certificate is given by whoever registered the death, and in many cases, Yes even in those of a child of the deceased- they did not always know the precise info. My Maternal Grandmother was born to James Davidson and Annie Chalmers, but her death certificate has her born to Alexander Davidson and Agnes Pollack and she was put down as 3 years younger than she would have actually been at death! My father- born 1920 in England, never knew his parents dates of birth or where they were born even. In 1960 my father applied for life insurance and put down his fathers age as 70, however at that time my grandfather was actually 75. Sally Taylor Boxborough MA USA For what are we but reflections of our masters- those that came before us and whose blood flows in our veins- the ancestors who don't wish to be forgotten surname interests: ADAMS, BOOKER, DAVIDSON, DONALDSON, DUCKETT, FREELAND, GRAY, MacARTHUR, MacGREGOR, PRIDE, SKINNER, WESTCOTT England and Scotland http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=SHOW&db=n0055504 -----Original Message----- From: Kylie [mailto:wencheh@optusnet.com.au] Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2005 4:44 PM To: MIDLOTHIAN-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [MLN] Clutching at straws I'm starting to think its time to throw a tanty! I thought that maybe I could get more clues to finding my William Noble's (Pilot in Leith) death by finding his wife's death certificate. Her name is Janet Edmonstone and on their marriage certificate it said daughter of John Edmonstone (Porter in Leith) so following that I found that she was born approx 1806. I found a certificate that has a Janet Noble, widow of James Noble, Pilot. She lived in Yardheads, Leith (which is the last area I can find my Janet residing in) and her father is listed as James Edmonstone. The age at death and the year would make her born in 1801 and to a different set of parents. The informant is listed as nephew and is the son of another of James Edmonstone's daughters. I have looked up marriages and cannot find a Janet Edmonstone married to a James Noble. It is SO so close with all the information but if I took it as gospel its not her. Can I assume that they got her fathers name wrong on her marriage certificate and her husbands wrong on her death certificate? There are no Johns in the family until Janet and Williams son Alexander had a son but John Logan Noble is named after Alexander's wifes family. I am stumped on both William AND Janets deaths. To top it off Scotlands People doesnt have death records before 1855, I suppose I will have to bite the bullet and pay a fee to the GRO for them to search for it. If anyone would like to impart genealogical wisdom on this I would be oh so grateful. Pulling my hair out, Kylie