Just copying my correspondence with Tom to the List (with his permission). May come in useful for someone some day. Oldest message at foot of page. Rhoda ----- Original Message ----- From: CandROverson To: tomwdcraftr@juno.com Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2010 11:16 AM Subject: Re: Ellen nee MacGregor and/or Drummond born Scotland about 1800 Hi Tom Sorry you can't view the image. But here is what it says for JOHN: " Matthew TODD Hawker from Alnwick in Northumberland and Helen DRUMMOND his Wife had a Son born at Leadhills upon the 4th and baptized upon the 5th day of November 1836 by the Revd. W Hope before Witnesses. Named John." It is interesting that the Baptism followed a day after the Birth. It suggests the family were passing through Leadhills when Helen gave birth. The other three Baptisms on the entry page all took place some months after the Birth and were children of parents living in Leadhills. When ROBERT was Baptised two years earlier in the parish of Melrose, Roxburghshire, the family appeared to be resident in what is now Galashiels in Selkirkshire. That baptism says: "Robert Lawful son of Matthew TODD China Merchant Darlingshaugh & Helen DRUMMOND was born 10 July 1854 and baptd 21 July 1834." Googling 'Darlingshaugh' shows that it was on the outskirts of Galashiels. 'Ellen' is a variation of the name 'Helen'. It is a less formal use of the name. I have many Helens in my tree who became known as 'Ellen'. A bit like 'James' and 'Jim' etc. It is entirely possible that Helen could have been born in Edinburgh, or perhaps in a small town/village nearby. The only Helen Drummond born in the vicinity of Edinburgh appearing on the Birth/Baptism index on Scotlands People between 1795 and 1810 was one baptised or born in Cramond (now in Edinburgh) on 17 August 1804 to Thomas DRUMMOND and Helen ANDERSON. The fact that your Great Grandmother was named 'Anderson' suggests a link to a family surname and it is possible that this Helen ANDERSON was her grandmother. But it could just be a coincidence. Rhoda in London, UK ----- Original Message ----- From: tomwdcraftr@juno.com To: overson12@btinternet.com Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2010 4:28 AM Subject: RE: Ellen nee MacGregor and/or Drummond born Scotland about 1800 Hi Rhoda Oh, thank you so very much!! Unfortunately, I can't seem to get my photo program to bring it in too clear. I can make some out, but not all. Would it be possible to transcribe what the record says for John's birth? The Family knew her as, and I think even on her grave in Canada it shows "Ellen"? But, in Scotland I wonder if it would have always been "Helen"? I've also seen it as Helen some in Canada. Some of the handed down family history felt she was born in Edinburgh, so I don't know if that's possible? I have collected some records from England for Matthew, and it seems his Father had been a potter, but may have also been a hawker for the pottery. It seems that Matthew's parents had about 7 or eight children born in several different areas in Northumberland. Your kindness is greatly appreciated!! Tom McMillan Hello Tom This is in response to your message on the Perthshire List. I am attaching the image of John Todd's baptism entry in the Crawford and Leadhills (Lanarkshire) 1836 Parish Register (downloaded from the Scotlands People website). This records Matthew Todd as a hawker from the parish of Alnwick in Northumberland. This suggests that he was what we would call nowadays, a commercial traveller. Unfortunately it doesn't record Helen's place of birth, but according to the 1841 Census she was born outside Perthshire. Rhoda