Hi Janet, Liz and June, Thank you for your replies. My great grandfather Peter Abbott had served in the army in the West Indies and was supposed to be sailing to Cork, but the weather was too bad and he ended up in Edinburgh. He served at the Castle for 12 months in about 1867. In 1869 he was in the Barracks in Newport, Monmouthshire and Isabella was in a lodging house and they were married in a catholic church nearby. I don't know weather she travelled there with him or followed him. Peter was a catholic and their children were brought up as catholics, but Isabella is buried in the Church of England part of Preston Cemetery and Peter is buried in the catholic part. They went to Ireland after their marriage and my grandma's brother and sister were born there. The children after them were born in Preston. They named their children William (Peter's father was called William) and Isabella said her father was also William, Peter, Elizabeth, Alice (Peter's mother's name), John and my grandma Ann Jane. >From this I would guess that Isabella's mother was also Isabella, Elizabeth, Ann or Jane. Liz, I will do as you suggest and try other spellings of Rutherford. I know there can be some weird and wonderful transcriptions on Ancestry. June, I have gone sideways, backwards and forwards and everything else I can think of. Like you, I am just hoping something hits me in the face, that I have not thought of before. Unfortunately, I have no-one left that I can ask about their grandmother. The only thing I was told about her is that she was a good christian woman who read the bible every day and came from a big farm in Scotland. I am waiting for the 1911 Preston Census to come out, in the hope it gives a more accurate place of birth. I have read that it may be available in 2009. Best Wishes, Anne in Bolton. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Janet" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2006 5:00 PM Subject: Re: [SCT-EDINBURGH] PLEASE CAN SOMEONE HELP - RUTHERFORD > Anne. I just want to say, I sympathise with you in your dilemma. I am > however rather puzzled that Peter Abbott and your Isabella were married in > Newport, Wales when he was eventually posted to Edinburgh Castle and then > Ireland. As a rule, we know that a marriage would have taken place in the > Parish of the bride. Something doesn't quite fit, to my mind. > > As to the identity of the father of Isabella, I can empathise here. My > own mother, illegitimate at birth, named her grandfather as her father on > the occasion of her marriage to my father. > > The information in the three census records also doesn't seem to fit, does > it. > > I am related to a number of Isabella females who came from big farms in > Scotland. It is so that the Scottish naming patterns, when applied, cause > confusion. I would however be inclined to accept the information of your > grandmother, even though we know that grandmothers are given to a slight > loss of detail, and inclined to romanticise, as mine was. Nevertheless, as > to the basics I have found what my grandmother told me to be true. > > You're suffering from the migration syndrome where once they removed to > another part of the country, i.e. Britain, anything is possible. I have > something similar. > > I would however recommend you try looking for death certificates. I have > found them amazingly useful, calculating dates of death, except, with a > mind that early death is possible. Calculate your grandmother's birth and > have an open mind from there. > > I realise that what I have said may have muddied the waters somewhat, or > perhaps not. Don't give up. > > Janet > PS As I have been writing this two or three other responses have come in > which I have not read. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "pneanne" <[email protected]> > > >> Please, please, please, can someone help me to find my great grandmother, >> >> I have been researching my family for over 20 years and have also helped >> numerous other people knock down their brick walls, so I am not a novice, >> but I am absolutely stuck on my great grandmother Isabella Rutherford >> born about 1846, Scotland. On the censuses her age is very consistent >> 1846/47. >> >> On her marriage to Peter Abbott of Preston, Lancashire she shows her >> father as William Rutherford, coachman. Peter and Isabella were married >> in Newport, Wales, as he was in the army. In 1871 he was stationed in >> Ireland, so I have not got her on the 1871 Census. >> >> Peter Abbott was stationed at Edinburgh Castle in the 1860's before they >> got married, so she may be from Edinburgh or was living there at the >> time. >> >> On the 1881 Census in Preston, her birthplace is shown as EDINBURGH. >> >> On the 1891 Census in Preston, her birthplace is shown as PRESTON. >> >> On the 1901 Census in Preston, her birthplace is shown as PAISLEY. >> >> Years ago, I sent for a birth certificate for Isabella Rutherford, born >> 1846 Edinburgh, father William Rutherford. I was sent the certificate for >> Isabella Rutherford, father William Rutherford, fisherman and Christian >> Steele, in Newhaven, North Leith. I researched this family for ages and >> travelled to Edinburgh a few times. I eventually discounted this family, >> as this Isabella was still in Newhaven, Leith in 1901. I have also >> discounted Isabella daughter of William Rutherford and Jessie Balmer. >> >> I have looked on the 1851 and 1861 Scotland Census Indexes on Ancestry >> and also looked for births on Scotland's People, but nothing fits. >> >> I am beginning to think that Isabella made up the name of her father. >> >> One piece of information I had from my auntie was that her grandmother >> Isabella came from a big farm. >> >> If anyone can help me I will be eternally grateful, as I would love to >> find her family and trace them further back. >> >> Kind regards, >> >> Anne in Bolton, Lancashire. > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] 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 Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.15.28/604 - Release Date: > 26/12/2006 12:23 > >