Hi Everyone, This is related to some of my Johnshaven/Benholm ancestors (no pun intended). My great-great-great grandfather James Duncan who has proven the most mysterious of all my ancestors was supposedly born circa 1806 in Johnshaven (according to the 1851 census) but there is no sign of him in the IGI. I have also never found any record of a marriage or a death for him. The name is quite common in the Kincardine area, which can pose a problem. He lived with Elizabeth Torrie/Mather in Johnshaven at least between 1840-1844, and they had two children. Elizabeth was either married/widowed when living with James as she had several children to James Mathers (another person who has been impossilbe to trace). To my knowledge most children born outwith marriage at that time appear to have been registered anyway. Yet like their father the two sons are nowhere to be seen. I know that Elizabeth was Church of Scotland and wondered if anyone thought that James could well have been catholic. This would have probably stopped a potential marriage (assuming neither was married) and I would think stop the births being registered with the Church of Scotland. I went to the National Archives in Edinburgh yesterday to check the catholic records for Blairs but they were few and far between. I would love any fresh thoughts or perspective from any kind person out there!

Hi Grant, I can't offer any inspired ideas for pinning down James Duncan but I will keep my ears to the ground when I visit Kincardine in late September. By the way how do you get your hands on the 1851 census for Johnshaven? Jim Murray

Hi Jim, Thanks! As for the 1851 census for Benholm/Johnshaven I've accessed the fiche once at the family history centre in Dundee and also at Stonehaven library. Perhaps you will have the opportunity to visit Stonehaven when you are up that way? Regards, Grant Cargill -----Original Message----- From: diana murray [mailto:littlewarrenfarm@fletchingcommon.fsbusiness.co.uk] Sent: 23 July 2005 18:51 To: SCT-KINCARDINE-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [SCT-KINCARDINE] Any assistance welcome Hi Grant, I can't offer any inspired ideas for pinning down James Duncan but I will keep my ears to the ground when I visit Kincardine in late September. By the way how do you get your hands on the 1851 census for Johnshaven? Jim Murray ============================== Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx