Scottish/Borders surname query

[Olde Crone Holden]

Thanks Glen, I'll bookmark that for later!

BTW, pleased that Isabella Forbes actually died back on the family farm, not up the Torry Point Battery! She died of Infirmity of Years..is that old age?

OC

[Keptin Thedark]

I meant the Nisbet Dawson Marriage, OC.

[Glen in Tinsel Knickers]

Anotgher potentially useless link :D Showing varied connections to the names of Nesbit/Nisbet and the associated farms, houses and manseshouses connected to the name in the borders area.

Nesbitt/Nisbet Society Home

[Olde Crone Holden]

Glen

thanks for the link - the site is a bit clunky and I can't get past the DNA bit!

I will look at it properly tomorrow, but as far as my own line is concerned, my 4 x GGF John Nisbet was the last male of his line, having only daughters.

But what do I know - I can't trace the b****y man! He may have been married before.

OC

[Glen in Tinsel Knickers]

Well anything that you might want photographing any time just let me know, Mrs G likes the driving practice and she is getting so good i can hold the camera steady when we finally arrive ;)

[Olde Crone Holden]

LOL Glen! Brave man, you are!

OC

[KiteRunner]

Have you already tried looking for any wills / inventories in that area with those surnames on Scotland's People, OC? I know, it costs more money but sometimes they give you the breakthrough you need. The problem is rationing them though!

[Olde Crone Holden]

I hadn't thought of that, Kate, as I am not au fait with searching for wills on SP.

But I will go and have a practice now!

I suppose I really should be looking for a will in Berwick, for Thomas Smeakin, first. All I know of him is that he was dead before 1855.

OC

[Glen in Tinsel Knickers]

LOL Glen! Brave man, you are!

OC

I can well imagine some of your photo requests to be pretty demanding.

[Olde Crone Holden]

No, no, Glen, I am not a demanding woman!

I was commenting on your bravery with regard to Mrs G's driving skills.

*wonders what it is like to be taught to drive by an HGV driver......"Go on, go on, get in his boot...blast your horn...pull out, pull out, don't let the cheeky b**** overtake...trap him in the inside lane....."*

OC

[Olde Crone Holden]

Oh, shock HORROR!

I am just following up the children of Helen/Elender Nisbet, who married John Dawson.

One of their daughters was Elender (consistent, again, everywhere), born 1834. She had SEVEN illegitimate children and they all have different fathers.

The Smeakins died of shame!

OC

[Glen in Tinsel Knickers]

I keep meaning to go back to one name that is in the tree Mrs G is (sort of) doing. There is an illitimate birth and the baptism shows the father as "Ralph the gardener", i keep meaning to go through the census for the village looking for this Ralph chap, the mother went on to have two more kids but she never got anywhere near a marriage.

[Olde Crone Holden]

Glen

LOL! At least mine knew their full names!

OC

[Olde Crone Holden]

Oooh, I may have a bit of a lead!

I have been trawling disconsolately through Ancestry trees and found Isabella and Margaret on someone's tree, with parents John Nisbet and Helen SINCLAIR.

Now, it doesn't look remotely like Sinclair to me, but maybe the tree holder knows something? I have messaged her, fingers crossed.

EDIT - no, stand down, team, I have just worked out who the tree holder is.....(not me, by the way)

*shoots self*

OC

[Elizabeth Herts]

OC - I hope the shot wasn't fatal and that you are still with us today!

[Olde Crone Holden]

Flesh wound only. I'm still here. I can't even shoot myself properly.

However, I have developed a theory overnight. Tell me is this is plausible or not.

John Nisbet and Helen Smeakin cannot read or write. But when they get married, they either get a certificate (is that likely, around 1796?) or someone gives them a family bible, in which the giver has carefully, but inaccurately, written their names.

Helen Smeakin spends her last years living with her daughter Isabella Forbes and of course, the family bible is with her. Isabella informs of her mothers death in 1855 and gets someone to copy the details of her mother's parents out of the bible. They can't wreite either, but they make a stab at copying it and take it to the Registrar, who can't make head or tail of it, but writes what he thinks it says.

They take the bit of copy paper home. Next to die is Margaret. Her daughter in law is informant, and she takes the bit of paper with her. Next to die - Elender, and Isabella's son is the informant.

Last to die is Isabella Forbes and her grandson is informant. He lived with Isabella from birth, so out comes the bible, or the bit of paper, yet again.

S in cla ir
S in alc ir
S m (e)a kin

What do you think? Has my head wound caused permanent damage?

OC

[Olde Crone Holden]

Oh, now this is DEFINITELY a breakthrough!

I have just received an email from a total stranger, who has gone to the trouble of looking through the Presbyterian records in the Berwick area, and has come up with Smeakam and Smeakum in the mid 1700s (Helen was born 1770).

This lovely lady cannot find Thomas Smeakins, but has found a James and Euphemia, who might be worth a follow-up. The name degrades to Smeetham, Smitham, Smith, etc, but my informant says she thinks this owes more to illiteracy than real spelling!

Off to dig a bit...

OC

[Uncle John]

Euphemia is a good old Scottish name. OH has several in her tree. The most recent was known as "Famie".

[Olde Crone Holden]

Yes, I am wondering if there was a previous Scottish connection, rather than the Nisbets just deciding to up sticks and move to Nigg on a whim.

OC

[Glen in Tinsel Knickers]

OC

Just had the latest Borders FHS magazine and there is an article/request for contact from a chap researching the Jeffrey/Smeaton families.

One noted spelling he has come across is Smyttan.
There is an e-mail and postal addy in the article if you are interested.