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William Macdonald (1836? - 1921)

Tyrone

Son of Michael Macdonald (?-1893) and Mary Brownlee (1810-1893), possibly Co Tyrone.

William came to Scotland (?) and first records are his Marriage to Isabella Wallace (1819-1890) in Edinburgh on 25th Nov 1890.

I have a comprehensive record of his life, work and death after 1870 but little of his Irish heritage.

Can't get any reference to parents Births, Marriage or Deaths in Ireland.

Any assistance as where to look next would be of benefit.

Gordon T. Stevens

gordon.stevens…

4 replies

Gordon,

The Scottish marriage certificate in 1890 should tell you Michael’s occupation. That would be helpful to know. It should also confirm whether Michael & Mary were alive or dead at that date. If dead, it’ll say deceased or dcd after their name(s).

What makes you think they both died in 1893 and may have come from Tyrone?

What denomination was the family?

I searched the Irish death records for 1892 – 1894. There are 21 Michael McDonnell and 10 Michael MacDonald deaths in that period. None in Tyrone. (I included McDonnell because it's the same name. McDonald is more commonly McDonnell in Ireland.  When folk moved to Scotland the name was frequently rebranded as MacDonald, that being more common there.). There were 77 Mary McDonnell & 39 Mary MacDonald deaths in the same period. Likewise none in Tyrone.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer
gordon.stevens…

Elwyn, Many thanks for the swift reply to my query, I should have added in the initial query that William Macdonald was recorded in the Scotland Census of 1871 as a 'Jeweler' living with his wife, Isabella,(Wallace) in the back of his shop at 32 Clerk Street, Edinburgh, and again on his 2nd Marriage in 1891 to Hannah Wallace (1st wife's neice) as a 'Jeweler'.at 4 Grayfriars Place, Edinburgh, and his 3rd Marriage certificate to Joan Catherine Gifford as a 'Jeweler'. I cannot locate a Marriage cert on Scotland's People website for William and Isabella's Marriage in 1870, but I have uncovered a Marriage between a William McDonald and Isabella Wallace on 8th May at 8 Spittal St., Edinburgh, but the parents don't tie in to Family fokelore regarding William and Isabella and his other Marriages. (This has been temporarily shelved as a possible 'red-herring'.)

Most of the information I have regarding William and his parents has been derived from a small scrap of paper found in my late mother-in-laws  papers after her death. She always had doubts on the 'Irish Connection' and family fokelore has always spoken of Williams apparent wealth upon his 'arrival' in Scotland and where his wealth came from (His father Michael was recorded on Williams Marriage cert in 1891 as a 'General Merchant' - deceased.) The dates fo his paprents deaths are approx and were BEFORE 1883.

I will investigate your 'hints' on the Irish death records so see what information I can derive from the data, but I'm not hopeful as others have already been down this route and uncovered very little hard evidence as to William's ancestry.

I have a complete set of facts for William after 1870 with certificates etc. on the 'COCHRANE Family Tree' on the Ancestry website.

Again Many thanks for your reply - Hopefully there may be other kind souls out there who can throw some light on my quest for definative information.

Gordon T. Stevens  

gordon.stevens…

Gordon,

I notice that in the 1871 census William’s place of birth is given as Edinburgh and in 1891 as Stirlingshire. It would make you wonder whether Ireland can be relied upon in the other 3 censuses.

I spotted this marriage in Edinburgh in 1865 between a William MacDonald and Isabella Wallace. I note the wife was some years older than her husband (as in your family’s case). He was a blacksmith. That’s a metal working skill. Could he have transitioned from blacksmith to jeweller?

Have you looked for him in Scotland in the censuses before 1871? Might be worth a try.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

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