Find Ancestors

You know, that too is an excellent thought.

I imagine that lawyers in Scotland who specialise in property law, for instance, still have to examine old documents from time to time, if a chain of title is in issue for some reason. Or of course someone who specialises in wills and estates.


Heh heh.

http://www.thewillexpert.co.uk/understanding-legal-jargon-scottish-wills.html

http://www.thewillexpert.co.uk/AskOurExpertsCategory.html

No harm trying!

You may not get a free opinion for a weirdo question like this, but you might get directions to someone who could help.


... or Thomas may know someone. ;)

Could be. But I think not. Its notable that the will all full of legally binding terms as it is refers to her only as 'Mary Cromar or Chalmers or Gordon'. This is clearly to make no mistake as to whom they are referring.

It is only in the couple of places where its signed by her does it say:
' (signed) Mary Cromar The Donald. '

The will entries I have I guess are transcribed by clerks into their legal records rather than the original 'scroll' which would I imagine have all the original signatures.

Thus I conclude, m'lud' ;-) ! , that it is Mary's choice to sign her name as such and were it to be a legally binding name or have proof positive one would assume it would feature in the bulk of the legal text to identify her.

J

I'm giving up and signing off on this query.

Ma heid's birlin' wi the in's an oot's o' 'The Donald'

Good luck.

Ah, I hadn't cottoned on to "the Donald" being only in her own hand.

Delusions of grandeur? ;)

You know what happens if you google "the donald" -- which is why I wouldn't even try!

U may find some of her relatives where married to Donald families as there was a few had Donald as last names who where linked to Chalmers or other famlies

Cheers - Thats more what I was thinking but your the first to hint at 'cross polination' between Chalmers and Donald. Anything particular leading you to suggest that ?

J

I have to say I am stumped with this. I checked all we have at work, and called the library, but they didn't know. One thing you could try is to Google for family history groups or societies in that district and ask if it is anything they have knowledge of.

Thanks Thomas.

Not to worry. One day the truth may reveal itself. The nice thing is that my looking at this bit again found 2 siblings previous known to me , one of whom marries into my family name , gives a further 4 ancestors to track AND ol 'ma-in law' was finally discovered living with them (a nicely mistranscribed surname previous hid her) and bless her for passing on in 1855 and thus give a magic 'full fat' death cert ! Alls well that ends well for now.

J