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I am trying to find a record of the birth / baptism of Alexander Anderson Skene born about 1831 in Dysart, Fifeshire (this information of I have gained from the 1861 census & his death record). Alexander later married Christina Paton in Lochgelly in 1851. Thus far I cannot find the Skene family in either the OPR births or the 1841 or 1851 census. If anyone can help or is researching the same family, contact would be much appreciated.

Hi Tania

Have you tried

www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

It is a paying site sorry but you will more than likely find his birth there

Thanks Susan, Yes I have tried scotlandspeople, using many different combinations of names (variants, soundex etc & broadening the date or the parish) but I cannot find a record of his birth or early life. I have found Alexander Skene's marriage in 1851 & lots of records of later census, so I'm pretty sure I'm on the right track. Maybe the records were lost?

The Parish records are mostly Church of Scotland Records. If Alexander's family belonged to a different church his birth / marriage may not have been recorded on C of S records. Have you looked to see what other churches were in the area please?

For example, the National Archives of Scotland show these churches in the area.

Cowdenbeath, Free Church, Guthrie Memorial, United Free and Church of Scotland 1856-1972

CH3/864 Lochgelly Free Church, Macainsh United Free, C of S 1857-1981

CH3/943 Lochgelly, (burgher), Associate congregation, United Presbyterian, United Free Churchmount, and C. of S. 1773-1980

Posing this for ref.

1861

Name: Alexander Skene
Age: 30
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1831
Relationship: Head
Spouse's name : Christina Skene
Gender: Male
Where born: Dysart, Fifeshire
Registration Number: 405
Registration district: Auchterderran
Civil parish: Auchterderran
County: Fife
Address: Brewery
Occupation: Coal Miner
ED: 7
Household schedule number: 134
Line: 13
Roll: CSSCT1861_53
Household Members: Name Age
Alexander Skene 30
Christina Skene 31
Alexander Skene 11
James Skene 9
David Skene 7
John Skene 4
Ann Fisher 9 MO

Who are the parents of Ann Fisher please? She is listed as Alexander's niece. Just wondering if that would lead to a sibling of Alexander or perhaps she was his wife's niece?

Familysearch.org has Alexander's marriage as follows:

Alexander Anderson <<<<<
Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910
marriage: 12 Dec 1851 Auchterderran,?Fife,?Scotland
spouse: Christian Paton

The site also has their children in case you don't have that information already., including interestingly:

name: Alexr. Skene Anderson
gender: Male
birth date: 01 Dec 1851
birthplace: AUCHTERDERRAN,FIFE,SCOTLAND
father's name: Alexr. Anderson
mother's name: Christian Paton
indexing project (batch) number: C11405-5
system origin: Scotland-ODM
source film number: 1040148

and


name: Thomas Anderson Skein
gender: Male
birth date: 20 Jun 1864
birthplace: DUNFERMLINE,FIFE,SCOTLAND
father's name: Alexander Anderson Skein
mother's name: Christina Paton
indexing project (batch) number: C11424-1
system origin: Scotland-ODM
source film number: 6035516

Confusing!

Just looking in General for Skene in Dysart.

These are the only "Skene" deaths recorded in DYSART ST DENIS INTERMENTS, 1795-1861


SKEEN: bastard child of Janet Skeen; 22 Sep 1799

SKEEN: child of John Skeen in Overton; 4 April 1809

SKEIN, JANNET: in Dysart; 5 Dec 1826

SKEEN, MGT: in Dysart; 1 Feb 1800

Do you have the names of his parents and father's occupation from his death certificate please? Even if those details are not totally accurate they can sometimes help.

There are a couple of possible births if his name was Anderson.

ALEXANDER ANDERSON
Birth: 01 APR 1829
Christening: 03 MAY 1829 Dysart, Fife, Scotland
Parents:
Father: ALEXANDER ANDERSON Family
Mother: JEAN OSWALD
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Messages:
Extracted birth or christening record for the locality listed in the record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the birth or christening date.




Which would be this family in 1841?

Piece: SCT1841/426 Place: Dysart -Fife Enumeration District: 2
Civil Parish: Dysart Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: Dysart
Folio: 0 Page: 5
Address: Skeddoway



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surname First name(s) Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
ANDERSON Alexander M 47 Agricultural Labourer Fife
ANDERSON Jean F 50 - Fife
ANDERSON Betsy F 17 - Fife
Page: 0/6 ANDERSON Alexander M 12 - Fife
ANDERSON Janet F 9 - Fife
ANDERSON Mary F 6 - Fife
BIRREL David M 1 - Fife


ALEXANDER ANDERSON
Birth: 04 DEC 1831
Christening: 25 DEC 1831 Dysart, Fife, Scotland
Parents:
Father: ALEXANDER ANDERSON Family
Mother: ANNE LEIGHTON
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Messages:
Extracted birth or christening record for the locality listed in the record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the birth or christening date.

I wonder if this is him before he married Christina?

1851

Name: Alexr Anderson
Age: 19
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1832
Relationship: Son
Mother's name: Hellen Anderson
Gender: Male
Where born: Dysart, Fife
Parish Number: 405
Civil parish: Auchterderran <<<<<<<
Town: Lochgelly
County: Fife
Address: Moor 92
Occupation: Engineman C M
ED: 8
Page: 17 (click to see others on page)
Household schedule number: 59
Line: 12
Roll: CSSCT1851_84
Household Members: Name Age
Hellen Anderson 39
Alexr Anderson 19
Euphemia Anderson 15
David Anderson 14
James Anderson 8
Hellen Anderson 6
John Anderson 4
Christina Anderson 6 MO
David Dryburgh 12

1841

Piece: SCT1841/426 Place: Dysart -Fife Enumeration District: 2
Civil Parish: Dysart Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: Dysart
Folio: 339 Page: 1
Address: Balbiggie Coal Hill



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surname First name(s) Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
ANDERSON Alexr. M 31 Engine Drawer Fife Address:Possibly Balbeggie
ANDERSON Helen F 29 - Fife
ANDERSON Alexr. M 9 - Fife
ANDERSON Margaret F 7 - Fife
ANDERSON Euphemia F 5 - Fife
ANDERSON David M 3 - Fife
ANDERSON Agness F 2 - Fife
ANDERSON James M 2m - Fife
DAVIDSON Thomas M 10 - Fife
DAVIDSON Jean F 1 - Fife


ALEXANDER ANDERSON
Marriages:
Spouse: HELEN THOMSON Family
Marriage: 08 JAN 1831 Dysart, Fife, Scotland
Messages:
Extracted marriage record for locality listed in the record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the marriage date.

So Ann Fisher was Christina's niece as she is with Christina's parents in 1871.

1871

Name: Ann Fisher
Age: 10
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1861
Relationship: Grandaughter (Granddaughter)
Gender: Female
Where born: Auchterderran, Fifeshire
Registration Number: 405
Registration district: Auchterderran
Civil parish: Auchterderran
County: Fife
Address: Launcherhead No 2
Occupation: Scholar
ED: 5
Household schedule number: 28
Line: 19
Roll: CSSCT1871_69
Household Members: Name Age
James Paton 66
Ann Paton 63
Ann Fisher 10

Thank you all for your kind interest and help.

I believe Ann Fisher (born about 1861) is the daughter of Christina Paton's youngest sister whose name was also Ann (b 1843).

With regard to Alexander Skene born about 1831 in Dysart, I believe you have probably found the correct family under Anderson. Many of Alexander Anderson Skene & Christine Paton's children are all called "Anderson Skene", for example, Thomas Anderson Skene and Henry Anderson Skene. I also know Alexander Skene's father is listed as Alexander Anderson on one of the children's marriage certificates.
In answer to your query regarding the details on his death certificate: He died in Indiana, with the details as follows.
Date: 2 Mar 1914
Location: Brazil
Age: 82 Yr
Gender: Male
Race: White
Source Location: City Health Office Brazil
Unfortunately, I have not yet ordered the original to let you know any details of his father's name, although as I mentioned, I believe it was Alexander Anderson. I will track down which child's marriage certificate has this mentioned . . . .
Many thanks again for all your wonderful assistance with this.

I beg your pardon, I found Alexander Skene's father on his son's birth certificate. Alexander Skene's father is listed as Alexander Anderson on his son "Thomas Anderson Skene"'s birth record. The record says:
Thomas Anderson Skeine 20 June 1864 Halbeath, Dunfermline Father - Alexander Anderson Skeine Mother - Christina Anderson Skeine (nee Paton) Informant - Alexander Anderson (grandfather)

As the family are listed as "Anderson" on the 1841 and 1851 census, in your experience, where do you think the "skene" has come from?
Thanks

Skene surname is most common in Aberdeenshire. One of two possibilities. Skene was the middle name of Alexander Anderson (B. circa 1831). Or he wasn't the son of Alexander Anderson (Senior). He may have been his stepson or the illegitimate son of Alexander (Sen)'s wife. Any of those possibilities could lead to him sometimes using the surname Skene or Anderson. I personally think that he was most likely the son of the Grandfather who registered Thomas's birth.

In Scotland it is fairly common for parents to name their children for other family members and include the surname of that family member as a middle name.

I am being drawn to this family in 1841. Just wondering if Alexander (1831), mother died in childbirth?

Piece: SCT1841/426 Place: Dysart -Fife Enumeration District: 2
Civil Parish: Dysart Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: Dysart
Folio: 0 Page: 7
Address: Mid Street


Surname First name(s) Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
ANDERSON Henry M 65 Weaver Fife
ANDERSON Alexander M 36 Weaver Fife
ANDERSON Henry M 11 - Fife
ANDERSON Alexr M 9 - Fife


Weaver's were often literate more so than Miners or Ag. Labs.

Just thinking that if Grandad Alexander was able to sign (rather than make his mark) on that birth registration.

These may be relevant to the above family.

DYSART ST DENIS INTERMENTS, 1795-1861


8 Nov 1834 ANDERSON: still-born child of Alexr Anderson, weaver in Dysart;

ANDERSON, HENRY: weaver in Dysart; 30 Nov 1852

LIGHTON, AGNES: spouse of Alexander Anderson, weaver in Dysart;
3 Dec 1834





Looks like the Alexander with the Henry only had two sons and his wife was Anne Leighton?

HENRY ANDERSON Birth: 04 NOV 1830
Christening: 07 APR 1831 Dysart, Fife, Scotland
Father: ALEXANDER ANDERSON Family
Mother: ANNE LEIGHTON
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Messages:
Extracted birth or christening record for the locality listed in the record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the birth or christening date.

ALEXANDER ANDERSON Birth: 04 DEC 1831

Christening: 25 DEC 1831 Dysart, Fife, Scotland
Father: ALEXANDER ANDERSON Family
Mother: ANNE LEIGHTON
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Messages:
Extracted birth or christening record for the locality listed in the record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the birth or christening date


So still no connection to the surname Skene with them.



I think that your next step would be to search on Scotlandspeople for the death of Grandad Alexander Anderson after 1864.

(The Alexander, aged 39 on the above 1841 census seems to have gone on to have more children with Helen Cowan)

Thanks
These are the deaths I found for Alexander Anderson (Alexander Anderson Skene's father). After viewing, I'm afraid I haven't found any hints as to the identity of our Alexander Skene Anderson b 1831 Dysart, although I'm happy to be corrected. These are the names I found.

1 1870 ANDERSON ALEXANDER M 60 ST ANDREWS AND ST LEONARDS /FIFE 453/00 0141
2 1871 ANDERSON ALEXANDER M 66 CRAIL /FIFE 417/00 0018
3 1871 ANDERSON ALEXANDER M 69 LESLIE (FIFE) /FIFE 444/00 0080
4 1875 ANDERSON ALEXANDER M 66 DUNFERMLINE LANDWARD /FIFE 424/02 0159
5 1875 ANDERSON ALEXANDER M 70 KIRKCALDY AND ABBOTSHALL /FIFE 442/00 0070
6 1886 ANDERSON ALEXANDER M 80 KIRKCALDY AND ABBOTSHALL /FIFE 442/00 0086

Incidently, the only Alexander Anderson I can find born in Dysart at the right time is:
1831 OPR Birth ANDERSON, ALEXANDER (O.P.R. Births 426/00 0060 0107 DYSART) . The record says this child is the 2nd son of Alexander Anderson and Anne Leighton. I'm hopeful we are on the right track then.

Were none of the informants or spouses on the deaths that you viewed any help please? Just wondering if it is possible to elimate them.

rg - Weaver or not, in 1855, 96% of grooms signed their name (87% of brides) on their marr cert in Fife.
(The 1855 Scotland-wide rates were 89% grooms, 77% brides)

Source:
First detailed annual report of registrar-general of births, deaths and marriages, Scotland (1855) Page 24
http://www.histpop.org/ohpr/servlet/Browse?path=Browse/Registrar%20General%20(by%20date)&active=yes&titlepos=130

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Tania - I don't see your Alex, but assuming he was visiting family, the following Skein/Skene's may be of interest:
(Magnify 4 clicks, then save image)
1910 Brazil Twp, Clay Co IN
http://www.archive.org/stream/13thcensus1910po343unit#page/n209/mode/1up
[David & Agnes a=53&46 pob=SCT]
http://www.archive.org/stream/13thcensus1910po343unit#page/n34/mode/1up
[Alex a=28 pob=IN]

Thank you. Regarding the Brazil, Indiana connection mentioned by mgnv, the Skene family moved to the United States and settled in Indiana which was were Alexander Anderson Skene died. David Skene (who married Agnes) is one of his many sons.

Tania - I don't know if you have these:


For 1870, use:
https://www.familysearch.org/s/collection/list#page=1®ion=NORTH_AMERICA
[Try David Skene Residence=Mercer PA and then click on view image at left]
[The nominal census date was 1/6/1870 - they were enumerated 17/6/1870
On later censuses, I've seen them say d.o.immig=1870 and Alex Snr came out in 1869]


1880 Household:
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
Alex SKENE Self M Male W 45 SCOTLAND Works In Coal Bank SCOTLAND SCOTLAND
Christine P. SKENE Wife M Female W 45 SCOTLAND Keeping House SCOTLAND SCOTLAND
Thomas SKENE Son Male W 15 SCOTLAND Works In Coal Bank SCOTLAND SCOTLAND
Christopher SKENE Son Male W 14 SCOTLAND Works In Coal Bank SCOTLAND SCOTLAND
Henry SKENE Son S Male W 10 SCOTLAND SCOTLAND SCOTLAND
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source Information:
Census Place Lackawannock, Mercer, Pennsylvania
Family History Library Film 1255155
NA Film Number T9-1155
Page Number 246D

http://www.archive.org/stream/populationsc18801155unit#page/n391/mode/1up


1880 Household:
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
James SKENE Self M Male W 26 SCOT Coal Miner SCOT SCOT
Charlotte SKENE Wife M Female W 24 ENG House Keeping ENG ENG
David SKENE Brother S Male W 24 SCOT Coal Miner SCOT SCOT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source Information:
Census Place Brazil, Clay, Indiana
Family History Library Film 1254269
NA Film Number T9-0269
Page Number 394D

http://www.archive.org/stream/10thcensus0269unit#page/n793/mode/1up

I didn't find Alexander nor John in 1880 - expected a=28/22.


1900
http://www.archive.org/stream/12thcensusofpopu363unit#page/n515/mode/1up
http://www.archive.org/stream/12thcensusofpopu363unit#page/n702/mode/1up
http://www.archive.org/stream/12thcensusofpopu396unit#page/n1115/mode/1up
http://www.archive.org/stream/12thcensusofpopu396unit#page/n1116/mode/1up

1910
http://www.archive.org/stream/13thcensus1910po343unit#page/n529/mode/1up