Genealogy Chat

I am searching for a death c1841-8 and have looked on Scotland's people and IGI to no avail. Any other ideas please, thanks Jennifer

Try mailing or phoning the local council in the area that you think he died or was buried in. From personal experience: I have been searching Scotlandspeople for the past 5/6 years for a death certificate, but never ever found anything, so I contacted the local council in Dumfries and they found it right away - that was 1888. Hope this helps. Elaine

There is another web site that deals with all matters Scottish its http://www*scotlandsfamilytree*moonfruit*com Its free, although there is also a subsription £10 section remember to replace * with . Its very very helpful, give it a try Helena

Could the name have been mis-spelt? I will have a look for it if you post the name...or If you don't want to do that just PM it if you want. Regards Ann

Before 1855 you will not find a death in Scotland. The best you could hope to find is either a burial notice (usually mentioned at the end of the OPR listings, though not on Scotlandspeople) or a Monuemental Inscription (MI). Local family history societies have their local MI in booklets which you either have to buy or request a lookup or find someone who has the book. For MI's people have transcribed what they can see so if the grave is damaged or turned over it will not be mentioned. Plus lots of people couldnt afford to place a stone so wont be mentioned. So the likely hood of any finding anything is slim, unless you had rich rellies. Mhairi

Daft question Mhairi but why can't you find a death in Scotland before 1855? I didn't realise that was the case! Thanks Ann

Hey Ann General Registration didnt start in Scotland till 1855 hence no death certs, we are working with Parish records before then, and we have to work with burial info, the purchase of mort cloths and MI's plus sometimes info from the kirk records/minster records. Mhairi

Thanks Mhairi I just did a google search to find out what Mort Cloths were. (The name was a bit of a clue but I wasn't sure). It Can't have been a very hygenic practice. I was amazed to read that some were even made of velvet! The mind boggles. I hadn't realised just how difficult it was finding Scottish Ancestors. Thanks for the info Regards Ann

Thanks for all the suggestions, sorry not to get back before, housework and cooking interfered. I don't think I shall be able to find the death I am looking for as they were only poor ag labs. It was too confirm that a gg grandfather had been married twice, and just to be awkward he married someone with the same first name of Mary so on census returns it doesn't stand out. The first Mary would have to have been nearly 60 when the last child was born. On his son's death cert his mother's maiden name was Mary Smith but on gggfather's death cert it says husband of Mary Graham, so guess I'll have to be satisfied with that. Thanks Jennifer