Genealogy Chat

Georgina I got real excited when I saw your reply. But young John Black is recorded as being 4 in 1881. I have him as 27 on the 1901 English census, it agrees with marriage cert and his death cert. So unfortunately age 4 does not tie up. Can I ask you, was there any father John Black’s as prison officers. My brother in law originally told me that he was told many years ago younger John Black was born in a prison because his father was a guard, so it came as a surprise as the occupation being a Superintendent of Police. Either bit of information may not have been the whole truth. He married an English lass from Selby, Elizabeth Cooper in 1900 in York. Again, thank you very much for trying. Pauline

Pauline the only Black who is in the Police on the 1881 scottish census with a son John is this one... Dwelling: East Green Census Place: Anstruther Easter, Fife, Scotland Source: FHL Film 0203516 GRO Ref Volume 402 EnumDist 1 Page 12 Marr Age Sex Birthplace William BLACK M 37 M Largo, Fife, Scotland Rel: Head Occ: Police Constable Margaret BLACK M 33 F Dores, Inverness, Scotland Rel: Wife John BLACK 4 M Anstruther W, Fife, Scotland Rel: Son Margaret M. BLACK 2 F Anstruther Easter, Fife, Scotland Rel: Dau Can you tell me who your John married in 1900? Georgina.

Hello Georgina Thank you for the offer to help me find some further information on my relative. I did try IGI but as the names are not unusual it came up with a few alternatives, with no way for me to be sure if any were the right person. I don’t have a mother’s name. This is all I know John Black was 27 in June 1900 when he married in England, and still 27 in 1901 English census born Scotland. His father was also called John Black deceased on younger JB marriage, but father’s occupation was Superintendent of Police. Maybe a lesser rank in 1881 if you can find him. Very grateful any information you can give me. Pauline

Pauline before you use up your credits, check the IGI on the family search site for his birth, scotland is well covered. Or tell me who you are looking for and if he is in scotland in 1881 I will search the census for you, at least then you will have a place of birth. Georgina.

Thank you Gillian. I don't have a middle name either. They don't make it easy, do they? I can see it is going to be an expensive job.

It is over a 18 months since I used Scotlands People to search for someone, and before I add to the credits I have left can someone just give me some good advice if there is any, as to how to search and get the best out of my money. I want to find a birth in 1873. I know his name, place of birth only as Scotland from England’s 1901 census, and father’s name and profession from his English marriage certificate. I don’t even know a county. On the free search page it returns 43 name matches for the year. If I pay, will it still be just a case of looking at each one of the 43 in turn until I hit lucky, or can it be narrowed down with father’s name? It is such a long time ago since I was last on the site, I can’t remember what comes next. Pauline