MAGGIE BAXTER b. 1877, mar 1897 Ayr Sct

[Dona C]

MAGGIE BAXTER, born to James Baxter and Elizabeth McAnally/Macauley?(Hard to read marriage certificate of Maggie's). I have looked on Scotlands People and Ancestry but I can't find her birth registration! I have used many surname and given name variations.

Maggie was married in 1897, at the United Presbyterian Church in Stewarton Ayrshire to James McNay.

If James Baxter and Elizabeth McAnally are Maggie's parents, James was born in St Cuthberts, Edinburgh Scotland in 1823 and in 1855 married Elizabeth McAnally who was born in Plymouth abt 1829. They were married in Stirling , Stirlingshire. James was in the 42nd Regiment of Foot at that time (Black Watch).
I know that in 1897 her parents were both deceased according to her marriage certificate.

I am going bald from pulling out my hair on this one!

Hope someone can help

Thanks
Dona
A proud British Home child Descendent (BHCD)

[Lesley Robertson]

The 1901 census has only one Ma* M*cNay of the right age and married to a James. He's a railway lab, they're in Beith and both say they were born in Glasgow. Changing the age spread to 20-40 only turns up 2 Marys. They have a son called Robert.

I've had a look at the marriage cert and it definitely gives the mother's name as Elisabeth Macauley. I can't see a marriage for them, and I'm wondering whether they married in England or Ireland. I can't find a death cert for Elisabeth M*cauley-Baxter either (as you can search married women on both surnames together, they're easier to find). I can't find James, Elisabeth and Maggie together in the english 1881 census, either.

The most obvious possibility is that they married & had Maggie in Ireland. Another possibility is that James & Elisabeth didn't marry for some reason. Maggie could have grown up using James' surname, but she'd be registered under her mother's surname (which would also explain why I can't find Elisabeth's death cert - she's only be registered as Macauley. SP doesn't have a Ma* Macauley born 1876-1878, but there's 4 Margaret and 1 Maggie Mcauleys to check. (search mac and Mc together by using M*c; search with a forename of Ma and tick the box to search everything beginning with).

This young woman is beginning to annoy me!
Lesley

PS I'm going to take "Stirling" out of your title since Maggie's mother was probably not Elizabeth MacAnally to broaden the range of people who might check this thread.

[Dona C]

The 1901 McNay census is the right one. The Robert mentioned is my father. The McNay family moved around alot. Beith, Ayrshire and in Fife, Lochgelly, Kinglassie Fife are 3 documentated places. My father and two other of his siblings were surrendered to Quarriers - Orphan Homes of Scotland in 1911 when James was no longer able to care for them because of his ill health. Maggie had left James. She did keep the two youngest children until 1914 and then she immigrated to Canada leaving the two youngest in the care of their Father's sister. According to the report that I have from Quarriers, Maggie was living with people by the name of Lorimers in the Westfield Rows, Cardenden, Fife in 1911.

Another theory that I am attempting to confirm or disprove is: The surname Aitchison may fit in to this mystery as well. Robert Paterson Atchison McNay the oldest son, my Father and Maggie Baxter Aitchison McNay is the youngest daughter. I am not aware of Aitchison being in the McNay ancestral line dating back to 1800. Could the Aitchison be in Maggie's family.

if by chance the "Stirling" James and Elizabeth are the right ones, would it be possible that Maggie Baxter was born abroad, if Elizabeth was a "Camp Follower" when James was deployed overseas with the Black Watch.

It looks like I am grasping at straws.

I will do some more searching on the Macauley line and keep you posted.

Thanks for the insight Lesley - A fresh pair of eyes really make a difference.

Maggie is not going to defeat me!

Thanks
Dona

[AdeleE]

If the Elizabeth Macauley married to James Baxter was born in 1829 and Maggie Baxter was born in 1877, then Elizabeth would have been 48 when Maggie was born. It seems like we're missing a generation, especially as Maggie was born 22 years after James & Elizabeth were married.

Do you know under what name Maggie immigrated to Canada or do you have any details of her destination? Was the year of immigration 1914? I can try to find her in Canadian records.

Adele

[Lesley Robertson]

Another theory that I am attempting to confirm or disprove is: The surname Aitchison may fit in to this mystery as well. Robert Paterson Atchison McNay the oldest son, my Father and Maggie Baxter Aitchison McNay is the youngest daughter. I am not aware of Aitchison being in the McNay ancestral line dating back to 1800. Could the Aitchison be in Maggie's family.

if by chance the "Stirling" James and Elizabeth are the right ones, would it be possible that Maggie Baxter was born abroad, if Elizabeth was a "Camp Follower" when James was deployed overseas with the Black Watch.

All of those middle names look significant and Aitchison is probably one of the maternal lines. HOWEVER nothing is 100% certain - my grandfather and one siste both had "Mitchell" as a middle name and, despite the fact that I have the generations back from them for some time, I have never found who this "Mitchell" was. They did give their youngest son the name of an employer as a middle name, so that may also be true of mr Mitchell.

I don't suppose you know of any of Maggie's siblings?

I will be extremely surprised if the Stirling couple are Maggie's parents. As Adele has pointed out, the ages are unlikely, unless Maggie was a late-life surprised of course. Elisabeth's name was definitely Macauley, although spelling variations do occur. The geography is unlikely - Stirling is miles from the other locations you have for them.. In genealogy, anything is possible, but it's not always probable.

In your place, I'd be looking for Maggie's death reg in Canada and her birth in Ireland. I know that the 1901 says she was born Glasgow, but I can't think of any more spelling variations to try. It's possible that she grew up in Glasgow from very young and didn't know she'd not been born there. If you know of any of her siblings who stayed in Scotland, have a look for their births/deaths.
You could also consider that she might have been baptised with Maggie/Margaret as a middle name which was then always used.

Lesley

[Dona C]

MAGGIE BAXTER A TIME LINE

1877 - Birth to James Baxter and Elizabeth Macauley? - Not Confirmed by a Birth Registration
1897 - Marriage to James McNay in Stewarton, Ayrshire, Scotland ( Registration in my Possession)
1899 - Birth of eldest son Robert Paterson Aitchison McNay (Bob), Death 1982 (Registrations of B,D,M, in my possession)
1901 - Birth oF Eldest daughter Elizabeth McNay, Death unknown (Betty), (Registration of B, in my possession)
1901 - Census living in Beith , Ayrshire, Scotland
1903 - birth of daughter Maggie Baxter McNay Death 1904 (Registration of B and D in my Possession)
1904 - birth of son John McNay (Johnny), Death 1991 Registration of Birth in my possession and have obituary
1907 - birth of son James Mcnay (Jimmy) Death 1983 Registration of Birth in my possession , Death information confirmed by his daughter
1910 - birth of daughter Maggie Baxter Aitchison McNay (Peggy) Registration of birth in my possession.
Between - 1897 - 1910 living in the Beith, Ayrshire Scotland area
1911 - Living in Westfield Rows, Cardenden, Fife having seperated from husband James who is is working at Kinnimouth Farm in Kinglassie Fife.
1911 - Oldest three children surrendered to Quarriers, Orphan Homes of Scotland
1914 - Youngest two children are under the care of their Father's sister
1914 - April - Bob, is sent to Canada to work on a farm. Aboard the Hesperian I have passenger list image
1914 - June 6 - Betty, is sent to Canada to work as domestic. Aboard the Hesperian I have passenger list image
1914 - June 6 - Maggie Baxter using her married surname McNay, under a British Bonus Allowance arrives in Canada aboard the same ship as Betty, The Hesperian
Her destination is to Medicince Hat, Alberta Canada to work as a domestic for a John Smith
1916 - Youngest childen (Jimmy aand Peggy) given into care at Quarriers. I have copy of Jimmy's records. According to Quarriers they have no records relating to Peggy's admission
1916 - April - Johnny is sent to Canada aboard Scandinavian, I have image
1918 - August - Bob conscripted as part of the CSEF (Canadian Siberia Expeditionary Force) I have military papers, No mention of Maggie
1920 - March - Jimmy is sent to Canada aboard the Scandinavian. I have image
1919 - June - Bob returned from Vladivostok, Russia
Between 1920-1930 - or part of that time frame Bob worked in Northern Ontario in the logging industry at Jacksonboro and Kapuskasing.

Bob was able to gather all his siblings to live together. At some point contact was made with mother Maggie and her new "husband" given name unknown, surname Watson. Together Maggie and Mr Watson had a daughter Mary
They lived with Bob and his siblings for a while in Jacksonboro. I have photographs.
Bob lost a hand in a milling accident and eventually part of his arm when it became infected with gangarine. The family all went their seperate ways other than Johnny who remained by Bob's side.

Maggie and her husband and daughter Mary left and legend has it that they went to Calgary. I have photos but no other information.
Other bits of Folklore include her living in Winnipeg and British Columbia, but I have not found any evidence to confirm.

I hope this clarifies my query about Maggie.
I really appreciate Lesley 's and Adele's advice

Dona

[AdeleE]

I know this is moving forward in time, instead of back, but I've found a border crossing card for a Mary Laurie Watson, born 1918 Calgary, Alberta, living in Trail BC. She crosses the border at Northport, Washington for a one day visit to Colville Washington on 8 May 1938. Her departure contact is father H W Watson, Trail, BC. She is Scottish-Canadian, 5'3", fair complexion, brown hair.

Daughter Mary Watson would be good to find. She may have heard the truth from her mother Maggie later in life.

Adele

[Dona C]

Hmmm, I am going to track this one down! This Mary Watson's physical description certainly fits in with her potential half-siblings.

Thanks Adele - and a bucket of roses just for you.

Dona

[Dona C]

I have just learned that the micro film of the 1916 census of Western Canada is availableto inter library loan, from National Archives and Library Canada . I have already ordered two films that apply to Medicine Hat, which may have information about Maggie.
If anybody else is looking for information in that geographical area, let me know who you are looking for and I will check it out for you when the film arrives.

Dona