What's a M-D?

[Lynne Black]

On my 3gr grandfather's death certificate in fife in 1861, his father's occupation was listed as M - D. i thought it might be an M.D, ie a doctor, but it looks like a dash rather than a full stop between the M and the D. my 3gr was a market gardener himself, and there is no evidence of other medicos in the family. any ideas on what it could be?:out:

[Davran]

Have you found him in the censuses, where his occupation will be given?

[Lynne Black]

yes ive tried the censuses but it looks like he was long gone by the time it got to 1841! i cant find anything about him at all. sometimes i think these people werent born but found under cabbage patches or landed here from outer space - frustrating!!

[SBSFamilyhistory]

How old was your 3x great grandfather when he died? I ask because I am thinking what was his fathers occupation on his marriage certificate .

[Lynne Black]

he married elizabeth downie 24 july 1826 in kirkcaldy which was too early to give fathers' occupations (rats!!) i cant even find his birth (my 3 gr grndf) though in censuses he claimed birth year & place of c1802, dysart, fife. his death certificate bears that out. his name was peter black and so was his father (the MD) peter black. on the death cert his mother is listed as "margaret winken" or something very much like that. cant find a marriage anywhere in the world of those two names! one for the "brick wall" section i think!

[suzannewozere2]

Could this be a purely Scottish notation?

[grisel]

Could it possibly be M S (in old handwriting) Male Servant ?

[Colin Rowledge]

2 things have struck me - neither of which caused bruising. :wink5:

1st thing - could it be a G rather than a "D"? His son was a Market Gardener.

2nd thing - Market Gardeners use various products in or on top of the ground. If you are satisfied that it is really is M-D could it mean Manure Dealer?:blush5:

Now I'm going to wait for the "manure" to hit the fan:excl:

Colin

[suzannewozere2]

scotlandspeople.gov.uk/search/Free/results.aspx
Searched for "peter" "black" 1741 - 1841

Search results found:
Census 1841 81 matches
Old Parish Records Births & Christenings 1741 - 1841 142 matches
Old Parish Records Banns & Marriages 1741 - 1841 89 matches
Old Parish Records Deaths & Burials 1741 - 1841 30 matches
Catholic Parish Records Births & Baptisms 1741 - 1841 No exact matches
Catholic Parish Records Marriages 1741 - 1841 No exact matches
Catholic Parish Records Deaths & Burials 1742 - 1841 No exact matches
Catholic Parish Records Other 1742 - 1841 No exact matches
Wills & Testaments 1741 - 1841. 2 matches
Arms & Heraldry 1741 - 1841. 1197 matches

[JohnN]

Another thought - did 3gr grandfather have any siblings? If you could get a death certificate for one of them, perhaps the occupation would be spelled out in full. Worth a try?
John
.._

[Lynne Black]

well colin, after reading your suggestion of MG or even a manure dealer (!?!) , i revisited the death certificate and finally noticed that in the column giving the cause of death and name of the medical attendant who certified the death, in exactly the same handwriting after the name of the doctor were the initials M D! It was in the handwriting of the same registrar who wrote the initials M D after my 4xgr grandfather's name as his occupation. I could see this replicated again & again in other people's deaths. so i am reasonably satisfied that peter black's father, peter black, was a doctor (better than a manure dealer any time!!)

[Lynne Black]

thanks john, wish i could find 3gr's birth, let alone any siblings! please see my reply to colin for a more detailed reply
lynne