Hello I am Struggling to find ancestors of my husband James Edgar Mcdonald Born C 1879 in Glasgow Ci
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I found a marriage for a James Edgar McDonald in 1908 at Swansea, but this shows him as aged 26 (i.e. with a c1882 birth). See https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?q.givenName=james%20edgar&q.givenName.exact=on&q.surname=mcdonald&q.surname.exact=on&q.marriageLikePlace=wales&q.marriageLikePlace.exact=on&count=20&offset=0&m.defaultFacets=on&m.queryRequireDefault=on&m.facetNestCollectionInCategory=on
However, I could not find any match for a James Edgar McDonald in the statutory births index on the ScotlandsPeople website. There is an EDGAR McDonald birth, registered at the Gorbals district in 1883, and a number of JAMES McDonald births - with and without a middle name - but I found nobody with this exact name (McDonald OR MacDonald variants).
I also found his 1911 census record at https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?q.givenName=james%20edgar&q.surname=mcdonald&q.residencePlace=swansea*&q.residencePlace.exact=on&q.residenceDate.from=1911&q.residenceDate.to=1911&count=20&offset=0&m.defaultFacets=on&m.queryRequireDefault=on&m.facetNestCollectionInCategory=on As you will see, there is no middle name recorded for him in that.
I assume the record at
https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?q.givenName=james%20edgar&q.surname=mcdonald&q.deathLikePlace=swansea*&q.deathLikePlace.exact=on&count=20&offset=0&m.defaultFacets=on&m.queryRequireDefault=on&m.facetNestCollectionInCategory=on is also for this individual’s death – in 1940 – although this also suggests a 1882/83 birth.
So, the “Edgar” McDonald whose birth was registered at Gorbals, Glasgow in 1883 could be your man – otherwise he could be any of the “James” McDonalds whose births were registered in the Glasgow area during this period. The birth certificate would obviously be of help, but the problem lies in (1) having to identify the right individual and (2) having to order / pay for the certificate via the ScotlandsPeople website at https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk.
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Yes, I've had this problem, too! Usually it is just the year that is wrong - so I would expect to find his birthdate might actually be 11 October 1878 or 1880, say. Pure speculation, but some individuals do appear to have lied about their age in some documents, especially to hide illegitimacy. I have an ancestor who stated a certain place of birth in census records, only to change this near the end of his life - to what transpired to be the correct location!
It could be a quite simple case of the birth having not being recorded / registered. Alternatively, he might (like my ancestor) have had a different surname at birth to that he was known by in later life.
I don't think one can search just on first names at ScotlandsPeople - otherwise, "James Edgar" is quite an unusual combination and should produce limited results. Perhaps you might wish to register to use the ScotlandsPeople site - using the indexes is free, but I believe you must register first. Obviously, having an idea of exactly where in Glasgow he was born would help. Unfortunately, I know of people who have spent quite a bit of money ordering certificates that turned out not to be a match for their relative(s), so just that little extra detail could probably help in identifying him.
It's very frustrating to be at the stage you find yourself (many of us have had similar experiences), but don't give up yet!
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Shan
I came across the Family Tree record (below) after writing the above. All interest seems to be focused on Annie's Line, but (providing you use Family Tree to keep your records) it might be worth adding marriage, death and 1911 sources to this ID, and contacting Stephen Webb to see if you can collaborate and get any further in your research of this family.
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Incidentally, I just checked the image of the original 1911 census record for James. He shows himself to be aged 29, born City of Glasgow. His wife Annie, 27, was born at Swansea, as was their one year old daughter, Violet. Perhaps you already know this, but you have stated he was born around 1879: not 1882 or 1883, as the records suggest.
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Hi Paul Thank you so much for your response and help . Yes I have three different dates for him on the 1939 register he gives his actual dob 11th October 1879 yet the marriage and 1911 census do not add up . Violet is my husbands mother so I know it is the right person . Do I ignore the 1939 register ? and go with a the other census ? Regards Shan
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Paul Thank you so much I am very grateful to you as is my husband Diolch Yn Fawr As we say in Wales I will look into this and contact Stephen Web
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I have already registered and paid to search at Scotlands people . I was running out of ideas thank you so much I will let you know and def won't give up Paul
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