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Hello, I'm trying to find out more about the descendants of James Anderson (1811-1855 I think) and Jean Spence (1811-1872 I think) who lived in Dysart, Fifeshire, Scotland. I am trying to find details of their children and in particular a son called Alexander who was born in 1831. I think I have located the family in the 1841 census, located in "Bogleys", Dysart, living with some members of the Paton family (I believe Alexander Anderson ended up marrying Christina Paton, but I am struggling to trace him after that.
I believe James Anderson & Jean Spence had many children: Catherine, David, James, Jean, Euphemia, Margaret and Alexander although I'm not sure because some of the birth dates I have found double up ?? twins.
Many thanks in advance for any hints you can find about this family, and in particular Alexander Anderson.

????


Name: Christian Paton
Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 12 Dec 1851
Marriage Place: Auchterderran,Fife,Scotland
Spouse: Alexander Anderson
FHL Film Number: 1040148

Just for info

1841 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Bogleys, Dysart, Fife, Scotland

First name(s) Last name Sex Age Birth year Birth place
James Paton Male 20 1821 Fife, Scotland Transcription
Isabella Paton Female 15 1826 Fife, Scotland Transcription
James Anderson Male 30 1811 Fife, Scotland Transcription
Jean Anderson Female 30 1811 Fife, Scotland Transcription
Catherine Anderson Female 10 1831 Fife, Scotland Transcription
David Anderson Male 8 1833 Fife, Scotland Transcription
Alexander Anderson Male 6 1835 Fife, Scotland Transcription
James Anderson Male 4 1837 Fife, Scotland Transcription
Margaret Anderson Female 1 1840 Fife, Scotland Transcription

So an 1851 marriage he would be very young

Based solely on marriage location

PATON
CHRISTIAN
JAMES PATON/ANNA FOSTER
U
16/01/1831
405/
20 15
Auchterderran

Thanks, yes I agree he would have been young if this was him who married Christina Paton. I believe at some stage she married an Alexander Skene (1832-1914), because she and Alexander Skene went on to have lots of children, one of whom was Alexander Skene (1851-1941) my great great grandfather. I wish I could find out if Alexander Anderson was her first marriage perhaps, or maybe Alexander Anderson and Alexander Skene are somehow the same person.
I believe ErikaH is correct, Christina (sometimes spelt Christian) was the daughter of James Paton & Anna Foster (sometimes spelt Forrester)

When did Alexander Skene marry?
Where was the son Alexander born?

?Marriage of your known relative?

SKENE
ALEXANDER
WILSON
MARY
1876
408/ 1
Ballingry

And census info?

1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
29, Main Street, Ballingry, Fife, Scotland

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Birth place Occupation
Henry Wilson Head Widower Male 69 1812 Lochgelly, Fife, Scotland Road Surfaceman Transcription
Alexander Skene Son-In-Law Married Male 29 1852 Lochgelly, Fife, Scotland Coal Miner Transcription
Mary Skene Daughter Married Female 27 1854 Lochgelly, Fife, Scotland - Transcription
Mary Skene Granddaughter - Female 4 1877 Lochgelly, Fife, Scotland - Transcription
Alexander Skene Grandson - Male 3 1878 Lochgelly, Fife, Scotland - Transcription
Christina Skene Granddaughter - Female 1 1880 Lochgelly, Fife, Scotland - Transcription

Trying to work backwards for you................

Working from earliest to latest, my Alexander Skene was born 1 Dec 1851 in Auchterderran. As far as I know, he was always called Alexander Skene but I have this record:
Name: Alexr. Skene Anderson gender: Male birth date: 01 Dec 1851 birthplace: AUCHTERDERRAN,FIFE,SCOTLAND father's name: Alexr. Anderson mother's name: Christian Paton indexing project (batch) number: C11405-5 system origin: Scotland-ODM
Alexander Skene (b 1851) married Mary Wilson.

I think his father was Alexander Anderson who married Christina Paton (born Dysart, Fifeshire) but then why was he called Alexander Skene.

I think it is perhaps not a co-incidence that in the 1851 listed above, Alexander Anderson aged 6 is living with 2 members of the Paton family - perhaps they were related to his future wife Christina Paton.

I cannot find any record of Alexander Skene marrying Christina Paton. I have the married certificate of Alexander Anderson and Christina Paton from 1851.

Alexander Skene (?? aka Alexander Anderson) and Christina Paton emigrated to the USA. Christina died in 1881 and Alexander Skene died in 1914 (Indiana, USA). Quite a few of their children had Anderson as a middle name eg Thomas Anderson Skene born 1866 Halbeath, Scotland and Henry Anderson Skene born 1869 Halbeath, Scotland.

Thanks for your help

1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Brewery, Auchterderran, Fife, Scotland

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Alexander Sken Head Married Male 30 1831 Coal Miner Dysart, Fife, Scotland Transcription
Christian Sken Wife Married Female 31 1830 - Auchterderran, Fife, Scotland Transcription
Alexander Sken Son - Male 11 1850 Coal Miner Auchterderran, Fife, Scotland Transcription
James Sken Son - Male 9 1852 Scholar Auchterderran, Fife, Scotland Transcription
David Sken Son - Male 7 1854 Scholar Fife, Scotland Transcription
John Sken Son - Male 4 1857 - Fife, Scotland Transcription
Ann Fisher Niece - Female 0 1861 - Fife, Scotland

Hi Erika
Thank you so much for your help.
With regard to the 1881 census, I believe that information to be correct. Alexander Skene and Mary Skene (nee Wilson) were definitely a coal-mining family and we have lots of information about them, so we know that is correct.
I believe the 1861 census information to be correct, although I don't think I've found that before. I think it fits though.
However, it says "Alexander Sken" was born 1831 in Dysart, and I just can't find any record of this person, especially not marrying "Christian". Can you find this Alexander Sken (Skene) birth record? And why do you think some of their children had Anderson as a middle name.
Here are the children of Alexander (Anderson) Skene and Christian Paton as I understand them:
Alexander Skene (b 1851) James Skene (b1853) David Skene (b1856) John Skene (b 1857) William Skene (b 1860) Christopher Skene (b 1866) Thomas Anderson Skene (b 1866) Christina Skene (b 1868) and Henry Anderson Skene (b 1869). What a tribe!

Name Christopher Skene
Gender Male
Birth Date 04 Aug 1866
Birthplace DUNFERMLINE,FIFE,SCOTLAND
Father's Name Alexander Anderson Skene
Mother's Name Christina Paton

It does rather look as though Alexander added 'Skene' to his name - although, for what reason, I can't imagine............unless he had a criminal conviction at some stage

Statutory registration did not begin in Scotland until 1855. The best you can hope to find for births prior to 1855 would be a christening record.

Scottish births recorded after statutory registration began will give the date and place of the parents marriage.

Is it possible that Alexander's mother married / remarried hence Alexander had been known by two surnames?


Who did Alexander name as his parents and who were the witnesses when he married Mary please?

1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Launcher Head, Auchterderran, Kirkaldy, Fife, Scotland

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
James Paton Head Married Male 45 1806 Collier's Pauper Fife, Scotland Transcription
Ann Paton Wife Married Female 42 1809 - Lochgelly, Fife, Scotland Transcription
Christina Paton Daughter - Female 20 1831 Labourer On Coal Work Lochgelly, Fife, Scotland Transcription
Isabella Paton Daughter Unmarried Female 18 1833 Labourer On Coal Work Lochgelly, Fife, Scotland Transcription
Maria Paton Daughter - Female 15 1836 Agricultural Labourer Lochgelly, Fife, Scotland Transcription
Janet Paton Daughter - Female 13 1838 Agricultural Labourer Lochgelly, Fife, Scotland Transcription
Rachel Paton Daughter - Female 10 1841 Scholar Lochgelly, Fife, Scotland Transcription
Ann Paton Daughter - Female 8 1843 Scholar Lochgelly, Fife, Scotland Transcription
Betsy Paton Daughter - Female 4 1847 Scholar Lochgelly, Fife, Scotland Transcription

For ref.

1870 US Census Transcription

Alexander Skene Male 40 1830 Scotland
Christina Skene Female 41 1829 Scotland
Alexander Skene Male 18 1852 Scotland
James Skene Male 16 1854 Scotland
David Skene Male 14 1856 Scotland
John Skene Male 12 1858 Scotland
Thomas Skene Male 6 1864 Scotland
Christopher Skene Male 4 1866 Scotland
Henry Skene Male 1 1869 Scotland

Either of these births will give you the date and place of the parents marriage


Surname Forename Gender Year Ref RD Name Image View
SKENE
CHRISTOPHER
M
1866
424/2 173
Dunfermline Landward

SKENE
HENRY ANDERSON
M
1869
424/2 140
Dunfermline Landward

Interesting name combination................and born before the marriage

Name Alexr. Skene Anderson
Gender Male
Birth Date 01 Dec 1851
Birthplace AUCHTERDERRAN,FIFE,SCOTLAND
Father's Name Alexr. Anderson
Mother's Name Christian Paton

I'm not seeing corresponding births in Fife for David, John or Thomas even although they were born after Statutory registration began. Either they were born elsewhere in Scotland or their births were registered using a different surname.

Thomas's birth pre-dates civil registration

Name Thomas Anderson Skein
Gender Male
Birth Date 20 Jun 1864
Birthplace DUNFERMLINE,FIFE,SCOTLAND
Father's Name Alexander Anderson Skein
Mother's Name Christina Paton



Name Henry Anderson Skene
Gender Male
Birth Date 15 May 1869
Birthplace DUNFERMLINE,FIFE,SCOTLAND
Father's Name Alexander Anderson Skene
Mother's Name Christina Paton

Name James Anderson
Spouse's Name Jean Spence
Event Date 17 Oct 1829
Event Place Dysart,Fife,Scotland