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Very Good Advice Jan x

Alway's Look on The Bright Side of Life as my Dear Friend Anne always said! Optimistic is my Middle Name. My Friend died in September after four years of suffering pain and she always said this. Never stopped smiling and hoping and I have taken a leaf out of her book. Never give in. Janice x

Hi everyone, you think Jan has problems, when we have solved the Birkett/Morrison/Morsons on my husband's family tree I have Birketts of Cullercoats on my side you might need to sort out. You will all be sick of the name Birkett by the time we are done!!!Regards Moira Was that the sound of a few computers I just heard being switched off?

I'm off to bed, I can't cope with any more flipping Birketts at the moment, the drugs just aren't that good. MOIRA there are millions of Birketts in Cullercoats, we'll be here until we are old and grey - hang on I am old and grey. By the way Moira I have added some of the more recent relatives to the tree if you want to look. My Aunt, her husband and his parents (from Kuala Lumpur - slightly more exotic than South Shields) And unlike Janet Morson/Morrison these are definately related to you, or more correctly-your husband. Lorna Forbes has just MSN'd me to say that her Jannet Morson had an illigitimate daughter (AGNES), I can't remember the date I think she said about 1895 On that note I will take my leave and bid you all goodnight Love Jan x

Hi Jan If you back track onto your original thread you will see on Page three that Mhairi gave you the same information as Lorna. Agnes Morson born illigitimate to Janet Morson age 22 yrs in Campsie. Child born 12/05/1855 I think? There was also one that was born and died there Margaret if I recall correctly. Now do you not think it odd that I have also located a Agness Birkett born in S Shields who also died, which could be connected to Birkett Family or indeed Janet & Johns Child. Typical thing in Scotland if they lose a child to call another later child by the same name. Janice Sleep Tight x

Hi Everyone Here is the latest news Moira has just recieved MARY JANE BIRKETT's (sister to my ELIZABETH and her DOROTHY ANN) birth certificate back and it also says mother's maiden name MORRISON. Moira has offered to order some more certs, and I could order some from the GRO, but I really don't think there is point in doing that, as I can't see that it would prove anything one way or another. The JANET MORRISON that I thought it was likely to be is impossible as she was still in Scotland at the time of the 1862 census. I am not totally convinced that we weren't right with JANET MORSON in the first place. But I can't see a way to prove it one way or the other. I still feel that the only way that could help is if we manage to find the birth of young JOHN or the marriage of JANET to JOHN BIRKETT. I think that there is a chance that we will never know one way or another. Unless one of you has any ideas, I think that that could be the end of that particular branch of the tree. Still there are lots of other twigs to pull! Any suggestions, or have we exhausted them all? Jan xx

Hey Jan Personally i still think its Morson, thats just me though. In your previous thread you said something about the Morson's possibly being related to the Lairds of Kirkintillock (my apologises to anyone who lives there, i couldnt spell to save my life). Are there any wills/testements that might mention Janet? Or even a mention on the family grave/lair? Mhairi

Hi Mhairi I think you are probably right, but proof is everything isn't it, There were a number of branches of the MORSON family in Campsie, and many of them had Janet's. I haven't put the whole lot down because before I got a chance to Moira's certificate popped up with the name MORRISON and put a halt to everything. The Morson's are weird in that they had a James Morson 1725 marrying an Agness Millar, they have ? kids, one of which is a James Morson 1757 who has a son James Morson 1796 who marrys an Agnes Miller (or is it the other way round, it's hard to keep it straight in my head). All Morson/Miller/Millar alliances produce children called James, John Agnes and Janets. James Morson 1796 was Laird of Kirkintillock. he mentions his daughter Janet in his will I think, but although I have downloaded the will I haven't transcribed it all. It's all too complicated for me. At the moment I'm still trying to find John BIRKETT pre 1861, I think I have him in 1851 as a 24 year old labourer, lodging in Back of Kiln Lane, Skirton Lancaster, and there is a chance that he was living in Runcorn, Cheshire during the 1841 census, but that's all a bit in the air at the moment. I'm not sure where Runcorn is in relation to Lancaster (another of the things I'm useless at -geography) so I have no idea if this is likely. Hope everything is good with you. Jan x p.s did you get the certificates I e-mailed you?

Hi Jan I saw the John Birkett in Runcorn, Cheshire and must say I did wonder about that one. Plus I have found a baby John Birkett born September Quarter 1860 in Runcorn, Cheshire. Could John Senior have been back home with Janet to have her the baby and then moved on by 1861? Janice x

Hi Jan Discount the Runcorn Cheshire Birkett family. Followed the through each census since 1841 and they remained there from what I can see, the John Birkett born 1822 seems to come from Liverpool, but he and his family remain there. So I would say back to the drawing board for where John Birkett came from before 1861 census. Janice x

Hi Janice Thanks for that. This might make you laugh, I got fed up with the Morson's of Campsie thing so I started looking at the BRYSON branch of the family. Andrew Bryson was born in Ireland, but as it turns out his brothers were born in Scotland, so I went onto Scotlandspeople to try and follow them through the years. I managed to get another 2 generations in a day, but was starting to have difficulty traceing what happened to one of the Bryson's. Anyway to cut a long story stort I found a possible and HE MARRIED A JANET MORTON OF CAMPSIE - I turned the computer off in disgust! Look after yourself Love Jan

Hi Jan Yes, I had a laugh at that. Scotland is so repetative in names it can make you feel you are going round in circles? MORTON hey another variation of Morson or Morrison? Ohh Dear. Janice

I think that I might have found Janet MORRISON. After trawling through loads of stuff I finally came up with only 2 that it could possibly be. But the firm favorite has to be:- Morrison Janet. Daughter to John Morrison, Labourer Alum Works by his wife Janet Campbell was born 10th Aug 1836 and baptised 11th Sept 1836 (O.P.R.BIRTHS475/0040 0253 CAMPSIE) It fits all the facts as we know them. Throughout the various census's Janet's year of birth was put at 1836., and as the daughter of a labourer she was less likely to be taught to read and write. She was born in Campsie. At Janice's suggestion, I'm off now to try and trace her family through the census's. Wish me luck Jan :)

Jan Lol I have to admit to having a bit of a giggle :) So when will you be coming North of the border and actually visiting Campsie? Also had another laugh. After a bit of detective work i discovered that i had been looking into the wrong family for one of my lines...they where causing me hassle anyway so dont mind ditching them. Anywho got my chaps grandfathers death cert. Checked the wife's name, correct then checked age ect all great then had a look at the parents names...Alexander McGregor and Christian...Morrison :) Instantly made me think of you and this whole Morson/Morrison doo da. Thanks for your emails :) I'm putting my Irish research on hold at the moment till i can (or sks can find it for me). He's meant to be born about 1880 according to census and marriage details but noones found a birth ref yet...so annoying. So any further information on this Janet Morrison you where tracking through the census? Take care Mhairi

Hi Jan & Mhairi Just to say Jan that I know that you have had a hard slog checking this Janet Morrison? Also that it is costing you a fortune. To update Jan found Janet Morrison, Parents John Morrison & Janet Campbell. Siblings William 24/7/1830 William 22/10/1831 Agness 5/9/1834 Janet 11/9/1836 Jean 20/9/1838 John 20/12/1840 Traced them 1841 & 1851 then went to bed after 100 credits. Just tracked them down on 1861 census with Janet still at home. Sending Image to you Jan. Another issue I raised with Jan is the marriage of Janet Morson to James Reid. This marriage also comes up Janet Morrison to James Reid? When I double checked my image Janet signs in as Janet Morson, but her Father signs in as Morrison? Different Parents to the Janet Morson found originally but none-the-less confusing and another Red Herring? Still going with MORSON. Janice xx

Hi Jan By now you will have received the information I sent and hope this helps you discount some of the Janet Morrison's you were considering? The marriage certificate of Janet Morson to James Reid, which shows under Morson/Reid & Morrison/Reid shows that even the people themselves back then were as confused as us. The Father of Janet Morson signs as William Morson or Morrison, so he too must have been uncertain about his surname. Spelling was not a speciality back then, and even today we still find errors, even when we know how to spell our names, they still get mistranscribed. Janice

Damn, I've just spent half an hour writing an update, and thank you notes to you all, pressed the wrong button and LOST IT ALL. :( I can't remember what I said but basically it was something on the lines of I've printed out a list of all JOHN MORRISON births in Scotland in 1859/1860, I think it's almost 100. I also have a print out of all JANET MORSON/MORRISON births during the relevent period and I am systematically going through them one by one untill I am hopefully (if I haven't gone bankrupt, blind or plain bloody mad with it all) left with the right Janet whatever her name is. So I'd like to say thank you JANICE for the e-mails tonight, which have helped to cross off a few from the list. Thank you MOIRA for p.m ing me. I look forward to seeing them, and BE NICE TO LIONEL !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Smile at him when he puts the bins out, (get the family to smile at him, if you think that will help, babies in prams are always good for softening the hardest hearts). Just don't invite him in for coffee, unless you really have too. It's not worth putting up with a dodgy neighbour just to find a dead relly. MHAIRI You're not supposed to giggle. You're supposed to feel deepest sympathy for my suffering - just as I feel deepest sympathy for your Alexander McGregor - Christian Morrison thing ;) I think that a trip to Campsie has to be on the cards sometime, after all whether they were barefoot serfs or well shod lairds that's where my family came from. Even the Irish turn out to be Scottish - How cool is that Look after yourselves Jan xx

Hi Everyone. I have some news!! Sadly not on Janet, I'm still waiting for the copies of Janet's childrens birth certs from the GRO, the postman thinks I'm mad as I keep way laying him, but he'll recover! I asked Danuella for a look up in BIVRI, she couldn't find a birth for JOHN BIRKETT Jnr or a marriage for JONH BIRKETT to JANET MORSON/MORRISON. BUT........................she did find JOHN BIRKETT Snr birth and that of his siblings..............How good is that? He was JOHN BIRKETT born 28th April 1826 Lancaster, Lancashire. Christened 11th May 1826 Father ...EDWARD BIRKETT Mother ...BETTY Brother ...WILLIAM born 1st March 1818 Lancaster. Christened 22th March 1818 Sister...ELIZABETH born 16th February 1829 Lancaster. Christened 13th March 1829. Brilliant news, isn't it. I'm over the moon! I'm also off to order his birth certificate. Thank you all for all the wonderful help you have each given me. Without you I'd be sitting here wondering who my grandmother was! I will keep you up-dated love Jan x

Hi Jan A break through on John Birkett Senior at last, that is Brilliant, so now you can get his birth certificate nd track him on census hopefully. See where he went and why? Love Janice xx

Hi everyone. I thought that you might like to hear the latest. I still haven't had any of the certificates I ordered back BUT.............. I have just received a letter from Alan Birkett, he is also a gg grandchild of Janet and John Birkett (so that's 3 of us now, myself from Elizabeth, Moira's husband Charlie from Dorothy Ann and Alan from Edward). Anyway he has sent me loads of stuff (including a letter from John Birkett 1860 to his brother and sister, and a photograph of Edward Birkett at his son's wedding). Alan has Janet MORRISON's parents as ANDREW MORRISON (his parents are James Morrison and Margaret Graham, daughter of James Graham and Margaret Orr) and MARGARET DREW (her parents are James Drew and Jean Watson). Alan also has JOHN BIRKETT's parents as ROBERT BIRKETT (son of Joseph Birkett and Dorothy Moow) and MARY MOSS JOSEPH BIRKETT's parents are JOHN BIRKETT and ELIZABETH JEPSON (daughter of Thomas Jepson and A. Hathernthwait, grand daughter of Thomas Jepson, great grand daughter of Edmond Jepson) JOHN BIRKETT parents are JOHN BIRKETT (son of John Birkett and Margaret Hodgson who is the daughter of Bryan Hodgson) and MARY MILLER (daughter of John Miller). JOHN BIRKETT's father is HENRY BIRKETT and his grandfather is HENRICI BIRKETT. I think that's all. At the moment I haven't got dates for all of them, and even when I get dates I'll still have to check them out and make sure it's all present and correct. I will update you all when I know something for sure. Take care Thanks you all once again for your fantastic help Jan xx