Andrew Main (b.1840)
Grandfather of Alexander 'Alec' Miller
Despite searching in mutliple sources, no birth record could be found for Andrew Main, Alex Miller's grandfather on his mother's side. However, based on information contained in other official documents such as censuses and marriage records, it can reliably be determined that Andrew Main was born 1840 in Aberdeen, and his parents were Andrew Main and Elizabeth Main (nee Baxter). For more information on why a birth record from this period may not exist, please refer to the article at this link:
In the 1841 Census, Andrew listed as being 1 year old and living at South Square (no house number given) Footdee, Aberdeen with his parents Andrew (34), Elizabeth (32), and his siblings Christian (7), John (5), and Elizabeth (4).
By 1851, the Main family had expanded by three more children and was living at 11 South Square in Footdee, Aberdeen. According to the census information, Andrew was 11, a scholar, and living with his parents Andrew (39) and Elizabeth (37), and his six siblings: Christian (17, female), a House Servant; John (15), a scholar; Elizabeth (13), a Factory Servant; Ann (9), a scholar; Margaret (4); and Jane (2).
On 25 September 1857, Andrew's father Andrew Main died at their home on 11 South Square in Footdee from "morbus cordis" (heart disease).
According to the 1861 Census, Andrew (the son) was 21 years old, unmarried, working as a whitefisher, and living with his family at 11 South Square in Aberdeen. Because the father Andrew Main had died in 1857, the mother Elizabeth was now listed as head of the household, and she was working as a "Fish Dealer." Also living with Andrew and his mother were his seven siblings, all unmarried: John (25), a Pilot; Ann (19); Margaret (14), a scholar; Robert (9), a scholar; Jane (12), a scholar; Isabella (7), a scholar; and Jemima (4), a scholar.
Andrew Main married his neighbor Elspet Morrice on 14 October 1864 in Elspet's home at 16 South Square by the Minister of St. Clement's Parish of Aberdeen. At the time of their marriage, Andrew Main was listed as a 24 year old "bachelor" living at 11 South Square in Footdee, his occupation was a "Whitefisher," and his parents were Andrew Main (deceased), a Pilot, and Elizabeth Main (nee Baxter). Elspet Morrice was listed as a 24 year old "spinster" living at 16 South Square in Footdee, and her parents were Alexander Morrice, a Pilot, and Elspet Morrice (nee Webster). George Baxter and John Morrice were witnesses to the marriage.
In the 1871 Census for the St. Nicholas District of Aberdeen, Andrew is listed as the head of his own household, 31 years old, a whitefisher, and living at South Square (house number unspecified) with his wife Elspet, 32, a "fish woman," and their daughters Ann (6), Jane (4), and Elspet (1). Also living with the Mains is Margaret Corbett, 19, a "General Servant" who presumably was hired to maintain the house because the mother Elspet works.
Andrew Main is conspicuously absent from the 1881 Census. While his wife Elspet (42) and children Jane (13), Elspet (11), Andrew (9), and Alexander (5) are all living at 17 Pilot Square in Aberdeen, Andrew cannot be found anywhere in the 1881 Census. Not in Aberdeen, not anywhere in Scotland. One possibility is that he was temporarily living and working elsewhere in the U.K., but so far no evidence has been found to support that. Another possibility is that in 1881 Andrew was serving in the British Merchant Marines. Although no record has yet been found to confirm this either way, there does exist an undated photo of Andrew Main dressed in a sailor's uniform in which he looks to be about 40 years old (photo can be found at the Ancestry.com website, but the year it was taken is unknown). While not proof, it does lend some credence to the theory that Andrew Main had served in the British Merchant Marines. More research is required.
Although there is no record of Elspet having given birth around the time of her death, there was an unnamed girl born in the St. Nicholas District of Aberdeen on 18 November 1882 (exactly one week before Elspet died), and later in December this girl was officially to be named "Elspet Main," with John and Jessie Morrice listed as her parents. Interestingly, Elspet Webster Morrice Main had a younger brother John Morrice - is it possible that this is the same John Morrice (and his wife) who adopted the new child as their own and named her in honor of her mother? It seems very likely.
Per the 1891 Census for the St. Nicholas District of Aberdeen, Andrew is the head of the household, 51 years old, a widow, working as a whitefisher, and now living at 17 Pilot Square with four of his children: Andrew (18), a laborer in iron works; Alexander (15), also a laborer in iron works; Jane (23), no profession listed; and Elspet (21), a fish worker. All children are listed as unmarried.
Andrew Main died in his home at 17 Pilot Square in Aberdeen on 17 January 1912 at the age of 72 (which confirms his birth year of 1840). According to the record, Andrew was a fisherman, a widower of Elizabeth Morrice, and his parents were Andrew Main, a fisherman, and Elizabeth Main (nee Baxter), both deceased. Andrew died of "syncope," a term that was likely used generically for cardiac rest. Andrew's son Andrew is listed as the "informant" on the death record.
There is also a memorial gravestone for Andrew Main and his family in the St. Clements churchyard of Aberdeen. This is a transcription of what the gravestone says:
Erected by ANDREW MAIN Footdee in memory of
His daughter ELIZABETH died 16 December 1878 in infancy.
His wife ELSPET MORRICE died 25 November 1882 aged 42.
His daughter ANN died 2 January 1909 aged 44.
Above ANDREW MAIN died 17 Januay 1912 aged 72.
His son ANDREW died 28 July 1931 aged 58.
And here is a link to a photo of his gravestone:
No comments:
Post a Comment