Our Findings compiled by Isabel Shearer
Our Findings
Alexander Forbes b 1/8/1866
Alexander (no middle name) was born on 1/8/1866 to Margaret Campbell. You will see her name on Alexander’s death certificate which you have already.Father’s name not on Birth Certificate. At 1871 census he is age 4 and identified as living with Margaret’s parents but has now Forbes as his surname. This ties in with the marriage certificate where he is called Alexander Forbes and his mother is Margaret Campbell.
Alexander married Ann (sometimes known as Annie )Ritchie on 29/9/1888. The date of their marriage is on all their children’s birth certificate.
Marriage certificate for Alexander and Annie (attached) identifies Alexander’s father as William Forbes, who works as a shoemaker and his mother as Margaret Campbell. Margaret’s father was a shoemaker who employed others so it is likely this is where Margaret and William would have met. We feel this entry would be correct as the people involved would have been alive at that time.
Margaret Campbell went on to marry George Matthew and had 8 further children.We think we have identified which William Forbes it would be but cannot be certain.
Alexander died 3/12/1945
His death Certificate identifies his father as Alexander Forbes but myself and other family members who have researched, feel that this entry, where the information came from his son in law, is more likely to be an error and should say William Forbes.
We cannot find a link to Alexander Davidson Forbes. He was born the same year as Alexander above but there is no marriage certificate identifying him with Annie Ritchie and he has different parents names from that on “our “Alexander’s death certificate.
Ann(ie) Ritchie born 9/2/1870,Died 16/3/1946
Annie’s father was George Ritchie and her mother Ann Ritchie (nee Hepburn) We have traced her family back a few generations on both the Ritchie and Hepburn sides and have certificates for quite a few of them.
Alexander and Annie went on to have 17 children although one of my aunts thought it was 18 but I can only find 17.You have most of them and I have most of their birth certificates.I have included the 3 who died in infancy
1 Maggie Ann b 18/12/1889 d 30/7/1933 Unmarried
2 Agnes Ritchie b 30/5/1890 d 19/10/1971-married Robert Taylor
3 Alexander George b 4/11/1892 d 17/1 1986 – married Eliza Ann Junor
4 Mary Jane b 16/12/1894 d ?1964 married Alfred Andrew Kerr
5 Maria Matthew b 20/3/1897 d 1987- married John Rennie
6 Annie Hepburn b 27/8/18999 d 14/5/1976
7 Nellie Farquhar b 9/2/1901 d 19/7/1978 married Francis Cooley
8 Elsie Smith b 23/3/1903 d 16/10/05 following an accident when she fell into a fire
9 Chrissie b 18/5/1904 d 12/7/1978 married Edward Morrice
10 William James b 27/8/1905 d 1/4/1991 married Lucy Jane Gill
11 Lily Isabella b 15/10/1906 d 1/4/1995 married Jim Conboy
12 Flora Paterson b 10/6/1908 d 12/9/2002 married Ernest Branton
13 Clara Ritchie b 22/9/1909 d 7/8/1988 married John Schmick
14 Alfred Gordon b 29/11/1910 d 5/12/1910 died after 6 days from convulsions
15 Albert Duncan b 8/4/1912 d 2000 married to Jane Burnett
16 Henry John b 5/8/1913 d 22/6/1974 married to Magdalene
17 Edward b 29/8/1916 d 29/4 1918 died of convulsions and measles
My grandfather was already married by the time Annie had her last 3 children. We were close to Henry and Magdalene in particular and my father was born before Henry and Albert (Bert) who were his uncles !