Re: Jane Valentin-Isbell
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In reply to:
Re: Jane Valentin-Isbell
Mari Schmidt 7/07/11
Afternoon Mari
There are two major problems to locating Jennie in the Scottish Records, as held on the PRIMARY Source, the GENERAL REGISTERS of SCOTLAND, accessible at Scotland's People.
I am using the name Jennie as there does seem to be no doubt that the Jennie Isbell in the 1880 US Census,is the person concerned, Jennie/Jane/Janet Valentin(e)..
1) Establishing Jennie's Birth timing, whether to the YEAR followed by Month, followed by Day in order of importance.
Ancillaries to that are particularly the names of her Father (the more important in the historic records context for reasons given later) and if possible of her Mother.
2) A major hurdle that is close to impossible to overcome, if encountered - The Scottish Records prior to 1855 are far from complete for two general reasons - In my personal estimate, these are lucky if they cover 25% of the population that existed in the period from 1550s to 31st December 1854; and within those that do exist, the majority of Baptismal/Birth Records do NOT have the Mother's Name included.
Problem (2) is not limited to Scotland - the English & Welsh records are similarly incomplete, the main difference is that the latter were superceded by the Statutory Registration system on 1st July 1837, where-as the corresponding change-over to SR is 1st Jamuary 1855.
The earlier church records generally referred to as OPRs (Old Parish Registers) very rarely recorded Deaths directly; and the few "Deaths" known from those earlier years are by the recording of the "Rental of the Mortcloth" or shroud to cover the Deceased. Very few could afford that.
Also, although most of the presbyterian churches in Scotland handed over their OPRs to the GRoS in 1855 hence their availability today, the catholic churches generally did not - with a few doing so about two years back - and showing up as a separate section on Scotland's People.
AND AFTER ALL THAT, Scotland has about the "most complete" set of OPRs available for any country, including easy access from anywhere via the Web.
Back to (1).
Whilst there seems to be agreement that Jennie's father's first name was "Robert", it may or may not be useful to have her mother's names.
As in effect you have already shown, Jennie and her descendents seem to have been certain of the name "Robert"; but with significant variability to the Year of her Birth.
However, that 1883 Elizabrh Blair or Valentin is almost certainly her mother, if the 1850 Birth and father;s name of Robert are accepted.
That Death Record on Scotland's People is probably the main key to making any further progress across here.
On-line, it would cost you about UK£1.50 (about US$2.25) out of the minimal purchase of 30 Credits at UK£7 ( about US$12)
Off-line/snail mail would cost UK£12 (US$20) and two weeks delay.
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Have you looked for Naturalisation Papers and a Marriage Record for Jennie (or Jane or Janet etc).
If memory serves me correctly, California joined the USA in the 1850s, so there may be additional records created then.
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As none of the other Baptismal records in the period have a "Robert" as father, there is a very good chance that the 1850 Birth is of the correct person - but no guarantees!
Alex