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Thursday, December 31, 2009

Verifying Genealogy Records found online

Wendye's Question:
I am trying to find the birth and death certificates for my gg grandfather James Webster Bremner. From Brebner.com I've learned that:

"James Webster Bremner b. 20 Sept 1835 in Kirriemuir ANS, SCT, occupation Weaver/Gardener, m. 22 Oct 1857, in Kingoldrum, ANS, SCT, Elisabeth Adam, b. 1827, Lintrathen.ANS, SCT. James died before 1881. 1871:Lived at 94 Morrice Place, Hilltown, Dundee with grandchildren."

I can't see that he could have grandchildren because his first child, Alexander Bremner(my g grandfather), was born 16 Oct 1857.
I have found James' marriage(Scotlandspeople) 22 Oct 1857, Kingoldrum, Kirriemuir, ANS, SCT and Alexander's birth certificate (Scotlandspeople) 16 Oct 1857 Kingoldrum, Kirriemuir, ANS, SCT.(Legitimated by the subsequent marriage of the parents-such marriage being registered in the Parish of Kingoldrum, County of Forfar, October 23rd, 1857. On both of these documents and on the 1861 census he is listed as a Mason. I have been unable to find him on the 1871 census. I am trying to verify James Webster Bremner's birth, death and occupation.

Olive Tree Answer:
Hello Wendye - Anything you find on the internet is suspect, and must be verified. Please take a moment to read my answer to Debbie's question

I use the census records on
Ancestry.com but Footnote,comicon also has many online.

The person on the 1871 census at Morrice Place is Alexander Bremner, with grandson Alexander, et al. It is not James.

You have been to Scotlandspeople - you may want to go back and look for James' death; we know that he was living after 1855, so unless he left the country, you will find him.

You will not find a statutory birth certificate for James; they begin in 1855. But you will be able to find a parish register entry for him.

James' birth is listed on the IGI (an extracted entry, which is usually trustworthy, but again requires verification). An extract from the page can be purchased at Scotlandspeople ("Old Parish Registers").

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