“We don’t always see something the first time it comes across our path. This week, consider a relative whom you didn’t pay much attention to when you first discovered him/her… or someone who was overlooked during their life. You could also explore a discovery you made using a resource or clue you previously overlooked. Feel free to post your links and stories in the comments.” prompt by Amy Johnson Crow for 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.
I was hoping to find something new about my third great grandfather, Robert Guy. He was married to Mary Craig. Mary was born in 1783 in Cardross, Dunbartonshire, Scotland. I know who Mary’s parents are because her sister, Elizabeth also married into our family. Their parents George Walter Craig and Janet Ferguson hold two spots in my tree.
The yellow line shows Mary Craig and Elizabeth Craig connected to their parents George Walter Craig and Janet Ferguson. I am confident in this connection in my tree. The red line shows Elizabeth and her husband Nicol Kirkwood as the parents of George Kirkwood. The blue line connects Mary and her husband Robert Guy as the parents of Helen Guy married to George Kirkwood. I am confident in this connection too. Helen and George are the parents of Walter Guy Kirkwood who was definitely my great grandfather. I am sure Mary’s husband was Robert Guy but I am not sure I have the correct Robert Guy.
I did find most of the birth records for Robert and Mary’s children and they have Robert Guy and Mary Craig as the parents. I haven’t been able to find death certificates for either Robert or Mary. I found their marriage record in 1808. The first child I have for them was born in 1809 and the last I have was born in 1825. So their deaths happened after 1825.
I found a DNA connection to the descendents of Isabella Guy, one of the daughter’s of Robert and Mary. So, I think I am on the right track. Isabella married Thomas Keith and they moved first to Canada and then to Michigan. I also have DNA connections to siblings of Walter Guy Kirkwood, my great grandfather. His sister Elizabeth and brother George have descendants with a DNA connection to me. I believe they remained in Scotland but haven’t looked into it much yet.
One possiblity I have for Robert Guy means he was quite a bit older than Mary Craig and he was previously married. I found a Robert Guy married to Catherine Davie in 1795. I have five children for them ranging from 1796-1804. Their youngest was named Catherine. I found an 1841 Census (which is the earliest Census available) with Robert and Mary Guy and Catherine. The Census is in Cardross where all of Robert and Mary’s children were born and they were married. The Census says Robert is 75, Mary is 60 and Catherine is 30. I have found ages on Census’ to be flexible so these would mostly fit with what I have uncovered. If this is the correct family it means Robert and Mary both died after 1841. I still have not been able to find either of their death records.
I did find a baptism for a Robert Guy in 1757. His parents would be Robert Guy and Janet Smith. This could fit with the two marriages but it would make Robert 38 for his first marriage which doesn’t seem likely but is possible.
Many times I find as parents age they tend to go and live with one of their children. Janet (Ferguson) Craig is living with Nicol Kirkwood and Elizabeth (Craig) Kirkwood in 1841. Mary (Craig) Guy and Robert Guy’s daughter named Helen is living with them as well as George Kirkwood who becomes her husband. So, I need to keep researching the other siblings to find out if either Mary and/or Robert are living with one of them in 1841.
I wish I could say I had uncovered something big here but such is the hunt for ancestors. Sometimes you strike gold and sometimes you get a rock. Hoping you are able to find your ancestors with ease. I also hope it wasn’t too rambling of a story today. Sometimes just writing it all down makes it clear. Not the case this time though. I will keep looking.
My Tree in the Forest 