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Archiver > SCT-EDINBURGH > 2002-10 > 1035123393


From: "Sandra Ellis" <>
Subject: [EDB] Reply to "Researcher in Edinburgh Please"
Date: Sun, 20 Oct 2002 09:20:58 -0500
References: <LPBBKLHLECGLLBNNEFPLCEEODGAA.pink@drob.fsnet.co.uk> <001901c26de3$7ccfeb80$70849aca@oemcomputer>


I have used a couple of researchers in Edinburgh and will describe the
experience so others might get a better idea of their services. As a
background, I had done a search on ScotsOrigins and of the IGI. I located
various people that I suspect to be my ancesters. My gg-grandfather was
Alexander Cunningham Sheppard from Edinburgh. I had documented his marriage
in NYC 15 Jan 1861. (Marriage records refer to him as Cunningham Shepherd)
I located a Cuningham Shepherd living in a seamen's boarding house on the
1860 NYC census, born in Scotland, approximately the same age, and the
boarding house was in the same Ward as the church so I 'assume' this was
also my gg-grandfather. One result of both searches produced a Cunningham
Sheppard born 14 Apr 1833, St. Cuthberts, son of Cunningham Sheppard and
Janet Law. I have reason to suspect this to be my gg-grandfather and his
parents. The date of birth is the same date (14 Apr) my family has always
given as my g-grandfather's birth while the local Catholic Church shows my
g-grandfather was born 20 May and baptized 18 July 1873. The search also
produced the marriage of Cunningham Sheppard and Janet Law in 1832, the
marriage of Cunningham Sheppard and Helen Laidlaw in 1802,
and the christening of Cunningham Sheppard son of James Sheppard and Alyson
Cuthberson in 1777---at recorded at St Cuthberts, Edinburgh. (Note: There
were various spellings of "Sheppard".)

After completing the search of ScotsOrigins and the IGI for births,
christenings, marriages, deaths, and census records, I had several
names/dates/events but needed something to document any relationship between
these people and their possible relationship to my family. I provided the
information I had gathered to two "researchers"---the results follow:

Alan MacLeod http://www.vweb.co.uk/ajmacleod/ I received a letter and
report for US$90. The report included transcriptions of 3 of the 4 OPR
records I provided the information on. (ScotsOrigins would have charged me
$45 but I don't know how long it would take to get the information.) There
was also a search conducted of indexes of pre-1855 indexes and statutory
indexes for additional births, marriages, sibblings (isn't this what I
searched on ScotsOrigins?) with no results. Then, a search of the 1841
census for the address found on the 1833 birth record and a search of the
index to the 1851 census---again no results.

Fiona Sinclair http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~fsinc/genealogy/index.htm
The initial consultation was free. ("Free" usually means "worthless" but
definately NOT in this case!) Again, I haven't received any results and am
no closer to documenting a relationship to these Cunningham Sheppards---but
the information I've received is proving to be interestng and important to
my research. I've received 5 very informative messages with additional
questions for me and answers to questions I posed. I've learned that since
the marriage of Cunningham Sheppard and Janet Law was actually in a Relief
Church, there may possibly be other records that exist beyond the 'official'
records. (I was given a brief history of the Relief Churches.) There was a
search of the 1835 Street Directory that produced no results at the
addresses given on the marriage/birth records. A discussion of occupations
and of the records kept on seamen followed along with contact information
for someone more experienced with the seamen's records along with
information concerning the records available. (During these communications,
I conducted a search on the ScotlandsPeople site and forwarded the
information so she could see the results along with extra credits so she
could look for any information I may have overlooked---we each printed the
results of these searches.) I received the surname history of both Sheppard
and Cunningham (working on the assumption that at some point in time there
was a marriage between a Cunningham woman and a Sheppard man). All this was
part of the 'initial consultation'!

I now need to find something that might document a connection between the 2
Cunningham Sheppards located in NYC in 1860 and 1861 in order to prove they
are the same man. Then, I need to find some information on the seaman that
would prove he was the son of Cunningham Sheppard/Janet Law born 14 Apr 1833
in Edinburgh. I will also need to find someone in Edinburgh that will find
out if there might be existing records for the Relief Church on Bread Street
and will take the time to search them for any additional information.

I hope the results of my experiences will be useful to anyone looking for a
researcher. We have to decide what type of information we are looking for
and then set out to find someone that will provide the information. (I know
which researcher I will contact to continue any research I need in
Edinburgh!)

Sandy Ellis


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