Smith Family from Fife

[MichelleSmith]

I have been working on our family research of our scottish relatives. I would love any suggestions on how to verify the relations that I find from the 1700's to 1850's since the death records start in 1855. I have alot of names and locations in Fife. James Smith and Janet Baxter born in Kilmany and Wemyss respectively came to United States in 1890's. Peter Smith (b 1816 Moonzie) and Janet Henderson (b. 1820 Forgan)of Kilmany were James Smith's parents. David Baxter (b.1832 Wemyss?) and Elizabeth Christie (b 1834 West Wemyss) are Janet Baxter's parents. I have more information but don't know how to verify. Are there family trees posted that Scottish families have worked on since most of the families that we have researched are going back to the 15oo's and seemed to not move around much? It appears also that not many of them immigrated. Only James Smith seems to have left Scotland. Would love and appreciate any advice.
Sincerely,
Michelle Smith

[Polwarth]

GRO is based in Edinburgh and they have a genealogy section - they do charge, but it is quite reasonable. The best thing is to marshall your information before going online at their site, and then you won't spend time on a fruitless hunt through records!

http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/

Another way is through old parish records, but you would have to be sure of the exact location of your ancestors' births or deaths.

It is hard when you have such a popular name such as Smith.... I believe it is one of the most common Scots surnames, and most clans had their own Smiths, which makes it even more difficult to trace back to an ancestor.

Records earlier than the mid-1500s are problematic if your ancestors were not either landowners or similar. Records for ordinary people are pretty difficult to trace.

Good luck with your research.

[Marhar]

Have you got access to the 1881 Census of Scotland. If you have, you will already have the information I have managed to glean on David Baxter and Elizabeth Christie, also Janet Smith and family. If you do not have it let me know.

Regards
Marhar

[MichelleSmith]

Actually I have the 1851 and 1861 census that my father-in-law got from a researcher in Scotland. He received this information in the 1980's. The researchers name was Elizabeth Sutherland. I would love the 1881 census information. Where is that online for free? I have been spending alot of time on the scotlandspeople website. They are getting alot of my money right now. I have some obstacles with what I would say is name spellings. I seem to hit a wall with Janet Henderson's father David Henderson. I can't seem to trace his family. I think he was born around 1791 but to whom I don't know and the area appears to be Forgan. I appreciate any advice you have.
Sincerely,
Michelle Smith

[Marhar]

The British 1881 census is online and free in the I G I site < http://www.familysearch.org/ >
David and Robert Baxter, you will find at Wemyss, also a Peter who may be their father. Janet( Henderson)Smith and her family you will find at Monifieth, Forfar. Janet Baxter also in Monifieth at the home of William Thompson. Sorry I cannot be of any help with David Henderson.
Regards
Marhar