Street names, or places I'm not sure of the spelling

LowlanderDaughter · Post by **LowlanderDaughter** » Sun May 24, 2009 5:04 pm

Hello,

I was looking at the birth registry for a few family members, and I am not sure if I am reading the hand witing correctly.

It says Providence in Bo'ness. Is Providence an area or a street name? I thought the county for Bo'ness is West Lothian. Yet this says the county is Linlithgow. I don't know if I am spelling the county correctly. When did the counties change?
Maggie Love Gardner Carlisle, born July 24, 1879.

I originally thought the name was Borrowstounness, but that wouldn't make sense, because below it, it says Bo'ness. So I think the street name is something like Bonoustouse or Borrowstouer.
John Forest Carlilse, born September 3, 1883 in Bo'ness, Linlithgow
Andrew Gardner Carlilse, born March 27, 1887 in Bo'ness Linlithgow

I am even more confused on this one. I think it is Quarry Cead (area?) on the street Sheld Cell?
Alexander Brown Carzile Erskine, born March 16, 1860, in Polmont Stirling (Stirlingshire)

Thank you for your help.

Rhonda

Rach · Post by **Rach** » Sun May 24, 2009 5:27 pm

West Lothian was Linlithgowshire until 1921, according to Genuki. Boness was short for Borrowstounness. I think that Providence was probably a district but perhaps someone else will have more knowledge about this.

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sun May 24, 2009 6:09 pm

Hi Rhonda

A quick google suggests there is a Providence Brae (so a street) in Bo'ness could this be the place? If you go to Google maps it is still there today. Bo'ness is short for Borrowstounness as Rach mentioned.

Any chance you could upload the Polmont image to the gallery so we can see the handwriting? Instructions are here:
http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6496
Not ringing any bells here, but I don't know that area too well - it may be obvious to someone else. There is a village called Shieldhill - could this be what it says? Was there a Quarry Road in Shieldhill? There is a Quarry Brae in Brightons near Polmont on the modern map... but I'm just guessing here!

Best wishes
Lesley

Lindsay · Post by **Lindsay** » Sun May 24, 2009 6:51 pm

If it is Shieldhill, then the other part could be Quarryhead.

WilmaM · Post by **WilmaM** » Sun May 24, 2009 10:55 pm

A Shieldhill-Billy here

There was, and still is, a farm called Quarryhead to the south West of present-day Shieldhill
Use the postcode FK1 2EZ on Multimap to find it on a modern map or on http://www.old-maps.co.uk to see it in 1860.

I'm not sure if it's still occupied or not, as the land around it is 'moss' and was owned by a firm selling peat moss.

A look at the area concerned map can often help work out the handwriting.

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sun May 24, 2009 11:20 pm

Hi Wilma
I was hoping you'd be along!

Good thinking Lindsay - without even seeing the writing, it seems that the letter "H" must have quite an odd curve on it!

Best wishes
Lesley

LowlanderDaughter · Post by **LowlanderDaughter** » Tue May 26, 2009 12:30 am

Hi everyone!

Thank you so much for your help. I didn't know there was a web site for old maps, I will add it to my collection of favorite web sites.

When the name Providence was written down, eveyone there probably knew it was a street, and so the registation person didn't bother to write it down. I forgot about using Google.

Now that you have said the names Quarryhead (at) Shieldhill and I looked again at the registry, this is what it looks like.

One more question. Alexander was born illegitamate, and his mother's family were not farmers by trade. Was Quarryhead Farm a place were unwed mothers went to have their babies?

Rhonda

LowlanderDaughter · Post by **LowlanderDaughter** » Tue May 26, 2009 3:23 am

Never mind my last entry. Alexander's mother was about 19 years old at the time he was born. She probably worked at the farm.

Rhonda

WilmaM · Post by **WilmaM** » Tue May 26, 2009 8:49 am

LowlanderDaughter wrote:Never mind my last entry. Alexander's mother was about 19 years old at the time he was born. She probably worked at the farm.

Rhonda

1 easy way to find out - look for them on the 1861 census just the next year.

When the name Providence was written down, eveyone there probably knew it was a street, and so the registation person didn't bother to write it down.

Not so, many places in Scotland don't have 'street' names as such, they are simply known by a single name or phrase with no street, road, avenue or anything attached. [ Gardenhead, The Thrums, Crossbrae]
In modern times things have been changed a little to satisfy the postal system or as the old streets are demolished, but still retained as the new street address.
In the past an area of adjoining streets or cul de sacs would have the same name and even yet 1 'road' can have several address names.

In my wee village for instance: the main road goes through one edge and it has 6 different addresses on it and only about 60 dwellings.

Do have a look at the old maps site, I'm fascinated by the wealth of information they hold.
Comparing them with modern maps too - I like Multimap.com as it has street maps, Ordnance survey maps and a satellite option too so you can really 'see' the area.
Another useful site is Geograph.org.uk - submitted photos for the map locations. A lot of rural Scotland hasn't changed much so you will again see it through your ancestors eyes.

LowlanderDaughter · Post by **LowlanderDaughter** » Tue May 26, 2009 8:05 pm

Hi Wonka2,

On the 1861 census Alexander's mom and dad had gotten married. His mom didn't have a profession, but his dad was a day laborer.

I'm glad you gave me more map web sites to look at. I was having problems manuvering through the http://www.old-maps.co.uk site. I have some old maps of counties and the parishes that are in them. But because I don't live in Scotland I sometimes get lost not knowing what area to even look at.

Rhonda