December 2009 - Latest News on the website covering the history of the Mutch family name in North East Scotland.

Search Tips

As you are all aware the spelling of names in the old records was what could be described as erratic and often varied depending on the recorder. A classic example of this is ANN MCKILLIAM (A40) whose surname was written as MCILQUHAM, MCILQUAHAM, MACQUILHAM and MEIKLEHOME in the IGI birth records of her children!

Wherever possible I have tried to add names to the Mutches database as they were recorded, even when I believe them to be wrong. This can make finding the correct person difficult when using the search page. That’s where the wildcard symbol can help. You can use % to replace a sequence of letters to search for. For example searching for “th%” under the “Spouse’s Name” option you will find spouses listed as Thom, Thomson and Thompson.

This also works for one letter. A search for “eli%abeth” under “Mutch Family Member” will find entries for both Elizabeth and Elisabeth. Of course a search on “eli%” will also find all the all the Eliza’s listed.

Updates and new Family Lines

The updates have continued during November with a lot of catching up being down including a lot of new information I had gathered from the GRO death records available on the Scotland’s People website. Some of the main updates have included:

  • Family lines A8 and A13 proved to be the same Alexander so they have been joined under A8, which includes Ann Gray, Margaret Henry and Elizabeth Logie. In addition it appears that W13 was the illegitimate son of this same Alexander.

  • Reading the original copy of the marriage recorded as Thomas and Isabel Beaton in IGI turned out to have originally been recorded as James and Isabel Beaton. This led to T3 being joined with J96.

  • W4 William & Janet Morrison confirmed as parents of J43 James & Elspet Mitchel.

  • Details of additional children for J36 John & Margaret Cristel and their son G8 George & Margaret Shewan.

  • New family line J98. I found the death registration of son James who died a pauper with his parents given as John & Janet Anderson.

  • New family line R15. I found the death registration of illegitimate son Thomas, his parents given as Robert & Jane Murray.

  • G2 George & Christian Christie confirmed as parents of A17 Alexander & Ann Anderson.

  • J5 James & Margaret Allan confirmed as parents of A16 Alexander & Amelia Pratt.

  • A18 Alexander & Ann Anderson confirmed as parents of A32 Alexander & Mary Donaldson and J57 James & Mary Ferguson.

  • W6 William & Elisabeth Robertson confirmed as parents of G4 George & Jean Kirkton.

  • G1 George & Ann Riddel confirmed as parents of J48 James & Christina Wright Brownie.

  • New family line A49. I found the death registration of son J51 James & Helen Edward Black his parents were given as Alexander & Elisabeth Wedderburn.

  • W2 William & Ann Lindsay confirmed as parents of J76 John & Margaret Dickie.

Seasons Greetings

Best wishes to all and my thanks for all the vital information that you have shared over the past year. Next year promises some interesting developments including a link to royal blood and a new lead in the origins of the Mutches. Watch this space.

Database status - We currently have details of 1,485 Mutches and 539 spouses.