Andrew McAnsh and Family

Last update 27 Feb, 2005

I say apparently, since I cannot find record of either his birth, or that of his wife, Jane Campbell. 1881 Census information gives his birthplace as Comrie, to the west of Crieff, and Jane's as Crieff itself. Likewise, info on all the birth certificates of their children indicate they married in Crieff, on 1 Nov, 1844. An actual wedding registration indicates Andrew McAinsh and Jean Campbell were married 20 Oct, 1844, in Muthill, the town about 5 or 6 km to the south of Crieff (which is administratively a different parish). {GROS Data number: 386/0A 0003}

There are certainly a large number of people with the McAinsh surname in the area, and some with other variants, McAnsh, McAnch, McCansh, and so on. There are also a fair number of Campbells. In spite of that, I have yet to find an Andrew McAnsh born around 1823, or a Jean, or Jane, Campbell born around 1825.

I have found Andrew's death certificate, and this indicates his father is James McAnsh, and his mother Anges McGregor. I cannot identify either of these people, from what I know. Note that surname spelling was fairly fluid at the time, and that Jean and Jane were frequently used interchangably.

I have not yet found records of any children of the couple between their marriage in 1844 and the birth of Andrew McAnish Jr on 31st Dec 1854 in Larbert, Sterling: {Frame #FR595; GROS Data #485/00 0002. No scans of Old Parish Records}. This may be because they had no children for some reason (they were separated for some reason?) or because it is hard to find children one does not know are there. Later children appeared on the 1881 census living with their parents. If there were children prior to Andrew Jr, they may have been living independantly. Note that Andrew's surname is spelled McAnish.

Janet Campbell McAnsh was born in St Ninians, southeast of the city of Stirling, Stirlingshire, and up the loch from Edinburgh and Polmont. She was born after the Statutory Register was instituted. Her birth was on the 27th March, 1860. John was also born in St Ninians, Stirling, two years later, on 26 Sep 1862. Janet apperantly married Mr Wright, :) and had a daughter, Jane A.

From the vicinity of Sterling, the McAnsh's moved south to the Falkirk region in Sterlingshire, where Mary Ann was born on 29 Oct 1867. This is Marion in the census shown below. Margaret was also born in Falkirk Landward on the 19th May, 1870. Throughout this period, the occupation of Andrew McAnsh was listed as either Ploughman, or Shepherd.

The 1881 census shows Andrew and Jane living in Falkirk. With them are their son Andrew, 26; married daughter Janet Wright, 21; daughters Marion, 13; and Margaret, 10. John would have been 19 at the time of the census. Interestingly, John and Janet's husband are both not there for the census. Janet's daughter, Jane A Wright, 6, is living with the family. All the children were born in Sterling, the older ones in Larbert, the younger ones in Falkirk.

The 1881 census lists a John McAnsh, who was born in St Ninians, as living near the family, working on a farm. Unfortunately, that John is listed as 30 years old. Other John McAnsh's also do not fit the known factors, such as age, although there is a 24 year old John listed as living with his sister Janet in Crieff. While probably not the correct person, it is likely this John is a relative. Andrew's son John could have been 19 or 20 at the time of the census.

The 1891 census for the McBride family in Braehead, south of Glasgow show a well off family with two servants. The elder is Jessie Glennie, then 25. The younger is Margaret McCansh, then 20. This is almost certainly the way Jessie, an Aberdeen girl, came to know John, who was at the time married to Catherine Gardiner.

Anyone who has any additional information regarding my family, please contact me:

I've done my best to communicate what I know of the family, and will continue to add to these pages as I find more.