Find Ancestors

Yes. If there's no obvious migration i'll look elsewhere. I'll be at Ediburgh for a long session in November (Can't wait!). Scottish death records can be marvellously revealing and I haven't "done" this side of the family. Thanks anyway! Malc.

Hello Malcolm, not seeing anything immediately obvious on shipping lists.

Have you considered the scenario of James dying and Mary remarrying with the family then being recorded under her new name?

Hmmm. yes but he'd have been born before his parents. Bit "Back to The Futurish for me. :-S

looked good to me - born in Oz - with Mitchell in the name

Sorry, no. John was deinitely born in 1874 in Leith. Thanks for trying though.

Thought...our lot frae Leith living in the Strand....Aye, some hope!

how about this one?


John Mitchell Purves
England and Wales Census, 1891
birth: New South Wales
census: 1891 England


name: John Mitchell Purves
event: Census
event date: 1891
gender: Male
age: 43
relationship to head of household: Visitor
birthplace: New South Wales
record type: Institution
registration district: Strand
sub-district: St Martin In The Fields
ecclesiastical parish: St Martin In The Fields
civil parish: St Martin In The Fields
county: London, Middlesex

Ann, it possible that the first child was born at Ednam (Scottish Borders) as father James came from that area, but i'd be surprised. Pretty sure he was born when the couple were married and lived in Leith (Edinburgh)

As I said, this one died in 1875.

different dates and location here

John Purves
Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
birth: 20 Jan 1874 LEITH,?MIDLOTHIAN,?SCOTLAND
parents: James Purves,? Mary Mitchell


name: John Purves
gender: Male
birth date: 20 Jan 1874
birthplace: LEITH,MIDLOTHIAN,SCOTLAND
father's name: James Purves
mother's name: Mary Mitchell
indexing project (batch) number: C11692-1
system origin: Scotland-ODM
source film number: 6035516

James Purves
Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
birth: 19 Apr 1872 EDNAM,?ROXBURGH,?SCOTLAND
parents: James Purves,? Mary Mitchell


name: James Purves
gender: Male
birth date: 19 Apr 1872
birthplace: EDNAM,ROXBURGH,SCOTLAND
father's name: James Purves
mother's name: Mary Mitchell
indexing project (batch) number: C11788-1
system origin: Scotland-ODM
source film number: 6035516

James Purves
Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
birth: 19 Apr 1872 LEITH,?MIDLOTHIAN,?SCOTLAND
parents: James Purves,? Mary Mitchell


name: James Purves
gender: Male
birth date: 19 Apr 1872
birthplace: LEITH,MIDLOTHIAN,SCOTLAND
father's name: James Purves
mother's name: Mary Mitchell
indexing project (batch) number: C11692-1
system origin: Scotland-ODM
source film number: 6035516

I have a young family who disappear shortly before the 1881 census of Scotland. They had been living at Leith up to the birth of the last known child. He'd be an Ag. Lab. prior to moving to Leith.

James Purves b 1850, Wife Mary Mitchell bc1853? Married Edinburgh 1872 Children John b 1874 and Isabella b 1877.

They had lost their first child James in 1875 so I suspect that they might have gone abroad. My favourite would be Australia but I just don't know.

Any help would be much appreciated. Malc.