The "Other" Peter Smith

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Peter Smith

Scottish Smith Family

Official Scottish Government Documents 

Introduction 

This is the last of a series regarding our Smith cousins from Scotland.  In this addition we look at Peter Smith and his family.  Peter’s parents were Owen Smith and Bridget Greenan.  Owen Smith’s brother was named Peter Smith, who was father of ‘Irish’ John Smith of South Dakota (refer to graphic on your right).  Peter Smith’s family tree looks like the following (refer to graphic on your left): 

    John Smith - Common ancestor (circa 1772):                                   

This chart provided by Bob and Louisa Wallace, Downers Grove, Illinois.  Louisa's mother was Bridget Smith, niece of Patrick Smith.  Patrick has been mentioned in earlier documents, as he lived with the Irish John Smith family in the early 20th century.

Early Days 

Peter Smith was born in County Monaghan to Owen Smith and Bridget Greenan.  Three of Peter’s sisters were also born in County Monaghan: Susan, Mary and Margaret.  By 1851 Owen Smith moved his family to Cousland, Midlothian County, Scotland.  There Owen worked as a Quarryman in the local lime quarries.  In Scotland, Owen and Bridget had three other children – Catharine, John and Patrick. 

In 1861 Peter was still living with his mother and father in Cousland.  Peter worked as a Ploughman and this is verified by the Scottish Census from that year.  By 1871 Peter had moved out of this home but lived nearby.  He could be found living as a lodger with the Barclay Gibbons’ family. 

1871 Scottish Census 

We knew Peter married a woman by the name of Helen Cairn or Cairns but did not know when.  Scottish records do not provide this information regarding their marriage.  Also, there is no Census record for Peter in 1881.  The 1891 Scottish Census may provide a clue.  Look at the following census record. It shows Owen Smith was born about 1878 in County Monaghan.  It is possible this family was living in Ireland for quite a long time.  We do see this family listed in the 1891 Scottish census as shown below.

1891 Scottish Census 

Peter Smith indicates he is married but we do not see his wife listed.  Who was his wife at this time?  We can tell that at least two of Peter’s children were born in Cousland.  One child, Owen, was born in County Monaghan.  Later you will see that Peter married twice.  

   (This is the Civil Parish indicated from the Census records.) 

Owen Smith – Son of Peter and Helen Smith 

This record shows the name of Owen’s mother, Helen Cairn.  By this time Helen is deceased.  In a later government document we see her name spelled as ‘Helen Cairns’.    

1896 DEATHS in the District of South Leith in the County of Edinburgh (Page 108) 

 1901 Scottish Census 

There appears to be another gap in the records.  In 1901 the following ‘Peter Smith’ entries appear in the official Scottish Census records.  The list below shows all ‘Peter Smith’ entries found in Scotland aged between 60 and 70 years.  The following are from the official records; however, none are from South Leith.  It is possible one of these records is for Peter; however, it is just as likely that he was living in Ireland at the time. 

No       Year    Surname          Forename        Sex      Age     District                                                City/County                GROS Data               

1          1901    SMITH            PETER            M         65        ENZIE                                                            /BANFF                        152/00 006/00 005     

2          1901    SMITH            PETER            M         70        MONQUHITTER                              /ABERDEEN             223/00 003/00 007     

3          1901    SMITH            PETER            M         64        NEW DEER                                       /ABERDEEN             225/00 001/00 018     

4          1901    SMITH            PETER            M         68        SKENE                                               /ABERDEEN             238/00 003/00 005     

5          1901    SMITH            PETER            M         60        FORFAR                                            /ANGUS                     288/A0 015/0A 017   

6          1901    SMITH            PETER            M         62        AIRDRIE OR NEW MONKLAND /LANARK                  651/00 028/00 007     

7          1901    SMITH            PETER            M         61        PRESTONPANS                                /EAST LOTHIAN            718/00 005/00 004     

1923.  DEATHS in the District of South Leith in the City of Edinburgh, Page 199 

 Peter died in 1923 due to ‘Senility’.  Two interesting points are mentioned here.  First, Peter’s death record lists two wives.  His first wife was Helen Cairns, who appears to be the mother of his known children.  It also mentions his second wife, Elizabeth McEnbee or McEndee.  I could not find a Scottish record for this marriage either, which might indicate that this marriage was held elsewhere, perhaps Ireland.  It also mentions that his daughter, Bridget Tracey, was present at his death.  Who is Bridget?  I found the following census records in 1901 for Bridget Tracey.   Perhaps Bridget may have been a step-daughter. 

No       Year    Surname          Forename        Sex      Age     District                                                            City/County                GROS Data   

1          1901    TRACEY        BRIDGET      F          24        TRADESTON            GLASGOW CITY                 /LANARK                  644/13 030/13 005     

2          1901    TRACEY        BRIDGET      F          32        LEITH SOUTH          EDINBURGH CITY            /MIDLOTHIAN         692/02 030/02 046