Who was Andrew MUNRO's father?

Question

My current working theory for the name of Andrew MUNRO’s father is that his name was James MUNRO and his mother’s name was Margaret PALMER.

So I have added James MUNRO [Munro-1626] onto wikitree, but I am still looking to confirm the details for the father of Andrew MUNRO born c1826 in Scotland.  If anyone has any suggestions on how to proceed that would be wonderful.  I have outlined the details below -  

We don’t see Andrew MUNRO in any records until he enlists in the Honourable East India Company Regiment of Artillery in 1848.[i]  Unfortunately no parents have been identified in any of the Military records that have been located to date. 

According to Andrew MUNRO he was born near Falkirk in the County of Stirling, however no trace of him can be found between 1826 and 1830.[ii]^,[iii]  

When he married Isabella JENNINGS he gave his father’s name as James MUNRO unfortunately there is no mention his mother’s name in the same record.[iv]  In contrast on his death certificate, his father’s Christian name was not known, and his surname was given as PALMER, his mother’s name was given as Margaret PALMER formerly MUNRO. [v]

It is probable that his father’s name on the death certificate is incorrect. The informant was H. Rippryale, an authorized Agent, his relationship to the family is not known other than his official capacity. It is difficult to establish the reliability of the information provided without knowing which family member provided the data.  To date this has been the only reference to his father’s surname being Palmer rather than his mother’s surname.

The more reliable name for his father’s name is on Andrew MUNRO’s marriage certificate which lists his father’s name as James MUNRO. This source is a derivative record drawn from the original church records and was made shortly after the event to provide information back to Britain. 

It could be that the surnames were just been confused on the death certificate and entered the wrong way around, however it does not account for the differing first names given for his father.

 

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[i] Entry into the service, Registers of Recruits 1817-1860 (Recruits enlisted for the East India Company's Service in the London District. L/MIL/9/7 Oriental and India Office, British Library, St Pancras, London; Embarkation list for Lady Nugent, embarked 11 Oct 1848 (Embarkation Lists 1753-1861 L/MIL/9/102  Oriental and India Office, British Library, St Pancras, London; United Kingdom, Chelsea Pensioners' Service Records, 1760-1913." Database with Images. FindMyPast. http://findmypast.com  : accessed 15/4/2016. citing WO97, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey. Entry for Andrew Munro Service Number 96. “born in the Parish of Falkirk near the Town of Falkirk in the County of Stirling”

[ii] United Kingdom, Chelsea Pensioners' Service Records, 1760-1913." Database with Images. FindMyPast. http://findmypast.com  : accessed 15/4/2016. citing WO97, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey. Entry for Andrew Munro Service Number 96. “born in the Parish of Falkirk near the Town of Falkirk in the County of Stirling”

[iii] Filiamundi, Christine, “Research done in Scotland, September 2010, on Andrew/Alexander Munro/Palmer”, Copy held by Sandra Williamson.

[iv] Marriages soleminized at the Presidency of Bambay, Registered at the St Andrew's Church - extract for AndrewMunro and Isabella Jennings (Presidency of Marriage Bombay, Marriage Year 1856)

[v] Victorian death certificate 1901/14775 South Melbourne Andrew PALMER

Answer 1

Scotland Select Marriages 1561-1910.

Robert Munro marries Margaret Palmer Sept 3 1858,Stirling,Stirling,

Scotland.FHL Film # 6035516

Comments

Thankyou Wayne,

I have located the record that you suggested on ScotlandsPeople - 1858 Scottish Marriage Record Robert MUNRO - Margaret  PALMER, Stirling, [Statutory Marriages 490/000096].  

It is Margaret PALMER's second marriage. If this is the Margaret PALMER  the mother of Andrew MUNRO then it is likely that Andrew's father and her first husband has already passed away.

Based on the age that Margaret gives in the certificate (36) she is likely to have been born in 1821/1, but where she was born is a mystery. Her parents are listed as Thomas Palmer commissioned Officer in the Army ? of ? Mary Frisken/r maiden name of mother deceased (as you can see I had difficulty reading the writing.) I am not quite sure how to proceed but this is fresh information so it is an encouraging lead.

Thanks for your help.

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Bad news she is not our girl, as someone pointed out her birthdate didn't work.  I have updated  Analysis to reflect this

Analysis

This Margaret MUNRO married twice her second marriage was to Robert MUNRO who was also a widower.  The certificate specifically notes that the parties are not related, so if Margaret’s first husband was a MUNRO he was not related to Margaret’s second husband.

Margaret’s first husband would have died prior to 1858.  Margaret possible birth year based on the marriage certificate is 1822 based on the following:

Margaret MUNRO married a second time in 1858 year of marriage at the age of 36.  This would give her a possible birthdate of 1822. As Andrew MUNRO is thought to have been born in 1826 this then makes Margaret too young to be the mother of Andrew MUNRO.

Unfortunately this Margaret MUNRO nee PALMER is not the mother of Andrew PALMER born in 1826 in Scotland.

And so the search continues, I am still glad that I got the certificate as if she had been older she may have fit the bill.  This has really become a process of elimination now, as we slowly identify potential candidates and them dismiss them if they are no suitable.  Fingers crossed that we will have better luck next time.

Now I wonder if anyone can recognise this Margaret PALMER and find a place for on WikiTree  she really needs a home.