Jean Menzies (1778 - 1821)

Born 20 Jun 1778 in Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Ancestors

Died 27 May 1821 at age 42 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Anthony Hare [send private message] and Geoffrey West [send private message]

Biography

This profile is part of the Menzies Name Study.

Jane Menzies is a member of Clan Menzies.

Jane Menzies was born in Scotland.

Birth and Baptism

Jean 'Jane' Menzies was born a twin to Captain William Menzies on 20 Jun 1778 and was baptised on 29 Jun 1778 in Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.^[1][2][3] She was the daughter of William Menzies and Elizabeth Medcalf.

Death

Jean / Jane Menzies died on 27 May 1821 at Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. She was buried at the Greyfriars Cemetery, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland on 29 May 1821.^[4] Her Death Notice printed in the Edinburgh Advertiser (Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland) refers to her as 'Jane' - At Edinburgh, on 27th May MISS JANE MENZIES, youngest daughter of the late William Menzies, Esq., Solicitor of Customs

Research Notes

2023 - Patricia Gray:

• A twin to Captain William Menzies. The names Jean/Jane were used in Scotland to refer to one of the same name at this time. (Jean's were called Jane and those named Jeanette were called Janet - mostly by people living outside of Scotland). However she is detailed on her formal birth records as 'Jean'.^[5] Please note that her name is 'Jane' in the Funeral Notice placed in the Edinburgh Advertiser (Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland by her family (attached to this profile).

Also attached to this profile is the page recording Jane's burial in the Edinburgh, Scotland, Cemetery Registers, 1771-1935. It can be clearly seen that the name was originally entered as 'Jean', but was crossed out and the name 'Jane' recorded (attached to this profile).

Further research conducted in 1994 by David A Matthewes, of Canton NC, U.S.A. states:

Dr David A Matthewes lists 'Jean' Menzies as being born in 1778 and confirms that William Menzies and Elizabeth Medcalf had eleven children, several of whom did not survive childhood. 'Jean' was one of the eleven children listed in Dr Matthewes research.

From Geoffrey West-6495

My Scottish research was mainly conducted online or via a professional Scottish researcher Dr Rosemary Bigwood. One of the records which she reported back to me was a verbatim copy of the Will/Testament of William, Menzies-1115. This was registered in Edinburgh and was dated 28 Dec 1770. At that time William named as Executors, his wife and his children as were then alive, namely as John, Jean, Elizabeth and Janet, but with provision for any further children to be added. At the time of his death, the document was registered on 28 Oct 1793. At that date his children living were recorded as John, Elizabeth, Janet, Robert, William, and Jean. The last three were still minors.

• Scottish Documents have the legal papers relative to her death, in them John Menzies Solicitor of His Majestys Custom in Scotland Depones that Miss Jane Menzies, youngest daughter of the deceased William Menzies, died intestate on 27th May 1821.

The Inventory of her Estate includes a reference to a Bond set up by her twin brother William Menzies residing in Edinburgh in the Military Service of the Honourable East India Company £2000 Stg in favour of her and her sister Janet Menzies. But no other references to her have been found. She was not mentioned in her Father's Will/Settlement as an Executor as were his other children "then living".

Acknowledgements

To Dr David A Matthewes, Canton, NC, USA for research and source information from 1994.

To Geoffrey West-6495 for research and sourcing information .

To R Hare Hare-1576 and P Gray Howard-18870 for research, compiling, and contact with the Menzies family.

FURTHER INFORMATION - MENZIES PROJECT https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:MINGUS_Inc._%28Menzies_INternational_Genealogy_UnderStudy%29-1

Sources

1. ↑ Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950. FHL Film Number: 1066686. Reference ID2:17PKN84.
2. ↑ Scotland, Red Books of Scotland, 1600-1939. Compiled by Gordon McGregor; The Red Book of Scotland; Volume: Red Book of Scotland Volume 6 Lin-Mer. Page 764.
3. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XY3V-S4W : 10 February 2018), Jean Menzies, 20 Jun 1778; citing , reference 2:17PKN84, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,066,686.
4. ↑ Edinburgh, Scotland, Cemetery Registers, 1771-1935.
5. ↑ Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950. FHL Film Number: 1066686. Reference ID2:17PKN84.