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Anne (Duff) Biggar (1784-1876) research page

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Anne (Duff) Biggar (1784-1876) research page

This page is for research of Anne (Duff) Biggar (1784-1876).

There are some anomalies conflicts around the early life of Anne Duff although there are none regarding the name of her father: she was known to be the daughter of James Duff[Duff-1053] but official OPR records of birth and the marriage of her father appear to be at variance with family history,[1] historical books,[2] newspaper announcements OPR records of her death as well as her grave stone. OPR records appear to show that she was born in 1786 in Glass Aberdeenshire, baptised 30 November 1786[3] to James Duff [Duff-1053] and Margaret Grant, cited on birth record. She was born into a family with 3 older step siblings consisting a sister Helen and two brothers Alexander and George, their mother being Helen [Skene-43] Duff. She had 8 full siblings: Mary Duff born15 March 1788 Glass Aberdeenshire[4]. Twins: Helen[5] and James[6] born 20 May 1790 (christening) James Duff 22 May 1790 Glass Aberdeenshire. George Duff born 26 July 1792 Glass Aberdeenshire[7]. Arthur Duff born 30 May 1794 Glass Aberdeenshire[8]. Hariot Duff born 7 June 1796 Glass Aberdeenshire[9]. Alexander Duff born 12 July 1798 Glass Aberdeenshire[10]. Jean Duff born 15 Aug 1800 Glass Aberdeenshire. [11]

We have certainty about the latter part of her life: Anne Duff married William Biggar on 13 Dec 1822 at the age of 36 in Banff, Banffshire.[12] Their only daughter Margaret Catharine was born on 6 Dec 1823[13] and christened on 6 January 1824[14] By 1841, Ann, Walter, described as a merchant, and their daughter Margaret were living at 15 Claremont Crescent, St Cuthbert's, Midlothian with Walter's mother Louisa.[15]. Margaret married William Blaikie on 20 May 1845 [16] and by 1851 they are retired, but continuing to live in the same house in Claremont Crescent, Midlothian, with Louisa [17]. In 1861 Anne and Walter were shown still to be living in Edinburgh[18],[19]. Anne was widowed on 6 Aug 1867[20] and soon after she moved to Newington, Edinburgh, where she is found living with her daughter, son-in-law and their family[21]although in one mis-transcribed record she is described as mother-in-law aged 26 in 1871[22] Anne died on 21 May 1877 at 9 Palmerston Road in Edinburgh Midlothian when she was 92 years old.[23]


Sources

  1. ↑ "The Genealogy of the Duff Family"
  2. ↑ Tayler, Alistair Norwich, and Helen Agnes Henrietta Tayler. The Book of the Duffs, (Edinburgh, W. Brown, 1914), Vol. 2:563
  3. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms" database, National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: accessed 06 Aug 2021) Anne Duff, father James Duff, mother Marg. Grant, 30 Nov 1786, Glass; citing Parish Number 199 Reference Number: 10 78
  4. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYXD-Q7N : 12 February 2020), Margt. Grant in entry for Mary Duff, 1788.
  5. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYXD-QRR : 12 February 2020), Margaret Grant in entry for Helen Duff, 1790.
  6. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYXD-BH2 : 12 February 2020), Margaret Grant in entry for James Duff, 1790
  7. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 15 64-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYXD-5T1 : 12 February 2020), Margaret Grant in entry for George Duff, 1792.
  8. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYXD-18P : 12 February 2020), Margaret Grant in entry for Arthur Duff, 1794.
  9. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYXD-77N : 12 February 2020), Mrgaret Grant in entry for Hariot Duff, 1796.
  10. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYXD-1YT : 12 February 2020), Margt. Grant in entry for Alexr. Duff, 1798.
  11. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYXD-7GW : 12 February 2020), Margt. Grant in entry for Jean Duff, 1800.
  12. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Banns and marriages" database, National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: accessed 07 Aug 2021) Anne Duff, husband Walter Biggar, 13 Dec 1822, Banff; citing Parish Number 147 Reference Number: 90 121
  13. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XBSN-95K : 12 February 2020), Ann Duff in entry for Margaret Catharine Biggar, 1824.
  14. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms" database, National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: accessed 07 Aug 2021) Margaret Cathar, father Walter Biggar, mother Ann Duff, 6 Jan 1824, Banff; citing Parish Number 147 Reference Number: 90 64
  15. ↑ "Scottish General Register Office: 1841 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5a151f48f4040b9d6e2bb2a8 : viewed 4 Aug 2021), Walter BIGGAR in household of Louisa BIGGAR, Claremont Crescent, Midlothian, Scotland; from 1841 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives HO 107/685, Folio 124, Page 6, Schedule , The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
  16. ↑ "Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYWZ-CF3 : 11 February 2020), Walter Biggar in entry for William Garden Blaikie, 1845
  17. ↑ "Scottish General Register Office: 1851 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5903d90de9379091b1fd8f4b : viewed 4 Aug 2021), Walter BIGGAR, 15, Claremont Crescent, Midlothian, Scotland; from 1851 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives /685, Folio 696, Page 2, Schedule 4, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
  18. ↑ “Census Returns" database, National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: accessed 07 Aug 2021) Biggar, Walter 1861 age 73 Ref 685/2/78/17, citing district St Andrew, county Midlothian
  19. ↑ “Census Returns" database, National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: accessed 07 Aug 2021) Biggar, Anne 1861 age 76 Ref 685/2/78/17, citing district St Andrew, county Midlothian
  20. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/150651908/walter-biggar : accessed 07 August 2021), memorial page for Walter Biggar (1787–6 Aug 1867), Find a Grave Memorial ID 150651908, citing Edinburgh Rosebank Cemetery, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, Scotland ; Maintained by GariochGraver (contributor 47469430)
  21. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1871 Scotland Census.Parish: Edinburgh St Cuthberts; ED: 98; Page: 14; Line: 23; Roll: CSSCT1871_166 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Scotland. Reels 1-191. General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland.
  22. ↑ “Census Returns" database, National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: accessed 07 Aug 2021) Biggar, Anne 1871 age 86 Ref 685/5/98/14, citing district Newington, county Midlothian.
  23. ↑ "British Newspaper Archive, Family Notices," database with images, in the Dundee Courier 25 May 1877, © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD accessed 8 August 2021: https://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000269%2f18770525%2f007&stringtohighlight=anne%20duff

Marriage "Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XT2P-X5Y : 11 February 2020), Ann Duff in entry for Walter Biggar, 1822.

1st/only? child Margaret "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XBSN-95K : 12 February 2020), Ann Duff in entry for Margaret Catharine Biggar, 1824.

QUESTIONS AND FOLLOW-UP

Can any other birth be found for an Anne Duff - possibly in another part of Banffshire/Aberdeenshire - maybe with spelling errors?

Would the original Censuses for 1841, 1851 etc yield more birthplace details?

Is there a way to find a death record for Anne Duff with mother Margaret Grant - if Margaret Grant Duff is not the correct mother?

If Margaret Grant is a 'red herring' which she probably is, why are there no children showing to Margaret Dunbar? (incidentally Ogilvy seems a later addition)

Auchterless, Glass, Dufftown, Banff are all in the same geographical location

From the book of Duffs https://archive.org/details/bookofduffs01tayl/page/n563/mode/2up

Mary, James, William, and Fife, John, Isabella, Catherine, Anne, Sophia + another child (both last younger than Anne Duff Bigger)


FAMILY BACKGROUND

JAMES DUFF (father of Anne) James Duff-1053 was 3rd son of Alexander* Duff-1054 - married 1st cousin Catherine (Kathrin) Duff-1052 Catherine was daughter of William Duff-1952 of Dipple Alexander was son of William's brother Patrick Duff-1938 of Culter and William were both sons of Patrick Duff-1055

  • Alexander is one of 36 children!

JAMES DUFF (father of Anne) BIRTH: 20 January 1728 , died 19 Nov 1804 (note there is a James Duff-3170 in Banff born 28 Sept 1729 who dies 24 Jan 1809 in London but he is later to become the Lord Lieutenant of the county of Banff and MP for Banff)

"Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms" database, National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: accessed 06 Aug 2021) James Duff, father Alexander Duff, 20 January 1728, Auchterless; citing Parish Number 173 Reference Number: 10 161

Marriage 1 Wife Helen Skene 11 Aug 1755 st Nicholas Aberdeen to Helen Skene "Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTJX-9JZ : 11 February 2020), James Duff, 1755.

Child Alexander "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XBQ9-CXT : 12 February 2020), James Duff in entry for Alexander Duff, 1758.

Child Helen "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XBQM-55P : 12 February 2020), James Duff in entry for Helen Duff, 1756. Child George ?

Marriage 2 Margaret Ogilvy Dunbar. 1 Feb 1772. Banff "Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTR6-188 : 11 February 2020), Margaret Dunbar in entry for James Duff, 1772. Children??

Marriage 3 Wife Margaret Grant 9 Feb 1786. Glass (Aberdeenshire) & Botriphnie (Banff)

"Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Banns and marriages" database, National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: accessed 06 Aug 2021) James Duff, wife Margt. Grant, 09 Feb 1786, Glass; citing Parish Number 199 Reference Number: 10 174

"Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Banns and marriages" database, National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: accessed 06 Aug 2021) James Duff, wife Margaret. Grant, 09 Feb 1786, Botriphnie; citing Parish Number 148 Reference Number: 10 416

9 Children Child: Anne Duff 30 Nov 1786 Glass Aberdeenshire. "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYXD-H52 : 12 February 2020), Anne Duff, 1786.

Child: Mary Duff 15 March 1788 Glass Aberdeenshire. "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYXD-Q7N : 12 February 2020), Margt. Grant in entry for Mary Duff, 1788.

Twins: Helen and James 22 May 1790 (christening) James Duff 20 May 1790 Glass Aberdeenshire. "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYXD-BH2 : 12 February 2020), Margaret Grant in entry for James Duff, 1790.

Child: Helen Duff 20 May 1790 Glass Aberdeenshire. "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYXD-QRR : 12 February 2020), Margaret Grant in entry for Helen Duff, 1790.

Child: George Duff 26 July 1792 glass Aberdeenshire. "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 15 64-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYXD-5T1 : 12 February 2020), Margaret Grant in entry for George Duff, 1792.

Child: Arthur Duff 30 May 1794 Glass Aberdeenshire. "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYXD-18P : 12 February 2020), Margaret Grant in entry for Arthur Duff, 1794.

Child: Hariot Duff 7 June 1796 Glass Aberdeenshire. "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYXD-77N : 12 February 2020), Mrgaret Grant in entry for Hariot Duff, 1796.

Child: Alexr Duff 12 July 1798 Glass Aberdeenshire. "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYXD-1YT : 12 February 2020), Margt. Grant in entry for Alexr. Duff, 1798.

Child: Jean Duff 15 Aug 1800 Glass Aberdeenshire. "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYXD-7GW : 12 February 2020), Margt. Grant in entry for Jean Duff, 1800.

Ancestry.com. 1871 Scotland Census.Parish: Edinburgh St Cuthberts; ED: 98; Page: 14; Line: 23; Roll: CSSCT1871_166 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Scotland. Reels 1-191. General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland.


DEATH 19 Nov 1804 "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK1V-Y9D1 : 6 March 2021), James Duff, ; Burial, Banff, , Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Banff Old Parish Churchyard; citing record ID 148987334, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

NB I cannot find this again: (Did I imagine it??) From Obituary Birth Glass Banff/Aberdeenshire Nov 30 1786 James Duff and Margaret (Margt). Grant Obituary "British Newspaper Archive, Family Notices," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPCN-HPR7 : 17 April 2019), Anne Duff, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, United Kingdom; records extracted FamilySearch and images digitized by FindMyPast; citing Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, 25 May 1877, The British Newspaper Archive, Ireland; FHL microfilm

kittybrewster.com/ancestry/duff.htm

See also:

Anne (Duff) Biggar's research page

Collaboration on Anne (Duff) Biggar (1784-1876) research page

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Memories of Anne (Duff) Biggar (1784-1876) research page

Photos of Anne (Duff) Biggar (1784-1876) research page: 1

Region of the Duffs: Auchterless (Glass) Banff
(1/1) Region of the Duffs: Auchterless (Glass) Banff Anne (Duff) Biggar (1784-1876) research page. Banffshire, Scotland, United Kingdom


Comments on Anne (Duff) Biggar (1784-1876) research page: 4


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Elizabeth (Short) Jones
On Scotland's people, I can find no children born to James Duff and Margaret Duncan between 1760 and 1800 (with every variation I can conceive and no death record. The only record that I can find is their marriage. I can't find her birth and I can't trace any her parents details either. Would I be likely to find anything on a baptismal record for Anne to clinch this?

My dilemma is that there are clear omissions in various places. For Instance George Duff's birth/baptism is not found in an extensive search of Scotland's people and is an estimated date of January 1764. It was in the March of that year that his mother Helen died. Did she die in childbirth? Was that the reason that George's birth was not recorded? The reason I think it is interesting is that he was a decorated hero and if records could have been found, I guess they would. There are selective details in the book of Duffs that mean that the marriage to Margaret Grant, which seems to be clearly documented is omitted. On 'find a grave only George Duff and Anne Biggar are mentioned along with Helen his wife - but we know that were at least 2 wives and many more children

I have tried to work through the comprehensive genealogy on kittybrewster.com but again there is no mention of Margaret Grant as a 3rd wife.

posted by Elizabeth (Short) Jones
edited by Elizabeth (Short) Jones

Elizabeth (Short) Jones
Absolutely, there is conflict here: Birth details on Scotland’s People give her mother as Margaret Grant and Death as Duncan. I saw the memorial (reference in research above) but there is so much missing that I was unsure how accurate that might be. How can this be reconciled.

The newspaper death notice in the Dundee courier shows Anne to have died at the correct date in Newington but doesn’t give her mother’s maiden name Is there an original birth or marriage certificate with mother’s maiden name?

posted by Elizabeth (Short) Jones

Bobbie (Madison) Hall
What do we make of the index of her death record on Scotland's People? (searched with both Duff & Biggar for surname)
BIGGAR, ANNE, 92, [Mother's maiden name] DUNCAN, 1877, 685/5 397, Newington
DUFF, ANNE, 92, [Mother's maiden name] DUNCAN, 1877, 685/5 397, Newington

posted by Bobbie (Madison) Hall

Bobbie (Madison) Hall
Also wonder how we explain her father's gravestone info:

Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/148987334/james-duff : accessed 08 August 2021), memorial page for James Duff (1 Jan 1729–19 Nov 1804), Find A Grave: Memorial #148987334, citing Banff Old Parish Churchyard, Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland ; Maintained by GariochGraver (contributor 47469430) .

posted by Bobbie (Madison) Hall