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MISSING RIDDELL FAMILY. (ABERDEENSHIRE?)

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ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Ian

Ian Report 20 Jun 2025 11:32

Hi,
I'm looking for a connection for an Elma Riddell which we have in our tree. We think Elma was born in the St Cyrus / Montrose area of Aberdeenshire. She was born in 1928. Her parents died young (mother dying around 1930, name unknown) when Elma was 2. Father dying when she was 15, name also unknown. She was shipped off to work in Wales and started her own family here. We believe she was brought up by her mum's sister, who had 8 children of her own, names unknown. We know she had 2 brothers, William who went missing around 1946 out of the blue, he was suppose to meet Elma his sister in Scotland at the train station for her honeymoon, he never showed, and was never seen or heard from again, despite being in contact with the Salvation Army, nothing was ever found. The other brother emigrated to Oz, name unknown. We would like to find any Riddell connections we may have. We seem to be having difficulty finding any information on this family group with the little info we have.

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 20 Jun 2025 12:26

Look for her birth on Scotland’s People website - get the cert for full details - you will then be able to find other family members

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 20 Jun 2025 12:52

Birth:

RIDDELL, ELMA
F
1928
173 / 15
Auchterless

You can buy a copy of the birth cert for £12 through Scotland's People, and that will tell you her parents' names.
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

You don't need a sub to SP, but you do have to register (free).
Log in; search "Statutory Registers" - "Births" with just her name (she's the only one) . Then "Order certificate"; and "Basket" in small print at top of page.


If you're hoping that any relatives will see your post and respond, I fear it's highly unlikely to happen - though you never know!

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 20 Jun 2025 13:04

The woman isn’t in any GR tree other than the OP’s

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 20 Jun 2025 13:10

There were only two Riddell households in Auchterless in 1921.
They may or may not be Elma's relations, but it seems very likely.

You can view the image of the census form on SP for 6 credits (buy 30 credits for £7.50).

James Riddell, 23.
Maggie Riddell, 21
James Riddell, 1
Margaret M Riddell, under one year.


Also, in a different household:
William Riddell, 22.


POSSIBLE marriage of James and Maggie:

RIDDELL, JAMES
CLARK, MARGARET MARJOR[ie]
1918
197 / 2
Fyvie


Probable death of the daughter Margaret, giving mmn:

RIDDELL, MARGARET MARJOR[ie]
78
mmn CLARK
F
1999
373 / 32
Carnoustie

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 20 Jun 2025 13:19

RIDDELL
WILLIAM
M
1923
173 / 38
Auchterless

The above cert can be downloaded for only 6 credits

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 20 Jun 2025 13:23

CORRECTION:

No-- forget James and Maggie!
The William Riddell in 1921 is more likely to be Elma's father - though you do need the birth cert to be sure.

If Elma's mother died "around 1930", this will be her death:

RIDDELL
MAGGIE FORBES
28
mmn WELSH
F
1930
173 / 7
Auchterless


Her marriage:

LAWRENCE, MAGGIE FORBES
RIDDELL, WILLIAM TAYLOR
1922
168 / 1 / 271
St Nicholas

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 20 Jun 2025 13:26

Elma's father's death when she was 15, as you said:

RIDDELL, WILLIAM TAYLOR
43
M
1943
282 / 2 / 255
St Clement

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 20 Jun 2025 13:33

I added that 'Maggie' death earlier, then deleted having seen other posts

LAWRENCE
MAGGIE FORBES
RIDDELL
WILLIAM TAYLOR
1922
168 / 1 / 271
St Nicholas

RIDDELL
WILLIAM TAYLOR
WELSH
MAGGIE FORBES
1922
168 / 1 / 271
St Nicholas

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 20 Jun 2025 13:38

Other Riddell births in Auchterless 1922-30 :

RIDDELL
JAMES
M
1923
173 / 17
Auchterless



RIDDELL, WILLIAM
M
1923
173 / 38
Auchterless



RIDDELL, EVELYN MARION (mmn Clark per her death record, so NOT Elma's sister)
F
1924
173 / 26
Auchterless


James and William MIGHT be brothers, if one was registered in early 1923 , and the other at the end of 1923.

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 20 Jun 2025 13:38

WELSH
MAGGIE FORBES
F
1902
173 / 7
Auchterless

Alternate death reg
WELSH
MAGGIE FORBES
28
WELSH
F
1930
173 / 7
Auchterless

Looks like Maggie was illegitimate.....mother's marriage


LAWRENCE
JAMES S
WELSH
MARY
1903
173 / 4
Auchterless

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 20 Jun 2025 13:47

WELSH
MARY
44
RIDDELL
F
1920
173 / 3
Auchterless

LAWRENCE
MARY
44
RIDDELL
F
1920
173 / 3
Auchterless


ErikaH

ErikaH Report 20 Jun 2025 14:00

Possible 1881 - 1901 censuses for MARY in Auchterless with father Alexander, mother Margaret and siblings

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 20 Jun 2025 14:35

You could have found Elma’s father’s name by getting a copy of her 1947 marriage certificate
Death registration records her birth as 10 April 1928

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 20 Jun 2025 15:25

If James 1923 is the brother who went to Australia, I don't see any definitely identifiable record of that.

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 20 Jun 2025 16:09

Two newspaper reports including Elma’s name as a pupil of St Cyrus school…….1935 and 1941. She was involved in collections for Charity organised by the school.

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 20 Jun 2025 16:18

Death on freebmd in 1983 for William Riddell born 20/10/1923

Cross-reference with birth when you download the birth certificate.

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 20 Jun 2025 16:53

The death announcement for William Taylor Riddell refers only to his being the second son of Mrs Riddell of Parkburn Cottage, Fyvie.

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 20 Jun 2025 18:02

Posting the 1983 death record mentioned by ErikaH:

Deaths Dec 1983 (>99%)
RIDDELL WILLIAM 20OC1923 BLACKPOOL/F 40 345

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 21 Jun 2025 12:31

Censuses as signposted above (now able to C&P)

1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Pitglassie, 4, Auchterless, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Alexander Welsh Head Married Male 48 1833 Stonedyker crofter of 6 ac arable Kincardineshire, Scotland
Margaret Welsh Wife Married Female 44 1837 - Aberdeenshire, Scotland
James Welsh Son - Male 12 1869 Scholar Aberdeenshire, Scotland
John Welsh Son - Male 9 1872 Scholar Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Alexander Welsh Grandson - Male 5 1876 - Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Mary Welsh Daughter - Female 5 1876 - Turriff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Carlingcraig, Auchterless, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Alexander Welsh Head Married Male 58 1833 Stone dyker Kincardineshire, Scotland
Margaret Welsh Wife Married Female 54 1837 - Aberdeenshire, Scotland
John Welsh Son Unmarried Male 19 1872 Stone dyker Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Mary Welsh Daughter Unmarried Female 15 1876 - Aberdeenshire, Scotland

1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Carlincraig Croft, Auchterless, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Alex Welsh Head Married Male 68 1833 Stonedyker Kincardineshire, Scotland
Margaret Welsh Wife Married Female 64 1837 - Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Mary Welsh Daughter Single Female 23 1878 - Aberdeenshire, Scotland
James Welsh Grandson Single Male 5 1896 - Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Alice Welsh Granddaughter Single Female 2 1899 - Aberdeenshire, Scotland