Alex Skinner's Page

Hello Alex

It was good to read your comments. I had found out this interesting piece of information about about Primrose being a member of the Bow Street Mounted Police Patrol after one of my grand-daughters decided to  see what she could find out about him. It was a fascinating if rather grim read. I had heard from another Primrose descendant, Sylvia Snipp I think, that he may have been on the Royal Wagon Train. Have you got evidence that he was? You said some of his children were born in Croydon, Surrey. Do you have any details on who they were? I know about William being born in Cambrai,  John (my ancestor) in Edinburgh, abt. 1811, Agnes in London and then much later Harriet also born in London.  

Hope you don't find I'd love know something of the  the origin of "Primrose" as name for males also.

According to the 1861 census Harriet, the daughter of Harriet Ward and Primrose was only 1 at the time of the census, Harriet the mother 39 and Primrose supposedly 72!  Have you got another reference for the year of Harriet's birth?

Hope you don't find I am being to nit-picky about details.

All the best,

Maria mcElroy

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Hello Alex

Thank you for additional information. Yes I did know Primrose was married twice and I have a copy of his marriage certificate from his 2nd marriage to Harriet Ward in 1852. It was good to find out  that Mary Ann Boyd was Jane's mother. What do you think of the year of her birth year though? I wonder if she was really 14 years older than her husband, John Thomson.

Regarding the name "Primrose". There are a number of male  Douglas's with the 2nd name "Primrose".

There was a Robert Primrose Douglas born in 1844, who was a Presbyterian minister. He w as born in  Dumfries. There is John Henry Primrose Douglas  born about 1865 and Charles Primrose Douglas who died just a few years ago in Australia. He was born in Ayr, Scotland. There are others Major General John Primrose Douglas and so on. It really makes you think the name Primrose has some significance to some of the Douglas clan. it would be interesting to know if your rather romantic story offered an explanation. I found  a website whatsinaname.net. On this site, their comment on males with the forename "Primrose",  was that it was indeed very rare but they found it occurring in different parts of Scotland and that is highly likely to have originated from the surname, Primrose which was the family name of the Earl of Rosebery.    The hunt goes on.

Best wishes

Maria McElroy