Middle names are often seen through the generations and this can help you be sure you have the right family.
See my previous post on naming patterns here.
The middle name Bigby or Begbie crops up in the Thorburn family of Ayrshire and descendants in the USA and New Zealand. Originally though I think the name was Biggar and I think I have traced it back to a John Biggar in the 27th Regiment of Foot, possibly born in Ireland and his daughter Mary Biggar born 1814 in Ayr who married William Thorburn and died aged only 23. More about the Thorburns here
I spent a lot of time looking for the connection between several children with the first names William Vessie in West Kilbride, only to find that William Vessie was the local minister! So don't assume that the unusual name in your family tree must be an ancestor!
A female ancestor of mine rejoiced in the names Christian Straton Allardice Sievwright when all her siblings had a single given name. I thought I was on to something. But it turned out Christian Allardice Straton was the minister's daughter!
