Frew Genealogy Mystery

[jimmain]

I am researching two Frew families:  Helen Frew/ James Main (m. 1808) & Janet Frew/ John Liddell (m. 1850).
Helen Frew’s  parents were James Frew/ Isabella Henry (m. 1783).
   James Frew’s parents were Thomas Frew/ Margaret Laird (m. 1753).
      Thomas Frew’s parents were Alexander Frew/ Janet Smith (m. abt 1722).
Janet Frew’s parents were George Frew/ Janet Mathieson  (m. 1831).
   George Frew’s parents were George Frew/ Rachel Ronald (m. 1788).
The mystery is that there are numerous trees in Ancestry, as well as Ancestral files in IGI that claim that George Frew/ Rachel Ronald’s son Alexander married Janet Smith.  From IGI sources, the Alexander that married Janet Smith was born about 1705, Torpichen. Alexander, son of George Frew/ Rachel Ronald, was born in 1805. Has anyone else spotted this discrepancy? I would appreciate hearing from anyone who can provide some clarification of this problem.

[helenmcasmith]

The only way to confirm all of the above is to seek out the actual records.  Rachel Ronald married George FREW  in 1788 and according to Scotands People, they had a son called Alexander in 1805.  Rachel however, married another FREW in 1815 so that record would need to be checked too (but it is possible that it is another Rachel also from Falkirk).  An Alexander married a Janet Smith in 1722 so it is not possible that this record relates to 'your' FREWs.  Between 1528 and 1854, there were 12 FREWS marrying SMITHs .  I think the confusion may have arisen as Alexander married  Janet SMITH (in 1722) and a George FREW married an Elizabeth SMITH in 1841.  (Some folk may think that Elizabeth is synonymous with Janet? - and possibly latched on to that in their tree without fully checking the sources)

Marriages
1   01/01/1788   FREW   GEORGE   RACHEL RONALD/FR2429 (FR2429)   M   FALKIRK   /STIRLING   479/00 0080 0383      
2   05/03/1815   FREW   MICHAEL   RACHEL RONALD/FR2554 (FR2554)   M   FALKIRK   /STIRLING   479/00 0090 0183

1   19/05/1722   FREW   ALEXANDER   JANET SMITH/FR684 (FR684)   M   BATHGATE   /WEST LOTHIAN   662/00 0030 0225
4   07/03/1841   FREW   GEORGE   ELIZABETH SMITH/FR7475 (FR7475)   M   GLASGOW   GLASGOW CITY CITY/LANARK