Wow Monica, wow!
Ok, you've asked a few questions there, so I'm going to do my best - I'll work my way backward
I'm Scott Brown Porter, born 1982, eldest of 2
My Dad is Charles Brown Porter, youngest of 4
My Grandfather was Charles Brown Porter, eldest of 11
My Great Grandfather was James Campbell Porter, 2nd of 10 children
My Great Great Grandfather was John Porter
John married Elizabeth McDermott (sometimes spelt McDermid) who was born in Greenock on 23/12/1865. The married in Rothesay on 06/12/1884, and had their first son John McDermott Porter there on 08/01/1885. I'm assuming the fact she was 8 months pregnant is why they moved to Rothesay. John McDermott Porter was Provost of Greenock for a while in 1955. I have a few documents and photos of him, as well as of his mother Elizabeth.
They then moved to Bowling, Dunbartonshire and had James Campbell Porter on 09/09/1886 and Elizabeth Campbell Porter on 17/02/1888.
They moved to Polmont, and had Martha Galbraith Porter on 22/02/1880 (note the middle name!).
They moved to Grangemouth, and had William Porter on 03/03/1892 and Thomas Campbell Porter (I'm in touch with 2 of his granddaughters).
Then finally back to Greenock to have Richard McDermott Porter on 02/03/1896, Margaret Ford Porter on 22/01/1898, George Smith Porter on 17/06/1900 (who emigrated to Australia, and I'm in touch with a son of his), and finally Charles Brown Porter on 09/08/1902 (my Grandfather was named after him).
Family history had said the 7 brothers came over from Ireland, but I traced the census info from 1891 to 1911 to track their movements, and the brothers (and sisters we hadn't known about) were all born in Scotland, but it was their father who came over.
This John was born circa 1863 and lists his origin as Ireland (1881), Ireland Strabane (1891), Ireland (1901), Ireland (1911).
There had always been some debate in the family where in Co Donegal they came from, some saying Letterkenny, some Mountcharles and the odd mention of Raphoe, but this just added more confusion until I found out Rathoe in Co donegal was in the Strabane PLU (Poor Law Union) catchment area.
I happened to look for John on the 1881 census to see where he was before he married, and found him in Greenock at 6 Crossshore Street, living with Bridget Brogan; she was the head, and he was listed as her grandson. I then found her death notification;
Bridget Brogan Porter, mother of John died at Mrs Boyle's 1 William Street, in Aug 1898 (Greenock Telegraph 23.8.1898).
From this, I found her as Bridget Porter on the 1891 census living with Mary Boyle as her Mother. Using this, I traced someone else researching Mary Boyle's family, so knew Bridget had at least 2 children, Mary and John.
From Bridget's death cert, I found her 1st husband was William Porter, and managed to track down their wedding in Raphoe, which had her listed as Biddy (a common name for Bridget in Ireland at the time apparently), and found her children;
Elizabeth Porter Date of Birth: 16-Mar-1836 Date of Baptism: 27-Mar-1836
Mary Porter Date of Birth: -- Date of Baptism: 06-Jan-1839
Sarah Porter Date of Birth: 30-Jun-1847 Date of Baptism: 15-Aug-1847
John Porter Date of Birth: 14-Oct-1848 Date of Baptism: 03-Nov-1848
Susan Porter Date of Birth: 14-Jun-1851 Date of Baptism: 20-Jul-1851
Eleanor Porter Date of Birth: 30-Jun-1854 Date of Baptism: 30-Aug-1854
The only questionable bit (as you mention) was that John Porter (who married Elizabeth McDermott) was born circa 1862/3/4, and his father was William & Bridget's son John who was born 1848, making him just 14/15/16 when his son John was born. That seems very young for that era (sadly not nowadays).
Anyway, getting back to the point...
My Great Great Great Grandfather was John Porter
From his son John's marriage cert in 1884, we know he was an engine fitter, and married to Martha Lawrie.
From his son John's death cert in 1932, we know he was a deceased 'plater', and had been married to Martha Galbraith.
Other than that, I knew nothing of him or Martha, I only found his parents were William and Bridget Boyle from finding his son's grandmother (as mentioned above), which led me to find his birth cert in Raphoe in 1848.
My Great Great Great Great Grandfather was William Porter
He married Bridget Brogan on 20/08/1835 in Raphoe. (See attached)
(continued...)
