My 5 x Great Grandfather is George Duffus of St Cuthbert's Parish, Edinburgh, who had houses constructed at Gifford Park, Edinburgh, in the 1770's. He was employed by City of Edinburgh as the Keeper of the Meadows (Hope Park) and he had (at least, as far as I am aware) four children with an UNKNOWN SPOUSE]:
Thomas Duffus, goldsmith, indentured to Alexr. Dempster, 1767.
Robert Duffus, wright, Head of the Meadows/Pleasance
George Duffus, writer's assistant,Goosedub, Edinburgh.
Kathleen Duffus, married David Buchanan, flesher, 1781.
He later married a Marion Hall in 1787 and had two more children:
Alexander Duffus
Janet Duffus
Here's the mystery: I have been unable to find any birth record for a George Duffus in the OPRs that correspond with the approx birth dates of his four children to his first spouse. We have tried the Midlothian OPRs and also tried the Moray and Aberdeenshire OPRs, also the English records, but have not found it. You would think I could find a family with children born to a George Duffus 1750-60s with names Robert, Thomas, George, Katherine//Catherine Duffus but all the likely candidates are part of other documented families! Also, there is no marriage record for his first spouse. Our earliest records of George Duffus are Edinburgh Town Council records of his appointment as Keeper of the Meadows in 1764.
Would anyone have any suggestions on how we can trace George's parents or first spouse? There is another family of Duffus, living at Leith, but they seem to be a separate family.
Thanks for reading and hope you can help!