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Hi Fordyce
So sorry to hear about your computer failure.  At least you had backups but I understand what an enormous hassle that is and would definitely test the patience of anyone.

Sorry my response is delayed.  I need to change some settings so I know when something's added to this discussion.  Newbie error.

Thank you for your detailed response.  You are very generous with your time and insights.  It’s always useful to have assumptions made explicit and tested ie my interpretation of “younger”. 

If only  the death records provided a bit more information on age it would be so much easier.  Ha ha.  I do wonder about my assumptions on:
-   fluidity of occupations – I note that John B h/o Christian Greenlaw is listed fairly consistently as a smith but on the last daughter’s birth he is noted as a “wright” in Newton.  Of-course that could just be a mistake in the record keeping – easy to do.
-   the definition of “farmer” – I assume there is a distinction between a tenant and a farmer although I recognise the term tenant farmer is also used.  Having said that, the notation of John B h/o Mary Wallace/Betty Brown as a farmer at the age of 70 in the 1841 census makes me wonder if the term could be used in a number of ways.  I know I’m not helping here – just thinking out loud to see if my assumptions need some realignment.

I can’t comment on the idea of “Elizabeth da to farmer John B who died in 1756” being the illegitimate daughter of John B/Agnes Thomson”.  I agree the reference to her father being a farmer implies a link.  I don’t know how often an illegitimate birth was not recorded given the times.  Hard to tell.

In relation to potentials for John s/o Walter Brash and Helen Lindsay:
-   John B/Marjory Cant – hmmmm, I am a little confused by that couple.  I had assumed the DR for John B 30/3/1755 in Bo’ness – workman killed accidentally was that John as there is a death record for Eliz Brash 30/7/1742 “da to John Brash (workman) /Marjory Canle? In B’Ness.  ie picking up on the similarity of the use of the “workman” occupation.  But then Marjory’s death 3/4/1766 says she is the spouse of John Brash – which I understood to suggest he was still alive whereas relict would imply he had died.  Again, these could all be just the different ways the clerks recorded things.  It is certainly clear that the format, style and detail of the records changed over time.
-   There is another John Brash that I am yet to place.  I only came across this one as there is a death record for Ann Bartholomens 2/1/1759 – who is noted as the spouse to John B Duntarvie.   I have not found a marriage record or any births to this couple.  Either they never had children or this could be a later in life second marriage.  Hard to tell without more data.   

Perhaps there is data there that is yet to be found that will help to triangulate the existing data points.  Sorry to not have much of use to add right now. 

Hi Fordyce
Sorry for delayed response - have not had access to my records for a few days.

Re:Soldier John Brash:
Actually you've given me a really good steer.  I had been searching in the same place as you on the TNA but was using the regiment name not the Colonel so your pointer to records for Col. Hackett was really helpful!  Thank you.

Re John Brash options:
The plot thickens! 

30/1/1776 John Brash - appreciate your comments given your knowledge of that branch of the tree.  Sounds logical to me. I had not searched for Christian's DC. 

In relation to the others, I was looking for potential DC for John Brash who married Janet McKomy
not their son John. 

I needed to review my docs before responding as I was a bit confused by your comment on Agnes.  The Agnes Brash who married David Brown in 1792 I have as the da. of John Brash and Agnes Thomson.  I had only reviewed their MC for Abercorn not the one for Edinburgh - which does add the datapoint about her father being deceased and a farmer as you point out.  If I have read it correctly, the BC for John B born 1760 son of John B and Agnes Thomson suggests the father is "John Brash younger" which I took to mean his father was John Brash and he was still alive at the time of their marriage in 1758.   I have only found two options where there is a John Brash born to a John Brash in this period - son of John Brash and Christian Greenlaw or John Brash and Janet Thorntoun.  I had assumed that John B h/o Agnes Thomson was the son of John B and Christian Greenlaw as their first daughter is called Christian.  I could be getting myself tied in knots about now.

There is one other John Brash which I have not been able to trace as yet - John Brash born 1700 - son of Walter Brash and Helen Lindsay - who was alive in 1733 to erect the grave to his father?  Do you have any insights on him/his decendents? 

Hope I haven't confused things more.  Appreciate your insights - you have obviously done A LOT of research.
Cheers

Hello ThrelfallYorky
Thank you for your feedback.  Very kind of you to take the time to comment.  I'm really enjoying the researching process - and learning a lot along the way.

Can I ask if you are researching Brashes from the same time period/location - ie 1700's/Lothians?  If there's any information I have that might help you I am happy to share.

Kind regards

Hi Fordyce
Thanks again for the detailed reply.  Responses below:

Was John Brash discharged when he married?
RESPONSE: The record for his marriage to Janet McKomy shows him as a soldier at the time of his marriage in 1753.  When their two sons are born in 1767 and 1769 he is no longer a soldier but in Royston Mains Cramond - no specific occupation noted.  I have not found a candidate record on FindMyPast or Ancestry.  The search of TNA suggests that there might be a muster roll for the regiment he was in but these records can only be viewed on site.

<<There is also an Elizabeth born around 1803 Abercorn who marries James Marshall 29/5/1827>>
This is Bathia Brash, I am sure.
RESPONSE - Ah, right - I had thought Bathia was a separate child - your logic sounds correct.

Did you know that Mary Brash d/o John Brash & Christina Clark had a paternity battle in 1843with a
Hugh Fleming before marrying her cousin John Marshall s/o Elisabeth Brash & James Marshall?
RESPONSE - Yes - it was trying to reconcile census entries that led me to that data.

Isobel and Elizabeth are frequently reckoned to be synonymous, so I think this justifies the mother being Betty Brown.
RESPONSE - Ah, I had not heard that - but I can see it could be a variant.

There isn't any birth record for Archibald but that might be because all the other children's births weren't recorded until after Mary Wallace's death and possibly somewhat later - they are in a Register of Copy Certificates in the OPR so out of their natural placement.
RESPONSE - Thanks for clarifying the meaning of Register of Copy Certificate.

<<The Death record of Agnes ... says her father John was a quarryman....>>
Not surprisingly, my information on these family groups is incomplete, so it's new news to me that John Brash is recorded as a quarryman. Given that 'dairyman' was recorded first in time, could that have been subsequently misunderstood by later informants as 'quarryman'? No, I don't so either, but he was definitely a farmer in 1841. Also, I found a home for that 5 year old William Leitch: Janet Brash was either married to or had children by a Leitch - she was visiting her son John Leitch in 1861.
RESPONSE: My records show that Janet (D/o John and Betty Brown) married John James Leitch (quarryman) 18/5/1821 - He was from Linlithgow and she was from Dalmeny.  From the OPR's they had three children - the eldest (John) who was born 26/5/1821 in Abercorn although the surname shows as Leich.  I have not researched that line any further at this point. 
On the references to Quarryman/Dairyman - The children of John B and Mary Wallace - Agnes died Dalmeny 12/9/1870 - widow of William Finlayson and her DC says her father John Brash was a quarryman.  Their other two surviving children died before 1855 so their DC's don't reference parents.  The children of John B and Betty Brown - Janet died 28/7/1865 Widow of John  Leitch and the DC says her father John was a quarryman.    Elizabeth/Bathia as discussed - I think her DC shows her father as a quarryman.  It was the DC of Jane/Jean which seemed to suggest Dairyman which threw me.  But I think we can safely assume we are talking about the same John given confirmation of parents names.

<<There is a grave in Abercorn erected.....>>
Yes, it's the best indicator of his parentage, and must mean he was around in 1841 which record at Milton Dalmey tallies - apart from him being a farmer - however there's no reason a retired quarryman wouldn't turn his hand at a spot of cultivation or dairying and call himself a farmer.
COMMENT: Agree.  At 70 years old, I doubt quarrying would be a viable occupation.

COMMENT: