I'm probably just following in your footsteps here Hazelnuts!
I've gone through all the batch codes for 1855-75 on IGI for Renfrewshire using just the mother's surname of Gillon (and spelling variants) and nothing. I did wonder if there was a birth of a child (boy) with mother Margaret Gillon in Renfrewshire with a name other than James (sometimes people went by names other than those given at birth).
A few questions:
1.What was the order of birth of their children?
2. Have you managed to see James's second marriage cert. following the death of Helen in 1924. I can't see it on SP and wonder whether it was after 1930?
3. I wonder who the Alexander Wilson is that shows as a witness to James's wedding in 1894 along with a Sarah XX (sp?)
4. What was James's age in the 1901 census?
This is a difficult puzzle to crack.
1. I cannot see young James in the 1881 census with a Paisley birth place. I've also had a look at entries for West Lothian and again nothing there where the mother has a maiden name of Gillon (I've crossed checked with IGI to check what the mother's maiden name was where a Margaret and John/James parents showed). The closest I can see is one where the Margaret's m/name is Sharp.
2. IGI is pretty accurate for births in the period of 1855-74 and can't see any record there.
I don't have a good feel for the geography of where we think James lived. This is what I can make out:
1. His marriage cert in 1894 was in Bathgate West Lothian and his usual residence is shown as Pumpherston Mid-Calder. Parents showing as James W., a dyer, and Margaret Gillon, not showing as deceased (but who knows, this can sometimes be inaccurate)
2. He states in 1901 census in Livingston, West Lothian that he was born in Paisley
3. Helen's death was in Muiravonside Stirling in 1924
4. James's death was in Slamannan Stirling in 1955. Parents now showing as John Wilson, a wool warehouse packer, and Margaret Gillon, both deceased.
Is there any reason why your post is in the Aberdeen board that I'm not seeing?
Regards.
Monica