Hi Stoop and csc,
As to James D and Martha K, I have James b 3 Nov 1809, marrying in Jun 1842. Martha born c 1820 d 30 May 1851. I believe James died 21 Sep 1854 in New York. Their son James b. 27 May 1845, d. 4 Jan 1846. They also had as you've noted Thomas, Robert and Mary b 1849. James Sr was born to James Dickson (1769 or 1771 - 1843) and Mary Gracie (1772-1829), she was born in New Abbey and this where they married. They had 12 children, I have wondered about this family as the childrens names are so close to my own Dickson line. It is possible that James (1769 or 1771) was the first son of my 4G Grandfather Richard as I have a five year gap bet. his marriage to Elspet Dickson in 1768 and the birth of the first recorded child in 1773, its possible James (1769) was born elsewhere other than Mouswald as his poss. parents married in Caerlaverock.
As to William Kerr and Mary Dickson, I don't have anything on them at all sorry. May have to dig deeper.
Sorry csc, was not aware that we had corresponded before, my bad. Yes I am the culprit re the MI booklets. I haven't seen them so didn't know my name was emblazoned in them. Having now checked the soft copy I have of them MIs, I found the two were refer. I think as you said with hindsight that the Hutchison name is not connected to the Swan family but to Thomas Kerr and Mary Hutchison which keeps it all in the parish.
I have another Dickson/Kerr family...James D and Mary Kerr or Margaret Ker. Nine children between 1800-1821, all born in Mouswald:
Thomas 1800, Robert Grierson (1802), James (1805), Janet (1808), William (1810), John (1813), Jean (1816-1888, married John Boyes), Elizabeth (1816), Charles (1821).
I'll turn this into a Dickson discussion yet...lol
Mick