McPherson-Wallace marriage

[susan Peat]

I have been unable to locate a marriage registration for James McPherson and Agnes Wallace.  According to 3 of their children's birth certificates it could be 7 Oct 1841 Paisley, 7 Oct 1845 Paisley or 1842 Glasgow.  They also lied on all census records I have found, saying they were born in Ayr, Isley, Renfrew or Ireland.  Arrrrg!  Any help would be much appreciated.

Susan

[trish251]

Hi Susan

Where were the children born? Australia and 1855 Scotland are the only places I have seen with birth certificates giving when/where of parents marriage. If it is Australia have you found their immigration? or am I on the completely wrong track. Which census records are they on?

Trish

[susan Peat]

Hi Trish,
Thanks for the reply.  All children were born in Scotland.
Susan

[JAP]

Hello Susan,

You won't find a "marriage registration" because civil registration didn't begin in Scotland until 1855 unfortunately.

Perhaps you could give us some more details of all the information which you actually have - censuses, certificates, etc.

Lots of RootsChatters are brilliant at searching out further info!!

All the very best,

JAP

[trish251]

Hi Susan

I just checked the Scotland records & note that civil births from 1861 also include parents marriage date - my knowledge is not so on the ball, my apologies. I would vote for them being Irish.  Tis my Irish ancestors who wrote something different on every official form they completed   

But I should have checked the IGI. I see there are children listed
1849 1855 1860 1861 and 1867 - Renfrew, Lanark and Dunbarton  - are there other children? If not, the 1841 marriage seems very early.

I haven't had a look on SP, but don't see anything possible on the IGI. The 1849 baptism was in Abbey Paisley, if the first child, I guess that is possible. Could they have married in Ireland? or had an irregular marriage?  Do the children's names help with parent names - I do understand the frustration!

Trish

[MonicaL]

Trish, you said the magic words...an 1855 birth cert!

Susan, it would be worthwhile you also looking at the 1855 birth cert if  you haven't already. The first year of official reg. in Scotland and register entries ran over two pages with a wealth of additional info. It should show parents' ages, where they were from, place/date of marriage. It should also include how many children they had (alive/deceased) which would let you fill out some blanks.

They may have been a bit more truthful for this registration  If they were from Ireland as they show in 1851, you may also find out where in Ireland they were from as this info would be included.

In 1851, they show as having 3 children: John 9, Susan 6, James 1. So a 1841/2 marriage seems likely.

Did James and Agnes die in Scotland? If so, their death certs. will include their parents' names, which if born in Scotland rather than Ireland, may let you confirm their families and places of birth.

Monica 

[trish251]

Hi Monica

I do agree the additional information from the 1855 certificate may help to find where they came from. I suggested Ireland purely because of my own problems with finding my Irish roots & it may well be the family is Scottish. Is it possible they married outside the Church of Scotland? That may be another reason for difficulty finding a marriage.

Trish

[susan Peat]

Hi everyone, your input to date has been much appreciated.  I have been tracing my family history for a few years now and have put these McPherson's on the back burner but now is the time to 'get on with it'. 

1855 birth certificate for Elizabeth shows James/brickburner journeyman/32 years/Bowmore Islay
Agnes maiden name Wallace 5th child 30 years/Bowmore Islay
Marriage 1842 Glasgow/3 boys 1 girl living

1861 birth certificate for Thomas states that marriage date for James and Agnes was Oct 7th Paisley.

1867 birth certificate for Robert states marriage as Oct 7th 1845 Paisley

1851 census 19 Wall St Paisley James 28 Labourer born Ireland
Agnes 27 born Ireland
John 9 born Paisley Renfrew
Susan 6 born Paisley
James 1 born Paisley

Can't locate them in 1861

1871 census 4 Bridge St Maryhill Glasgow
James 47 brickburner born Renfrew
Agnes 45 born Renfrew
James 19 ironstone miner born Renfrew
William 17 ironstone miner born Renfrew
Elizabeth 15 papermill worker born Jordanhill
Ann 13 papermill worker born Jordanhill
Thomas 8 born Dunbarton
Robert 3 born Dunbarton

1881 census Carmyle, Kerimuir we have James 55 a coal weigher born Maybole Ayr
Agnes 53 born Renfrew
Thomas 17 born Netherton Dunbarton
Robert 13 born Dunbarton

1891 census 21 Argyle Street, Maryhill has James 68 a clerk born Ireland
Agnes 66 born Ireland
William 39 born Paisley

Agnes died 31 May 1903 in Maryhill, aged 64? son Thomas was the informant and states that her parents were Gavin Wallace a farmer deceased and Agnes Muir deceased.

James died 29 June 1891 in Maryhill aged 58? John H McPherson brother was the informant who states that John McPherson a clerk deceased and Agnes Lowrie deceased were the names of his parents.

My great grand father was James born 1849 and he was just as bad, never at home on census nights and apparently abandoned his family to go, who knows where.  I just love my McPhersons.

Thanks for any suggestions that might pin this lot down.

Susan

[MonicaL]

This looks like them in 1861:

James McPherson 40, Buckburner, b. Ireland
Agnes McPherson 38, b. Ireland
John McPherson 18, b. Paisley
James McPherson 11, b. Paisley
William McPherson 9, b. Paisley
Eliza McPherson 6, b. Paisley
Ann McPherson 4, b. Partick, Lanarksh
James McArthur 22, lodger, b.Glasgow

Address:  Garscube Colliery, New Kilpatrick, dumbartonshire

Monica