Plea for help with McDivitt Family Glasgow

[Hootsman]

Hi All,

I have been trying to find any information on a John McDivitt (or McDivit) married to Mary Clyde.  I do not have a DOB for either of them and I cannot find their marriage on SP.  I cannot find any census information with a known child Alexander born Glasgow 1843 and have basically hit a STEEL WALL.  Their son is Alexander McDivit born 4th Sept 1843 married to Margaret Cochran born about 1846 - Alexander and Margaret were married 4th Sept 1863 in Bridgeton, Glasgow.  I have found only the 1861 Census for Alexander and the 1881 census for his wife Margaret (Alexander must have died before 1881).  I would appreciate any help with John McDivitt and his wife Mary Clyde.

Ta - John

[Ruskie]

Could be that there's mistranscription of that tricky surname  ... or maybe they're from Ireland. 

I'll have a look for them in the censuses.

[Ruskie]

There are quite a few McD*v*ts on the 1841, but not many suitable Johns with a suitable Mary. Do you know if Alexander had any siblings?

[Ruskie]

I can't see a family, parents John and Mary and son Alexander on the 1851. Of course one or both parents may have died ....

In fact I can't find any mcd*v*t on the 1851 with dob 1843 +/- 5 years with no parents and no place of birth! 

[Hootsman]

Hi Ruskie,

Thanks for you help.  I was not able to find any information on siblings of Alexander.  It is a tricky one and I, like you thought that John might have been from Ireland, but I thought since Alexander was born in Glasgow, they might at least have been married in Glasgow, but no info there either.  Alexander and his wife could not write their names in the marrage register and made their mark instead.  If the father, John and his wife Mary were also illiterate and the children were too young to fill in a census form, perhaps they did not complete the 1841 and 51 census.  I think it is a dead loss and I was just hoping that a fresh mind may have been able to crack it.  Thanks for trying Ruskie - much obliged for your time.

Kind Regards,

John

[MonicaL]

Hi John and Ruskie 

No deaths showing for mother Mary under the two surnames you have post 1855...always makes it harder 

There is one family showing in Clarkston in 1841, no idea if it is the right one! Everyone showing as born in Ireland:

John McDivet 40, lab.
Mary McDivet 35
Mary McDivet 15
Ann McDivet 13
John McDivet 8
Elloner McDivet 6
Jane McDivet 3

Address: Whiterigg, Clarkston

Monica

[MonicaL]

Here's a thought for you John  - an interesting entry in 1851. What if parents John McD and Mary Clyde didn't marry?:

Robert McLintock 25, sawyer, b. Stanley, Perthshire
Jane McLintock 25, b. Musselburgh, Midlothian
Andrew McLintock 1, b. glasgow
Francis McDevitt 36, father (?), Fruit Merchant, CO Tyrone Strabane, Ireland
Francis McDevitt 20, wife, b. CO Antrim Belfast, Ireland
Mary McDevitt 12, b. Glasgow
Ellen McDevitt 8, b. Glasgow
Joseph McDevitt 14, nephew, b. CO Dublin Dublin, Ireland
Alex Clyde 10, orphan b. Glasgow

Address: 105 High St Glasgow St Paul

Not sure if the above entry is two households from the way it has been transcribed?

Monica

[Hootsman]

Hi Monica,

MMMMM.......Interesting!!! Tell you why.  Alexander his wife Margaret marriage registration records John and Mary's son Alexander as being employed as a Fruiter and I notice that Francis McDevitt (1851 Census) is a Fruit Merchant.  The estimated year of birth given is pretty close also for Alexander.  I have to get my head round this now and change my tack.  This looks promising Monica and would explain why I have not been able to find any information on Alexander when he was a lad.  Perhaps he started using his natural father's name when he was old enough to be told or understand the situation.

Thanks a Million.

John

[MonicaL]

There is also a very faint possibility of a census entry for 1871...faint because the transcript is missing data. I searched for sons Thomas and Alexander who show in 1881 with mother Margaret. The only entry without a surname (too faint to read I would imagine) was this one:

xxxx, 30
Margaret, 26
Thomas, 6 b. Glasgow
xxxx, 4
Williams, 4, b. Glasgow
xxxx, 3 months

Address:153 Broom Court Street, Glasgow Calton (Reg. district Bridgeton)

Thomas and Alexander's births show in Bridgeton.

Monica