James HENDERSON of Johnshaven - first wife?

[angus75]

In researching my great great great grandfather, James Henderson (b 08-05-1817 Johnshaven, d 1902 Grangemouth), I have come across the record  (on ScotlandsPeople) of his marriage to Isabella Todd Wood (b 1838 Stonehaven, d 1919 Grangemouth). They married on 22 June 1858. On the record, it is noted that he was a widower, but I can't find any record of his first wife.

I've tried the usual places (Ancestry, Findmypast etc) and my best guess is that it may be Agnes Coutts who married a James Henderson on 16 Oct 1836 in Feteresso - but this is just a guess, as I can't be sure that it's the right James Henderson.

For him to be a widower, there would have to be a record of her death somewhere, but no luck there either.

Any suggestions?

many thanks

Angus

[MonicaL]

Hi Angus

Many of the events you mention look to have ocurred before the start of official registration in Scotland from 1855. Only about a third of BMDs were recorded overall in the Old Parish Registers for all sorts of reasons.

Very often first spouses were included on Scottish death certs post 1855. Guess not in this case as you mention specific details on his death. Who were his parents and what was his occupation?

Monica 

[MonicaL]

From the specific birth date you mention, this is his birth and parents? https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYFY-V62

Family search also show at least 3 sons born just the marriage of a James Henderson and an Agnes Coutts:

William 1836 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XBHQ-PN5 ...a month after their marriage.
Matthew 1837 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XBHQ-8LG
John 1839 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XBHQ-VYM

Think we need to work off fact for now, with confirmation of James' parents' names from his second marriage in 1858, his death in 1902, and possible census entries. There may be children showing in censuses with him from his first marriage that might give you further clues...

Monica

[MonicaL]

Angus, an online tree here http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Henderson-6322 gives the name of his first wife as possibly Ann Welsh?

Fitting this profile, could be this 1851 census entry:

Ann Henderson 25 Seamans Wife b. Benholm, Kincardine
Robert Henderson 3 b. Benholm, Kincardine
James Henderson 1 b. Dunnottar, Kincardine

Address: High Street, Stonehaven (Old), Kincardineshire

Monica

[MonicaL]

From that 1851 census entry above, maybe that is the link to James' first wife being Ann Welsh. There is this entry on the transcripts for 1861:

Isabella Henderson 25 Ship Master's Wife b. Stonehaven, kincardineshire
Robert Henderson 13 son b. Johnshaven, kincardineshire ...? https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYFY-YFX
Jane Henderson 1 daughter b. Stonehaven, kincardineshire ....? https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYR8-PGQ
Address: Forbes' Property, Stonehaven, Dunnottar

Monica

[angus75]

Wow!! Thank you so much for the brilliant detective work, Monica! I think you've cracked it!

many thanks

Angus