Hi there,
I've hit a bit of a brick wall tracing the parents of my GGG grandfather James Wilson.
Census records suggest he was born between 1811-1815, and all of them list Sprouston as the place of birth. Based on the names of his children (if they follow traditional patterns) it's possible his parents were Robert and Margaret.
I've found a James Wilson born to Janet Curry and Mark Wilson in Sprouston in 1810, but barring any other evidence to suggest this is him the link is tenuous, and the names certainly don't tally.
James went on to marry Isabella Turnbull, and is listed on census records primarily as an AgLab, though early in his life (1841 census) he was listed as a labourer. His children's names in order are: Eleanor (the name of Isabella's mother); Robert, Margaret, MaryAnn (the name of Isabella's unmarried sister); William (the name of Isabella's father); Isabel.
The family lived predominantly in the Roxburghshire area, it appears (Kelso, then Linton, then Morebattle) before moving in later years to Cornhill in Northumberland (most likely in connection with one of their children.)
I can't for the life of me find any records for him other than censuses - no birth, no death or burial (though I suspect he died between 1881-1891), nor any marriage record (there appears to be an incorrectly indexed marriage between James Wilson and Isabella Turnbull in 1836 in Kelso, but no corresponding document on Scotland's People. I've contacted them and they have no record of it either.)
Any advice or help much appreciated.
Cheers,
Jenni