It is the same family and, yes, it is confusing. Richard Bruce at that time was a soldier in the 11th regiment and the family moved around England and Ireland recruiting for the regiment. The occupation being given as shoemaker is possibly because soldiers in British regiments were expected to have a trade as well to enable as much self-sufficiency as possible for the regiment. Researchers of this family here have had to assume some shortcuts and errors on the part of the census takers. For instance, Ruth and Maria were not the same age. 'Born in Ireland' does apply to the children listed in this census and probably his wife, Maria, as well The eldest child, Margaret, appears to have been left behind - we have always thought in Ireland - but we are now having second thoughts. I have been in contact with descendants of Margaret in Derryaghy in Ireland which is where the first three children in Richard's family were baptized.
Richard's Scottish origins are referred to in a number of newspaper accounts. Our quest has been ongoing for many years to locate his birth, marriage and parentage. This connection in Barrhead is the most promising lead we have ever had. It may be a red herring, but there are commonalities in family names and geography which cannot be overlooked. There may be an indirect connection.
The family, including two later children but without Margaret, embarked for the colony of New South Wales with the 11th regiment in 1845. Richard served as a convict guard on Norfolk Island during that most notorious time in the mid 1840s. He was discharged in 1848 and settled in South Australia. He died in 1854. His relatively early death and the paucity of South Australian records has made research difficult.
Maria does remarry John Abraham/s. Death certificates are only as good as the informant's knowledge and that informant probably was unaware of Margaret's existence. Ruth had married and settled in Sydney (a great distance away in that era) at the time of her father's discharge from the regiment and John Abraham/s may not have been aware of her. Either that or regarded their existence as unimportant.
Very happy to answer questions. J
