Hello everyone, after an extended break from my research, I've been revisiting some brickwalls, seeing if I can find any more clues. I'm posting here in the hope that someone may have some idea or resources that I don't, as I only have access to ScotlandsPeople and FreeCEN.
My ancestor Mary Watson was born circa 1836 to James Watson and Mary Nicol.
-In 1856 she had an illegitimate child, Robert Cameron (Watson) with James Cameron.
-In 1866 Mary Watson married a John McGregor and they had 2 children.
-I started a thread years ago looking for help finding Mary in early censuses, but nothing really definite turned up.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=285566.9Who I'm really looking to find though is Mary's parents and their family.
Here is the information I have:
-In April 1829, James Watson, Mason in the West Church Parish of Perth, married Mary Nicol in the Middle Church Parish of Perth, daughter of the deceased James Nicol, Farmer in Kinfauns (I have some information on the Nicol line, but not much on the Watsons).
-In November 1829 a daughter was born and baptized Mary Chalmers Watson.
-In December 1829 they were rebuked for antenuptial fornication before the kirk session of the West Church Parish of Perth. James Watson resided in St Leonard Street Eastside and his wife in the South side of South Street.
-In December 1847, a Mary Watson, aged 48, widow of James Watson, Mason, was buried in Greyfriars burial ground, Perth. This is possibly my Mary Nicol.
Is the Mary Chalmers Watson born 1829 the same Mary Watson who later married John McGregor? I don't know. The age doesn't quite match, but she seems to have a different age in each census, so I'm thinking it could be her.
Also, I can't find any other births to this couple other than Mary Chalmers Watson b. 1829. Did they become members of a dissenting church, or was that their only child?The only possibility for the family I can find on censuses is the following:
Piece: SCT1841/468 Place: Tillicoultry -Clackmannanshire Enumeration District: 3
Civil Parish: Tillicoultry Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: -
Folio: 3 Page: 21
Address: Tillicoultry Vill. Southfield
Surname First name(s) Sex /Age Occupation Where Born
WATSON James M 40 Mason Outside Census County (1841)
WATSON Mary F 36 Outside Census County (1841)
WATSON Robert M 12 Outside Census County (1841)
WATSON Wm M 7 Outside Census County (1841)
WATSON Mary F 15 Outside Census County (1841)
WATSON Jannet F 9 Outside Census County (1841)
WATSON Elizabeth F 2 Clackmannanshire
I think this could be the family. This James' occupation matches mine, as does is his wife's name. Also, Clackmannanshire borders on Perthshire, which could be the place of birth referenced by "Outside Census County".Here again though, Mary's ago doesn't quite match up with mine, and neither does her mother's, but maybe that's a mistake?
Either way, I would like to prove or disprove whether or not this is my family, but unfortunately I haven't been able to find anybody from this census family again. I've spent a bunch of credits on ScotlandsPeople looking at death certificates, but had no luck yet. Maybe someone can find someone on a later census? If I can get clues to help locate a marriage or death from one of the children, then I should be able to prove whether or not this is my family.While I was research James Watson and his family, I also found reference to a Margaret Watson who was also living in the Eastside of Leonard Street, Perth. I cannot prove it as of yet, but I think she is probably James Watson's sister.
-In February 1830, Margaret Watson, an unmarried woman residing in the Eastside of Leonard Street, brought forth a female child in fornication 15 weeks ago and was rebuked before the kirk session of the West Church Parish of Perth. She accused John Milligan, an unmarried man, of being the father.
-In June 1830, before the Kirk Session of the West Church Parish of Perth, Margaret Watson produced an acknowledgement from John Milligan, dated Paisley the twenty second day of March 1830, of his being the father of her child.
-In June 1831, Margaret Watson in the Low Church Parish of Paisley, married John Milligan (spelt Millikin) in the High Church Parish of Paisley.
Unfortunately I cannot find the birth of the daughter born 1829/1830, or of any children to the couple. Neither can I find the family in any census or later record. I hope I can find out more about this family to prove or disprove a link to mine.I feel like I've research this family quite thoroughly, but maybe I'm missing something, and I hope another pair of eyes can turn up another clue!
Thanks everyone!