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David Muirhead with his 2nd wife Marion Fisher left Scotland in 1883 for the US and settled in Danville, Illinois.

No wonder I couldn't find him! Perhaps you knew his parents names? I may be able to find them, if it's important to you?

It is an absolute disgrace that the National Records of Scotland has never updated its index of Old Parochial Records. A survey made in the late 19th century is still being used as an indication of what parochial records have survived.

Way back in 2002 I was in a position to be able to access the micro-film of the OPR's of all Lanarkshire parishes. I spent countless hours in front of a film reader and checked every parish. Actually looking at the entries and taking copious notes.

This is what I have for the period you are interested in. Lesmahagow has the parish number 649.

649/4 (i.e. book 4)
Baptisms 1820 - 1854. The first 10 years of these records are only just readable. Quite good from 1830 - 1854.

649/5 Marriages 1820 - 1854. Very badly written and extremely difficult to read.
649/5 Deaths 1820 - 1844. Very poor handwriting, difficult to read.

Register of Neglected Entries (Births I presume) has 6 entries.

I realise that these are not Session records but, if someone was hauled before the Session regarding illegitimate births, the children would have been baptised and a record of the baptism kept in the Baptism Book.

Well spotted Ard!

I re-checked the transcripts I have and it is definitely Elizabeth T.
I wasn't involved in the transcribing of these particular records and this may either be a mistake on the transcriber's part or in the original record-keeper's. I've come across various mistakes over the years in these transcriptions and, to be honest, I think most of them were the fault of the original cemetery staff.

I hope Teya can perhaps shed some light?

Yes, you're exactly right, weaving, as a cottage industry, had almost died out by the middle of the 19th century. There were a few exceptions, weavers of silk still plied their trade on hand-looms but, as far as I know, most of the silk weavers were in Hamilton, a few miles away from Wishaw. Power loom mills took over, the most famous one in this area was the mill at New Lanark, a mile outside the town of Lanark. Coal and ironstone mining was being introduced at the same time as the weaving trade was coming to an end, it must have been a real blow and a culture shock for the poor men who had to leave their looms to go down into the mines.

And yes once again, the Rev Brown would, as you say, have been closely involved with your family during his 30-year ministry at the Relief Church. The church was founded about 1822, before that date, the only church in the area was the parish church of Cambusnethan.

More extracts from the Wishawtown Relief Congregation baptism book.
(Remember, it only begins at 1833).

JAMES, 4th child of John Douglas, weaver and Elizabeth Young, Low Wishaw.
Born 5th and baptised 26th May 1833 by Rev Peter Brown.

HELEN, 5th child of John Douglas, weaver and Elizabeth young, Low Wishaw.
Born 13th and baptised 26th July 1835 by Rev Peter Brown.

JOHN, 2nd child of William Hamilton, miner and Elizabeth Douglas, Marshall's Row.
Born 13th October and Baptised 4th November 1849 by Rev. P. Brown.

ISABELLA TELFORD, 3rd child of William Hamilton, miner and Elizabeth Douglas, Kirk Road.
Born 27th July and baptised 22nd August 1852, by Rev. P. Brown.

JANET DOUGLAS, 5th child of William Hamilton, cloth merchant and Elizabeth Douglas, Kirk Road.
Born 18th December 1857 and baptised by Rev. Peter Brown 7th February 1858.


ELIZABETH YOUNG, 1st child of Thomas Sommerville, carter and Elizabeth Douglas, distillery.
Born 22nd December 1853 and baptised by Rev P. Brown 15th January 1854.

JAMES, 2nd child of Thomas Sommerville, carter and Elizabeth Douglas, Low Wishaw.
Born 16th and baptised 30th March 1856 by Rev. Peter Brown.

JOHN DOUGLAS, 3rd child of Thomas Sommerville, carter and Elizabeth Douglas, 194 Main Street.
Born 8th September and baptised 3rd October 1858 by Rev P. Brown.


AGNES TENNANT, 5th child of Robert Douglas, clerk and Jane Dougal, 141 Main Street.
Born 19th May and baptised by Rev. Peter Brown 1st July 1860.

JANET MUIRHEAD, (6th?) child of Robert Douglas, clerk and Jane Dougal, 141 Main Street.
Born 23rd June and baptised 6th July 1862 by Rev. P. Brown.

ELISA JANE, (7th?) child of Robert Douglas, clerk and Jean Dougal, 141 Main Street.
Born 4th (December?) 1863 and baptised by Rev. James Scott 3rd January 1864.