I've hit a brick wall with tracing birth records for an ancestor, his parents also don't appear to exist.
He was born approx 1848/9, his parents are listed on his marriage & death certs. (easily legible) He doesn't seem to have his birth registered anywhere. checking Census records, he's put his birthplace as Ross-shire, Muir of Ord, the earliest Census record (1871 Glasgow) has his birthplace as Inverness, though he was living with his father in law at the time, so I assume he got the details slightly wrong.
Looking at the 1861 Census' for Ross & Cromarty and Inverness for a 13 yr old of the same name, I did find one that I guess would seem most likely and would explain the lack of Birth records, he's listed as nephew of the head, a single woman(matching surname) in Tain, his birthplace listed as "America, Past N.K."
I've had a quick look on "ancestry.co.uk" for American births/marriages/deaths for him and his parents in USA without any promising leads. I've also checked Scotland's People for Marriage records of his parents - nothing
Any ideas of what to try next would be much appreciated, thanks