RootsChat.Com

I'm looking for the birth of Alexander Davidson (one of many). His death certificate records his parents as Alexander Davidson shoemaker and Isabella Nicol and his age as 55 at his death on 29/10/1868. That would put his birth as 1813 or late 1812.

Census data show:
Year         Place                                   Age   Year of birth   Birthplace
1841    Memsie, Rathen                        25    1805 -1813     Aberdeenshire
1851    Cairns of Memsie                     38    1812 -1813     Fraserburgh
1861    Blacksmith's Shop, Memsie     48    1812 -1813     Fraserburgh

   
He was working as a blacksmith and living with wife Elizabeth Findlater and children and I have found the marriage and births in Scotland's People. The marriage certificate does not record any names other then those of the couple. Alexander is recorded as of Rathen  which is probably, but not necessarily, his birthplace and could well appear as Fraserburgh in censuses.

Problem is I can find no birth of A(lexander) Davidson born in 1812 or 1813 to parents A* anywhere in Scotland who would fit. By fit, I mean that of 8 Alexander Davidsons born in 1812-3, none has a father A(lexander) and mother Isabel(la)Nicol in any spelling.

I searched for a marriage record in Scotland for A* Davidson and Is* between 1780 and 1815 and found no matches near or far.

If mother was 17 in 1812-3 then she was born in 1795-6
If she was 47 in 1812-13 then she was born 1765-6
So marriage date is 1782 - 1814

Plausible birth Isobel Nicol 1780 in Pitsligo which is the best geographical match and would put her at 32/3 for the birth of Alexander BUT there is no sign of a marriage and no indication of an Isobel Nicol in any spelling giving birth. The records for that period show the mother's unmarried name if it is shown at all.
What am I missing?

Searched censuses for Alexander Davidson, shoemaker and found one family in 1841 in Lands of Phingask, Fraserburgh: Alexander 55, Margaret 60, Margaret 60, Margaret 20, Alexander 15 all born in Aberdeenshire.
In 1851 they were at Greenbank, Fraserburgh: Alexr 69 born Fraserburgh, Margret wife 70 born Elgin, Margret  dau 33 born Fraserburgh, Alexr nephew 6.
By 1861 there's no sign of the parents and a potential match for daughter Margaret as house servant in Peterhead.
No sign of deaths in1851-61 window
Occupation fits but not wife's name

Searched censuses for Alexander Davidson (no occupation) living with Isabella and found in 1841 at Stirling Hill, Peterhead: Alexander mason 48, Isabella 45, James 15, Isabella 7, George 5 all born in Aberdeenshire.
In 1851 they were still at the same address; Alexr 61 mason born Lonmay, Isabella, 54 wife, Isabella dau, 17 both born Peterhead
(Seems odd that Alexander's age in 1841 was not multiple of 5 and if the ages in 1851 were correct, then they should have been shown as 50 and 40 in 1841- strange.)
Wife's name fits but not occupation

Found an Isabella Nicol unmarried in 1851 aged 64 living in Pitblea, Fraserburgh with her unmarried sister Ann and niece and nephew.
Were Alexander Davidson and Isabella Nicol ever married?
Could be that they were unmarried parents of Alexander Davidson the blacksmith and Alexander Davidson the shoemaker then went on to marry Margaret.
No sign of a marriage of AD and Margaret around 1812 or even before.
Even if they were not married, Alexander's birth should be recorded in 1812-13.

Am still no nearer finding a line back from blacksmith Alexander Davidson 1812/3 who was my great-great grandfather.

Can anyone shed any light, please?