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John SOUTER (note spelling) and Ann Crichton were the parents of Jane (later called Jean on the 1841 Census). On the 1841 Census, John is living at Drums with daughters Ann, May (Marjory), Jean (Jane) & sons William, George, Alexander & Andrew. Their son Charles, born 1830, is not listed with them although there is a Charles the right age on the St Cyrus Parish Census. He certainly hadn’t died as he made his way somehow (I’m still trying to trace his arrival) to Australia in the 1850’s, where he set up as a blacksmith in Eltham, just outside Melbourne. He was my great-great grandfather. He married and had seven children, only two of whom survived to adulthood, one my great-grandmother Eba Jean.

In the 1851 Census, John is at Drums with children Ann, James, Charles, Alexander & Andrew. No wife Ann is listed on either Census and I can’t find any of them at Drums in the 1861 Census. Where did you find that, IsobelW? I also can’t find a death that tallies with our Ann Crichton/Souter. Anyone have any clues?