Dalkeith shop owner - James Hall 1840

[ksm]

Hi,

I've drawn a blank on my GGGGGF.

Name James Hall.

I know he was a grocer/provisions merchant living in Dalkeith. He has a daughter Mary Hall with spouse Janet "Jessie" Sanderson in 1840 but by the  1841 census he has disappeared.

The 1841 census describes Janet  as a Grocer and Publican and living in High Street West, Dalkeith.

Does anyone have access to information regarding shops/pubs on High Street West and their proprietors? Perhaps there will be some clue there. Alternatively - are there any burial inscriptions around 1840/1 for a James Hall in Dalkeith?

The couple were married on the 21st August 1835 in Dalkeith and Janet was born in 1805.

Any other ideas on how to pursue this are much appreciated.

[Elaine48]

Hi,

I looked in the 1851 census for your James and found this:
Charles Court, Dalkeith,

Hall, Jesse, f, HD, W, 45 housekeeper, b. Innerleithen, Peebles,

Hall, Margaret, da, U, 13, scholar, b. Dalkeith
Hall, Susan, da, 11, U, Scholar,  b. Dalkeith
Hall, Mary, da, 10, U, scholar, b. Dalkeith

As Mary is 10 in 1851 and James is not on the 1841 census I think it's safe to say he died either just before or just after she was born.

Loanhead family history center has monumental inscription records for Dalkeith.

Elaine

[ksm]

Thank you very much Elaine - that is very kind of you. I didn't have access to the 1851 census so it's really useful to me to have this information. The family you found is indeed the right one.

Many thanks once again.
Keith

[Elaine48]

You're welcome! If you need anything else looking up on that census let me know.


Elaine

[ksm]

Hi Elaine,

Thank you for your kind offer. There is one more request which I'd like to ask for your help with.

Would you be able to look up a 'Donald Vass' from the 1851 Dalkeith Census. You will almost certainly find him living in Back Street. I'm particularly interested in his wife Ann Vass. She is there in the 1841 census after they moved to Dalkeith from Colonsay but by the time her son (James Donald Vass) married Margaret Hall in 1859 she had passed away. For good measure the 1861 census only mentions Donald.

I'd like to be able to home in a little more on the date of her death.

I know Ann's maiden name is Watson and I think she is probably the child of John Watson and Ann Cock which would put her birth in 1801 (although the 1841 census puts her birth at 1806).  Any Vass you find in Dalkeith will almost certainly be her children.

Thank you vey much for any help you can offer.
Regards
Keith

[Elaine48]

Here we go:

Vass, Donald, m, HD, M, 50 Gardener, Master, Born: ROC Edderton Address: Back St, Dalkeith

Vass, Ann, f, WI, M, 48, Gardener's wife Born: MLN Dalkeith

Vass, Jane, f, DA, U, 19, Born: ARL,
Colonsay

Vass, James, m, SO, U, 17 Gardener's assistant Born: ARL, Colonsay

Vass, John, m, SO, U, 13, scholar
Born: ARL, Colonsay

Vass, David, m, SO, U, 9, scholar, Born: MLN, Dalkeith

Above these is another Vass and as this is the only Vass family I am guessing she is their daughter:

Vass, Helen, f, SV, U, 16, Housemaid
Born" MLN Dalkeith, Address:
High St, Dalkeith Head of Household:
SIMPSON

Ann was definitely alive in 1851 which means she died between then and 1858.
Hope this helps,
Elaine

[ksm]

You're extremely kind again Elaine. Thank you very much for your help. Great to know that she was born in Dalkeith as I suspected (and very interesting place of birth for her husband too!).

Kind Regards
Keith