WILSON family Dundee

[elsie ellen]

Hello Rootschatters!  

I'm stumped!

I have been trying to trace the family of my gr gr gr grandfather, David Mcrae WILSON, who emigrated to Australia in 1852. He had 13 siblings!
James b 1830
David Mcrea  b 1832 (my gr gr gr Grandfather)
Margaret Crighton b 1836
William b 1837
Mary b 1838
Ann Shaw b 1840
Catharine Smith b 1842
John b 1844
Oliver b 1845
Helen b 1846
Jane b 1847
Ann b 1848
Jessie b 1849

Their parents were Margaret OLIVER and James WILSON. All were born in Dundee according to the IGI.

What happened to these brothers and sisters? I have been trying to find them on the censuses but so far no luck. I would appreciate some help to try to track at least some of them.

From a drought and bushfire stricken land downunder...

Cheers

Elsie Ellen

[short_rach]

Think I've got them in 1841 in Dundee -  parish number 282, ED 21, pg 3

James Wilson, age 35, rag merchant
Margaret Wilson, age 30
James Wilson, age 10
David Wilson, age 8
Margaret Wilson, age 5
Mary Wilson, age 3
Ann Wilson, age 1

plus Catherine Thompson, age 14.

No William 

[JustJean]

Yup I think that's them too.  But darned if they appear in 1851....nary a single one.....and I've tried to be pretty inventive with the spelling/possible indexing snafu etc etc.  The last record I've found for certain is the death of mum Margaret iin Dundee in 1856...and James her husband was informant.  No sign of James in Dundee in 1861.  No sign of any of them in 1881...no sign of any deaths of children 1855 - 1861.  I even looked for a remarriage for James between 1856 and 1861......and nothing.  Could the whole family have emigrated downunder???

Best wishes
Jean

[short_rach]

They've certainly vanished. Or been abducted by aliens with some of my elusive lot...

 

Just wanted you to know I haven't given up. Yet!

[short_rach]

1861 - maybe! All born DUNDEE.

Reg dist Monifieth, Angus.

Margaret C Wilson, age 25, house proprietor
Mary Colvile Wilson, age 22,     ditto
Kate Smith Wilson, age 18,        ditto
John Wilson, age 17, writers apprentice
Ellen Wilson, age 14, scholar (unable to see image, could be Helen?)
Jane Wilson, age 13, scholar
Ann Wilson, age 12, scholar

plus Betsy Fraser, age 26, domestic servant.

 

[elsie ellen]

What a beautiful morning!!

To wake up and see that you have found my Wilson family on the 1841 and 1861 censuses...fantastic!!! Thank you both so much.

Do you happen to have the folio details and address for the census entries please? Wonder what happened to them in 1851?

From what you have found it would appear that the younger children were being raised by the older sisters in 1861. Elder brother James...wonder where he was? I might try the immigration indexes as maybe he emigrated with David. 

Fingers crossed some of the family might appear again on the 1871 census at the same address..

Cheers

Elsie

[short_rach]

My apologies EE, I got so excited I'd found them on the '61 I completely forgot the other vital info for you...

The address just says 5 LINKS... 

Roll - CSSCT1861_44, ED 5, pg 16.

Still can't find any trace of James on the '61 or any of them on the '51 which is weird 'cause they must have been there somewhere LOL

 

[MonicaL]

Hi Elsie Ellen

Not sure if you have come across this site that someone else posted recently: www.fdca.org.uk/howff.htm. It includes a section on deaths in Dundee (many pre 1855). I can see a number of likely early deaths for James and Margaret's children, going by James's occupation in the 1841 Census:

Jessie Wilson, died 27 Aug 1850 from Measles, age 10 mnth, b. Dundee, dau of James Wilson, Stoneware Merchant, address School Wynd. Birth: 18 OCT 1849

William Wilson, died 22 Nov 1837 from Convulsions, age 3 mths, b. Dundee, son of James Wilson, China Merchant, Cemetary Old Howff. Birth: 05 SEP 1837

Olivia Wilson (I wonder if this should be Oliver), died 18 Oct 1845 from Heart Cramp, age 4 mnth, b. Dundee, dau of James Wilson, Stoneware Merchant, address School Road. Birth: 14 JUN 1845

Ann Wilson, died 9 Apr 1843 from Chincough, age 2yr 6 mnth, b. Dundee, dau of James Wilson, Stone Ware Merchant. Birth: 16 SEP 1840

Helen Wilson, (first born Helen), died 13 Mar 1837 from Measles, age 3 yrs, b. Dundee, dau of James Wilson, China Merchant. Birth: 22 APR 1834

I know it was a sign of the times, but so sad when you see them all listed together.

Birth details I've added from the IGI entries, all actual extracts from the OPRs, for James and Margaret's children.

Regards.

Monica 

[MonicaL]

Likely entry for James's death on SP:

1858   WILSON   JAMES   age 55    @ DUNDEE SECOND DISTRICT   DUNDEE CITY/ANGUS   GROS Ref: 282/02 0580

He shows as merchant, widower (no wife's name) which would fit both occupation and the fact that Margaret died in 1856. Unfortunately, his parents's names are not known. Son John reported death.

With both parents' deaths in the late 1850s, would explain the household in the 1861 Census as posted by short_rach. Pity the 1851 Census entry is not to be found.

Regards.

Monica