I am new member to this forum and this is my first post.
I am trying to locate anyone who might know of the family in the photograph. They are John Dickson of Kirkpatrick Durham and his wife, Elizabeth (Scott) and their daughter, Elizabeth Scott Dickson.
My grandmother's mother was Ellen/Helen Dickson, listed in 1841 Census in Springholm as Helen Dickson. Sometime after the census was taken, she and her parents (Joseph Dickson & Margaret Derby) came to Macoupin County, Illinois where her father died the Summer of 1842. Her mother died in 1845. Her name was Ellen Dickson when she married 1844 in Illinois to James Miller Lair.
One of her grandsons, Carl C. Carter, was corresponding with cousins of Ellen (Helen) Dickson, about 1900-1905, John Dickson and family were living in Dumfries at this time.
A postcard (undated) with a photograph of the daughter, Elizabeth Scott Dickson gave her address as 109 King Street, Castle Douglas. It appears she (the daughter) was much older than in the photograph at that time.
I have searched the 1841-1901 census and IGI marriage & christening extractions and have presummed this is the family of this John Dickson & family in the photograph:
John Dickson, Shoemaker, born abt. 1816-1818 Kirkpatrick Durham. He probably died between 1881-1891. He married, 28 Dec 1838 Urr, Kirkcudbrightshire, Mary Kimin (spelling?) who was born abt. 1817-1823 Urr, Kirkcudbrightshire.
Their children:
1. Jean/Jane Dickson b. abt. 1840 Kirkpatrick Durham (no further info) except that she was last listed in the household, 1851.
2. John Dickson, also a shoemaker/bootmaker (of the photograph) b. abt. 1842 Kirkpatrick Durham. The 1871 census lists him in the household of Mary Reid in Dalbeattie.
He married 1 Aug 1873 Colvend, Kirkcudbrightshire, Elizabeth Scott b. about 1853 Kirkgunzeon.
They had two daughters: Mary Lousia Dickson b. 3 June 1874 Dalbeattie--apparently died before 1881 cenus and Elizabeth Scott Dickson (called Lizzie S. Dickson in census) b. abt. 1881 Urr. (she would be the daughter in the photograph.
3. Mary Dickson b. abt 1847-1848 Kirkpatrick Durham. 1881 census indicates she had two children: Mary L. Dickson b. abt. 1875 Urr and John James Dickson b. abt. 1880 Urr.
4. Jannet/Janet "Jessie" Dickson b. about 1849-1850 Kirkpatrick Durham. She was visiting in the 1881 census and had a child, Mary Jane Dickson b. about 1879 England.
When Carl C. Carter was corresponding with John Dickson of Dalbeattie (1900-1905) he said his sister lived in Castle Douglas--no name given.
It appears to me, my Joseph Dickson may have been a brother to the elder John Dickson. Joseph's wife, Margaret Derby was married 1st to William Welsh who died 1815. She had a son, William Welsh born about 18 months prior to his father's death. The reason Joseph Dickson and his wife, Margaret and daughter Helen/Ellen came to America was because her son, William Welsh was living in Macoupin County, Illinois when they arrived ca. 1841-1842.
Any information is greatly appreciated.
Linda R.F. Arnold
Menifee, California
