Reid family in Perthshire

[kazzann]

Hi there, Please can somebody give me advice on what to do???

I am desperately trying to find the family of a James Reid that was born somewhere in Perthshire 1836. According to James's wedding certificate in 1861 (at Derbyshire) James's father was named Robert Reid and profession was given as "Bailliff.
I have records of my James from the 1861 census onwards, he was a gardener ( and went on to becoming head gardener at Halls and large establishments throughout England until his death in 1896), living in Staffordshire, Cheshire and later Derbyshire. Married to Elizabeth Taylor (in 1863) native of Yorkshire, they had children by the names of James, Robert, Helen, Elizabeth, and Margaret.

I have found an entry in the "Äuchterarder" parish records that gives the birth of a James Reid born to Robert reid and Helen Paton in 1836 which are the correct names (if I am to consider the family naming pattern) and correct birth year. But , when I found the same family in the 1851 census (Gato Side, Forgandenny), James is an apprentice gardener but the father Robert,
has given his profession as a "Laboror"" then in the 1861 a "Shepherd".

Can anyone suggest whether I should  persist  looking for a Robert Reid whose profession is a Baillif (as James's Marraige certificate states),  I have done numerous census searches looking for Robert Reid with profesion as a baillif but have not been able to come up with any (except for one that was born in Wales!!).

Could it be possible for a labourer/sheperd in the 1860's to double as a Bailliff???

Any suggestions??? I'm so eager to discover where and who James parents were and where he was born, I dont know what to do next.
Any census material that I have found James in (from 1861-1891), only ever states that he was born in Perthshire.

regards Karen (Kazzann)

[Isabel H]

It's perfectly possible that he might have been a water bailiff, a bit like a gamekeeper who patrols the river keeping an eye out for poachers etc.

[kazzann]

Isabel, that's an interesting suggestion, I suppose "Bailliff", could have had numerous variations. thankyou, regards Karen

[kirkmichael]

.....snipped...........

I have found an entry in the "Äuchterarder" parish records that gives the birth of a James Reid born to Robert reid and Helen Paton in 1836 which are the correct names (if I am to consider the family naming pattern) and correct birth year. But , when I found the same family in the 1851 census (Gato Side, Forgandenny), James is an apprentice gardener but the father Robert,
has given his profession as a "Laboror"" then in the 1861 a "Shepherd".

.....snipped.......

Hi Karen

Over a period of years it could well have been perfectly possible for someone to graduate from first being a labourer to then being a shepherd, and then a bailliff (water or otherwise) either for one estate/landowner, or a series of different estates.

Wullie