mary irving - stewarton

[islay 1]

I'd appreciate a little help in locating a Mary Irving,who I believe was born in Stewarton around 1781.She married a Thomas Sproat from Kirkcudbright(I think!).I can't seem to track her down - have tried SP,but wondered if a local census may have some information about her family.I'd also like to try and find out more about this Thomas Sproat from Kirkcudbright who,according to his daughter's death certificate was a tailor - but the handwriting made it difficult to read and could have been a farmer.I'm guessing that he was also born around 1780-1800 as their daughter was born in 1821.Could anyone help?I'd be very,very grateful.Thank you.

[jonn]

Is this your Mary Sproat, living with her daughter 1851, Maybole, Ayr.

Address, Greenan, Maybole,

MccRacken John, Head, M. M. age 29 years, farm servant, born Barr, Ayr,
MccRacken Mary, Wife, M. F. age 31 years, born Kirkoswald, Ayr,
MccRacken Mary, Daur, F. age 5 years, born Girvan, Ayr,
MccRacken Isabella L. Daur, F. age 3 years, born Colmonell, Ayr,
MccRacken Elisabeth, Daur, F. age 1 year, born Girvan, Ayr,
Sproat Mary, Ma-law, W. F. age 70 Years, Stocking Knitter, born Kirkcudbrightshire, Gatehouse of Fleet.

Regards,
Jonn.

[jonn]

Hello Islay,

Here is a possible census entry for Thomas, and Mary, 1841.

Kirkoswald, Ayr,

Address, Kirkoswald,

Sprot Thomas, M. age 65 years, Pensioner, born outside census area,
Sprot Mary, F. age 60 years, born outside census, area.

If you notice on the 1851 census Mary McCracken, states she was born Kirkoswald, and her mother Mary Sproat, says she is born Kirkcudbright, there is also a Mary Sproat, aged 20 years, living in Kirkoswald, 1841, as a servant.

If this is your family then Thomas Sproat, must have passed away sometime 1841. to 1851.

Regards,
Jonn.

[islay 1]

Thank you for replying,John,and yes the 1851 family of Mccracken in absolutely my family.It will help me find Thomas Sproat on SP having narrowed down when he died,although I could find no trace of him when I looked before.I do not live in or know Scotland well - is Stewarton in Ayrshire or Kirkcudbrightshire?Or both?Thanks for your help,Islay.

[jonn]

Hello Islay,

Stewarton, is in Ayrshire, Kirkcudbright, is in Dumfries.

There is a death for a Mary Sprott Irvine, 1855. aged 74 years, Maybole, Ayr. on Scotlandspeople. as Mary Sproat, aged 70 years was living in Maybole, on the 1851 census i provided with her daughter Mary McCracken, then its almost certain this is her mothers death. 1855. because this year was the first years of Statuary Registrations in Scotland, the certificates had lots of extra information, i suggest you purchase this certificate.

Regards,
Jonn.

[islay 1]

Thank you,John,I am very grateful for your help,but have been beavering away here on SP,Ancestry,Family Search and am comp-letely baffled and bemused by this puzzle.
I know Mary Sproat marries my g.grandfather John Mccracken in 1845 at Girvan - have seen that marriage on SP. The 1851 census has them living at Greenan with children Mary,Isabella and Elizabeth,and states that she was born in Kirkoswald.
The 1861 census,however,has the same family -husband John,children Mary,Isabella,Elizabeth,and now my g.grandfather Thomas,along with his younger brothers and sister John,William and Annie,but this time the birthplace for Mary Sproat(now Mccracken) is given as the Ferry Town of Cres .,Kirkcudbright.
The confusion seems to be over where my Mary was actually born,and who her parents are.The only one born in Kirkoswald for a span of eight years around her approximate birthdate,has parents Thomas Sproat and Mary Grange.
My Mary's death certificate has her parents as Thomas Sproat and Mary Irving,but no place of birth given.

Can you help me sort out this puzzle of confusion?Please!Fingers crossed,Islay.

[islay 1]

Hi again,John,I have followed you recommendation and tried to obtain the death certificate you mentioned from SP,but cannot locate it at all.Where am I going wrong? I have put in all the variations I can think of for Mary Sproat,Sprott,Sprott Irvine,Irving,Sprott Irving,Irving Sproat,Irving Sprot,Irvine Sprot etc. and also a range of years around a birth @1821 and ages of death 72-78,but nothing comes up at all - no matches found.What did you type in to find what you did?

Also,where did you find the 1851 census information,because this gave the places of birth for the children,which do not appear on the ancestry census details at all.Interesting that the first child was born in Girvan as that is where the couple married.Please help!!thank you,Islay.

[jonn]

Hello Islay,

To get Mary Irvine Sprott, thats the spelling on Scotlandspeople, In the surname column put Sprott, then first name Mary, in other surname put Irvine, highlight year 1855, to 1855. Ayr, then Maybole, and it should give you one hit.

Regards,
Jonn.

[islay 1]

Thank you,John,for your help. I have now found the death certificate,which confirms the names of her parents,which is great,and I have also found one for my Mary's father,Thomas Sproat.No details about his parents,unfortunately as it was an OPR,so I'm unable to progress further back with his family,but interestingly,the death entry stated that he had a pension from his Regiment of the Royal Marines.Would this have been unusual for people in the 1840s to have had a pension?The couple you found in the 1841 census had the man Thomas living as a pensioner.Could this be a link to suggest that these were the correct family for me?

Finally,any advice to explain the change of birthplace for my Mary Sproat - Kirkoswald in the 1851 census,and in the 1861 census the Ferry town of Cres,Kirkcudbright?!
Thank you so much for your interest and help in my puzzle.It is much appreciated.Kind regards,Islay.