Just adding this as thoughts to try and help....
I did a search for 1881 for a James born c. 1867 in Elgin who may already be showing as an apprentice joiner, and I found one!
I think this is a summary on him, from what I can see:
James Thomson or Murdoch (as indexed), likely the illegitimate son of a James Murdoch and a Margaret Thomson born in late 1866 in Elgin
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FQ2K-Z54There is a marriage between a Margaret Thomson and a Hugh Fraser in 1870
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XYSX-78Z1871 shows Hugh and Margaret here:
Hugh Fraser 27 Joiner House b. Rafford
Margaret Fraser 23 Joiner House Wife b. Elgin
James Thomson 27, lodger, joiner b. Elgin
Geo Thomson 19, lodger, labourer b. Elgin
Address: 41 Church St, DumbartonI think this is young James with maternal grandparents for 1871:
Alexander Thompson 57 crofter b. Aberdeen
Margaret Thompson 57 b. Cromarty, rossshire
Jessie Thompson 17 b. Elgin
James MacDoch (as transcribed, likely meant to be Murdoch) 4 grandchild b. Elgin
Address: Milton Duff, Elgin1881:
Hugh Fraser 37, Joiner Employing 1 Boy, b. Rafford, Moraysh.
Maggie Fraser 33, b. Elgin, Moraysh.
James Fraser 14, son, Joiner (Apprentice) b. ElginGeorge Fraser 7, son b. Partick, Lanarkshire
Address: 24 Church Street, Partick, Govan, Lanarkshire1891...and no sign of James in household, which I am viewing as a good sign for now!:
Hugh Fraser 40, Hatter & Clothier, b. Rafford Clothier
Maggie T Fraser 37, dressmaker b. Milton Duffy, Elgin
Annie Fraser 20, niece b. Forres, Elgin
George Fraser 17 son, Druggist, b. Partick
Alexander Grant 18 nephew Boatyard Slipper b. Aberdeen
Address: 481 Dumbarton Rd, Partick, Govan, LanarkshireThat is as far as I have got....
Monica