William Connell Born April 1821 at Kilmarnock

[NormanE]

"Scotland's People" has provided me with the baptism record for William Connell born at Kilmarnock 23 April 1821.  His father also a William was a shoemaker (a fact confirmed on William c 1821 marriage in 1855). Williams "natural mother" was listed as Mary Thomson.
Please could I ask if anyone can help with more information on William and Mary and their ancestors?
Thank You
Norman E
   

[JMStrachan]

Without knowing any more about them it's difficult to find them in the records, and it sounds as if William Connell and Mary Thomson weren't married when young William was born. What does William's 1855 marriage certificate say his mother was called? Also, William's death certificate - if he died in Scotland - will contain whatever the informant knew about his parents.

Mary Thomson is a very common name in those parts, so difficult to pick which one might be her.

Have you tried looking for them all in the 1841 and onwards census?

[NormanE]

JMStrachan
Thank you for your interest and suggestions.
I have a copy of his baptism document in front of me now.
The wording of the item says "natural child" of Mary Thomson, so do two others on the same sheet.
For one of these two the mother and father have the same surname. In another item what is described as the 7th child is baptised with a mother having a different surname to the father.

William was married in England where the mother is not listed in the document (I have this document)

William 1822 was a Dragoon and in the 1854 Battle at Balaclava where he was wounded and said to have been nursed by Florence Nightingale.

So far all the census and death documents and have drawn a blank

Again thank you
Regards
NormanE

[loobylooayr]

Hi Norman,

Another suggestion is that the surname Connell could also have been McConnell. It was not unusual at the time for the "Mc" in surnames to be dropped or picked back up again.   

Could be a complete red herring but worth pointing out to you for perhaps further investigation but.... there is a marriage in 1830 in Kilmarnock of a William McConnell to a Jean Hall.
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XT24-R2L
This marriage is also recorded at another Parish - St Quivox and Newton , Ayr
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XTNZ-H4P
I believe this couple are on the 1841 Census and 1851 Census
1841- St Quivox, Ayrshire
Parish- Newton -upon- Ayr.  Main Street
 MCCONNEL       William       M       41       Shoemaker                   
 MCCONNEL       Jane       F       33                          
MCCONNEL       Francis       M       5                          
 MCCONNEL       Jennet       F       1   
All are born in Ayrshire.

1851- Newton-upon- Ayr, Allison Street                      
 MCCONNELL       William       Head       M       M       57       Shoemaker        Ayrshire - Straiton           
 MCCONNELL       Jean       Wife       M       F       45       Sewer        Ayrshire - Newton Upon Ayr(Originally: Ayrshire - Newton)           
 MCCONNELL       Janet       Dau       U       F       11               Ayrshire - Newton Upon Ayr(Originally: Ayrshire - Newton)           
 MCCONNELL       William       Son       U       M       5       Scholar        Ayrshire - Monkton           
 MCCONNELL       Margaret       Dau       U       F       4               Ayrshire - Monkton           
    
 Further research would be required to establish that this couple is the William McConnell and Jean Hall who married in 1830 in Kilmarnock. But William, a shoemaker, is certainly old enough to be the father of William Connell born 1821.
All supposition, at this stage, of course  . And it could be a wildgoose chase, unfortunately.
Good luck,
Looby           

[susan57]

Loobylooayr, this is my family!!(William and Jean Hall) Been trying to find information on the Shoemaking aspect at Allison St , Newton on Ayr, which was taken over by son James. Sory, don't know anything about Mary Thomson

[loobylooayr]

Hi Susan57,

Sorry, I can't help with any info about shoemaking in Ayr - perhaps Burns Monument Centre in Kilmarnock ,which holds a lot of local records could help.

Looby

[susan57]

Thanks, will give that a try xx

[susan57]

Hi,
It's been a while but I'm looking at this section of my tree again. I think I've gone wrong and am not connected to the William McConnell who married Jean Hall. I have a few certificates from Scotlandspeople if they're any use to you.....you may as well have them
Cheers
Sue