McPherson, Alexander

[adnams74]

Alexander McPherson is my wife's great grandfather. He is listed on the 1911 census as being born in Scotland in approx 1861 but he have not been able to trace him to any particular part of Scotland. Legend has it that they were from the Inverness era but we are not sure. He might be in 1871/1881/1891 Scottish Census. Any help appreciated. Thanks

[Rosinish]

Was your wife's grandparent (child of Alexander) born in Scotland 

Annie

[Rosinish]

If you could obtain a copy of Alexander's marriage it will at least have his father's name............. depending on where he married is mother's name could also be on it with her maiden name 

Annie

[Forfarian]

He is listed on the 1911 census as being born in Scotland in approx 1861

Where was he in this 1911 census?

The UK census never gives even an approximate year of birth. It tells you what age the person said they were on the day the census was taken.

So I imagine that you are looking at one of these sites where as well as transcribing the information, they (mis)calculate the year of birth by subtracting the age from the census year. As the census is taken about one quarter of the way through the year, three-quarters of people have not yet had a birthday in that year, and the resulting subtraction will be wrong by one year.

If so, it is always worth checking the original as transcriptions can and often do omit some information.

[adnams74]

Was your wife's grandparent (child of Alexander) born in Scotland 

Annie

My wife's grandparent was born in Wigan, Lancashire in 1902. The 1911 census states that Alexander (calling himself Alick on the form) was born in Scotland, but no more than that.

[Forfarian]

So he is the Alick McPherson with wife Esther, stepson Albert Edward Banks and sons William and Walter, at 139 Princess Roas, Ashton-in-Makerfield. He's 50 years old, and he and Albert are coal miners.

Alexander McPherson and Esther Banks were married in Wigan in the June quarter of 1901. Have you got the marriage certificate? If not, I suggest that you get a copy of it. It will tell you the name and occupation of Alick's father, which might at least narrow the search. For example, if his father was also a coal miner, he probably didn't come from any of the places where there were no coal mines.