New to rootschat - tracing James Waters who married Jemima Dunbar in 1845

[Cormack123]

I'm pretty sure that's not my James Waters. Mine married in 1845 aged 21 and was born 1824. I think he and Jemima (jimmima) Dunbar had 2 daughters, Jemima Dunbar Waters and Isobel(?) I have not traced any other siblings and not sure that Isobel is correct name.
Thanks for all your help though. This is a great site.
KC

[avm228]

You've got the Scottish censuses, so you'll have seen that in 1881 James Waters (married to Jemima Dunbar Waters) is a superintendent of HM Customs.

The 1897 newspaper report, referencing HM Customs, therefore looks a good match, unless you've established it's really not your man

[Christine53]

1891 Scotland census

James Waters 49 Supt of Customs Retired
Jemima Waters 64 wife
Isabella Waters 28
Jane Eliza Waters 27
address 6 Rosefield Place , Duddingston , Portobello

James's age may be a transcription error - you would need to check the original on ScotlandsPeople. I think it's unlikely that there are 2 retired Customs Superintendents called James Waters and with a wife called Jemima?? I can see the family in the earlier censuses and the occupation checks out - there are lots of siblings for Jemima junior.

[avm228]

You will also have seen that they had several more children than you've mentioned:

1871: Rosanna 22, Jemima 21, Isabella 14, Jane 13, Alexander 9
1881: Isabella 24. Jane Eliza 23, Alexander McLeod Waters 19
1891: Isabella 28, Jane Eliza 27 (!!!)

By 1901 Jemima snr is widowed and living with married daughter Jemima Cormack.  Youngest daughter Jane E Waters ("38") is there too.

[Cormack123]

I'm happy with the 1881 census data, but could not track him in 1891. My grandfather born in 1880 said he never knew him, but Jemima was living with them. The discrepancy in birth year is also an issue, although these things are often wrong. I won't discount this one entirely, but there were a lot of Customs officials in Wick at the time and I have been going down the wrong line with Master Mariners with identical names on the Cormack side. James Waters does not seem to be an uncommon name.

[Millmoor]

The transcription on another site to the one quoted for the 1891 census does give James Waters age as 69. There would appear to me to be an awful lot of coincidences if this  is not your man.

William

[avm228]

The man who died in 1897 is incontrovertibly yours - see his death registration on ScotlandsPeople as Rosie first suggested.

His death registration shows he was married to Jemima Dunbar.

As we already knew from the newspaper notice, he died at 6 Rosefield Place, Portobello - the same address where he and his family were in 1891.

The informant of his death was his daughter Jane E Waters.

Parents (both deceased) are recorded as:

James Waters, Collector of HM Customs & Janet Waters, maiden surname Jackson.

[Christine53]

Here is his christening record :

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYD4-V68

James Waters b 26 May 1821 & christened 20 Jul 1821 at Thurso, Caithness , parents James Waters and Janet Jackson

[Cormack123]

I think you have convinced me!