Help with an ancestor from Wigtown?

[HermitCedar]

Hello all,

I have posted here in the past looking for information on my ancestor, James McPherson, without much luck. I have, however, had quite the breakthrough. I found that James had two wives (his first passed away, I am related to him and his second wife). He was, however, buried with his first wife - I found a transcription/photo of the headstone and it has a death date!

James died on March 3, 1827, aged 37 years; this puts his birth year at 1790 (+/- 1). He is buried in Portpatrick Old Kirkyard, and the headstone also mentions Portospittal (I cant find out what this is) in reference to James and his first wife (Elizabeth McCracken).

Naturally I thought I'd be able to find more about him based on this but I can find nothing specific on his death (aside from his headstone) and nothing specific on his birth (there are several James McPhersons born in 1790).

I would deeply appreciate any thoughts/advice!

Thank you!

[Gadget]

One thought, as I've not looked at the records but Portospittal is likely to be Port of Spittal, Port of Spittal Bay is shown on this map to the south of Portpatrick

https://maps.nls.uk/view/75679740#zoom=4&lat=2146&lon=4967&layers=BT

and inland is  Port of Spittal Bridge

https://maps.nls.uk/view/75679740#zoom=4&lat=2550&lon=6784&layers=BT


Gadget

[Gadget]

Port of Spittal looks to be in Stoneykirk parish:

https://dgfhs.org.uk/resources/maps/


Gadget

[Ruskie]

What is the exact wording on the headstone? Sometimes other family are mentioned although not actually buried there.

Looks like Portospittal might be a Burn or Bridge:
https://scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/digital-volumes/ordnance-survey-name-books/wigtownshire-os-name-books-1845-1849/wigtownshire-volume-53/67

Gadget beat me to it. Looking on the map, inland you will see the Burn and the Bridge

[Gadget]

I assume that you have the marriage to Elizabeth - 26th Dec 1815, Portpatrick. Both of the parish.

Nothing in the baptisms for him though, as you said.

[HermitCedar]

I assume that you have the marriage to Elizabeth - 26th Dec 1815, Portpatrick. Both of the parish.

Nothing in the baptisms for him though, as you said.

Hi there Gadget - yes, I do have that marriage. I was hoping to use his firm death-date to find information that I could use to identify his birth place (and then maybe his parents) but I'm stuck. Not sure if there are resources I'm missing. Thanks so much for your efforts!!

[Gadget]

The Wigtownshire pages on Rootsweb  were very good but they seem to be missing. 

No wills either. 

[Gadget]

I always found the Dumfries and Galloway FHS very helpful when I was searching for ancestors in those parts:

https://dgfhs.org.uk/

[HermitCedar]

I always found the Dumfries and Galloway FHS very helpful when I was searching for ancestors in those parts:

https://dgfhs.org.uk/

Thank you!