Pre 1851 Census conundrum

[andgalcas]

Hello all

My 3x great grandfather Henry Harrower was born in Aberdeen in 1848 in Aberdeen. He is on both the 1851 and 1861 census living with his parents (Robert and Mary) however I am unable to trace either of them back any further. Does anyone have any tips on how to do this prior to birth certificates in Scotland?

Thanks once again

Andrew

[MonicaL]

Hi Andrew

Did parents Robert and Mary die in Scotland? If so, their death registrations should include their parents' names if known to the informant.

Where did they show as born on the 1851/61 censuses?

Monica

[andgalcas]

Hi Andrew

Did parents Robert and Mary die in Scotland? If so, their death registrations should include their parents' names if known to the informant.

Where did they show as born on the 1851/61 censuses?

Monica

Hi Monica

Both Robert and Mary died in England, hence no parent information!

Robert was listed in both census as being born in Aberdeen and Mary was listed as being born in Ireland in both census. I have been unable to find a marriage record for them.

Thanks again

[keyboard86]

Hi if I have correct 1851 census, Robert was 28 Mary 40
In same household is a stepchild Elizabeth Wilson aged 15 b Glasgow
Keyboard86

[andgalcas]

Hi if I have correct 1851 census, Robert was 28 Mary 40
In same household is a stepchild Elizabeth Wilson aged 15 b Glasgow
Keyboard86

Yes! That's the one...
In 1861 Elizabeth was not in the house and Robert listed as 40 and Mary 46

[MonicaL]

You have this Andrew, but just for background here. 1861 shows another son born to them, a Robert born 1854-5 in Aberdeen.

There is a family tree online which shows Cavan Ireland for Mary's (Mills?) birthplace. Wonder if she gave this birth place in a later census?

Monica

Added: Son Robert must have been born in 1854. I can't see him in the statutory birth registers. What a pity, given the extra info that would have helped here if it had been an 1855 birth cert 

[MonicaL]

Was the family Roman Catholic, Andrew?

There is this birth or christening entry in the RC dataset in Aberdeen City:

John HARROWER
ROBERT HARROWER/MARY GRAY
13/9/1853
28/10/1853
Aberdeen, St Mary's with St Peter's

Monica

[andgalcas]

You have this Andrew, but just for background here. 1861 shows another son born to them, a Robert born 1854-5 in Aberdeen.

There is a family tree online which shows Cavan Ireland for Mary's (Mills?) birthplace. Wonder if she gave this birth place in a later census?

Monica

Added: Son Robert must have been born in 1854. I can't see him in the statutory birth registers. What a pity, given the extra info that would have helped here if it had been an 1855 birth cert 

Hi Monica

I think this may have been on my ancestry tree. It was a route I was looking at however I now believe it to be incorrect as the same Wilson's are on the 1851 census all together when Mary and Elizabeth were at that time in Aberdeen

[andgalcas]

Was the family Roman Catholic, Andrew?

There is this birth or christening entry in the RC dataset in Aberdeen City:

John HARROWER
ROBERT HARROWER/MARY GRAY
13/9/1853
28/10/1853
Aberdeen, St Mary's with St Peter's

Monica

Yes, I believe they were RC however Henry did not marry in an RC church.
This John could possibly be a brother?