James Murray Stevenson born in Kilmarnock +- 1896

[SouthAfrican]

Hello, I am wondering whether anyone can help me.  My great grandfather, James Stevenson, was born in Kilmarnock in approximately 1896.  He died in South Africa in 1915 (Potchefstroom) in a fatal car crash whilst in the army (South African Light Infantry aka Scottish Volunteers).  His death certificate had his names as James Murray Stevenson born in Kilmarnock.  He died on the 5th September 1915 at age 39 years 4 months leaving a wife and five children in Cape Town.  I have search Scotland People many times but I can't trace him or his birth family.  I have no information in relation to him before his marriage to my great grandmother in Cape Town in 1910.  Trying to work out where he was for the first 34 years of his life?  His South African Service No. was 3291 and he had also been in two previous army units in South Africa.  A bag piper who was formerly from the Blackwatch called Cameron played at his funeral (not sure if there is any connection?).  I have seen another post here of James Stevenson born in Kilmarnock whose sibling was Jessie but this is another family I think.  I only know he was Presbyterian.  I saw in a census a family with a mother called Margaret Murray who married a John Stevenson and had a child called James and brother called John but could not trace them after 1890.  Any help would be really appreciated as I am really stuck.  Thanks Fiona

[ColC]

If he was 39 at death in 1915, would that mean he was born in 1876, not 1896?

I cannot find a birth registration on SP but this is the 1881 census below.

https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/view-image/nrs_census_lds/2000034?return_row=5

Colin

[ColC]

If the 1881 is the correct family then possible marriage for Margaret below.

THOMAS STEVENSON   to MARGARET GEBBIE   1867   Loudoun

THOMAS STEVENSON   Death    43   mother maiden name RODGER   1878   Kilmarnock (Ayr)

No record of birth for a James Murray but there are a few for James, some with other middle names.

Colin

[CaroleW]

Any other parental info on his 1910 marriage cert?  Married 1910 - died 1915 - had 5 children.  Were any born before the 1910 marriage? 

Was he single when he married in 1910?

[rosie17]

Going by the 1881 census the same family can be found 1891 and this looks like the birth for that James
James White Stevenson 4/8/1874
Kilmarnock
Father Thomas Stevenson
Mother Margaret White

Added welcome to Rootschat 

Rosie

[Neale1961]

Death Notice
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG4J-JS2R
Marriage record
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZHR-RWWN

[SouthAfrican]

Hi Everyone, sorry for the delay in responding but not had an opportunity before now.  I am not sure how to reply to each individual response but the last post by Neale1961 relates to the correct James Murray Stevenson.  He apparently had a child in 1906, called Agnes Maria Stevenson.  The child died.  Agnes had a child in 1907 Anna Beatrice Sims (later took on the name Stevenson) but the birth certificate has her father as unknown (one of the things I am trying to find out).  James and Agnes then married in 1910.  They had three children after this date.  There is nothing on any records other than the death certificate that gives any information of James Murray Stevenson's family and it just said birth Kilmarnock Scotland (sorry that was 1876).  I don't think the families referred to in any of these threads are his family.  I am attaching some documents relating to the family I am trying to find as I think this may well be them as James Stevenson's army documents refer to his occupation being a Butcher.  His SA Service No. was 3291. Hope this is more helpful. Thanks!
 

[osprey]

possible 1881 census of a slightly younger James

31 Kirktonhom Street
John Stevenson 30 butcher b. Renfrewshire
Margaret M wife 21 b. Kilmarnock
James son 3 b. Renfrewshire
William son 0 b. Kilmarnock

William's birth shows mother's maiden name to be Murray
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTX7-GS8

marriage Gorbals 1877 John Stevenson & Margaret Murray

 

[Kloumann]

Margaret Stevenson (Murray) died 1889, age 29, in Kilmarnock, MMN McDonald