Hello,
could someone please suggest who I could contact who may be able to help me with my family history dead end of finding the parents of James Latta, married to Katharine Lang (b. 1762) on 21st April 1781 at Dumbarton. I have a copy of their intention to marry, which only has the bride and groom’s names. I don’t know if a separate document is created for the actual wedding, with the groom’s parents’ names on it.
This, if such a document is generated, or James’ death certificate are the only way I can think of that would verify his parents’ names.
I thought his parents were James Latta and Mary Nasmith, were married on 16 AUG 1753 at Lochwinnoch, Renfrew, Scotland, where Mary was born. This james was born 14 Mar 1726 Dunlop, Ayr, Scotland. However, I was contacted by a Paul Latta who assures me my James was not the James born to them in 1754.
James and Katharine had the following children: Robert 1781, William 1783, Robert 1785, James 1784, Agnes 1794, Agnes 1796, Catherine 1798. According to Scottish naming patterns, James’s father should have been Robert, but I cannot see a Robert who fits.
The possibilities are:
1. James born in 1759 at Old Kilpatrick, Dunbartonshire, Scotland to James Latta and Agnes Mc Farlane married in Dunbarton in 1738. This makes him the right age to be marrying Katharine who was born in 1762 and Old Kilpatrick is close to Dumbarton, where James & Katharine’s wedding and children’s births took place.
2. The James and Agnes above had a son called Robert born in 1739. It is possible that he could have had a child around the age of 20, but I have no records of him, other than his birth. This would be a good fir at it would account for James & Katherine’s first-born con being called Robert, the right age and again close to Dunbarton.
3.
7 Oct 1744 James Lata Dundonald Ayrshire Robert Lata Jean Christie
Not likely as from Ayrshire and this would make James 18 years older than Katharine.
4.
10 Jun 1743 James Latta Dumbarton Dunbarton John Latta Jean Davie
Not likely – from Dumbarton, but this would make James 19 years older than Katharine.
5. Marriage 6 Jul 1754 William Latta Dumbarton Dunbarton Agnes Latta Also entered in Old Kilpatrick as William Latay (Doesn’t fit with James & Katharine’s 1st child being named Robert.) If married 1754 must have been at least 20, therefore born around 1734, so in 1781 at James & Katharine's wedding would have been 47 and around 27 when James was born
6. Marriage Jan 1741 John Latta Dumbarton Dunbarton Jean Davie Also entered in Cardross, Dunbarton on 29 Jan 1741 (Doesn’t fit with James & Katharine’s 1st child being named Robert.) If married 1741 must have been at least 20, therefore born from 1721, so in 1781 at James & Katharine's wedding would have been 60 and around 40 when James was born
7. Marriage 12 Jul 1739 John Latta Dumbarton Dunbarton Margrat Latta (Doesn’t fit with James & Katharine’s 1st child being named Robert.) If married 1739 must have been at least 20, therefore born from 1719, so in 1781 at James & Katharine's wedding would have been 62 and around 42 when James was born
Kind regards, Dianne
