Sorry, don't know if this is the correct place to post this!
I have a relative named James Gould. Died in Edinburgh in 1854 and was born roughly in 1779. He stated on both census' that he was from Edinburgh, however I can't find any birth record for him (not unusual for back then, of course). Looking up other people's births around then that have the same surname I think I may have found who his parent's were, but I wanted to post on here to get someone else's opinion. Basically, tell me if i'm clutching to straws here please!
James married Isabella Foot in 1802 in Edinburgh, however was under the name Guild instead of Gould but this is definitely the correct man.
Another person of the surname Guild also married in Edinburgh, in the same parish (Greyfriars) in 1792. Her name was Isabel Guild and she married Duncan McIntyre. On her marriage note it states her father is John Guild of East Lothian.
John Guild of East Lothian married Agnes Dick, they had 5 children (1764, 1769, 1762, 1771 and 1776) all were born in Gladsmuir, East Lothian.
My theory is John and Agnes are the parents of James Gould/Guild
Here's where the connections begin.
John Guild worked as a Wright/Labourer, at some point James also worked as a Labourer, so there's a small connection there. Although, James spent most of his life working as a Spirit Porter.
James Gould/Guild could have been born in East Lothian and just stated it was Edinburgh as it was fairly close, or his parent's were in Edinburgh at the time of his birth which is why there is no birth note for him.
John Guild and Agnes Dick, according to their marriage note from Gladsmuir, got a marriage certificate in Edinburgh, I'm not sure if this is unusual though.
This one is my main connection between them. James had a daughter named Isabel Agnes Gould, could this be named after his mother and sister? It was unusual back then to have a middle name.
I can post the BMD certificates if people are wanting to look at them, themselves.
