Happy Christmas to you all!!
I hope everyone is coping with the current situation.
I was hoping someone might have a little time on their hands to help me out.
I finally 'finished' my family tree and published my 'for fun' website with all my findings however I have a few brick walls I can not get round. I was hoping someone with better detective skills than I could check this out.
1. Alexander Waterston/Waterson. Born circa 1810 in Hamilton, Lanarkshire or Blantyre. His parents William Waterston and Helen McLaughlan (various spellings). Can find nothing about Alexander until he's 27 and marrying Catherine Haddow in Hamilton on the 15th of October 1837 - She looks like she's about 5 years older than him. The have a daughter Jean/Jane born in Union Street, Hamilton in 1839. In 1841 the three of them are living on Union Street. Names spelt incorrectly but I accept that was how it was. Alex is a cotton Loom Weaver to trade.
1843 - Birth of son William in Blantyre
1844 - Birth of daughter Helen/Ellen - I've researched her and asked for help before on here regarding her. She married Thomas Law but had a daughter prior to the marriage called Grace. Sometimes Grace Waterson and sometimes Grace Law - She vanished into thin air - Could find nothing about her ever. She was 8 years old in the 1871 census living at EASTWOOD, Renfewshire, so did she married someone before the 1881 one?
1847 - Birth of son John in Hamilton. His life was grim and he was involved in a murder case in Hamilton - Which turned out to be more gross indifference to a woman's plight rather than murder but it still made the newspapers. he relocated to Edinburgh and started a new life. I have all his info.
In 1851 Catherine is at 15 Lamb Street, Hamilton
Living with daughters Jane, Helen and son's William and John. Presumably separated from her husband. On her death certificate she is listed as a widow however her husband was far from dead. Which further backs up the line of thought that she was living as a widow and in the full knowledge that her husband was else where - Where he was is another brick wall.
In 1861 Catherine is now at 86 Townhead Street, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Living with her father who is a widower and her 2 daughters Jean and Mary - No idea why there's a Mary as it was always a Helen - Its the same person so maybe Mary was a middle name?
Jean married Peter Strachan - I've got her history from then on in bolted down.
Helen/Ellen/Mary married Thomas Law - she's bolted down apart from the daughter Grace mystery.
Mother Catherine dies 29th of December 1869 in the Hamilton Sick House.
So what happened to Alexander Waterston after the birth of last child John in 1847 ? There's a massive gap until I found his death on Aug 30 1890 in Kirklands Asylum, Bothwell. Usual Residence Raploch Street, Larkhall a Pauper Lunatic - Formally a hawker of small wares. He's not on any property valuations - he's not on any census that I can fine - Can anyone help ?
His son William - appears in 1861 and is Single.
Occupation Carpenter Crew on board the vessel Impregnable, The census place is Anglesey, an island off the north-west coast of Wales. No idea how he got there.
In 1868 he's listed on UK List of Military Deserters. Desertion Place: Chatham Publication Date: 14 April 1868 Regimental Number: 8822 Military Corps: Royal Engineers
Mar 31 1868 Chatham, Kent
In 1871 1871
Boarder in the Bryden household at 26 Annfield St, High Church, Glasgow.
Occupation Joiner aged 28
On the 21 September 1889 he leaves Scotland - Glasgow, Scotland to New York, USA on board the Bolivia. - The trail goes cold after that - Can anyone help?
Thanks in advance friends
Paul
