I'm looking to find out some more info regarding a John Carruthers. He is listed as living at the same address as my Great Grandmother (Alice Armstrong/Porter) in the 1921 census, Main Street Haltwhistle, Northumberland. Listed as a boarder, birth year 1882, birth place Canonbie Dumfries-shire, occupation a coal miner.
I haven't seen an original of the 1921 census. Does the original (not a transcription) say he was born in 1882, or is that a 'calculation' because he gave his age as 39? If he was 39, he is more likely to have been born in 1881 than in 1882, because the census was taken in the first half of the year.
The source of all the relevant information in Scotland is
www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk (SP). Searching the indexes is free but there is a small fee to view the original documents.
SP lists 21 births of John Carruthers in 1881/1882, of whom six were born in Dumfries-shire but none in Canonbie.
I have found a John Carruthers living with his Grandparents 1891 census, Benjamin Irving & Mary, also listed are other grandchildren with different surnames. Address 171 High Street, Dumfries-shire. But can't find anymore info? This may or may not be the same John Carruthers. But either way I have hit a brick wall & can't seem to find any other info regarding the John Carruthers in the 1921 census.
There are two births of John Irvings, one each in 1881 and 1882, in Canonbie. If one of these was illegitimate, and you can link the mother to Bernard and Mary, that could be your answer.
On the other hand, the grandson of Bernard Irving listed in the 1891 census at 171 High Street,
Dumfries, Dumfries-shire, was born in Dumfries itself, not in Canonbie, so he is just as likely to be a red herring.
