Thank you for the amount of work you have done Carole but yes, I do have the right James Allison and Margaret.
Margaret’s surname is given as Dewer in the Kilwinning marriage and also in the baptisms of their children (in Kilwinning) and also in Agnes’ marriage in Bailliestone in 1857. I was also able to find the Dalry marriage on 12 Sept 1823 you mention and you’re right in that there is no surname for the bride. I wonder if it’s possible that both ceremonies could be for the same couple in separate churches for some reason?
All the census entries I found for James (1851, 1861, 1871) have him born Kilwinning although he’s moved around a bit and the 1841 doesn’t allow for a specific birthplace.
The couple had two daughters called Agnes as the first died in infancy and the name was recycled for the one you found Rosie, (thanks to you too for the work you’ve put in) which was my 2xgreat grandmother. The reason I give the date ranges for Margaret Dewar’s death is that their last child was born in 1843 but she is absent from subsequent censuses, however, she is not described as deceased at Agnes’ marriage in 1857.
Thanks for pointing that out Neale. You are of course right… I shall have to amend that straight away.
In view of what you directed me to Neale I’m revising Margaret Dewar’s date of death to 1843-1851 as James is a widower in the 1851 census. Thank you!
Clive