Edinburgh - Thomas Thomson and Margaret Baxter Robertson

[Andrew Dunn]

The only Thomas Thomson death in 1863 fitting a 1794 birthyear was in Govan

1861 census Thomas Thomson age 67 (retired contractor) is living with the family of his daughter Janet BOW.

Those two statements tie up ... I've found birth records for 3 children of Janet Baxter Thomson and James Bow, all were born in Govan, Lanark

Alfred - 8 March 1856
Amelia - 2 August 1857
Jemima Jessie - 28 December 1859

[CaroleW]

I would strongly recommend you download Thomas Thomson's death cert to be 100% certain who his parents were

[MonicaL]

I only know of the one child, Margaret Robertson Thomson (1802-1859) married David Dunn (1830-1864)

Andrew, dates don't look right for Margaret Robert Thomson.

From the Old Parish Registers, her birth or christening is showing as:

MARGARET THOMSON
Parents THOMAS THOMSON/MARGARET ROBERTSON
04/09/1827
Ref 685 / 3260 / 392
Canongate

Monica

[MonicaL]

Margaret's sister, Janet's details:

JANET THOMSON
Parents THOMAS THOMSON/MARGARET ROBERTSON
29/06/1825
Ref 685 / 3260 / 288
Canongate

Can't see more siblings on the OPRs. However, there are always gaps in the OPRs prior to the start of official registration in Scotland from 1855.

Monica

[MonicaL]

The only Thomas Thomson death in 1863 fitting a 1794 birthyear was in Govan - mothers maiden name Scott

Carole mentioned this death earlier, with mother's maiden name given as Scott.

Thomas gave his birth place on censuses as Athelstaneford, East Lothian.

This is this entry in the OPRs:

THOMAS THOMSON
Parents GEORGE THOMSON/JANET SCOTT
13/12/1795
Ref 703 20 / 81
Athelstaneford, East Lothian

FreeReg has this entry www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/58180fcee93790ec8ba8d383/thomas-thomson-baptism-east-lothian-athelstaneford-1795-12-13?locale=en

In the same place to these parents, there also shows the following children:

1788 - Alexander
1790 - Janet
1798 - Elizabeth
1802 - William
1805 - Marion
1810 - George

Most, if not all, the siblings' christening are showing on FreeReg www.freereg.org.uk/search_queries/new?locale=en  Can be useful to see the names of sponsors to the christenings to see possible family members.

As Carole mentions, good to check Thomas's death reg to verify his details. Should also give you father's occupation.

Monica

[Andrew Dunn]

Thanks Monica - That was another mistake in my typing! - getting confused between Margaret Robertson Thomson and her mother, Margaret Baxter Robertson

I have MRT being born 31 August 1827, christened on 4 Sept

[MonicaL]

For your records, memorial inscription for Janet Baxter Thomson or Bow https://historicgraves.com/glasgow-necropolis/gla-necr-sig-0027/grave

Monica

[Little Nell]

Canongate burial register says that Thomas died in Pollockshiels in Glasgow and buried in the family plot.

Nell

[Andrew Dunn]

Marriage of George THOMSON and Janet SCOTT
2 Feb 1787. Banns read in Edinburgh and ATHELSTANEFORD
“George Thomson weaver New North Kirk Parish and Janet Scott New Gray Friars parish daughter of John Scott Day labourer in the parish of Cranston.”

The record of the marriage appears in the Edinburgh "Register of Marriages for the Parishes of Edinburgh" ... Does this mean the marriage took place in Edinburgh (though there is also a record for a marriage in Athelstaneford on the same date / same people)

Just some thoughts

Both New North Kirk and New Greyfriars parishes are in Edinburgh, so I assume that is where the couple were living prior to their marriage, and that they then moved to Athelstaneford, where all the children were born

Athelstaneford looks a pretty remote area, some 30km East of Edinburgh
I assume the publishing of the bans there, and subsequent move means that it likely one of the families originate from there

Cranston / Cranstoun is 15km south east of Edinburgh centre, so I am wondering if John Scott lived near there