I am researching this couple for a friend. On a birth certificate for a son in 1931, the marriage date is stated as 14 March 1923 in Kilmarnock but I can find no reference to it on the Scotland's People indexes. They appear to have had 6 children, several of whom have Andrews as their middle name. On the 1931 certificate father Andrew was a ploughman of Bellsland Cottage.
We have obtained a 1983 death certificate for an Andrew Skilling aged 78; this man was born 1904, of 35 Annanhill Avenue, was an engineer/turner and married to Margaret Wilson; son of Robert Skilling blacksmith and Margaret née Campbell. Informant Alexander son of same address. I have obtained the 1927 marriage certificate of Andrew and Margaret confirming his parents. So probably this is not the couple, although they did have some similar named children so I am sure they are part of the same extended Skilling family.
There are newspaper entries in 1942 for a Sarah Skilling with daughter Agnes of 22 Limekiln Rd, Saltcoats and in 1946 for an Andrew Skilling of 64 Annanhill Avenue whose wife [Mrs Skillen no forename] represented him in court. She says they have 6 children one a 14 yr old boy [this could be the 1931 birth]. An Andrew Skilling of this address was the informant on his father Robert's, widow of Margaret Campbell, death certificate in 1961. I cannot confirm if either of these people in the newspapers are the same as the parents of my friend's father.
I have several records for a Sarah McDonald Andrews, who first married Benjamin Thomson widowed lace weaver in Aug 1923. She appears as mother, formerly married to Benjamin Thomson, of Agnes K Skilling born 1925 who married Thomas Nimmo Lawson in 1946 [he died in 1976] with her father stated as Andrew Skilling ploughman deceased. [Added: One of the witnesses was Sarah Thomson. All parties of Sharphill Cottage, Saltcoats]. An Agnes K Lawson with mother’s maiden name of Andrews died in 2012. So it appears that Sarah McDonald Andrews IS the woman who had a family with Andrew Skilling, but did they actually marry?
The Andrew Skilling who died in 1943 was single, of Knockielaw Rd, aged 30, no occupation given, son of Andrew Skilling gardener and Rose Ann Simpson, informant brother Alexander.
I do have other images I have downloaded from SP so further information. If anyone is descended from this couple, is related to the wider family or can shed any light on the inconsistencies I would be extremely grateful. What other resources can I go to to further this research?
Please PM me if you have information about living people.
Thank in advance, Josey
