Unable to find anything on great-great grandfather

[katiesam]

Hi all,

I’m a member of MyHeritage and for the life of me I can’t seem to find any records relating to birth or ancesters of my great great grandfather - is anyone able to point me in right direction of where I can find something?

Name : William Clark (c.1859-1938)
Spouse : Elizabeth Clark (nee McKinnon)

I have him down as being Scottish and he married in Dumbartonshire in 1882, one of his sons (my great grandfather) Alexander was born in Glasgow with some of his younger siblings being born in Belfast, N.ireland. He died in Belfast in 1938.

He must have left Scotland around 1894 as one daughter was born in Whiteinch, Scotland and then I have him down as being in Belfast from another daughters birth in 1895 and on the census in Belfast in 1901.

I can’t find a record of his birth or his parents - does anyone know where else I can look? Before his marriage in 1882 I can’t find record of him.

X

[KGarrad]

Scottish records will be on ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk.

[ciderdrinker]

Good Afternoon
We are all here to help but Clark is quite a common name and you have very few dates and details.
William and Elizabeth's marriage should give their parents name and some sort of age.
This looks like the couple at 9 Lyons St Glasgow 1891
William Clark 32 rivitter Glasgow
Elizabeth 32
Ellen 7
Robert 7
Alex 3
William 3mths.

I'm guessing that William's father was Robert Clark and Mother Mary McCormick ,if so this is them in 1871 at Cook St Govan
Robert lab 35 Cortie Ireland
Mary Mac Cormick Clark 32 Glasgow
William 12 (bapt 14.1.1859 High Church Glasgow)
Jane 8
John 6
Alex 9
lodger Micheal McCormick (her father) 66 Ashtien Ireland
Dugall McColl 39
The couple married 18,12,1857 at Glasgow.Bridgeton.
Her death cert 17 June 1884  gives parents Micheal and Mary nee Orr.

1861 725 Gallowgate Glasgow with extra daughter Elizabeth age 3 months
1881 357 Mordaunt st foundry lab extra children Mary 7 ,Robert 2

William has moved to Ireland by the 1911 census.
Is that the right man?

Hello again I have now found William and Elizabeth's marriage in Old Kilpatrick ,Gladstone Place 29 Dec1882  and his parents are Robert and Mary MacCormick and her parents  James and Helen McKinnon nee Porter,both deceased

So it is him in 1871.
The MCCormicks are in Glasgow on the 1851 census in the Gallowgate area.Michael was a spirit dealer age44 and Mary age 36 .Children Agnes 15,Mary 12 ,Elizabeth 10,Jane 6,Sarah 3 and Helen 1. All children born Scotland .
Not seeing anything in Scotland before 1857 for Robert Clark and his marriage but his death cert should give his parents.


Ciderdrinker

[Forfarian]

I’m a member of MyHeritage and for the life of me I can’t seem to find any records relating to birth or ancesters of my great great grandfather - is anyone able to point me in right direction of where I can find something?

See https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=714261.0

[Kiltaglassan]

He must have left Scotland around 1894 as one daughter was born in Whiteinch, Scotland and then I have him down as being in Belfast from another daughters birth in 1895 and on the census in Belfast in 1901.

1911 census
House 118 in East Bread Street (Pottinger (part of), Down)
https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Pottinger__part_of_/East_Bread_Street/227820/

Mary Clarke (aged 16) born 3 September 1894.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1894/02254/1847753.pdf

Ruth Clarke (aged 14) born 13 September 1896.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1896/02153/1816775.pdf

Edited to Add:
ScotlandsPeople
CLARK
ELIZABETH
MCKINNON
F
1892
646 / 3 / 1137
PARTICK

[Kiltaglassan]

...then I have him down as being in Belfast from another daughters birth in 1895 and on the census in Belfast in 1901.

OP, you may have this......the 1901 census (transcribed as Clork).

House 21 in Otter Street (Victoria, Down)
https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Victoria/Otter_Street/1218917/
https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000718132/

[Neale1961]

I have now found William and Elizabeth's marriage in Old Kilpatrick , Gladstone Place 29 Dec1882  and his parents are Robert and Mary MacCormick and
her parents  James and Helen McKinnon nee Porter, both deceased

I do NOT see any births in Glasgow area for children of James McKinnon and Helen Porter

I DO see birth registrations for children of James Keenan and Helen Porter
 - John Keenan 1855 Glasgow
 - Elizabeth Keenan 1858 Glasgow
 - James Keenan1862 Glasgow
 - Jane Kennan 1865 Glasgow

Marriage James Keenan to Elenor Porter 26 Dec 1850 Hillsborough, Lisburn
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1850/09392/5401999.pdf

I have not found them in the Scottish census under Keenan or McKinnon.


Helen Porter / Helen Keenan died age 45 in 1871 High Church Glasgow. Her death cert will tell you a lot more.


The marriage says that James Keenan was  carpenter. I don’t know if this is the same man but …
There are criminal files / trial papers (for theft) for James Keenan, Irish, joiner, living 19 Gallowgate Glasgow in 1862.
https://www.scottishindexes.com/adentry.aspx?adid=862023

[Neale1961]

Not seeing anything in Scotland before 1857 for Robert Clark and his marriage but his death cert should give his parents.

Marriage record  18 Dec 1857 Bridgetown Glasgow
Groom - Robert CLARK , 23  - parents Wm Clarke (farmer) and Ann Anderson
Bride - Mary McCORMICK , 19 – parents Michael McCormick (labourer) and Mary Orr

----------
Mary McCormick - born 4 Aug 1834, baptism 19 Aug 1838 - St Andrews Glasgow (Roman Catholic)
Parents - Michael McCormick and Mary Orr
Sponsors – John Burman, Catherine Kelly

This may be the 1841 census for the McCormick family in Gallowgate https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5a14e8e7f4040b9d6eefe322/mary-mccormick-1841-lanarkshire-glasgow-1838-?locale=en