Struggling

[NorthernGeezer]

!'m with you 100% on your assumptions Neale, the search ends where it ends but that genealogy I suppose but you never know eh.
I've really enjoyed this search and the help everyone here has given, thanks.

[NorthernGeezer]

Here's a thought.....................
Its just occurred to me that Duncan's daughter Edith, born in 1856, has the middle name Fanny, which is the name of his stepmother.
Coincidence or did Duncan live with them at some point and NOT with his mother, or at least was aware of them?
He would have known Fanny from the marriage in 1830 when he was 7, we know he doesn't appear in the 1841 census when he would have been 18 so he was either living elsewhere or had emigrated to the USA, where he appears in the 1850 census.

[NorthernGeezer]

Another thought......................
Edith on the 1871 visiting the Browning's would suggest her father had more of a connection to his mother than we assumed.
the mystery continues 

[NorthernGeezer]

And here's another thought......................
The 1850 census shows 3 members of the Perry family, mother Mary Ann, Son Charles, and daughter Jane listed along with Duncan.
So the Macarthur/Perry link exists in 1850 and possibly before.
The bits that dont kind of add up though.
Janes death certificate, age 69, states she has been in the USA 51 years, making her 18 when she arrived, the 1850 census shows her age 27, clearly a misprint as the 1860 census also shows her age 27, she's 17 in 1850, a year before her death certificate tells us her immigration date.
Ok, the maths are slightly out but Its not a great stretch to imagine Jane hasn't been in the USA that long, probably less than a year.
2 theories..................given we cant find Duncan in the UK following his birth, nor in the 1841 census, is he already in the USA before the Perrys arrive, by the way, I cant find Duncan in the 1840 census either, so does he meet the Perry's over here/
The 2nd theory is he met them in the UK and came over with them.
Any thoughts on either of these??

[Neale1961]

Fathers name Duncan Macarthur born in SCOTLAND, mothers name looks like Sarah Browning/Benning

Can you please clarify exactly what is written on the death certificate about the mother Sarah?
Do you see both names Browning and Benning, or do you see one surname only?
If you can attach a clip of just her name it would be good.

[Neale1961]

Regarding the Perry family ......

Jane Perry’s brother, Charles, married in London on 10 Sept 1848.
Assuming that the Perry family travelled together to the USA, it was between Sept 1848 and 1st June 1850 (census). That is a rather small window to search.
Of course, it is possible that some members of the Perry family came to America first, and the others followed later.

[NorthernGeezer]

Sarah's surname looks like Benning, its very squiggly writing and partially covered by the stamp.

[NorthernGeezer]

1850 census just shows the 3 Perry's and his wife isn't listed, but neither are Mary Ann's other children Frederick or Margaret.

[NorthernGeezer]

On closer inspection of Sarah's surname, it looks like an "R" after the "B" so its probably Browning