Wiliam McDonald 1804 Hoddom Confusion!

[dippitybix]

Good evening all,

I'm looking for some help relating to my 5x GG William McDonald born ABT 1804 in Hoddom, Dumfriesshire.

In the 1841 and 1851 census he is living with his wife Jane/Jean Jardine (haven't actually found a marriage record so assuming it is his wife and children).

In the 1861 census he is living with a lodger called Margaret Dickson, and his grandson John McDonald aged 10 (my 3x GG) (His father is, I believe, William McDonald as stated on his death certificate. His mother as stated on his 2nd marriage certificate is Elizabeth McDonald - no mention of his father on his marriage certificate. No mention of mother on his death certificate!).

In the 1871 census we find him aged 68 living with his supposed wife Elizabeth McDonald aged 40, with apparently a daughter called Agnes aged 5 and a son James aged 3. He is also living with a John McDonald his grandson aged 20 and a William McDonald aged 13.

I then can't find any trace of him.

His supposed second wife Elizabeth McDonald can be found on the 1881 census with Agnes and James this time she is a Lodging House Keeper in Hoddom. The 1871 and 1881 census states she was born in Aberdeen.

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated as always.

[Neale1961]

Mother of Agnes McDonald (1864 Hoddam) and John James McDonald (1867 Hoddam)
had the surname  GRAHAM. Their birth certificates should say if parents were married and where and when they married.


John McDonald born 25 Mar 1831 Hoddam
Son of William McDonald and Jean Jardine

Earliest birth for William McDonald and Jean Jardine was Elizabeth in 1827 Hoddam.

[Neale1961]

1871 census has William working as a carter. He may have died away from home. I see no sign of him in 1881 census.
Does 1881 census show Elizabeth as a widow?

[dippitybix]

Mother of Agnes McDonald (1864 Hoddam) and John James McDonald (1867 Hoddam)
had the surname  GRAHAM. Their birth certificates should say if parents were married and where and when they married.


John McDonald born 25 Mar 1831 Hoddam
Son of William McDonald and Jean Jardine

Earliest birth for William McDonald and Jean Jardine was Elizabeth in 1827 Hoddam.

Since I posted I bought the certificates for Agnes and John James McDonald from SP.
They give parents names William McDonald - Carter and Margaret McDonald nee Graham.
It gives their marriage as Dec 2 1863 in Gretna - I haven't managed to find any record of this marriage.

Margaret Graham died 3 June 1870 in Hoddom.

I've come to believe that perhaps Elizabeth McDonald from Aberdeen was his 3rd wife or partner and she took both Agnes and James in after his death. I also can't find him in the 1881 census so assuming he's died by that point.

[dippitybix]

1871 census has William working as a carter. He may have died away from home. I see no sign of him in 1881 census.
Does 1881 census show Elizabeth as a widow?

I only have the transcript and it doesn't say - I'll try purchasing the scan from SP and see.

[rosie17]

1871 census has William working as a carter. He may have died away from home. I see no sign of him in 1881 census.
Does 1881 census show Elizabeth as a widow?

I only have the transcript and it doesn't say - I'll try purchasing the scan from SP and see.

On the 1881 LDS which are free she is showing as a widow


Rosie

[dippitybix]

1871 census has William working as a carter. He may have died away from home. I see no sign of him in 1881 census.
Does 1881 census show Elizabeth as a widow?

I only have the transcript and it doesn't say - I'll try purchasing the scan from SP and see.

On the 1881 LDS which are free she is showing as a widow


Rosie

Ahh thanks Rosie

[dippitybix]

I'm intrigued regarding Elizabeth McDonald's background, if she used her married name of McDonald - cannot find a marriage certificate so I guess impossible to know.

[Neale1961]

Gretna Green Marriage
8 Nov 1870
William McDonald from the Parish of Hoddam in the county of Dumfries, and Elizabeth McKay from the parish of Aberdeen in the county of Aberdeen. They being here declared themselves husband and wife this 8th day of November.
Witnesses – Francis Clark, Mary Clark.
Both groom and bride signed with X