Help reasonably new to searching for ancestors.....

[dionne67]

I am searching for the marraige of thomas law and margaret knox who married sometime in the 1840's i have their death records but no birth or marraige records any help would be appreciated greatly
Dionne

[WilmaM]

Hello Dionne,
welcome to Talking Scot.

You say you have their death records, what ages are on those and when [and where] did they die ?
Was it a son or daughter who registered the deaths?

Questions questions questions but it will give us a better chance of hitting the right ones straight away.

The IGI didn't throw anything up straight away, so the more information you can supply te better.

[AndrewP]

The IGI gives the following lot as the children of Thomas Law and Margaret Knox.

• AGNES LAW - Birth: 08 AUG 1855 Dalry, Ayr
  MARGARET LAW - Birth: 11 DEC 1856 Dalry, Ayr
  SUSANNA LAW - Birth: 10 SEP 1858 Dalry, Ayr
  JOSHUA LAW - Birth: 09 JUN 1861 Dalry, Ayr

These were extracted from the birth certificates.

Separately, there is an LDS submission given for another son, and his marriage to a Christina Ditty.

• SAMUEL LAW - Birth: 1858 Kilsyth, Stirling
  SAMUEL LAW - Marriage: 11 JUL 1882 Kilsyth, Stirling

The birth certificates on www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk to go for first are the 1855 and the 1861. The 1855 certificate should give you more information about children already born to this couple, and a marriage date and place. The 1861 certificate should be also show the marriage date and place, hopefully confirming the date given in 1855. This useful piece of information is not usually found on certificates from 1856 to 1860.

Samuel Law's birth is not to be found as an extract from the birth certificates. That puts an amount of doubt into its correctness. It may be worth searching for his marriage certificate and seeing his age there - does it go along with the information on the LDS submitted entry? Bear in mind that it is quite common for these ages to be wrong.

All the best,

Andrew Paterson

[Andy]

Samuel Law in 1881

Dwelling: Burnside
Census Place: Kilsyth, Stirling, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203542 GRO Ref Volume 483 EnumDist 9 Page 37
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Alexander JAMEISON M 63 M Kilsyth, Stirling, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Cotton Weaver
Ann JAMEISON M 63 F Kilsyth, Stirling, Scotland
Rel: Wife
Occ: Housework
Alexander LAW 7 M Kilsyth, Stirling, Scotland
Rel: Gr Son
Occ: Scholar
Samuel LAW U 25 M Dalry, Ayr, Scotland
Rel: Lodger
Occ: Ironstone Miner

So he was born in Dalry

[Andy]

And Christina:
Dwelling: 86 Barrhill Rows
Census Place: Kirkintilloch, Dumbarton, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203550 GRO Ref Volume 498 EnumDist 6 Page 20
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Margaret DITTY M 45 F Ireland
Rel: Head
Occ: Agricultural Labourer
Samuel DITTY U 25 M Ireland
Rel: Son
Occ: Iron Miner
Wilson DITTY U 22 M Ireland
Rel: Son
Occ: Iron Miner
Christina DITTY U 16 F Kilsyth, Stirling, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Working On Pit Head
James DITTY U 14 M Kirkintilloch, Dunbarton, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Iron Miner
Margaret DITTY 10 F Kirkintilloch, Dunbarton, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Scholar
Robert DITTY 8 M Kirkintilloch, Dunbarton, Scotland
Rel: Son
Frederick DITTY 5 M Kirkintilloch, Dunbarton, Scotland
Rel: Son

[Andy]

Alexanders Parents were John Law and Janet Jamieson who married 14 APR 1871 Kilsyth, Stirling, Scotland. That would confirm who the parents were.

They had three children befor 1874

1. MARGARET KNOX LAW - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 19 FEB 1872 Kilsyth, Stirling, Scotland

2. THOMAS LAW - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 10 JUN 1870 Kilsyth, Stirling, Scotland

3. ALEXANDER LAW - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 06 JAN 1874 Kilsyth, Stirling, Scotland

So it's looking pretty good

Here is another two Brothers:

Dwelling: 10 Miners Row
Census Place: Kirkintilloch, Dumbarton, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203550 GRO Ref Volume 498 EnumDist 6 Page 32
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
William LAW M 29 M Dalry, Ayr, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Coalminer
Mary LAW M 26 F Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland
Rel: Wife
Mary LAW 8 F Kirkintilloch, Dunbarton, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Scholar
Margaret LAW 7 F Kirkintilloch, Dunbarton, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Scholar
Thomas LAW 5 M Kirkintilloch, Dunbarton, Scotland
Rel: Son
James LAW 6 m M Kirkintilloch, Dunbarton, Scotland
Rel: Son
John LAW W 37 M Ireland
Rel: Brother
Occ: Iron Miner
Thomas LAW 10 M Kilsyth, Stirling, Scotland
Rel: Nephew
Occ: Scholar
Margaret LAW 9 M Kilsyth, Stirling, Scotland
Rel: Niece
Occ: Scholar

NOTICE WHERE JOHN WAS BORN, I reckon that's why you've not been able to find the birth or marriage of the parents.

[Andy]

Given the names of the children this could be another:

Dwelling: Old Carsehead Row
Census Place: Dalry, Ayr, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203595 GRO Ref Volume 587 EnumDist 15 Page 10
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Thomas LAW M 40 M Ireland
Rel: Head
Occ: Iron Miner
Elizabeth LAW M 42 F Ireland
Rel: Wife
Occ: Iron Miner Wife
Thomas LAW 14 M Dalry, Ayr, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Iron Miner
Mary LAW 11 F Dalry, Ayr, Scotland
Rel: Daugh
Occ: Scholar
Robert LAW 9 M Dalry, Ayr, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Scholar
Samuel LAW 6 M Dalry, Ayr, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Scholar
James LAW 3 M Dalry, Ayr, Scotland
Rel: Son

[WilmaM]

Well there you are Dionne

While I was searching for the slightest hint - Andy presents it on a plate

Plenty information there for you.

[broch587]

Be wary with this family, half of the family change their surname shortly after the census.

Would love to talk further with you about this.

[JD152]

Hello All, first timer on this forum, Very excited to read this line of chat.

My Great Grandmother was Margaret Knox Law ( the wee girl listed in the 1881 Census living in her Uncle Williams house, along with her brother and father ).

Margaret had two brothers, Thomas and Alexander. Alexander in 1881 is found living with his maternal grandparents, Alexander and Ann JAMIESON. Their daughter Janet was John Law's wife.

Family story goes ( and we all know how accurate they can be ! ) is that John LAW returned to Scotland when his wife Janet died. He was thought to have come back from some war ( ? ). There was also mention of a "name change". So i'm certainly interested in any information anyone might have to shed some light. Not sure what 'war' would be a fit, wondered if it might be more about John LAW's Irish background ?


FYI, Margaret Knox LAW married a Robert GARDNER, and emigrated to NZ around 1911. Thomas LAW followed his sister out around the same time. If anyone is interested in next generation details happy to provide.

This is a great site , by the way.
Cheers JD