Matthew Watson birth c1855 - Help please!.....

[Sue Erskine]

Hi

I've got a nice little picture built of the life of my G.G.Grandfather, having found him in several census years, getting married, having children and then his death. But, I'm getting increasingly frustrated at not being able to find his birth I've been banging my head against a brick wall with this one for the past two years so thought it high time I asked for help!

Matthew Watson's parents were Matthew Watson and Mary Cunningham (m: Nov 1846 East Kilbride)

From all the evidence I have it appears that Matthew was born c1855 and probably in the East Kilbride area but possibly Barrhead:

1851 Census - Matthew is still a twinkle in his mothers eye, his parents are living in Kirkstone Village, Byston, E Kilbride with two older siblings.

1861 Census - can't find him, although I have his parents and two siblings living in Maxwelton, E. Kilbride. Matthew and two siblings are missing. One sister is living with Grandmother also in Maxwelton.

1871 Census has him in Busby, age 17, born Kilbride
In 1879, age 24, he marries Agnes Campbell in Busby, Lanarkshire
1881 has him in E.Kilbride age 26, born Barrhead, Renfrew
1891 has him in Glengowan, Airdrie, age 36 born Busby, Lanarkshire (appears to have moved to Glengowan between 1882-84 judging by births of children)
1901 he is in Glengowan, age 44, born Barrhead, Renfrew
1905 Matthew dies age 50 in Glengowan

So - his age is fairly consistent throughout with only the 1901 census suggesting he was born c1857

Does anyone have any ideas? I'd love to find him on the 1861 Census but its his birth that is bugging me the most.

Many thanks

[CatrionaL]

Hi Sue

There is one hit on Scotlands People for a Matt* WATSON born in 1855 in Stirling, Scotland, neither Lanark nor Renfrew. But it might be worth a look since your Matthieu appears unsure of his place of birth.

Sorry I don't have credits left, so can't tell you any more about this one.

Regards

Catriona

[Sue Erskine]

Hi Catriona

Thanks but I have already checked out this Matthew Watson and he's not mine. One thing I haven't done is to use a wildcard in the surname, I've forged ahead thinking that Watson is so easy and straightforward that there wouldn't be any transcription/spelling errors but maybe that should be my next step.

Thanks again

[WilmaM]

I did a parent search on the IGI and came up with:

1. JAMES WATSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 26 AUG 1862 East Kilbride, Lanark, Scotland

2. MARY YOUNG WATSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 05 JUL 1856 East Kilbride, Lanark, Scotland

3. NEIL CUNNINGHAM WATSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 01 JUL 1866 East Kilbride, Lanark, Scotland

4. MARION CUNNINGHAM WATSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 09 MAR 1859 Neilston, Renfrew, Scotland

All born Post Statutary Registration

There was a Submitted entry:
Flora Watson - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: About 1849 East Kilbride, Lanark, Scotland

was she one of his older siblings?

If so, the simple answer to your question may be that they didn't register the births before 1855 or the records have not survived.

[nelmit]

Hi Catriona

Thanks but I have already checked out this Matthew Watson and he's not mine. One thing I haven't done is to use a wildcard in the surname, I've forged ahead thinking that Watson is so easy and straightforward that there wouldn't be any transcription/spelling errors but maybe that should be my next step.

Thanks again

The most common spelling 'error' seems to be Mathew.
There are a couple of these in the right age group in 1861 but I'm don't think they are yours. I'm pretty sure they can be cross referenced to the IGI births.

Annette M

[Sue Erskine]

Hi

Thanks Annette - I'm going to spend some of my weekend searching again. I've more or less given up on finding Matthew's birth, I think he was probably born pre-1855 and not baptised. However, I should be able to find him somewhere on the 1861 census. Both he and his sister Mary are currently 'missing' in 1861.

Happy Easter