McMurray, Muir, McCutcheon

[patjohn]

Hope someone can help to save me going round the bend!
In the 1871 Census I have a James McCutcheon with wife Douglas( FEMALE) and 2 sons in law but I think they meant stepsons as we have the record of Douglas marrying a Thomas Muir in 1840. She is also shown as his wife on her death certificate but I cannot find any record of the marriage to James McCutcheon. In the 1861 census he is still unmarried aged 33 and at home with brother and mother. I also cannot find his birth about 1830 according to census records with parents as shown on his death certificate of John McCutcheon and Mary McTaggart. Any information about James would be welcome.

[patjohn]

should have said Doulas' maiden surname was McMurray

[SarahND]

Hi patjohn,
It would help to know what part of Scotland these people were supposed to have been born in and where they were living in the censuses you have found.
All the best,
Sarah

[patjohn]

Sorry I should have said they are living in Ayr mostly in the village of Barr on death records and Census

Pat

[AndrewP]

Hope someone can help to save me going round the bend!
In the 1871 Census I have a James McCutcheon with wife Douglas( FEMALE) and 2 sons in law but I think they meant stepsons as we have the record of Douglas marrying a Thomas Muir in 1840. She is also shown as his wife on her death certificate but I cannot find any record of the marriage to James McCutcheon. In the 1861 census he is still unmarried aged 33 and at home with brother and mother. I also cannot find his birth about 1830 according to census records with parents as shown on his death certificate of John McCutcheon and Mary McTaggart. Any information about James would be welcome.

Hi Pat,

Give or take a spelling variation, the marriage is there on ScotlandsPeople.

1858 MCCUTCHEN JAMES MCMURRAY DOUGLAS BARR /AYR

In the 1861 census, James McCutcheon is there (shown as married) with his wife Douglas, three stepsons and one son. It is indexed as McCutchon.

For that surname, I would suggest searching for M*Cutch*n to cover the variations.

All the best,

AndrewP

[SarahND]

Thanks Pat, that helps!
My search was complicated by a mis-transcription in 1871 calling them "mcculshson"

I think you have the wrong 1861 census, as I found this one that matches the people in the 1871 census you mentioned:

1861
30 West End, Barr, Ayrshire
James Mccutchan, 33, Head, born Girvan, Ayrshire, Tailor (master)
Douglas Mcmurray, 41, Wife, born Barr, Ayrshire
Alexander Muir, 14, Stepson, born Barr, Ayrshire, Shepherd
Thomas Muir, 10, Stepson, born Barr, Ayrshire, Scholar
John Muir, 7, Stepson, born Barr, Ayrshire, Scholar
David Mccutchen, 2, Son, born Barr, Ayrshire

Ah! I see that Andrew has just found the marriage

Regards,
Sarah

[SarahND]

Hi again,
According to FamilySearch.org, John Mccutchon married Mary Mctaggart on 10 Jun 1825 in Straiton, Ayr

You'll find James' birth in Straiton in 1827 on ScotlandsPeople (not on FamilySearch)

All the best,
Sarah

[patjohn]

Thank you very much Sarah and Andrew. I must remember to use surname variants or asterixs as you suggest.

Pat