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HELP HELP HELP!! Had an afternoon of trailing through familysearch.org & now Im in a whirl!!
I think Ive managed to find John Craig in 1891 census-
Newtown, St Cuthbert Holme, Hayton in Cumberland.with his wife Mary (born in Longtown, Cumberland- that helps a bit) and his daughter (born in Bolton) so that all fits. IN 1901 I find him in Arthuret, Cumberland with his wife and daughter again and YES it says hes born in Wigtownshire!
BUT---- when I look at his age, 71, that does not seem to fit in with any John Craigs born in Wigtownshire found on familysearch.org.
Sooo what I really need to know is how accurate are the births and christening details on familysearch as I started with John being born in1825 to being born about 1831 on the 1901 census. Oh help !! He seems to have lost five years!

Sorry, you're quite right about the English death certificates.

I was thinking about the marriage certificates. One of my ancestors went down to England and married there. It was his marriage certificate I was thinking about.

I suppose if you could find a definite marriage for John Craig, his certificate should mention his father's name and occupation. I'm sure there is a connection between John (and probably) his niece, Margaret. Why else would she be married from his home address in the 1871 census.

Im a little confused here --- any death certificates we have do not show fathers occupation /name. Ive only seen this on birth cerificates.

I think I may have found the christening records for Thomas, John and William Craig. (Check the 1841 census sent previously .. living at Sheep Park, Kirkinner)

Father: Thomas Craig
Mother: Ann Stroyan

1. JOHN CRAIG - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 16 MAR 1825 New Luce, Wigtown, Scotland
2. THOMAS CRAIG - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 01 MAR 1817 New Luce, Wigtown, Scotland
3. THOMAS CRAIG - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 02 MAR 1817 New Luce, Wigtown, Scotland
4. WILLIAM CRAIG - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 25 APR 1819 New Luce, Wigtown, Scotland
5. WILLIAM CRAIG - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 26 APR 1819 New Luce, Wigtown, Scotland


The reason I think this is the family is I found a death for Ann Craig / Stroyan.

freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~leighann/wfp/deaths/3.html

Craig / Stroyan, Ann
Died: 3/7/1844
At Kirkinner, on the 3rd instant, Ann Stroyan, wife of Thomas Craig, late farmer in Sheep Park.

If you can narrow down the possible date of death for Thomas Craig in Lancashire, his death certificate should register his father’s name and occupation. Hopefully this would confirm the connection with Thomas Craig, Farmer.

Thank you Aileen, I think I will have to concentrate on finding out who John Craig is, found living at 7 Wood Street in 1871 census. If I can find out where he was born then it may lead me to the right Thomas (hopefully the one we found in Liverpool). Struggling to find John in 1891, he doesnt seem to be in Bolton anymore. Obviously a man with itchy feet !
Possibly found his marriage though- to Mary Dixon 1858 in Bolton ---stll researching this one.
Many thanks again & also to Mel & Helen - you are all being very helpful ( and patient!)

Hi Teeny
the Thomas Craig on the 1841 census was 20yrs old......
If the Thomas Craig you are searching for died in Scotland before 1855 you will possibly never find him.....prior to 1855 there were no death certificates only parish burial records. Very few of these still remain and those that do often contain very little information.......sorry

I found a John Craig in Bolton in 1851, no. 3 Wood street no less!
Unmarried "lenin woolen draper", but unfortunately just born in Scotland!!
Thank you for all your hard work-- this is the last piece of the jigsaw in my Mums family tree. We were excited to find that someone was from Scotland as everyone else in the family have been Lancashire born and bred.But we never thought we would be able to find out where she came from. My Mum will be so pleased to know where Margaret came from if all this turns out to be right & I couldnt have done this without you.It will be fun to continue this and find out about the Craig family in Wigtownshire!!

According to the 1871 census for John Craig and Mary. Mary says she was born in Cumberland.

As Wigton is down at the border of Scotland and England, John would not have had to travel far (about 20 miles) to Cumberland in order to have met and married Mary.

Doesn't mean that much ... but it's another wee bit of information that might help prove the connection in time.


You could try searching for John Craig in the 1851 census in England. See if he is married to Mary yet ... and he may even mention an area in Scotland for his birthplace.

How did I miss that one??!!! Yep Ive decided , IM going crazy!! Thankyou so much Helen , you have been amazing. Many many thanks for your hard work.

Thomas Craig is in the 1841 census previously sent on ... page 2

You can see his siblings and mother ... Ann.


I've checked for births or baptisms on Familysearch. No sign of them .. so looking like they were not baptised.

REALLY CONFUSED!!!
Found loads of Craigs in Wigtown but cant just sort them out into families Can anyone kindly look up Thomas in 1841 Scottish census to see if we can find his siblings, then I might be able to find out if John is related to the Craig family in Liverpool.

This could well be her as her marriage was in Mochrum and first child born in mochrum. Thank you Helen. Im trying to find Thomas and a brother John now to prove its the right couple for Margarets parents(well I think thats what I need to do --- ---------)!!

Thinking this may be Isabella McMaster living in Mochrum.


Piece: SCT1841/892 Place: Mochram -Wigtownshire Enumeration District: 4
Civil Parish: Mochrum Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: Mochrum
Folio: 4 Page: 10
Address: Eldrig Farm

Surname First name(s) Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
MCMASTER Jane F 50 Farmer Wigtownshire
MCMASTER Peter M 30 Farmer Wigtownshire
MCMASTER Isabella F 25 Wigtownshire
MCMASTER Thos M 20 Wigtownshire
MCMASTER Margreat F 20 Wigtownshire
MCMASTER Jane F 15 Wigtownshire
Page: 4/11 MCMASTER Mary F 15 Wigtownshire
MCMASTER Helen F 12 Wigtownshire
MCMASTER Agnes F 8 Wigtownshire

Note her mother's name ... Jane. This would also fit in with the Scottish naming pattern. First daughter named after her maternal granny.

Worth keeping in mind the children were born in Scotland and Thomas and Isabella would probably still be sticking to the naming pattern peculiar to Scotland.

How about this one.

1841 census ... Wigton

Piece: SCT1841/889 Place: Kirkinner -Wigtownshire Enumeration District: 2
Civil Parish: Kirkinner Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: Kirkinner
Folio: 2 Page: 8
Address: Sheep Park

Surname First name(s) Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
CRAIG Thomas M 55 Farmer Wigtownshire
CRAIG Ann F 50 Wigtownshire
CRAIG Thomas M 20 Wigtownshire
CRAIG William M 20 Wigtownshire
CRAIG Anthony M 15 Wigtownshire
CRAIG John M 13 Wigtownshire
CRAIG James M 11 Wigtownshire

As the marriage for Thomas Craig and Isabella McMaster is recorded twice, (Kirkinner and Mochrum) could it be this may be the Thomas Craig you're looking for. The reason for two marriages to be recorded for the same date is most likely to be the reading of Banns in both the man and woman's parish.

No occupation mentioned however.

But ... as his second child was named Annie ... this could be after his mother, Ann.

Would fit in with the Scottish naming pattern of calling the second daughter after her paternal grandmother.

Also note: Thomas has a brother, John, who kind of fits in with the age for John Craig mentioned in the 1871 census.

Just trying to find them in 1891 census but no joy -- Daughters are probably married though.

This looks like John and Mary Craig in the 1881 census. Too bad he doesn't say where in Scotland he was born. Looking good however that he may be a relative of Thomas Craig ...

Household:

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
John CRAIG Head M Male 55 Scotland Travelling Draper
Mary CRAIG Wife M Female 52 Asthurst, Cumberland, England
Mary A. CRAIG Dau U Female 18 Bolton, Lancashire, England Pupil Teacher
Maggie J. CRAIG Dau U Female 8 Bolton, Lancashire, England Scholar
Harry De. BELL Lodger U Male 24 Devonport, Devon, England Public Elementary Teacher (School)

Source Information:
Dwelling 68 Radcliffe Rd
Census Place Tonge With Haulgh, Lancashire, England


Mary Ann Craig's birth ?

Births Dec 1862
CRAIG Mary Ann Bolton 8c __8

Births Sep 1872
Craig Margaret Jane Bolton 8c 346

Perhaps Im getting somewhere now. Just found who was living at 7, Wood street in 1871-
John Craig, 45,Scotland
Mary Craig,42,Cumberland
Mary A Craig,8, Lancashire plus two servants & a lodger.
So, could this be Thomas' brother? Help!!!! I feel like Im going round in circles , can someone spell it out for me where I go next -- I feel like Im sooo near yet sooooo far!!!

Just had a thought although dont know if it will help in any way---- Margaret 's residence at time of her marriage was 7, wood street(recap-m in 1872 bolton le moors). I cant find her in 1871 census- there is a Margaret Craig living in Prince street Bolton but Birth place is Ireland . Is there a way of finding out who did live at 7, wood street Bolton le moors in 1871 the year before her marriage --it might give me some clues to Margarets family.

All I need now is to find that Thomas became a grocer before he died and hey presto job done!!

All sounds possible to me!!