Find Ancestors

I am searching for George Young and Mary Dawson. They appear on the 1841 and 1851 census but are missing on the 1861.

In 1841 they are listed as residing in Govan Skating Double Row with a son John 4yrs and a son Archibald 1yr. There is also a listing for an Elizabeth Dawson 35yrs. I believe that would be her sister.

In 1851 they are listed as living in Govan at 13 Shatrigg with a son Archibald 11yrs, a dau Sophia 8yrs, a son John 4yrs and a son Alexander 1yr. There is also a listing for a Sophia Dawson 76yrs mother-in-law, pauper.

The parents do not appear on the 1861 census. The children are listed as living in Dunbarton, New Kilpartrick at Blue Row. The head of household is Mrs John Campbell, wid, 68yrs. A son Richard Campbell 24yrs ironstone miner. The following are listed as grandchildren. Sophia Young 19yrs, servant, John Young 15yrs, ironstone miner and Alex Young 12yrs ironstone miner.

Sophia Young married Robert Aitken 14 Sept 1866 and indicated on the marriage record that her parents were deceased.

I cannot find death entries for the parents in the 1851/1866 time frame.

I have to say this is intriguing me. I checked the death indexes for George Young, Mary Young ms Dawson and also for the mother in law Sophia Dawson from 1855 (when registration started in Scotland until 1866 (the date of the younger Sophia's marriage) and could not find a record of the death for any of them.

So either all three died between 1851 (the time of the last census they appeared on) and 1855 (when registration started in Scotland) or they died elsewhere.

I notice that Sophia who was 76 in the 1851 was said in the census to have been born in Guernsey, so maybe she was visiting the family. Perhaps not though as her daughter Mary was said to have been born in Barony in Scotland.

I will keep searching and see what I can find.

It may be that the children were staying with their grandmother at the time of the 1861 census and that the parents were elsewhere that evening.

A mystery, but I will keep looking

Tom

Archibald Young married Rubina Gordon on 12 Feb 1866. He also lists his parents George Young and Mary Dawson as being deceased at that time. I think we can safely say they died prior to this date.

FreeCEN gives the 1841 address as Skaterig Double Road, Partick in Govan district. I would guess Skaterig Double Row is more likely, but I haven't seen any originals. FreeCEN has none of Govan (646) online for 1851, but I would guess 13 Skaterigg (the modern spelling) is more likely. There are a couple of modern streets Skaterigg Gardens/Drive between Anniesland and Jordanhill, just NW of Govan/Partick.