Searching for William Melrose 1831

[chris townsley]

My gt.gt grandfather William Melrose was born in Scotland. I have all possible certificates for him, marriage, death, children's births and marriages. On all of these it only says born Scotland but where? His father was John Melrose, a forester from Scotland and Willliam started off as a forester but this changed though the census records. In every record Monk Fryston 1861, Burton Salmon 1871,Brotherton 1881, Brotherton 1891 and Ferry Fryston 1901 his birth is 1831 Scotland. William married Elizabeth Jackson 1829 from East Hardwick. When William died in Goole in 1916 he was 86 years old so this fits in with his other records. Though I have looked on the Scotland's People site I have failed to find a suitable birth. I have been unable to find William in 1841 or 1851. Please has anyone any suggestions for further research?

Chris

[jane.harrison.9]

Hi Chris,
I can find only one William Melrose with a father John on the IGI 1831 +/- 5yrs.
He was bapt Crithton Midlothian 20 Oct 1828.
As he was born before registration came into Scotland in 1855 there is no guarantee that you will be able to find him, especially without a region.
Not all children where baptised , some baptisms were long after their birth so even if you know the dob it doesn't always tie in with the baptism.
Not all Parish records have survived intact and there are some years missing.
When did he marry ? If you let me know I will check the cenus for you and see if I can come up with anything.
He may have still been in Scotland on the 1841/51 census as ages were quite often rounded up/down so it is quite easy to miss.
If he is still in Scotland then it may help to narrow down his place of birth.

Jane. :)

[chris townsley]

I really appreciate the trouble you have taken to try to find William's birth for me. I shall certainly follow up your suggestion. William married Elizabeth Jackson in Pontefract on May 7th 1857 so he was certainly in England by that time. In 1854 Elizabeth had an illigitimate child Lucy and though her father James Jackson is down as her father on Lucy's marriage certificate I do wonder if the father was actually William Melrose though the gap between Lucy's birth and her mother's marriage does suggest otherwise.
I have been unable to find William in the English census records for 1841 or 1851 so perhaps he was still in Scotland. William was a woodman and farm servant - his father John was a woodman on William and Elizabeth's marriage certificate.