john Lang

[kevynne]

I have been trying for years to find information about John Wilson Lang whomwas born in Edinburgh c 1836 . On his death certificate John Lang was his father but mother was "unknown". Any ideas how I can find his mother . John w. Lang immigrated in 1862 and so far I haven't found him on a census.

[Trish]

I have been trying for years to find information about John Wilson Lang whomwas born in Edinburgh c 1836 . On his death certificate John Lang was his father but mother was "unknown". Any ideas how I can find his mother . John w. Lang immigrated in 1862 and so far I haven't found him on a census.Kevynne, have you ruled out the following entry in the 1841 census:

Reference: Parish: Edinburgh St Cuthberts; ED: 11; Year: 1841
Address: No. 18 Mid Arthur Pl, Edinburgh St. Cuthberts, Midlothian
-- John Laing 45 Bookbinder I born Midlothian Scotland
-- Euphemia Laing 40 born Scotland
-- Euphemia Laing 13 born Midlothian Scotland
-- John Laing 6 born Midlothian Scotland
-- William Laing 1 born Midlothian Scotland

Different spelling for Lang but that shouldn't deter you from considering this family.

Regards,
Trish

[Trish]

I think the following must be the same Laing parents in 1851 although I'm not sure why the ages from 1841 don't match -- unless one or other set has been wrongly transcribed.

Reference: Parish: Duddingston; ED: 2; Line: 13; Year: 1851
Address: Roseville, Midlothian
-- John Laing Head 69 Retired Factor born Mortlach Banffshire
-- Mary Laing Wife 65 born Mortlach Banffshire
-- James Laing Son 40 Accountant born Edinburgh Midlothian
-- Euphemia Laing Daughter-in-law 32 born Edinburgh Midlothian
-- Margaret Brash Servant 30 House Servant born Abercorn Linlithgowshire
-- Mary Dempster Servant 21 House Servant born Dalmeny Linlithgowshire

And still on the same street as in 1841, the sons:

Reference: Parish: Edinburgh St Cuthberts; ED: 8; Line: 14; Year: 1851
Address: 5/1 Middle Arthur Pl
-- Andrew Porteous Head 37 House Carpenter born Edinr
-- Jemima Porteous Wife 26 born Edinr
-- Jemenmina Porteous Daughter 6 born Edinr
-- Marion Porteous Daughter 5 Day Scholar born St Cuthberts Edinr
-- Isabella Porteous Daughter 4 born Edinr
-- Mary Jenkinson H;d 23 Milliner born Edinburgh St Cuthberts
-- Wm Jenkinson Son 21 Printer Pressman born Edinr
-- Jean Jenkinson Daughter 18 Daughter Milliner born Edinr
-- Alice Jenkinson Daughter 16 Milliner born Edinr
-- Margaret Jenkinson Daughter 9 Day Scholar born Edinr
-- John Laing Brother-in-law 15 Plumbers App born Edinr
-- William Laing Brother-in-law 11 Day Scholar born Edinr

I don't know what "H'd" stands for re Mary Jenkinson's relationship to the head of the household. There appears to be something screwy about the stated relationships of all the Jenkinsons to Andrew Porteous.

Anyway, hope this helps in some way.

Trish

[Trish]

Ah, looking further -- at the 1861 and 1871 censuses -- I don't think this is your man: Living at 18 Mid Arthur Pl is John Bruce Laing with wife Sophia Jeffrey. [References: Parish: Edinburgh St Cuthberts; ED: 59; Line: 8; Year: 1861 and Parish: Edinburgh St Cuthberts; ED: 49; Line: 19; Year: 1871]

Trish

[Trish]

Still trying...

Have you seen this?

Reference: Parish: Edinburgh St Bernard; ED: 15; Year: 1841
Address: 12 Hermitage Place, Midlothian
-- John Lain [possibly a mistranscription of Laing/Lang] 45 Butter born England
-- Helen Lain 35 born England
-- Grace Lain 10 born Midlothian Scotland
-- John Lain 6 born Midlothian Scotland
-- Helen Lain 3 born Midlothian Scotland
-- Alexander Lain 10 mo
-- William Lain 10 mo born Midlothian Scotland

Trish

[dotsage]

I have some information on this family, if you are still interested. Let me know if you need it.

Ann

[kevynne]

Hello Ann,
Thank you. I am very interested to know what information you have about this family.

Lynne

[John Bruce]

I have some information on this family, if you are still interested. Let me know if you need it.

Ann

Hello Ann

I've just found this old post - the Laings mentioned above as living in Mid Arthur Place are my direct ancestors. I would be very interested to hear of any information you may have on the family

Regards
John Laing

[dotsage]

Hi John,
I just looked at your posts, I am the descendant of Marion Porteous, as seen below. The family immigrated to Australia. I do have some other information, but as I have just moved house, I will have to find it ! I haven't looked much at the family tree for some years, so I can't really remember what I have. I will have to get back to you when I have time to find the information. I do remember it was very complicated. I don't know who the Jenkinsons are. Had some problems remembering how to reply to this thread, hope this one works.

regards

Ann
Reference: Parish: Edinburgh St Cuthberts; ED: 8; Line: 14; Year: 1851
Address: 5/1 Middle Arthur Pl
-- Andrew Porteous Head 37 House Carpenter born Edinr
-- Jemima Porteous Wife 26 born Edinr
-- Jemenmina Porteous Daughter 6 born Edinr
-- Marion Porteous Daughter 5 Day Scholar born St Cuthberts Edinr
-- Isabella Porteous Daughter 4 born Edinr
-- Mary Jenkinson H;d 23 Milliner born Edinburgh St Cuthberts
-- Wm Jenkinson Son 21 Printer Pressman born Edinr
-- Jean Jenkinson Daughter 18 Daughter Milliner born Edinr
-- Alice Jenkinson Daughter 16 Milliner born Edinr
-- Margaret Jenkinson Daughter 9 Day Scholar born Edinr
-- John Laing Brother-in-law 15 Plumbers App born Edinr
-- William Laing Brother-in-law 11 Day Scholar born Edinr



And still on the same street as in 1841, the sons:

[John Bruce]

Hello Ann
Thanks for taking the time to respond - It's the Laings at 18 Mid Arthur place who are my ancestors and at first I thought there was no connection with your family but now I'm intrigued to see 2 of the sons John and William from "my" family listed as brothers in law of your family which I think suggests they are brothers of Jemima Porteous.
Now I'm getting confused!!
I'll look forward to hearing from you again when you can find the time
Thanks again
John (also live in Melbourne - Greensborough)

[dotsage]

I am having such trouble with this site, I don't think I can send a private email address. Anyway, this is all I can find that is on my computer, I may have some more in my notes which I still can't find. As you can see, below, it seems Jemima's mother, Marion Bruce, married 3 times, maybe was the daughter of William Bruce from perhaps, Stirling. Seems like John Laing either died or left before 1844. I remember now that we couldn't work out why Jemima had 2 surnames. Perhaps you can work out this complicated family. Seems like half brothers, but I'm confused !

Ann


Register of Marriages for 1833 (copied from certificate), hard to read.

John Laing, Bookbinder residing in 7? Little King St in this parish, and Marion Bruce or Tod, residing in the ??? parish of Stirling, daughter of William Bruce ???? there and relic (widow) of the deceased, Alexander Tod, weaver there, have been 3 times proclaimed in order to marriage in the Parish church of St Cuthburts ????(Edinburgh) have been ???? married on the 26th day of July, 1833, by the Rev James Mavs????

NOTES ON JEMIMA TODD LAING

Her mother was Marion Bruce, she married
1.Alexander Todd
a weaver from Stirling who was her father.
2.Then married in 1833
John Laing,
Bookbinder,Edinb.
3.Then married in about1844
William Penman

Jemima
Todd /Laing
1824-1882
b.Sth.Leith Edin.Scot.
came to Aust.on
SS.Success in 1852
married in1844 Andrew
Porteous (Carpenter)

1851 census (from another relative)
A very poor transcription (I've amended the names and Jemima jnr's age) of the 1851 census shows the following PORTEOUS household at 5/1 Middle Arthur Pl, Edinburgh St Cuthberts.
Andrew, 37, House Carpenter (i.e. born ca 1814)
Jemima, 26
Marion, 5, Scholar
Isabella, 4
Jemima, 6 months
And also
John LAING, 15, Plumbers Apprentice
William LAING, 11, Scholar
All born in the county

Marion PORTEOUS, b 11 Apr 1845
Isabella PORTEOUS, b 14 Dec 1846
Jemima PORTEOUS, b 22 Sep 1850

[John Bruce]

Thank you again Ann

I think I can shed some light on this family (at least the Laing/Bruce part). I'll sort it out and get back to you. This is the first I've come across the children from Marion Bruce's other marriage(s)

Regards
John (my full name is John Bruce Laing so you see I have an interest!)

[John Bruce]

Hello again Ann

After reading back through your notes I think we're pretty much in agreement. I have copies of the John Laing/Marion Bruce marriage you refer to. The John and William Laings residing with Jemima are the (only) children of that marriage and William is my great grandfather who came to Australia in 1856.
John Laing, the father, died in 1843 so presumably Marion then married William Penman and didn't take the younger children with her!
Please don't hesitate to ask if there's anything I can give you

Kind Regards
John

[John Bruce]

And again Ann

Re-looking at the Laing family details from 1841 census I've just realised that Marion doesn't appear. The boy's details all fit with what I know from later documents and confirmed from a family bible so I'm confident it's the right family so that might explain why the boys were left with Jemima -- Marion had left!
What do you think?

John

[dotsage]

From my notes, I have found that Marion Bruce's parents were

William Bruce, blacksmith and bell hanger, married (in 16/9/1793) Marion Falconer b. 9/11/1777
They had about 8 children, Marion was the oldest.

Marion Falconer's parents were
James Falconer and Agnes (Anne) Thornton b. 1746

Marion Bruce (b. 20/3/1799) in Stirling. Died 1849 Edinburgh.
Marion's sons, William and John Laing are living with Jemima and Andrew Porteous at Middle Arthur Place by 1851 as Marion is dead. As she had a child in August 1847, perhaps she died between then and the census of 1851.
In 1844 when she married Penman, Marion and William Penman were living at 127 Nicholson St, Stirling or perhaps Edinburgh. Marion died from cholera. Address listed as West Crosscauseway, Stirling.

There seems to be confusion as to whether she was in Stirling or Edinburgh.

Much of this information comes from another descendant of Marion Bruce and Jemima's line. Most of them ended up in Ballarat.

regards
Ann

[John Bruce]

Thanks again Ann

A lot of new information for me here.

Appreciate your time

Regards
John