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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Argyllshire => Topic started by: madgie on Wednesday 22 February 06 09:42 GMT (UK)

Title: island of jura look ups
Post by: madgie on Wednesday 22 February 06 09:42 GMT (UK)
My great great grandfather William Clement James was an excise officer, probably on Jura in 1836. His son Henry James repeatedly claims to have been born there in 1836, but I can find no record of either of them on Jura. Can anyone help please?

Madgie
Title: Re: island of jura look ups
Post by: bagpipe on Sunday 15 May 22 17:15 BST (UK)
Have you tried looking on one of the nearby islands for possible births and maybe census information?
Title: Re: island of jura look ups
Post by: ColC on Monday 16 May 22 10:12 BST (UK)
There is no record of a baptism for Henry on Jura or elsewhere in Argyll on https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

Below is the only one in Scotland around that time, his father happens to be William.

HENRY JAMES baptised 6/08/1833 Dundee, parents WILLIAM JAMES/CATHARINE DONALDSON

The family appear on the 1841 census in Dundee, William born about 1786 & Catherine 1796.
There are 7 children on the census and they were all baptised in Dundee.

Colin
Title: Re: island of jura look ups
Post by: Forfarian on Monday 16 May 22 10:21 BST (UK)
William James must have died between 1841 and 1851, because in 1851 Catharine Donaldson, widow, is a seed merchant in Dundee with her children Euphemia, Janet and Henry living with her.

In 1861 Henry and Janet are still living with their widowed mother Catherine Donaldson.

As William is described in 1841 as a merchant, it looks unlikely that he is William Clement James, excise officer. 
Title: Re: island of jura look ups
Post by: trish1120 on Monday 16 May 22 14:02 BST (UK)
Just bookmarking as have to log off.
 :)
Title: Re: island of jura look ups
Post by: bagpipe on Monday 16 May 22 17:08 BST (UK)
It may be that your ancestor was born in a place which does not have records that far back.
Quite likely an exciseman would come from outside the community he worked in?
Title: Re: island of jura look ups
Post by: Forfarian on Monday 16 May 22 18:13 BST (UK)
Quite likely an exciseman would come from outside the community he worked in?
Yes, very much so.