RootsChat.Com

His address in here

http://www.archive.org/stream/handbookofhamilt1862macp#page/108/mode/2up

Is given as Rosebank. Kirkfield

Rickcd

After posting the above I was having a look again at your post and thought this might be your Mary Morton.

John Morton married Mary Mair in Galston 1810
They had a daughter Mary Morton born 14th August baptised 9th September 1813 in Galston, Ayrshire.

Smidget
I’ve been going through all my old notes but that’s one I don’t have. Very interesting though, another Dr. Howie. I’m beginning to think it’s some kind of family tradition. Oldest son gets the farm and the second son goes into medicine type of thing. I’ll keep looking and if I come across anything I’ll let you know.
Jimmy

Thanks again normamac that could well be Margaret in 1851.

I’m pretty sure James Howie was a medical surgeon based on the OPR on SP. When he married in 1806 he is recorded as James Howie, Surgeon, of Kilwinning, on the births of his various children he is recorded as James Howie, Surgeon, James Howie, Physician and Dr James Howie. On the death certificates of his children Jean and Charles, both after 1855, their father’s occupation is given as Physician/Surgeon.

Again pure speculation, but based on what you’ve given me, Margaret McVitie dying in 1928 and Margaret in the 1851 census, it looks like something happened after his wife’s death to break up the family. My G.G. Grand Father, Charles, was working as a labourer in Dundonald in 1841 and it now looks like his sister Margaret is in domestic service in 1851.

The family you mention is the right one with the two Johns, I’m assume the first one died in infancy. I’m not convinced about the John D Howie born 1781 though, this would make him 25 when he married in 1806 and, as at this time he was a surgeon, it seems a little young, I must admit I don’t know how long it took to qualify in 1806 though. The problem I have is that there a lot of Howie’s living in Ayrshire at this time, as I’ve found when chasing a lot of false leads on SP.

Thanks again, your help is greatly appreciated.

James Howie (Physician Surgeon) married Margaret Mcvitie in Old Cummnock 1806. They moved to Kilwinning where they had at least six children including Charles, my G.G.Grand Father and his sister Jean. Charles moved to Dundonald where he worked as a Blacksmith’s labourer and Jean ended up dying as a pauper in the Irvine poorhouse. Not what you would expect from the children of a physician/surgeon. I can find no record of the deaths of James or Margaret, which must have been after 1824 when their last known child, Margaret, was born. Nor can I find any records of the other children.
I would love to know what happened to bring this family down to such dire straits, especially Jean, ending up in the poorhouse.
If anyone has come across this family line, any information would be greatly appreciated.