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How kind Andrea. I’ve found all the marriages and am half way through checking for the deaths. Nothing so far!

Hi macpark,

Do you know the date of death for James? Death certificate might hopefully show name of first wife. 

Regards,
Andrea

I don't think that Scottish death certificates would list that, and I don't think my uncle would have known the name of his father's first wife.  I'm not even sure my mother knew because it was never mentioned and none of my cousins knew until I ordered the marriage certificate that he was a widower when he married our grandmother.

The marriage certificate that you have for GALLAGHER - PAXTON  31 May 1918 - can you please list all the information on this document. Everything please, for bride and groom.....ages, addresses, occupations....names of witnesses....everything.

What names do you have for children of this marriage?

The marriage took place at St Andrew's Church of Scotland(now demolished,) Greenside Ave., in Berwick upon Tweed on 31st May 1918

She was a spinster (25) & he was a widower (31). James was shown as an Iron Dresser.
She lived at 17 Yard Heads, Tweedmouth and he at 279 Bernard St., Bridgeton, Glasgow
His parents were Frederick Gallagher, Electrical Engineer Labourer(1855-1925) & Margaret Smith (1863 - ?) and her parents were Robert Miller Paxton, Flour Miller(1860-1925) & Mary Lindores (1860-1938)
The witnesses were Frederick Gallagher, (I assume this to be) the groom's youngest brother b1896)
and Ethel Miller Paxton, the bride's youngest sister b.1901

The children of the marriage were Fred G, Mary Lindores G, Isabella Hussey G (my mother) and James G Jr.

There are no military records for James as he was in a reserved occupation, working his whole life for Barr and Stroud.  They were optical engineers and switched to making such things as range finders for the Armed forces.  See attached:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barr_and_Stroud

Thank you Forfarian. You’re advice is very useful and constructive. This has now become a challenge and I’m determined to see I through if I can.  The Berwick side of things will be easy as I’m only 20 miles from the Berwick records office, once they reopen.  I’ve searched Ancestry fairly comprehensively though to no avail.  I will embark upon the 73 brides and see what I come up with. No rush, as they’re not going anywhere! I thought the SP hub in Edinburgh was open again, by appointment? Maybe I’m wrong. I’m ideally situated almost equidistant between Edinburgh and Berwick!

I am trying to track down the first marriage of my grandfather James Gallagher.  He was born in Tweedmouth on 20th Mar 1887.  By the 1901 census he, and all of his family were living in Glasgow.  When he married my grandmother Elizabeth Martin Paxton on 31st May 1918 back in Berwick, he was described as a widower.  In the 1911 census, he was still single.  SO sometime between 1911 and 1918, he married and his wife died.  They lived in the East End of Glasgow in Camlachie and Dalmarnock in 1901 & 1911 respectively.  His father was Frederick Gallagher and his mother was Margaret Smith.  I am tearing my hair out but cannot find this marriage anywhere.  Any help appreciated.