OK , time for me to stick my neck out and have a review of the "Janet" evidence, with thanks to all our contributors.
In the 1841 Scotland Census Janet is age 20 born abt 1821 in Scotland and Margaret Paton age 50 born abt 1791 in Scotland is living with her family. The Beatons have not been found in the 1851 census and therefore could have emmigrated.
In the 1881 for Canada , Janet is 69, hence born "mathematically" in 1812 ( but I suspect that the 9 is a misread of the census record for a 1 which would make the birth date 1820)
In the Canada 1901 Census, Janet lists her date of birth as 20 September 1820
Janet's death is reported for September 1903 age 83 so "mathematically" she was born in 1820
Janet's obituary states she was born in Glasgow 15 September 1820 and married at age 19.
If she was 19 when she married John as recorded on the 15 of July 1839 in Gorbals Lanarkshire she would "mathematically " have been born in 1820
Curious Fox has a Janet being born 14 September 1819 Stewarton, Ayrshire ( with 9 not the 6 siblings from her obituary and at some distance from Glasgow or Abbey Paisley, Renfrewshire where son George was born 15 Sept 1820)
Marg has a Janet Paton born 18th July 1817 and baptised 31st July 1817 in Gorbals, Lanarkshire, her parents were Robert Paton and Jean Inglis who were married on the 6th December 1813. She has found no siblings for Janet but they may have been baptised in nearby church as this was an area with a rapidly growing population due to the development of factories in this period. This Janet's father is probably Robert George Paton, born 18th May 1777 and baptised on the 28th May 1777 in Gorbals. His parents are George Paton and Helen McGee.
Although the 1841 Census rounded ages up and down usually to the nearest 10, and sometimes to a 5, the 1820 date holds for all census information we have except a suspect Canada 1881, though I grant that it is not uncommon for a date established in the 1841 to stick forever even in the mind of the owner regardless of its fiction!
From all of the above I conclude so far that Janet Paton was born in the greater Glasgow/Abbey Paisley region probably in 1820 with siblings and we have not yet found her childhood family. So I still need your help on this.
Thanks to Dollylee we have a firm of Patons and Baldwin out of Paisley Row, Renfrewshire, worstead spinners stemming from a merger of J.J. Balwin and John Paton and Son. Remember that the original inscription on the charcoal was a thread fortune as opposed to a wollen fortune.
I think that Marg makes a great deal of sense when she emphasises to me that there is no connection to the Alloa Patons. I can do no better than to quote her:
"Gorbals is just south west of Glasgow and Alloa is north east of Stirling and while that only takes about an hour to drive today it was an enormous distance in the early 1800's when walking was the common mode of travel.
I have researched the Alva/Tillicoultry/Alloa Patons back to 1700 and there is no connection to the Lanark Patons in that period. My research on this has been confirmed by that of a friend who is a descendant of the Lanark Patons.
I think it highly unlikey that either of the Paton brothers who established and built up the Paton mills would be leaving an inheritance to a woman to whom they had no connection in the previous 150 years when they had direct descendants of their own, as well as many closer relations.
While it is highly likely that your Janet had an inheritence to collect in Scotland I think you can discount it being part of the Paton's knitting fortune!
Glasgow and surrounds was a rapidly growing area in the first part of the 19th century - there were many woollen mills around that area and it is quite likely that a close relation of your Janet Paton did make money from this industry in the Glasgow area."
I am glad I have not spent money on Alloa wills!
So that leaves me with Margaret Paton age 50 born abt 1791 from the 1841 census. Who is she...mother, older sister? And could she be either, or related to the close relation of whom Marg refers? Is she related to that firm of John Paton and Son( note the singular son...a weak line of inheritance)? Where is she in the later Scotland Censuses. I could guess that she would have died at the right age to have willed something to a living Janet. Where could I find her will if it exists? Are there wills associated with Paton and Baldwin? Has the clue been staring us in the face? All are questions and summises on which I would welcome comment and help.
That's my best shot for now! Best wishes and thanks again to all who contributed to making this analysis possible so far. Lumber-Jack
