Temple Village Midlothian

[garibaldired]

          1   10/10/1819  HARPER JAMES parents WILLIAM HARPER/CHRISTIAN RONALDSON FR3420   M   INVERESK AND MUSSELBURGH        /MIDLOTHIAN   689/00 0100 0384   
This one is the obvious one but James is with them in the 1841census and my James is already in Cleish.
   
2   12/04/1825   HARPER   JAMES   JAMES HARPER/ELIZABETH GIBSON FR1584   M   STOW   /MIDLOTHIAN   699/00 0050

This could be him but he is consistent about his date of birth being 1819 -1821.

Perhaps it will have to remain a mystery.
Thanks again,
Meg

[Templar75]

Hi Meg,

           I have come across variations in dates of birth on Census readings doing my family tree, some were between 5 and 10 years younger and really threw me off for ages. He certainly was not recorded at Carrington perhaps he was never Christened.

The possibility is his parents had what they call an Irregular Marriage and this is why they don't show up plus being born before it was legal to record births and marriages.

Archie.

[garibaldired]

Yes I've had a few like that! But James is consistent, even on his daughter's 1855 birth certificate.
I have considered that he might be Free Church; some of his children were baptised at an Associate (burgher) church. I have checked Dalkeith Free church records at NAS but there was nothing there. Are there others in the area which I might try?

Best wishes,
Meg

[Templar75]

Hi Meg,

           none that I know of, Temple had a Free Church but that was short lived however the records would have been I think kept at Dalkeith

Try this Meg this is the link to the local study center Dr. Ken Bogle is in charge he might be able to help you trace James.    http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/MLN/LocalStudies.html

Cheers.

Archie.

[garibaldired]

Thanks very much for the link, Archie.
I'll do as you suggest.
Best wishes,
Meg

[garibaldired]

Archie,

Just to let you know that I had a reply from Ken Bogle. Unfortunately it was disappointing in that he could find no further information on James.

Back to the drawing board!

Best wishes,
Meg

[Templar75]

Hi Meg,

          thanks for telling me I am really sorry he could not be off help, sometimes the kids took their place or country of birth from the father so perhaps the father was born in Carrington, I still go for the parents having an Irregular marriage.

Cheers.

Archie.

[DeeBoneham]

Hi Archie
I am staying with a family in New Zealand one of whose ancestors was born in Temple in 1808.  His name as far as we know is John Anderson but I cant find a birth for him on FindMyPast  .  Could you tell me if there is anything in the parish records which might help with this mystery.  The next thing that is known is that he married a Helen Murray in Dumfriesshire. As families tended not to move far during that era generally I presume it was for work.  Are there any Andersons buried in Temple Churchyard?
Regards
Dee

[Templar75]

Hi Dee,

          The only john Anderson I see born at Temple is 1745 could this be the one ?, the only male Anderson I have on record is a Albert Edward Anderson 5 years old 5-11-1907, is there anything else I can go on regarding names for instance the fathers name and the mothers maiden name.

Cheers.

Archie.