The extracted IGI entry for Christina McLAREN's marriage in 1854 to Andrew GREENFIELD says her father is Peter McLAREN.
Considering her mother Isabella WILLIAMS is a Shoebinder in Leith in 1841 with her WILLIAMS children Christina and John, I'd say the chances that the Peter McLAREN, Shoemaker, who died in Leith sometime prior to Nov 1834 (when the Inventory of his Estate was filed, Scotlands People), was her husband.
What does that Inventory say about this Peter? How did his possessions or money get distributed?
If Isabella was a widow circa 1834 with 2 very small children, did she remarry to a Mr WILLIAMS, who himself may have died before 1851?
Even though whatever is written may not be true, what was Isabella's marital status shown as on the 1851 and 1861 Census?
It was not uncommon in Scotland, for widows especially but also married women, to use their maiden names on Census. If she had reverted to her maiden name in widowhood, and remained a widow then I might have expected her children to still use McLAREN on the Census. The fact that her 2 children are consistently referred to as WILLIAMS on the Census, makes me think that was the name of a 2nd husband - and who may have been the only father the children knew? Albiet for a very short period of time?
This extracted marriage on the IGI is kind of interesting:
Peter McLAREN and Isabella BAIN, dau of Alexander BAIN
married South Leith, Dec 1821
As Nel says, the full 1868 death cert information for Isabella (which is indexed under the names McLAREN and WILLIAMS) and the probable death cert for her son John WILLIAMS in 1861 might now be of use to be able to sort this one out?
Cheers
AMBLY
For Reference Only:
CENSUS 1841:
St Andrews St Leith - Isabella WILLIAMS 40, Shoebinder, Christian WILLIAMS 12, John WILLIAMS 10, Alexander NESBIT 45, Pauper
All stated as b Midlothian.
CENSUS 1851:
7 St Andrews St Leith - Isabella WILLIAMs 50 b England, Dau: Christina b abt 1831, Lodger William LINDSAY 18, Ropemaker and 2 other Boarders.
Son John WILLIAMS 18, Ropemaker appears to be in the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh as a patient.
CENSUS 1861:
Christina b abt 1831 Sth Leith and husband Andrew GREENFIELD are in Leith with their children; M-I-L Isabella WILLIAMS 50 (60?) b England and B-I-L John WILLIAMS 28, Ropemaker are in the house also,
CENSUS 1871:
Christina b abt 1831 Sth Leith and husband Andrew & children are in Leith.
