Hi Rae
I can;t find that William on 1841 either - wonder if he'd gone wandering BUT the poor relief record says between May 1841 and 1842 they lived in Broomlands St then West St and then Newton St. These roads are all pretty well next to each other and it was weaving central for the west end of Paisley.
I think can explain the missing baptisms. I know that they were non conformists and therefore their records wouldn;t be on Scotlands People because not church of Scotland. But those records are meant to be coming to SPs at some point soon. However it all really depends on how good they were at keeping them.
I can tell you they were married by Walter Blair who was the Minister in the Gaelic Chruch - and I know they were also connected to Martyrs Memorial church (I was christened there as it happens cos we lived round the corner and was the local one). See link attached for more info re the churches. Walter Blair married quite a few of them! There must be some Highland connection but not found it yet. I reckon they must have come down as part of Highland Clearances in late1760s but until I can find the John who married Eliz Youart/Ewart's parents difficult one to prove.
http://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/ilwwcm/publishing.nsf/Content/els-jh-HistoricBuildingsPaisleyChurches#WednesdayAs you'll see the Martyrs Mem has no graveyard and nor does the old Gaelic now either cos they moved them all in the late 60s - was big hue and cry about it all. It was all moved to Hawkhead cem which is huge!
Fraid Elizabeth's parents not on poor relief record but it does say she was born in Muirkirk - that's Ayrshire but I can't find anything for her on SPs. I think there had to have been more children cos a big gap between Agnes 1830 and Hellen 1835.
There is a possible on SP for an Elizabeth in Peebles which isn't that far from Ayrshire where the mum was Agnes and the birth was 1811. I'm a member of the North Ayshire FHS (Muirkirk in their patch) so will ask them to see what they might be able to dig up. But chances are Agnes 1830 was first born and usually the first girl would be named after mum's mum. If this is the right one her dad was a Robert. So if we follow naming convention you'd expect a William and a Robert in there somewhere - could well be but died as babies and being non conform no records online! grr!
Now v important question have you got FH software that can handle a gedcom? Then I can send you my tree and would love one in return.
West Brae is intersting because it;s same end of the town as the other streets above - in fact not that far from Broomlands st. Best way to describe it is Broomlands St heading east into the town, becomes Wellmeadow then the high St. West Brae is just off to the left of Wellmeadow and at the top of West Brae is - the very church they married in! So I wonder is this them and he was off wandering as was his want?
I should be going home in a week or 2 so will get you some pics of how it is now.. Hopefully the tenements are all still there. Pretty confident re parts of Broomlands St and Queen St but not so sure re West St. I know some are still there but some been pulled down. This is spooky I went to school around there too when I was a wee lassie.
I'll also give my mum's cuz a ring - she;s a Robertson (82!) and see if she knows any more. She's given me a lot on the gt grandparents but not sure what she has before that. I do have a photo of my Gt grandad William and his wife Christina Fraser but alas nothing before that.
All very intriguing!
Ann
