Problems with Rutherglen?

[greenvalley]

Hi,

I found James Bryce a handloom weaver from Rutherglen and his wife Jane Graham . They had at least 2 sons David Bryce, born 19 October 1822 in Rutherglen and James, date of birth unknown. I cannot find any details for the marriage of James and Jane either and I wonder if there are problems with the Rutherglen Parish registers.

Does anyone know if this is so?

Greenvalley

[sancti]

They may not have been members of the Church of Scotland or their marriage was not recorded by the minister or even lost.

[greenvalley]

Hi Sancti,

it's possible but I doubt it somehow. All the members of this family were in the Free Church of Scotland and rather strict although theymay not always have been that way.

It seems though as if there is a chunk of marriages missing between 1760 and 1820, either that or there was nobody there in that period named James Bryce or Jane Graham, which I find strange.

They are not the only ones doing a disappearing act either: I have a Sarah Todd, who married James Elder in Glasgow on 18th August 1846 and both the 1851 and 1861 Census records list her as being born in Dumfries in a place called Minihive or Moniaive and the date of birth is around 1823. Her death certificate shows her parents as Alexander Todd and Janet kerr, but again there are no records for the birth or the marriage.

So I guess I'm stuck with both these families.

Greenvalley

[Baird]

Did you try Bryson and Brycen in Rutherglen?

[greenvalley]

In a way.

I looked for both surnames on Scotlandspeople and asked for surname variants, which I assume would cover this.

Greenvalley

[sancti]

Info from SP

Not every event was actually recorded - many people simply did not bother, particularly if they had to pay a fee (or tax as was the case 1783-1794). Rapid urbanisation during the 19th century contributed to the diminishing influence of the Church and a decrease in registration in these areas. As such, it was estimated at the time that as few as 30% of events actually occurring were being recorded for some urban parishes. A number of people belonged to other religious denominations altogether and although some non-conformists can be found in Established Church registers, many preferred to register in their own church. Non-conformist records (Episcopalian, Methodist, Free Church etc.) are held in the National Archives for Scotland or in local archives.

[Baird]

just wondered as I have an Annie Bryson born 1771 in Rutherglen daughter of Robert Brycen and Mary Pettigrew. She married my 3 x great grandfather.

[Lodger]

A quick synopsis of the Rutherglen parish records.

RUTHERGLEN 654.  4 books.

654/1
Baptisms 1698 – 1819. All with sponsors until 1780. Very easy to read and sometimes extra information included.

654/2.
Marriages 1698 – 1794. Very good records, some extra information sometimes given.
Book of Mortality 1705 – 1794. Very good, gives relationships. Less information after 1783.

654/3.
Baptisms 1820 – 1854. Very good records.

654/4.
Marriages 1820 – 1854. Excellent records. Also marriages from Catholic, United Presbyterian and Free Churches have been recorded.

[hippiechick]

In familysearch.org there's a transcription for
James Bryce
birth:   22 Feb 1836
baptism:   06 Mar 1836
in Rutherglen to James Bryce and Jane Graham

Which matches the age for the James Bryce I found in the 1841 census with the right named parents and brother David, plus several more siblings.

But, Lodger likely answered the question about the marriage. They probably married during the 1794-1820 gap. I'm in the same boat. I'm missing a 1815-1818 range Rutherglen marriage for my Montgomery/Park ancestors.