I haven't tried Janet's marriage or death certificate because I already know that her parents were John Cowper and Margaret Johnstone, and Margaret Johnstone's parents were John Johnstone and Janet Charters .
John Martindale was married Aug 7th 1853, and I was sent a brief record of this with no details at all.
Perhaps I should try his death certificate. What has put me off doing that is that "Scotland's People" had told me that because his death was reported by someone who was not a family member (He was widowed by this time and living as a boarder with a local crofter) his parent's names would not have appeared on his death certificate. He did however have daughters in Dumfries, so do you think they would have been consulted for information on his death certificate? I would gladly purchase a copy if there is a chance that the information has been there all the time!
Thanks again for your help so far,
Corriebell.