John Thomson m Jane Davidson

[Isabel]

I am looking for information on John Thomson who married Jane Davidson (her father is John).  They married 1838 in Edinburgh, Scotland.  They had a son Alexander Davidson Thomson.  Any help would be appreciated.

[portybelle]

What do you want to know about him? If I have the right family, according to 1851 census he was born in Edinburgh, was a bookbinder living at Causewayside in Edinburgh. Alexander is 5 and there is a daughter Roseanna who is 1.

Hmm - looks like John may have died fairly young. By 1861 census, if I have the right person, Jane appears to be going by the surname Millar but married to a George Swan! Has she lost 2 husbands in 10 years?? There's another son John M Thomson age 8 also listed as well as a daughter Alexis Swan age 3.

[Isabel]

I was hoping to find out the birth/death dates for John Thomson and Jane Davidson.  On Alexander Davidson Thomson marriage (1881) to Agnes Gunnyeon it states that his father John was  deceased.  I was glad to get the name of his sister Roseanna, because I never did find any other siblings.  So far I have not checked the Scotish census for any other information.  Living in Canada it is quite an expense.
Thank you for your help.

[portybelle]

I have just noticed that you have posted in Fife section and I was searching Edinburgh - oops! Do you know for sure they were in Fife? I have found another family there that may well match. When was Alexander born?

[Isabel]

Alexander was born in Edinburgh around 1860, I have no exact date.  Alexander married in Dumfries.  Alexander and his wife left Scotland for Tasmania (no exact date).  Their first child was born in 1887 in Tasmania.  I am also trying to find out if John and Jane Thomson was went Tasmania also.

[Isabel]

Some confusion.  I realize John died in Scotland.  Only Alexander and his wife Agnes went to Tasmania. 

[portybelle]

Okay, found Alexander in 1881 in Dumfries with his mother age 60. Will try to work backwards now!

[portybelle]

Here is a possible family in 1861 - do any of the children's names ring bells as family names?

John Thompson 44 born Lesmahagow, a Shop Porter
Jane Thompson 43 born Largo, Fifeshire
Helen Thompson 12 born Penicuik, Midlothian
Harriet Thompson 9 born Edin
John Thompson 6 born Edin
Alexander Thompson 4 born Edin

Jane and Alexander ages and places of birth fit in with the Dumfries 1881 record.

[Isabel]

The names Alexander and John are common for this family of Thomson.  I have never seen any of Alexander's sibling, so I am not sure.  On Alexander's marriage it states his father John Thomson is deceased in 1881 and John was a soldier - medical staff, his mom is still a Thomson, so she had not remarried.   Not sure if any of this is helpful.