Hello Faysie
Linell says that Hugh was a navigator or navvy. This would explain why the family moved about a lot. That time, and the previous 50 years or so, was one of great social upheaval, with employment in agriculture in steep decline and the rapid growth of cities like Manchester, where Alexander ended up.
Hugh's age at burial in 1837 is given as 37, which implies birth about 1800. But Maer? The only association with the place appears to be in 1836 to 1839: baptism of Elizabeth Ferguson and another Elizabeth Fraser and burials of William and Hugh. There was no one named Fraser at Maer in 1841. Alexander and Ann baptised 1832 and 1834 High Offley, quite a step from Maer, but near the Shropshire Union Canal, which was not completed until 1835, so Hugh could have been employed there.
I still think I am right about the Dursley connection for Mary Ferguson. If she died in the workhouse she may have been given a pauper's burial in an unmarked grave, which would prevent age at death being linked to the 1811 baptism (but there would have been a record of it somewhere). However, if the death registered in 1839 Oct Bristol 11 151 is correct this may provide the link and will show how and where she died. In an earlier post I mentioned a James Ferguson living at Clifton; in 1841 his wife was Lucy, so the 1839 record is still a goer.
The fly in the ointment is that Lydney was included in the Chepstow Union, which is on the wrong side of the River Severn. On the other hand, if it is true that Mary had family in Uley, then Dursley Union would have been right.
The parents for the 1811 baptism at Lydney of Mary were Alexander and Elizabeth Ferguson - only one child baptised Lydney. Can't find any other record of them. However, at Norbury, an Alexander Ferguson, of this parish, widower, and a Mary Greenfield had banns read on 9, 16 and 23 July 1837 (Findmypast). This seems too much of a coincidence to be wrong. Perhaps Alexander was living with or near his daughter and grandchildren?
There is also a record of Alexander Ferguson of Sutton buried at Forton, both near to Norbury, 19 May 1840, aged 65, therefore born around 1775. Lots of possible baptisms in Scotland. There seems to be no record of Alexander and Elizabeth marrying in Gloucestershire, Staffordshire, or even England, that looks at all likely, so Scotland may be the origin.
At first Lydney seemed an odd place for an outsider to turn up. Having read up a little of the history it seems the harbour was important in the ealier stages of the Industrial Revolution and in 1810-1813 a canal and railway were contructed to ease transport of coal and products from an ironworks. Therefore, it appears there was plenty of employment in the area.
Although the marriage at Wednesbury records that both Hugh and Mary were of the parish, this would only have been their residence and may have no connection to their place of birth. Note that what I read as J W Court is a witness to other marriages and may be a church official, such as a verger, sexton, warden or usher - a George W Court lived two doors from the vicar in 1841. A Henry Malband died 1838 registered West Bromwich and a Henry Malbond buried May 1838 at Wednesbury. I was hoping he would be a navvy, but I guess we'll never know.
It seems not unreasonable to suppose that both Hugh and Mary moved to Wednesbury in the Black Country as booming industries sucked in more and more labour. In the early nineteenth century there was considerable poverty in rural parts and they may have been forced to move to avoid starvation. A lot of canal building was going on in the 1820s, including the Birmingham Canal Navigation's New Main Line. Therefore, I suspect your search for Hugh will take you elsewhere, very likely, given the name, to Scotland.
Dion
