John Somerville born Carnwath in ?? and Mary Watson Born Carnwath in 1780

[sancti]

Using the Scottish naming tradition it would appear that his parents were called James and Barbara but there is not enough information to give his birthplace as he may have came from a surrounding village and only married in Carnwath.

Have you checked the pre 1855 M.I.s for Carnwath?

[fonners]

Idid check via the naming convention and came up with two possible sets of parents for John. A James and Barbara and a John ans Janet. Searching ScotlandsPeople I found that there are similarities with both sets but also some obvious looking differences with both. There is a very interesting set of James Sommerville and Barbara Sommerville. They had four children that were baptized between 1770 and 1778. Three were in Carnwath and one in Aberdeen. They had a son named John that was baptized in Aberdeen on March 23, 1776. That might fit but isn't the distance between the sites a little too far for 'normal'? That is about the best I have found. I have checked and again I find no OPR for the marriage of James and Barbara.

[sancti]

That is the problem with pre 1855 records. Not all events were recorded and some of those that were recorded have not survived.

[CC29]

I have been trying to find Somerville's of Carnwath in my search for a long time too.  Also have a link with Watson there as well. I have a Catherine Somerville b 5th March 1809 in Carnwath married Andrew Watson.  The family folklore suggested that she married beneath her and was cut off from her family.  It was also believed she was linked to a Lord Somerville. 

Any link would be appreciated.

[fonners]

yes, the Somervilles / Sommervilles / and a lot more variations are truly an interpreting family. From what little bit I have been able to dug up and from conversations with some family members it does appear that our branch of the family (John) is a younger brother in a large family. I know that the original de Somerville was one of the knights that came over with William the Conqueror. The family then split up with part going to Ireland, Part to Scotland and the rest stayed in England. John and Mary's oldest daughter and her husband and family live for awhile in Westsidewood which is a part of the old Somerville property. I got from a family member that it was because of her family connection they were able to live there. From what I found it would appear that the family had s problem with drinking... the were supposed to have lost the lordship because  of their drinking...