John & William MATHER born c1700 - possibly Hamilton

[wmather]

I need help finding the births and parents of two brothers John and William MATHER who were born about 1700.

I have found William's death in London in 1748. He was a tailor to trade.

The brother John married Katharin STRANG in Hamilton in 1724 and died 1752-1757 (probably Hamilton) He had 10 children with births ranging from 1725 - 1743.

William's will and his daughter Mary's will ties these two brothers together.

I have been unable to find their births in Lanarkshire in that timespan.  The closest that I have got is two brothers with their names born in Kelso which I have not ruled out.  Any help would be appreciated.

[DonM]

Closest to Hamilton is John and Adam baptized (1706) in adjoining Glassford.  Father John no mother listed and no others recorded.

[sancti]

Any family info in William's Will on Scotlands People?

[wmather]

Hi Sancti,

1750 Mather, William (Reference CC8/8/113 Edinburgh Commissary Court)

In William's will he bequeaths money to his brother John and also to John's children.  Money is also bequeathed to his daughter Mary. There is no reference to his parents or any other siblings.

1752 Public Records Office - Catalogue Reference:Prob 11/796 Image reference 396

Mary makes a bequeath to her uncle John Mather and his wife.  Also to their children.

Reference to Mary's will also appears in "The Commissariot Record of Hamilton and Campsie"
(Mather, Margaret, eldest lawful daughter to the deceased John M., merchant in Hamilton, and Katherine Strang, spouses, and cousin-german of the deceased Mary M., of the par. of St. Ann, Middlesex T. 28 Jan. 1757)

The information from both wills I feel provides sufficient evidence that John and William are brothers.  There are older records in Hamilton for the Mather name but I cannot make the next step backwards until I find their parents.  I have found 6 Mather births in the OPRs from 1673 to 1693 but no John or William.

There is also a marriage in 1689 between a John Mather and Jean Alston in Hamilton.  John's grandson Gavin Mather married  Euphemia Alston in 1831.  This could just be a coincidence.

William