James Muir Married Prior to Marriage to Janet Muir?

[sjme]

I'm wondering if James Muir (Born ~1795 in Crawfordjohn Parish, South Lanarkshire) was married prior to his marriage to Janet Muir (nee Muir born in Old Monkland).
The 1851 Bothwell Parish Census records he was 56 years old (Janet was listed as 40 years old) and listed children Elizabeth (12) born in Bothwell; William (5) and Hugh (4).
His advanced age and the absence of his family with Janet in the 1841 Census suggests he could have married earlier to another woman (with whom he fathered Elizabeth) who perhaps passed away.
Any information at all about this family would be much appreciated.

sjme

[isobelw]

There is an 1841 census entry for 12 Upper Row, Carnbroe (freecen) which shows James Muir 45 Coalminer, Jannet Muir 30, James Muir 20, Jean Muir 6 and Elizabeth Muir 2. This seems to match quite closely with the details you have in 1851.
Isobel

[sjme]

Thank you IsobelW! I believe you found the correct family. My only question is who is James Muir age 20? He could be a brother of Janet since he's only 10 years younger than her (so she can't be his mother); or, a child from an earlier marriage of James Sr. Does the 1841 Census list young James' relationship to the family?

sjme

[scotmum]

Do you have James snr's death certificate? Scottish ones usually include details of existing and previous spouse/s, if any.

[sjme]

Hi again, no I do not have his death certificate although I have searched for it. I'll keep trying.

sjme

[greeneyedgirl]

Hi, I looked for the birth of the son James Muir and came up with only one.

James Muir
born:14 August 1816
place:Dalserf,Lanark
parents:James Muir-Anne Brown

I couldn't find a marriage cert for James and Anne.

As to Janet in 1841 & 1851 census found these 3;

James Muir-Janet Gray 6 Sept 1829 Glasgow
James Muir-Janet Munro 23 January 1831 Barony,Glasgow
James Muir-Janet Wood 18 September 1831 Glasgow

also noted in the 1861 census, it appears Janet has passed away as James is listed with his wife Mary. Couldn't locate James in the 1871 census.Hope this may help.Kim

[sjme]

Thank you for looking Blemdookie, but the Janet Muir I'm searching info on has a maiden name Muir, as well as her married name. I have that info from an official document (marriage certificate) concerning their son Hugh. Also, Janet was born in Old Monkland. Further, they were polled in Bothwell during the 1841 and 1851 Census'.

James Muir (younger) is still a mystery (he was born in 1821), but I will follow-up on your search info.

I'm intrigued regarding the 1861 Census missing Janet and introducing a Mary. Does it list any children? Was it also a Bothwell Census?

sjme

[greeneyedgirl]

Hi, the 1861 Census does not have James Muir listed in Bothwell,he is living at Chapel,Old Cumnock,Ayrshire. He is listed with his spouse Mary, Jannet Merone (sister in law),Jannet Muir (grand daughter-born in Auchinleck,Ayr) and Margaret Meikle who is listed as a farm servant. I take this to be your James as he says he is born in Crawfordjohn,Lanark. Just for future reference you should always give all the info you have on a family member you seek as it prevents those trying to help wasting time/money on useless searching.Hope this helps,Kim

[Forfarian]

James Muir (younger) is still a mystery (he was born in 1821)

Almost certainly not, in fact. The 1841 census was taken on 7 June, so if his age had been exactly 20 he would have been born between 8 June 1820 and 7 June 1821.

However adults' ages in the 1841 census were supposed to be rounded down to the nearest 5 years, so someone listed as aged 20 could actually have been aged anything from 20 to 24. So he could have been born any time between 8 June 1816 and 7 June 1821. That's a span of 60 months, only 5 of which were in 1821, so it's 11 to 1 that he was not born in 1821.

To answer your earlier question, the relationship to the head of the household was not recorded in 1841.