Thomson family in Edinburgh

[Forfarian]

There is a  Inventory / Trust Disposition / Settlement dated 7/9/1836 on Scotlands People  for John Thomson - Messenger at Arms, residing in No.2 Hamilton Place in Newington of Edinburgh  if it is relevant

Good find, Kay! As it's a TD&S it probably names wife and children.

[wivenhoe]

Is this your family?. I am not finding them otherwise on the 1871 census.

I am not sure that George PHIMISTER is correctly included in this household.

Census 1871  at 2 Commerce St Elgin  Morayshire
FRASER Andrew                         49yrs  head   tailor                      b. Duffus
FRASER Ann                              48yrs  wife                                  b. Edinburgh
FRASER Agnes                          19yrs   son    scholar                    b. Elgin
FRASER Hugh  T(homas?)           14yrs  son     makers apprentice    b. Elgin
FRASER Margaret A(rmour?)      16yrs   dau    mothers assistant     b. Elgin
FRASER Williamina                     11yrs  dau    scholar                     b. Elgin
PHIMISTER George                    28yrs  son    acting postmast         b. Elgin                     

[Forfarian]

That's just a classic dud transcription. Extract of original attached.

The first two names are clearly Hugh and Agnes, not Andrew and Ann, and George Phimister is in a separate household, presumably the son of the postmaster and acting for him while he is away from home. Agnes Jr is a daughter, not a son, and a teacher, not a scholar. Hugh Jr is a baker's apprentice.

This is why you always have to look (eventually - I am as guilty as everyone else of not having got round to viewing all mine) at the original and not rely on someone else's misreading.

[Shazzersj]

OH my gosh!  what a wonderful notification to wake up to.  I have now downloaded the will etc - its long, its written almost parallel to the line and its very squashed up.  It will take time and I will persevere, I have been looking for this man for 20 years and you folk made it look so easy! 

To the researcher looking for the census entries, thank you I have those.  Hopefully this will etc will give some clue to the interesting middle names of Agnes and of those of her children:  Armour and Hardie. 

I will certainly keep you posted.

Thank you again
Sharon in Oz

and visiting Edinburgh in 2 weeks .. perhaps I might even have a headstone to locate 

[Forfarian]

Scotland's People index has several listings of burials of John Thomsons in Edinburgh in 1836, including one aged 69 on 10 August 1836. This should tell you which kirkyard he is buried in.

Also an Isabella Dunbar, Thomson/Gilbert Dunbar, on 18 December 1854 which might be worth investigating.

[Shazzersj]

Well its still not straightforward as I thought it would be.  I managed to decipher one daughter Jane Stewart Thomson whose mother was Margaret Bremner. 

I found a marriage for Jane Stewart Thomson in 1857 (aged 28 at the time and residing at No 7 Duncan Street, Leith) and it gives her parents as John Thomson, Messenger at Arms and Margaret Bremner.  (Margaret appears to be still alive at 1857). 

In 1868 there is a death for a Margaret Thomson (widow) at the St Cuthbert's Poor House Edinburgh.  No other information except her m.s. was Bremner.

The document also mentions Sasines - would they be worth pursuing? 

Perhaps Agnes Thomson was illegitimate

Perhaps this is the wrong man 

[Shazzersj]

Thanks Forfarian

Now the puzzle deepens! 

marriage:  7 Nov 1813:  Gilbert Dunbar gentlm servant, St Andrew Parish and Isabella Thomson same Parish daughter of George Thomson joint keeper of the Parliament House Edinburgh. 

baptism:  Gilbert Dunbar servant and Isabella Thomson HS (I think) St Andrews Parish AS (possibly AD) 13 22nd April last named William baptised by Mr A Thomson.

burial:  Dec 8 1854:  Mrs Isabella thomson wife of Gilbert Dunbar 68 years 2 Deanhaugh Street (no cause of death.

The death you mentioned for Mr John Thomson wasn't the right man - this one was a music teacher .... speaking of which:

Is this Agnes prior to her marriage:

Piece: SCT1841/685 Place: St Cuthbert's -Midlothian Enumeration District: 25
Civil Parish: St Cuthberts Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: -
Folio: 25 Page: 4
Address: 9 South Richmond Street
    Surname   First name(s)   Sex   Age   Occupation   Where Born   Remarks   
    DUNBAR   William   M   60   Musician    Outside Census County (1841)       
    DUNBAR   Ann   F   43       Outside Census County (1841)       
    THOMSON   Agness   F   22   Straw Hat Maker    Midlothian

And .... just for coincidence sake:

A child William Thomson Dunbar, son of Gilbert and Isabella died from an accident at 23 Jamaica Street, Edinburgh in 1824.  Agnes Thomson and Hugh Fraser married at 3 Jamaica Street, Edinburgh in 1846. 

1851 census states that Gilbert Dunbar was born in Morayshire and his wife was born in Edinburgh. 

What a family!