help needed - parents of Robert Douglas b.1850 Falkirk.

[hostile17]

Hi everyone,

my 2x great grandfather was Robert Douglas b 1850 in Falkirk to Alexander Douglas and Ann Sym/Sim. As far as I can see they only had the 1 child, so did Ann die ? They married on 10th December 1848 in Falkirk. I cannot find any record of them in the census, in 1851 there is a Robert Douglas at the address of James Maxwell, 161 Middle Street, Falkirk. Robert is listed as Nursling under relationship. On the marriage listing it says Alexander was a seaman so maybe he was at sea when the census was taken but where was Ann ?

I would love to be able to trace this line further back, any census record, birth or death leads would be appreciated

thanks
Sue

[Neale1961]

Posting the 1851 census for Robert Douglas giving place of birth as Grangemouth.
Note the address is Middle Street Grangemouth.
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59058112e9379091b1516ee8/robert-douglas-1851-stirlingshire-falkirk-1850-?locale=en


In 1861 is that Robert age 12 working as an ordinary seaman on a ship in Kent?

Possibly Ann Sim in Falkirk in 1841 census - living in Middle Street Grangemouth.
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/590578b4e9379091b14be172/ann-simm-1841-stirlingshire-falkirk-1824-?locale=en

Living in the same street in Grangemouth in 1841 is this Alexander Douglas, a seaman.
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/590578c2e9379091b14be4f6/alex-douglass-1841-stirlingshire-falkirk-1819-?locale=en

[hostile17]

Hi Neale,

yes that is Robert in the 1851 census and highly likely in the 1861 census. in later censuses he is listed as a seaman.

Ann Simm and Alexander Douglass are highly likely too, although alexander wasn't with Margaret for long if it is indeed him. He married Ann in 1848. I will look into these more, ages gives me a great place to start so thank you.

I wonder what the local newspaper at the time was called ? might be something searchable there, not sure if there are ship records and crew listings  for domestic voyages.

[Neale1961]

Ann Simm and Alexander Douglass are highly likely too, although alexander wasn't with Margaret for long if it is indeed him. He married Ann in 1848.

In 1841 census does not give relationships.  Alexander and Margaret may not have been husband and wife. It is possible they were siblings. I didn't see a marriage for Alex to Marg, nor a baptism for that child Janet, so it's difficult to know.
Its worth looking further.

[hostile17]

I agree,

If Ann Simm is the right Ann I can find births for her siblings in Bo'ness, her parents were James Sims and Marion Downie. Sadly no birth for Ann yet, i wonder why they are all born in Scotland except her.

if Alex is correct then the only birth i can find is 11th November 1819 in Campsie, Stirlingshire to Donald Douglas and Elizabeth Forsyth

[hostile17]

there is a birth for Margaret Douglas, 30th December 1821 in Campsie, to Donald and Elizabeth

[Neale1961]

Ann Sim was the daughter of James SIMS and Marion DOWNIE who married 16 Nov 1819 in Bo’ness West Lothian
They seem to have had quite a few children in Bo’ness and Falkirk as well as Ann in England. (Perhaps he was a seaman too?).
Their last child Marion was born in Falkirk in 1843.
James must have died after that, because in 1850 Falkirk, Marion DOWNIE / SIMMS married Hugh ALLAN.

1851 census
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59058128e9379091b1517527/marion-allan-1851-stirlingshire-falkirk-1804-?locale=en
There is no sign of Ann in 1851. I can only assume she died not long after giving birth to her son Robert. Maybe someone in the Maxwell family was able to nurse him as a baby, in the absence of parents

[Neale1961]

Maybe someone in the Maxwell family was able to nurse him as a baby, in the absence of parents.

Yes, this seems a likely scenario. Mrs. Jean Maxwell (nee Gibson) gave birth to another child not long after the 1851 census date, so she may have been able to breast feed baby Robert Douglas.

[Neale1961]

Possible baptism for Ann in Gateshead.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J3S3-48D


ADDED .....
Yes, Father is a sailor
https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/581807f9e93790ec8b9b02b2/anne-simes-baptism-durham-gateshead-1823-08-24?locale=en