William Henderson/Jane Barnet

[Zeus2468]

Hi everyone,
i was hoping that someone could help me with a translation of the attached documents....it's my great great grandfather WIlliam Henderson's marriage record, the information doesn't seem to quite match the death record, I can read the death record okay it's very legible, posting for comparison. The mother's name seems to be the same, but the father's name doesn't appear to be William, and the profession appears to be different.

thanks for any help


Cheers Julie 

[mckha489]

Have you asked Scotlands people if they can get a better scan?
I believe they are good at attempting to.

Looking at the other names. I think the father’s name might start with J. So is it John? (It definitely isn’t William, and I don’t think it is “Wm” either.

Occupation… might start with E.   Then the next word is Lab/dec^d

[Zeus2468]

Thanks for the reply, i did not know you could do that with scotlands people, appreciate the tip!

I didn't think it looked like William either, especially when comparing it to how William was written in the groom column....i agree that it definitely could be John, i was thinking perhaps Peter could be a possibility?? 

I have found one other record for a William Henderson in Mearns, Renfrewshire, on the 1871 census....right age, listed as living with a Janet Henderson, aged 73 annuitant, a daughter Sarah Henderson 28, a grandaughter Mary 27 and William which appears to be Wm is listed as a lodger...(i will attach that as well)  I suppose that would make sense if his father was dec'd - perhaps he went to live with extended family.

[mckha489]

ah, so looking at that census -  is William's occupation Printfield labourer?

on the Marriage is it  'Printfd' labourer?

old thread about printfield workers here
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=718745.0

[Zeus2468]

yes i think you are right. William's profession is listed as a paper mill worker on his death certificate and on census returns after he got married. Perhaps he started out as a printfield worker, like his father and changed jobs. William seemed pretty adamant about his place of birth being Mearns Renfrew on all the later census returns.

My mum was told that the Hendersons originated from Ireland, rather than Scotland.

Absolutely almost every single family tree, has a different mother and father and siblings for William, a dude owning a confectioner's shop in Haddington, but i'm sure that that is not the correct William. Would like to iron out the correct information. Thanks for your help.

[Neale1961]

It is worth remembering that information on a death certificate is only as reliable as the memory or knowledge of the informant, and therefore quite often is not fully accurate.
On a marriage certificate the information about his parents was supplied by the person themselves, and is more likely to be reliable, unless they had a reason to lie.

[mckha489]

Just revisiting the ages

That 1871 census 19
Marriage 1873 31
Death 1937 85

So was he born in 1852 or 1842. I know we talk about people not being accurate about their ages as we are today, but that does seem a stretch

Is it the marriage that is the aberration? Ie in subsequent censuses is he consistent?

[mckha489]

Where is he in 1861?

[Zeus2468]

Can't seem to find him in Mearns.....so i can't say for sure that those records are him. Henderson being a relatively common surname, but the 1881, 1891, 1901 censuses all list his birthplace as Mearns, Renfrewshire and his year of birth as around 1852. So i think the 31 on his marriage certificate is an error.

I went through Scotland's people - i found a possibility of a John Henderson, born 1824 died 1870 in paisley renfrew - mothers maiden name Davidson - i haven't got enough credits are the moment to have a look  BUT through DNA i found reasonably strong DNA links to a Mary Ann Henderson,born approx 1810 or 1820 depending on the family tree -  died  1857 (have death certificate) who lists her parents as James Henderson and Janet Davison - if William's father was the brother of Mary Ann, than could make sense.