Absolutely stumped!

[lydiaann]

Wow, thank you so much.  From no confirmatory details, suddenly I have them all!  That's brilliant.

lydiaann

[Forfarian]

Scotland Select Deaths & Burials just had the name and the date.

That's because the LDS etc mostly have only indexes or transcriptions. The clue is in the word 'select', i.e. not comprehensive. Do not rely on the LDS indexing. Make sure to view the original document,

The important thing was the parents, I needed to confirm that this was indeed the right James.  (One person has his parents as a landed "General Sir..." and his Lady!)

Very wise. Never trust anything you find in an online tree!

John and Flora were on S. Uist and the 1841-71 censuses show him alternately as a Joiner or a Crofter (the latter in 1871) and they were 83 and 84. 

I see that in 1871 (according to one transcription) they are at Ruaghchruach, Benbecula. Benbecula is a separate island between South Uist and North Uist, and it is part of the parish of South Uist. In 1861 the place name is written as Rhuavrach.

The 1851 census (transcription) says that James M*cdonald was born in Dundee but the 1861 and 1871 say he was born in Glasgow. How can you be sure that the John and Flora M*cD in Benbecula are his parents?

You absolutely need to view the original death certificate to confirm that the James McD who died in 1872 is the husband of Ann Lawson and to see what it says his father John's occupation was.

[lydiaann]

FINALLY!! But...oh dear, oh dear.

I have found the actual death registration of James on SP (D1872_282_02_0074Z) and it has changed a lot of stuff about his parents.  They ARE John and Flora (Kennedy) McDonald but (a) they are both deceased at the time of James' death, and (b) John was a Grocer!  So, the S. Uist stuff has all had to be removed - and it looks as though I may have to warn a couple of people that they have the wrong info too! - and a rethink is necessary on John and Flora.  Naming patterns don't even help in this case as they simply use family names in any random order.  So, once I get myself organised (we are currently in the midst of bathroom renos and I am not - shall we say - quite myself because of a non-life threatening, but extremely tedious medical condition!  DON'T GET OLD!!), I should be able to update you on this saga over the next couple of days (I'm in hiding from the workmen and the noise and dust!!).

I would like to say that I am so grateful for everyone's efforts.  In the meantime, thank you again.

lydiaann

[Forfarian]

Well, that's a step in the right direction.

You may need to consult the burial records of Dundee Howff http://www.fdca.org.uk/Howff_Burial_Records.html

I see that one Flora McDonald or Kennedy, aged 81, was buried there on 15 December 1857. Her death is indexed as Donald or Kennedy, ref 282 / 2 / 998.

There is another Flora McDonald, 84, who died in Dundee on 1 December 1857 and was buried on the 2nd. She was single, parents unknown.

There are two Flora McDonalds in the 1841 and 1851 censuses in Dundee.

One is in Wellington Street, Dundee, age recorded as 60, in 1841, with another Flora McDonald, aged 20. Both born Scotland but not Angus. She may be the one lodging in 1851 with a Catherine Hay, age said to be 72 and born in Ross and Cromarty.

The other is alone in Hawkhill in 1841, aged recorded as 57, born Angus. She may be the one alone in Nethergate in 1851, aged 71, born Fort William.

Or the 1851 ones may be the other way round.