Brick Wall - Henderson, Roxburghshire

[phow]

"George Henderson, bachelor, married Mary Mitchell, spinster on 14th April 1833 at St Lawrence church, Warkworth. Witnesses - William Lamb, Adam Henderson, David Henderson"

George and Mary moved to Seaton Sluice in Northumberland are well documented. Census records tell us that George was born in Roxburghshire, Scotland.

Lots of family trees on Ancestry, have him as 'George Henderson, born in Sprouston, Roxburghshire, in 1808, son of another George Henderson and Ann Mitchell'  ... but he called his first son David and I suspect that Adam Henderson and David Henderson who were witnesses at his wedding were either his brothers, or brother and father.

I'm completely stuck when I start looking for potential David or Adam Hendersons in Roxburghshire though.
There is a William Lamb in Kelso who would be around the right age to be friends with George, so Kelso is a possibility.

I've looked all over the Borders and nothing is particularly leaping out.
Maybe Ancestry is right and my George is the one that was born in Sprouston after all?

Any help is very gratefully appreciated!


 

[ColC]

I note two of the census returns you mention, on https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk there are 3 baptisms/births for a George with the father David but none in the Borders. The nearest being
GEORGE OGILVIE HENDERSON parents DAVID HENDERSON/MARGARET CREADIE
21/01/1810 Leith South but no Adam Or David, so unlikely.

If I am correct Mary's parents were William & Margaret, so they may have followed the English/ Scottish Naming pattern, for their parents but not necessarily.

1841 Seaton Sluice
HENDERSON   George   M   30           Colliery Lab   Scotland   
HENDERSON   Mary   F           25      Northumberland   
HENDERSON   David   M   8      Northumberland   
HENDERSON   William   M   6      Northumberland   
HENDERSON   Margaret   F   1      Northumberland

1861 Seaton Sluice
HENDERSON   George              53   Labourer Bottle Factory   Scotland   Roxburghshire      
HENDERSON   Mary   Wife              48   Northumberland   Alnmouth      
HENDERSON   Jane   Dau         20   Dressmaker   Northumberland   Seaton Sluice      
HENDERSON   John   Son   -      11   Scholar   Northumberland   Seaton Sluice      
HENDERSON   Joseph Son   -   9   Scholar   Northumberland   Seaton Sluice      
HENDERSON   Ann   Dau   -   F   4   Scholar   Northumberland   Seaton Sluice

Colin

[Forfarian]

I had a look in the census. the 1841 and 1851 record George's birthplace as Scotland, and the 1861 is missing from the transcription site I have access to.

However the 1871 does not appear to say Roxburghshire. See screenshot. I read the first part as Ross and the second part as Drith or Brith, neither of which makes any sense at all.

Has anyone seen the original of the 1861?

[rosie17]

I had a look in the census. the 1841 and 1851 record George's birthplace as Scotland, and the 1861 is missing from the transcription site I have access to.

However the 1871 does not appear to say Roxburghshire. See screenshot. I read the first part as Ross and the second part as Drith or Brith, neither of which makes any sense at all.

Has anyone seen the original of the 1861?

1861 says Scotland Roxburghshire
The 1871 does look like Ross maybe Birth could be mistaken for Burgh ?

Rosie

[Elwyn Soutter]

I read it as "Ross Burrh" which, when you say it quickly, is pretty close to Roxburgh.

[phow]

Thank you everyone!
Yes, I'd noticed the spelling I assumed the enumerator couldn't spell it and just tried to give it a good guess.

That is the right family. Son George was born in 1844 and he's a direct relation.
 
I assumed (again! I should stop doing that) that the first born son was probably named after George's father and the second was named after Mary's father.

Another assumption is that George's father was a labourer or farmer ( this is a family of labourers or sailors) which could mean that he moved his family wherever there was work. Which means they could be from anywhere!

If I am correct Mary's parents were William & Margaret, so they may have followed the English/ Scottish Naming pattern, for their parents but not necessarily.

1841 Seaton Sluice
HENDERSON   George   M   30           Colliery Lab   Scotland   
HENDERSON   Mary   F           25      Northumberland   
HENDERSON   David   M   8      Northumberland   
HENDERSON   William   M   6      Northumberland   
HENDERSON   Margaret   F   1      Northumberland

[ColC]

There were only 3 birth/baptisms in Roxburgh 1805-1811 on SP.
GEORGE HENDERSON 17/11/1805 Bedrule
ANDREW HENDERSON/?

1851 Wilton Roxburghshire
George 47 Mason/journeyman born Bedrule
Wife Helen 44 born Wilton
Children William 15, Robert 4, Helen 2, John 11mth, all born Wilton

GEORGE HENDERSON 1/12/1811 Jedburgh
ANDREW HENDERSON/MARGARET LAUDER

1851 Pleasance,  St Cuthberts, Edinburgh.
George Cabinet Maker born Jedburgh
Wife Rachel 38 born Stirling
Elizabeth 18, Margaret 15, Rachel 10 all born Edinburgh

That only leaves this one, unless there was another, which did not survive etc. ?

GEORGE HENDERSON 23/02/1807 Sprouston
GEORGE HENDERSON/ANN MITCHEL ,

Colin

[Forfarian]

That only leaves this one, unless there was another, which did not survive etc. ?
GEORGE HENDERSON 23/02/1807 Sprouston
GEORGE HENDERSON/ANN MITCHEL ,

That's exactly the problem.

Just because it's the only possible candidate in the records doesn't mean it's the right person, simply because there may be others whose baptism records, if they ever existed, have not survived.

[phow]

That only leaves this one, unless there was another, which did not survive etc. ?
GEORGE HENDERSON 23/02/1807 Sprouston
GEORGE HENDERSON/ANN MITCHEL ,

That's exactly the problem.

Just because it's the only possible candidate in the records doesn't mean it's the right person, simply because there may be others whose baptism records, if they ever existed, have not survived.

Yes, I've seen this George all over Ancestry and I really don't believe that he's the right one.

From census records, I've worked out that mine was potentially born early April 1808.

Thank you everyone for taking time to check things out for me! I do appreciate it. Have a lovely Christmas