Hamiltons in Whitburn

[MikeAB329]

David Hamilton married Ann Wood - date is not found. David's parents were John Hamilton and Mary Finlay.

Death certificate for David Hamilton, [Iron Cays. Labourer] states that he is the widower of Ann Wood, and he died 11 Feb 1875 in Whitburn, age 68. His parents were John Hamilton, cotton weaver and Mary Finlay. His son, John Hamilton was the informant.

The death certifcate for Ann Hamilton states that she died 16 Apr 1858 at Whitburn, age 47, and was married to David Hamilton, who was the informant at the death. Her parents were John Wood, farmer and Margaret Rankin. She was also buried in the Church Yard at Whitburn according to her death certficate, although I cannot find her burial in the indexes for Whitburn?

An 1841 census gives David Hamilton, age 30, cotton loom weaver; Ann Hamilton, age 30; John Hamilton age 6; Thomas Hamilton, age 4; Margaret Hamilton, age 4; Mary Hamilton, age 2 months - all residing at Whitburn.

An 1851 census gives David Hamilton, age 40, labourer, Whitburn; Ann Hamilton, wife, age 37, dress maker; Jane Hamilton, daughter, age 10; Ann Hamilton, daughter, age 7; Mary Hamilton, daughter, age 4 - all residing at Whitburn.

An 1861 census gives David Hamilton, age 54, labourer; Jane Hamilton, age 20, daughter, housekeeper all living at Malt-barns, Whitburn.
Looking at the birth and marriage certificates for the chiuldren listed in the 3 census forms. Janet, born 19 May 1839; John born 28 Sep 1834; and Thomas all had parents David Hamilton and Janet Bryce!!!!

John Hamilton married Janet McAlpin on 12 Jul 1839 at Stirling - parents of groom were David Hamilton and Janet Bryce.
Thomas Hamilton married Margaret Williamson on 1 Jun 1860. Grooms parents were David Hamilton and Janet Bryce.
John Hamilton was born 28 Sep 1834 Whitbun to David Hamilton and Janet Bryce.

It appears that there may be two wives here, but no mention in census forms of Janet , but Ann is mentioned in all applicable census!!!
I am absolutely stumped - it appears that Ann Wood and Janet Bryce are the same person!!!
Can anyone help me here?
regards,
Mike Bridgeford, Plettenberg bay, South Africa

[AllanMc134]

Mike,
My guess would be that Janet Bryce died in about 1841, before the census. Ann Wood may not have been married to him in 1841, she may have been a 'visitor'. All the children with parents David and Janet were born in 1841 or earlier. A marriage or death certificate for children born after 1841 may show Ann Wood as mother.

Regards,

Allan

[tom015]

There is a Whitburn mortality book which we have not yet transcribed and Janet Bryce is recorded in it on August 16th 1839 age 29. Alans hunch is correct (again)
Also the Whitburn Cemetery records start from 1862 so that explains why there is no record for 1858 burial record.
Tom S

[MikeAB329]

Many thanks to Alan and Tom - that has at least cleared up the problem.
I have now managed to find that David Hamilton and Janet Bryce had 4 children - John [b. 28 Sep 1834], Thomas [b. abt 1837], Margaret [b. abt 1837], and Janet [19 May 1839]. Janet Bryce then died on 16 Aug 1839.
David then married Ann Wood abt 1840 [can't find marriage] and had 3 children - Mary [b. abt 1841], Ann [b. abt 1844], Mary [b. abt 1847]. I can find a few early census forms, no birth, marriage not death certificates. I would think the 1st Mary probably died early.
I have found family for John and Thomas, but really looking for family of the two girls from the second marriage - Ann and Mary.
Can anyone give me some pointers as to where to look?
Ann Wood was the daughter of John Wood and Margaret Rankin, according to her death certificate. John and Margaret were my 3rd great grandparents.

Many thanks for all the help so far. I am so grateful to the experts on this panel.
Mike Bridgeford, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

[DavidB293]

Hamilton's in Whitburn
Hi,
I'm sorry to inform you that one of us seems to have some dates wrong my date for John Hamilton marrying Janet McAlpine is 12/07/1859. The reason I know this is that their daughter Agnes Hamilton married my great-grandfather John Johnston and I did some research on the female side.
Davie