Renfrewshire 1861.....

[Andy]

1861 census Greenock E6/11

Samuel Craig 37 Blacksmith
Joan [sic] 35
Samuel G. 13 Rivet Boy
Agnes 8
William 6
Jean 1

At E6/6 (I'll eat my hat if they're not related)

James Craig 70 Labourer
Mary 60
Catherine 50
John 24 Blacksmith
Jane 20 seanstress

This is very likely to be right next door at Albert Street were Samuel lived between 1855 and 1878 befor moving to John Street (the residence may still have been Albert Street).

1871 you have access to GROS 8/5:

Samuel Gibson Craig 47 Boilermakers Blacksmith
Agnes 18, Housekeeper
Jean 12
Alexander 10
Jessie 8
Robert 8

GROS 8/8

John Craig 30 Blacksmith
Mary Ann 28
John 7
Mary Ann 2

Samuel disappears from the Trade Directories between 1883 and 1884.

The Greenock Telegraph has the following:

Agnes, eldest daughter of the late Samuel Craig, Blacksmith to Alexander McNeil at 6 Gravend Place, Greenock on 3rd Jan 1873.

Son to Mr & Mrs Samuel Craig born at Arthur Street, Greenock 16th Feb 1855.

Samuel Gibson Craig, Boilermaker, husband of Janet McGregor died at 35 Kelly Street, Greenock 15th June 1909

Agnes Craig, 4th daughter of Alex McNeill, Ladyburn, to John Melville at "The Manse" Bogston, 31st Dec 1908

Silver wedding notice for Agnes and Alex McNeil 7th Jan 1898

Son to Mr & Mrs Alex McNeil, pointsman at 12 (should be 21) Arthur Street, Greenock 13th Sep 1877

Daughter to Mr & Mrs Alex McNeil, signalman, at Springkell 25th Dec 1879

Son to Mr & Mrs Alex McNeil, signalman, at Springkell, 6th Jan 1882

Daughter to Mr & Mrs Alex McNeil, signalman, at Springkell 13th Dec 1883

Daughter to Mr & Mrs Alex McNeil, signalman, at Springkell 24 Nov 1886

Son to Mr & Mrs Alex McNeil, signalman, at Springkell, 8th Apr 1884

Daughter to Mr & Mrs Alex McNeil, signalman, Hamilton Street 22nd May 1892

Alexander McNeil, signalman, husband of Agnes Craig, died at Ladyburn Cottage, 70 Hamilton Street, Greenock, 9th May 1912

Jessie Boyd, youngest daughter of the late Alex McNeil to Richard Scott Beveridge, Station Master, Melrose, at Waverley Hotel, Greenock 22nd Nov 1911

Hope this was of interest.

[Kathy]

Thank you Andy, it was kind of you to go to so much bother.

I will pour over the information, at first glance most are in my tree, althou I will have to do some digging with regard to 70yo James Craig, he may possibly be the uncle of Samuel.

Kathy

[Andy]

Hi there, I would advise a wee hunt into John Craig the Blacksmith living with James Craig in 1861 and with his wife Mary Ann Morrison in 1871.

Here's the IGI listings for their children:

1. MARY ANN CRAIG - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 27 MAR 1869 Middle Or New Parish, Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland

2. JOHN CRAIG - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 15 NOV 1863 Middle Or New Parish, Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland

3. CATHERINE GIBSON CRAIG - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 29 DEC 1873 Middle-East-West Parishes, Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland

4. JAMES CRAIG - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 19 NOV 1861 Middle Or New Parish, Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland

5. ANN CRAIG - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 13 DEC 1865 Middle Or New Parish, Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland

6. PRISCILLA CRAIG - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 01 NOV 1867 Middle Or New Parish, Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland

7. SAMUEL CRAIG - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 21 JUN 1871 Middle-East-West Parishes, Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland

The first born was James which would tie in with the father being James from the 1861 census.

Catherine Gibson Craig can't be a coincidence, surely.

[Andy]

Hold fire on that search. John Craig and Mary Ann Morrison were both born in Ireland:

Dwelling: 9 Mount Pleasant St
Census Place: West Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203574 GRO Ref Volume 564-3 EnumDist 25 Page 22
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
John CRAIG M 42 M Ireland
Rel: Head
Occ: Blacksmith
Mary Ann CRAIG M 34 F Ireland
Rel: Wife
John CRAIG 17 M Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: App Engineer
Catherine CRAIG 7 F Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Scholar
Robert CRAIG 2 M Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland
Rel: Son
David CRAIG 5 m M Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland
Rel: Son

[Andy]

James Craig, father of John, died in Greenock in 1865 he is listed as married to Ruth Hoy who reported the death. Hoy isn't a common name in this neck of the woods. His parents are reported as James Craig a horse dealer (Dec) and Unknown Walsh (dec).

[NancyinNJ]

I have an Aunt Mary Crawford Caldwell married to James Craig in the early 1950's in Greenock. they had one son James Craig..wonder if these are your Craigs.

[Kathy]

Andy, I agree with the coincidence, with the middle name Gibson, I will keep the information, somewhere I may be able to tie the families together.

Nancy, Does any of the information tie with your Craig's if so I would be happy to share what I have, I notice you are also researching the McNeil line, my McNeil's are from the Port Glasgow/Greenock area of Renfrewshire.

Kathy

[NancyinNJ]

I don't have any information on the Craig connection...just that my Aunt Mary Caldwell married James Craig and had a son James.
My McNeils are on my maternal grandmother's (Annie) family...I haven't got into them yet.
The 1901 Census has them at 34 Hamilton Street all born in Greenock
Henry McNeil (54) - Engineer Iron Turner
Agnes (49)-
Annie (25)- French Polisher
Janet (23) - Wool knitter
Robert (21) - Appprentice Iron Turner
Daniel (13)- scholar

[Kathy]

Sorry Nancy,

I don't have any Henry McNeil's, the ony possible link I could find was the address, I have several in East Hamilton St Greenock, but not # 34. and this may not even be a link, as I get the impression it was more a case of many many people and few in comparison streets.

Kathy

[Jack]

Hi Kathy,

A lot of question marks here - the writing wasn't the easiest to read at all. Oh, it looked very fancy - but that's all i would say for it!
--
1851 cens 573-4 (473) Ed 14 p 25 (Abbey - Johnstone)
William St.
// John CRAIG, head, marr, 67, agricultural labourer, b Kilbarchan, RFW
Janet CRAIG, wife, 64, -------------- b Kilbarchan
Margaret CRAIG, daur, u/m 21, cotton throwster, b ???? RFW
Janet BLUE?, gr-daur, 5, ---------- b Greenock
// Alexander GRAY, head, marr, 21, machine maker, b Johnstone
Jane? GRAY, wife, 22, ------- b Americee [sic]
// Isabella McLEAN, head, u/m 64, pauper, formerly cotton throwster, b Isla? ARL?
// Samuel CRAIG, head, marr, 27, blacksmith's labourer, b Johnstone
Jean CRAIG, wife, 25, -------- b Johnstone
Samuel CRAIG, son, 2, ----- b Johnstone
James CRAIG, son, 8mos, -- b Johnstone
--
Jack