Is any subscriber able to locate this mans B.E.?

[q98]

To date, I am unable to locate the birth record of Alexander WILLS, whose Obituary in "The Cairns Post, Saturday, 22 July 1939", recorded "80 years of age" and "born at Carlton Farm, Dumfries, Scotland". However, although this information was probably supplied by either of his surviving sons, I doubt its accuracy, as numerous searches, specific and broad-based, were made on both SP OPR and Statutory Records for a male born circa 1859 +/- at Dumfries; several located, but none were mine. Googled "Carlton Farm, Dumfries" but located a "Carlton Farm, Whithorn" which is also in SW Scotland. A specific search with new location revealed nothing.
Although I know whom and where he married, children and grandchildren, etc; Alexander and his ancestors are thorns in my side . My only thought is he was not born in Scotland. I welcome all thoughts, suggestions and constructive criticism.

[momat]

Hi Jim ,
Was his occupation Tailor ?

[WilmaM]

Have you tried Census records?
That should give you where he and his parents were born.

I did have a quick look on Freecen but nothing turned up.

What were his parents' names [ as far as you know]
and what is the earliest confirmed sighting you have of him & where?

Dumfriesshire is a bit of a melting pot, just over the border from England or a quick sail across the Solway
and within sight of Ireland too.

[nelmit]

Hi all,

Looks like he wasn't born at Dumfries at all.

Name: Alexander Adie Will
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 13 Feb 1861
Birthplace: SAINT FERGUS,BANFF,SCOTLAND
Father's Name: William Will
Mother's Name: Isabella Robertson

The parents names agree with his death index.

Regards,
Annette

[WilmaM]

That would add up with what I noticed on Freecen.
All the WILLS entries seemed to be English, and the WILL families were in Aberdeenshire.

1861:
Piece: SCT1861/166 Place: St Fergus -Banffshire Enumeration District: 5
Civil Parish: St. Fergus Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: -
Folio: 0 Page: 4 Schedule: 16
Address: Pitbirn

Surname First name(s) Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
WILL George Head W M 71 Farmer 55 Ac, Emp 3 Labourers Banffshire - St Fergus 7 rooms with windows
WILL Margaret Daur U F 44 Banffshire - St Fergus
WILL William Son M M 34 Farmer's Son Banffshire - St Fergus
WILL Isabella Daulaw M F 29 Farmer's Son's Wife Aberdeenshire - Aberdeen
WILL Mary Grndau U F 13 Domestic Servant Aberdeenshire - Crimond
WILL George Grnson - M 8 Scholar Banffshire - St Fergus
WILL William Grnson - M 6 Scholar Banffshire - St Fergus
WILL John Grnson - M 4 Scholar Banffshire - St Fergus
WILL Elspet Grndau - F 2 Banffshire - St Fergus
WILL Alexander Adie Grnson - M 1 Banffshire - St Fergus
BRUCE Samuel Serv U M 18 Ploughman Aberdeenshire - Pitsligo

[q98]

Ah, NEVER did I consider the surname "WILL" but that is he; parents names do match those I believed them to be.
MANY thanks to all for your assistance =D> .

[WilmaM]

Freecenhas the family in the same place in 1841 & 1851 too:
1841 :

Piece: SCT1841/166 Place: St Fergus -Banffshire Enumeration District: 2
Civil Parish: St. Fergus Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: -
Folio: 2 Page: 6
Address: Pitburn

Surname First name(s) Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
WILL George M 50 Farmer Banffshire
WILL Eliza F 50 Banffshire
WILL Mary F 20 Banffshire
WILL George M 15 Banffshire
WILL Will. M 15 Banffshire

1851

Piece: SCT1851/166 Place: St Fergus -Banffshire Enumeration District: 5
Civil Parish: St. Fergus Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: St. Fergus
Folio: 112 Page: 5 Schedule: 26
Address: Pitburn

Surname First name(s) Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
WILL George Head M M 60 Farmer 42ac Empl 2 Labr Banffshire - St Fergus
WILL Elspet Wife M F 63 Farmer's Wife Aberdeenshire - Peterhead
WILL Mary Dau U F 33 Farmer's Daughter Banffshire - St Fergus
WILL William Son U M 26 Farmer's Son Banffshire - St Fergus
WILL William Grnson - M 2 Banffshire - St Fergus

Pitbirn farm is still there, to the North west of St. Fergus.

[q98]

Thanks for those Census results WilmaM. It would appear father George outlived TWO wives, would you agree?

[WilmaM]

You'd have to check that theory - Elspeth is a Scots form of Elizabeth so she might just be down as her Sunday Name in 1841.
I notice the William then is just Will. so probably it is the same wife. Poor chap - Will Will !!

[q98]

=D> Yet another one I did not consider WilmaM. My thinking must be too literal. Thanks again.