A Census Dilemma .....

StewL · Post by **StewL** » Sat May 21, 2005 3:52 am

An interesting dilemma?

Here are the facts as known!

Daniel Laurie and Janet Porterfield 1871 census.
Dwelling 65 Charlotte St
St Andrews Parish, Glasgow Lanarkshire
Daniel Laurie Head 40 M Glasgow Lanarkshire Shoemaker
Janet Laurie Wife 40 F Glasgow Lanarkshire
Robert Laurie Son 12 M Glasgow Lanarkshire
Janet Laurie Daur 7 F Glasgow Lanarkshire

Daniel Laurie and Janet Porterfield 1881 census.

Dwelling: 38 Sydney St
Census Place: Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203637 GRO Ref Volume 644-3 EnumDist 8 Page 4
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Daniel LAWRIE M 50 M Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Shoemaker
Janet LAWRIE M 50 F Johnstone, Renfrew, Scotland
Rel: Wife
Isabella LAWRIE U 17 F Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Sewing Machinist
Christina MC BRAE U 17 F Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Rel: Boarder
Occ: Fancy Paper Box Maker

Now that I have introduced some of the family to you esteemed lot on TS.

I will let you know what the dilemma is!

You see there does not appear to be a Janet Laurie in 1881, and in 1871 Isabella Laurie is missing, conversely in 1881 Isabella Laurie is present and Janet Laurie is missing.
I considered at first that Janet and Isabella were twins and Janet had not survived, until some kind soul from Nova Stotia helped me with a copy of the 1871 census and b.c. for Isabella Laurie b. 14 Feb 1864 F. Daniel Laurie M. Janet Laurie (ms Porterfield), but no indication that she was a twin. So that theory goes out the window. The thought is that in 1871 Isabella was wrongly transcribed as Janet, her mothers name, and either the transcriber or the family were on the sauce and sozzled at the time.

I also realise that John is possibly missing in 1871 and 1881, 1881 is not a problem as he could have been married by then but 1871, well according to the estimated birth I have he would only have been about 8yrs old. He was a witness to brother Roberts wedding in 1880 to Isabella Galloway, hence Robert is absent in 1881, he is just down the road..

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated by myself, Isabella and the kind soul from N.S..

Thank you all.

Post by **AndrewP** » Sat May 21, 2005 8:13 am

Hi Stew,

The online IGI shows three children to Daniel Laurie and Janet Porterfield.

ROBERT LAURIE - Birth: 21 MAY 1859 Clyde, Glasgow, Lanark
DANIEL LAWRIE - Birth: 22 DEC 1861 High Church, Glasgow, Lanark
ISABELLA LAURIE - Birth: 14 FEB 1864 High Church, Glasgow, Lanark

This supports your theory that 7 year old Janet on the 1871 census was an error, and should have been Isabella. I assume Daniel (junior) died young, before the 1871 census.

No sign of a John Laurie. to this couple. Is his witnessing the wedding the only proof of his existence? If so, could he have been a cousin rather than a brother to the three above.

All the best,

Andrew

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Sat May 21, 2005 8:34 am

AndrewP wrote:....snipped............. Is his witnessing the wedding the only proof of his existence? If so, could he have been a cousin rather than a brother to the three above.

All the best,

Andrew

Or uncle....... not unknown .....................

Davie

Alcluith · Post by **Alcluith** » Sat May 21, 2005 9:43 am

there are three John Laurie in the 1881 census that could be your John

Dwelling: 61 Coalhill St
Census Place: Barony, Lanark, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203635 GRO Ref Volume 644-2 EnumDist 67 Page 9
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Matthew MC KAY M 59 M Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Night Watchman
Helen MC KAY M 55 F Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland
Rel: Wife
John LAURIE U 19 M Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Rel: Boarder
Occ: Bottle Maker
William PAUL W 49 M Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
Rel: Boarder
Occ: Bottle Maker

or

Dwelling: 80 Bellgrove St
Census Place: Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203638 GRO Ref Volume 644-3 EnumDist 14 Page 16
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Isabella WILLIAMSON W 36 F Arbroath, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Formerly Milliner
Magdalene REMON U 21 F Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Rel: Sister
Occ: Machinist
Annie REMON U 15 F Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Rel: Sister
Occ: Underclothing Presser
William MC LELLAN U 33 M Bannockburn, Stirling, Scotland
Rel: Lodger
Occ: Railway Inspector
John Alexr. LAURIE U 18 M Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Rel: Lodger
Occ: Cartwright Smith

The third does not match birth area but as he is blind it could be a reason for not on the census for 1871.

Dwelling: Blind Asylum 104 Castle St
Census Place: Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203639 GRO Ref Volume 644-3 EnumDist 47 Page 15

John LAURIE U 18 M Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland
Rel: Inmate Handicap: Blind
Occ: Netmaker

There are also a few John Laurie who are married in the 1881 census but like those above cannot tie in with your family.

StewL · Post by **StewL** » Sat May 21, 2005 12:08 pm

Hello Andrew, Davie and Drew

Those children listed on IGI are the only children I have for Daniel and Janet at this stage.
Andrew yes the young Daniel died in 1863 from Scarlet Fever I have his d.c.
I have re-checked the information I have and you are right John Laurie only appears on Robert Laurie and Isabella Galloways marriage as a witness.
The informant on Daniel and Janet’s death certificate’s was Robert Laurie.

So it appears that he could be a cousin or uncle and not a sibling.

But will also take a look at those John's Drew pointed out