John & Janet Morning, Murry or Morrow? .....

[marilyn morning]

Hello Everyone

“I have recently found the records of John Morning and his family in the OPR files for Johnstone parish. John Morning (but he appears as John Murray) married Janet McLachlan 7 Jan 1815.

I have found them in the 1841 Census – listed as Morrow – at Rankin Street, Johnstone he aged 50 and she aged 45)

Jack very kindly identified them in the 1851 Census index and a check of the census film shows they were at 98 Graham Street, Johnstone (he aged 58, she aged 55).

John died 24 Mar 1877 at the age of 94 in “Elderslie, District of Abbey” – no more specific address given). This makes him born about 1783

So where are John and Janet in the 1861 and 1871 census returns?

My guess they are listed under another name – but what and where? They might even be in Ayrshire as I have come across a John Morning in Stevenston, Ayrshire in the 1871 Census aged 83 (so within 3 years of ‘my’ John Morning) – but he is listed as a ‘hawker’ and is staying as a lodger.

The second ‘sighting’ is in the poor relief application when a John Morning appears in 1864 as a ‘hawker’ aged 71 – so his birth would be around 1793

John had lots of family around in Johnstone – so why would he take to wandering around selling goods in Ayrshire?

No my thinking is that they (or at least John) is in the 1861 and 1871 census under another name – can anyone help to find them?”


Regards
Marilyn

[Jack]

Hi Marilyn,

There's this John MORROW in 1861 - maybe the attraction to the area was a young widow!
But as you know, it might not be your John MORNING in Ayrshire at all.
Can't see a John MORNING / MORROW / MURRAY etc. of around the right age in Ayrshire 1851 to match the John shown below - well none in the same area.
--
1861 cens 576 Ed 4 p 13 (Ardrossan)
Green St, Saltcoats.
John MORROW, head, widower, 73, cotton weaver, b Ireland
Jane I.? HEALY/KEALY? servant, widow, 30, domestic servant, b Craigie, AYR
--
By the way, the family just previous to John was -
James NICOL 61, labourer, b Arran
Jean 59, b Newmilns
Catherine 20, Mary 17, John 13 - all b Saltcoats.
--
Only other thing you might try is ordering in the 1861 & 1871 census films for Elderslie / Johnstone at your local LDS Family History Centre and trawl through the films looking for a John "MORNING"....
Not a task to be envied!

Jack

[marilyn morning]

Hello Jack,

I greatly appreciate your time looking up these results. I'm truly puzzled with the confusion being caused by the different spelling of this last name in the records. But sure that I'm not the first. I'll save the look up in the 1861 & 1871 census film at the LDS for a rainy day.

Interesting that you picked up on the Nicol neighbor. I've not started this area of my research yet, but will soon. Elizabeth Morning's father is James Nicol. Elizabeth Morning is the daughter-in-law of the John Morning mentioned in my question. One door open, as another one closed. Guess I owe you another Ginger Wine How many does this make?

Thank You
Marilyn