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**Uncle John** · 21-01-10, 20:11

Steven

I'm sure you are aware that ScotlandsPeople only has Church of Scotland baptisms etc. in its Old Parochial Records. That means that anyone baptised in a dissenting church will not be found there. The registers of some but not all dissenting churches are deposited in the National Archives of Scotland, which would involve a visit to Edinburgh. Their index is online, so you should be able to discover what records they hold for churches in Larbert.

I have an ancestor who was apparently born in Larbert, whose children were born in Denny (found in the IGI) and grandchildren in Airdrie in the 1830s and 1840s (no sign of their baptisms at all).

**stevie2006** · 21-01-10, 20:36

Thanks John it just seemed unusual that all the siblings are recorded but not Margaret. It seems a trip to Edinburgh might be a good idea my brother in law is also following up his tree and has suggested it a few times.

Steven

**herky** · 21-01-10, 22:36

Hi,
I am not sure if this is your family but the 1851 Scots census lists Margaret GOURLY as b in Cumbernauld, Dunbartonshire.
Parents and other sibling are a mixture ofy b Larbert and Cumbernauld.
John b 1845, Cumbernauld
David b 1847, Cumbernauld
Robert b 1850, Cumbernauld
Margaret b 1843, Cumbernauld
Elizabeth b 1841, Larbert
James b 1839, Larbert
William b 1837 Larbert

Father b Larbert, Mother b Cumbernauld.
Apologies if this is not your family but worth a try.

**stevie2006** · 22-01-10, 06:28

Herky that looks like it has to be the one can you let me know parents names. Will buy some more credits tonight and get a copy printed off. Thank you very much that only leaves Margaret's birth now.

Regards

Steven

**herky** · 22-01-10, 08:50

Unfortunately I didn't save my search last night as it was my last before bed.
From memory it was David and Agnes - but I have a terrible memory.
Ancestry is down so I can't check.
However i have just done a search on SP and get one hit with the following search-

1851,
Surname - GOURLY - (note spelling)
Forename - Agnes
Second person forename - David
Dunbartonshire
Age range 30-31

EDIT - Just to add that I failed to find Margaret's birth. Perhaps she wasn't baptised or the record is missing or mistranscribed. I will have another look though.

**Janet** · 22-01-10, 10:02

Steven,

Not really a reply to your original question and I do not know if you are interested or there might be some connection, but I have two Gourlay brothers staying with my Great Grandmother in Culross as boarders. Their names are Joseph Gourlay b about 1870, age 11 on 1881 Census and John Gourlay b about 1874, age 7 on 1881 Census. Both are from Boness Linlithgow which I think is Stirling? They have intrigued me as they are boarders so young. Are they orphans? I know my g grandmother was widowed twice over and was some sort of schoolteacher. I have not come across many Gourlay in Scotland.

Janet

**herky** · 22-01-10, 10:04

Hi,
I have now managed to get back onto Ancestry.
Parents were
Agnes bc 1821 and David bc 1813, occupation waggoner

ED - 3
Page - 6
line - 11
roll - 704

**stevie2006** · 22-01-10, 19:10

Thanks Herky thats great will download census from Scotlands People over weekend when I get time and add it to my file. Pity about the birth looks like the brick wall.

Janet re Gourlay's the ones I have found so far are from Larbert and Stirling none out Fife way so far but will get back to you if I find out any more

Steven

**stevie2006** · 22-01-10, 20:40

Herky thanks again for the details of the 1851 census.

Steven

**stevie2006** · 24-01-10, 19:06

As the 1851 census listed Margaret's place of birth as Cumbernauld I have been checking the Cumbernauld birth records but alas cannot find any record there or in Larbert. Looks like she may be the only child in the Gourlay family not to have her birth registered, just bad luck I suppose. Her father is listed as a boatman and I presume may have worked on Forth canal and therefore they may have been away from home when Margaret was born so might have to check places further from home.

Steven

**stevie2006** · 24-01-10, 20:06

You know what is very strange been on Scotlands People for last three hours and can find births for first 3 children to David Gourlay and Agnes Simpson.

Elizabeth Alexa born 1/11/1840 in Larbert
James born 5/8/1838 in Larbert
William born 11/12/18436 in Larbert

However cannot find the next 4 children

Margaret (my ancestor)
Robert
David
John

They are all listed on 1861 census as being born in Cumbernauld.

Would anyone know why first 3 are registered by no sign of next 4?

Steven

**herky** · 24-01-10, 20:56

Hi Steven,
I wonder if it is because all the children that don't have baptisms are from Cumbernauld - perhaps their records were lost/damaged etc
I too have tried to find these children but failed.

So annoying.

**stevie2006** · 25-01-10, 18:35

Thanks Herky looks like a lost cause but thanks for all your help

Steven

**Uncle John** · 25-01-10, 21:36

Originally posted by stevie2006 View Post

However cannot find the next 4 children

Margaret (my ancestor)
Robert
David
John

They are all listed on 1861 census as being born in Cumbernauld.

Would anyone know why first 3 are registered by no sign of next 4?

One possible reason is that they weren't baptised in a Church of Scotland church. It's entirely possible that the church the first few were baptised in changed from Church of Scotland to (e.g.) Free Church of Scotland, so its baptism registers would cease to be made available on SP.

**stevie2006** · 26-01-10, 19:12

Thanks John never thought about and certainly could be a reason

Steven

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