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Thought as much, they certainly didn't make it easy to trace family history!

Clutching at straws, but there is this Robert Muir being deported in 1856 but the age is out by 10 years. However he was given 10 years so that would make him free in around 1866 - need to know when he married. I can't find any record of the trial or deportation in the newspapers though, only on National Archives site:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=7&CATID=-5875341

I don't think that identity was checked Flip. My Great Uncle emigrated to NSW in the 1900s leaving his wife and children in Glasgow. When he died in Australia he was using his mother's maiden surname and had a different wife (claiming they had married in Glasgow, which there is no evidence of). His legitimate wife never re-married until after his death as she considered herself still legally married.

Rootgatherer has a point, and if your family legend is correct & he jumped ship the name and ancestry may have been assumed to avoid the authorities.

Not sure whether identity was checked at the time of marriage, I've come across an ancestor getting married in Australia when he already had a wife & family in England, so they can't have been very thorough.

As there is nothing obvious showing on the census, have you considered that the information from his marriage certificate may be inaccurate please?

While it is certainly possible that an Elizabeth (maiden surname) Muir married a Robert Muir it is probably a little unusual. Especially when coupled with the fact that he gives his father's name as Robert - same as his own. Is it possible that he was the illigitimate son of an Elizabeth Muir and is lurking about on the 1841 and 1851 census using a stepfather's surname?

Are there any other ways to spell Muir ? !!!!!

Regards Vera

Yes, he was still with them in 1881 so wrong one.

What date was the marriage in Australia?

Sorry, back to the drawing board...the one I posted is wrong....have found him with wife and family in 1871.

Regards Vera

Have you tried to find him on the Scotland census - FMP has Scotland online, maybe someone with a sub could take a look.

Edit - that'll teach me to refresh - Vera is one step ahead!!

Hi, Found this one in 1861....will check to see if I can see him on the 1871....thought I would you this one

1861
MUIR, Robert Head Married M 30 1831 Iron Ship Carpenter
Scotland VIEW
MUIR, Margaret Wife Married F 30 1831
Ferry Hill, Durham VIEW
MUIR, Mary Daughter F 3 1858 Scholar
West Hartlepool, Durham VIEW
MUIR, Margaret Daughter F 1 1860
West Hartlepool, Durham VIEW
MUIR, Agness Daughter F 0 (2M) 1861
West Hartlepool, Durham VIEW
BROWN, Elizabeth Servant F 14 1847 General Servant
Durham VIEW
MUIR, Annie Daughter F 2 1859
West Hartlepool, Durham VIEW
Piece: 3703
Folio: 53
Page: 28
Registration District: Hartlepool
Civil Parish: Stranton
Municipal Borough:
Address: 19, York Street, Stranton, West Hartlepool
County: Durham


Regards Vera

My ancestor according to family legend was a ship's carpenter who "jumped ship" in Adelaide, South Australia in the 1860's. I have his marriage certificate from the Victoria records that shows his parents to be Robert Muir (Labourer) and his mother Elizabeth Muir (nee Muir), his place of birth as Glasgow, Scotland. I have been unable to find his birth record on Scotland's People, or his parents. I would really appreciate someone pointing me in the right direction