Find Ancestors

Again, big thanks for the help you have all given me!

I have the Carson side of things, as they took originate from the Morton/Thornhill area of Dumfries. My side descends from the Pittington branch mentioned earlier.

It's the Wilson side of things that I have had trouble with finding and with this new information I have from the postcard (in my original post), has opened a can of worms for me.

I am doing what I can to find out myself, but sometimes you have to ask for help!

ArgyllGran, like you said, 'cousin' could be used very loosely in the same way as saying 'Aunt & uncle' to other family members.....

I think the thing to do is write it all down on paper and see what is going on with the information gathered so far...

Shame Wilson is such a common name especially being so close to England where Wilson is also very common.

Argyllgran I was totally off with my guesses for middle names but I see your nose got the better of you :-D :-D :-D I'm trying to rein my nose in as I've been looking at a lot of certificates recently that I don't really need to. I'm doing a tree for my brother in law and I keep going off track looking at twigs instead of concentrating on the main branch but one line of his are all 'tinkers' and are so interesting!!

Anyhow this is Elizabeth Wilson's MI.

In Loving Memory of Elizabeth WILSON wife of Thomas Cowan, who died at Smith’s Croft, Auldgirth, on 30th June 1911, aged 73 years. The above Thomas COWAN, who died at Dalbeattie, on 23rd August 1925, aged 81 years. And of their daughter Lizzie McMillan, wife of Alexander Burnett, died at Braemar, Aberdeenshire, 11th Sep 1956, aged 75 years. Also the above Alexander BURNETT, died at Braemar, 2nd June 1957, aged 82 years.

1841 for Elizabeth.

1841 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Minnyhive Throughgate Street, Glencairn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Household members (10 people)
First name(s) Last name Sex Age Birth year Birth place
Helen Harper Female 60 1781 Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Elisabeth Harper Female 25 1816 Dumfriesshire, Scotland
William Robison Male 9 1832 Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Elisabeth Maxwell Female 56 1785 Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Anne Wilson Female 31 1810 Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Anne Wilson Female 7 1834 Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Charlotte Wilson Female 5 1836 Dumfriesshire, Scotland
>>Elisabeth Wilson Female 3 1838 Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Mary Wilson Female 0 1841 Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Jane Benart Female 20 1821 Dumfriesshire, Scotland


Moniaive is a village in the Parish of Glencairn, in Dumfries and Galloway, southwest Scotland.



ADDED

1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Lane Off High Street, Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Household members (10 people)
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Thomas Wilson Head
Married Male 40 1811 Farm servant Kirkpatrick Durham, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland
Ann Wilson Wife
Married Female 40 1811 - Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Ann Wilson Daughter
Unmarried Female 17 1834 Farm servant Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Charlotte Wilson Daughter
Unmarried Female 14 1837 Embroiderer of muslin Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Elizabeth Wilson Daughter
Unmarried Female 12 1839 - Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Mary Wilson Daughter
Unmarried Female 10 1841 - Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Margaret Wilson Daughter
Unmarried Female 7 1844 - Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Agnes Wilson Daughter
Unmarried Female 4 1847 - Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Jean Wilson Daughter
Unmarried Female 0 1851 - Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Elizabeth Maxwell Mother-in-law
Widow Female 65 1786 Pauper formerly farm servant Dumfriesshire, Scotland


???

1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Low Peelton, Glencairn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Household members (9 people)
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Thomas McMillian Head
Married Male 45 1816 Farmer of 25 acres of land Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Janet McMillian Wife
Married Female 38 1823 Farmers wife Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Mary McMillian Daughter
Unmarried Female 13 1848 Scholar Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Ann McMillian Daughter
Unmarried Female 10 1851 Scholar Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Jane McMillian Daughter
Unmarried Female 7 1854 Scholar Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Susan McMillian Daughter
Unmarried Female 5 1856 Farmer daur Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Robina McMillian Daughter
Unmarried Female 2 1859 Farmer daur Dumfriesshire, Scotland
John Hume Servant
Unmarried Male 16 1845 Agr labr Dunscore, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
>>Elizabeth Wilson Servant
Unmarried Female 20 1841 Domestic serv Dumfriesshire, Scotland b Glencairn


1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Newmains, Kirkconnel, Kirkmahoe, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Household members (9 people)
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
David Wightman Head
Widower Male 53 1818 Farmer of 100 acres arable England
Robert Wightman Son
Unmarried Male 26 1845 Farmer son England
Ann Wightman Daughter
Unmarried Female 19 1852 Farmer daur England
Joseph Wightman Son
Unmarried Male 17 1854 Farmer son Dumfriesshire, Scotland
John Wightman Son
- Male 14 1857 Farmer son Dumfriesshire, Scotland
David Wightman Son
- Male 10 1861 Farmer son scholar Dumfriesshire, Scotland
>>Elizabeth Wilson Servant
Unmarried Female 28 1843 Domestic servant Dumfriesshire, Scotland b Glencairn
Margaret Stwart Servant
Unmarried Female 22 1849 Dairy maid Johnston, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
David Howet Servant
Unmarried Male 19 1852 Farm servant Dumfriesshire, Scotland

I've just had a quick look at Scotland's People website and found children to Matthew Wilson & Margaret, all born in Ruthwell, Dumfriesshire.

Jean Wilson 1827
Mary Wilson 1828
Elizabeth Wilson 1830
Catherine 1831
Mary 1833
Helen 1836
Margaret 1838
John 1839
Andrewina 1842
Isabella 1846

Ruthwell is south of Dumfries. Not sure if this is the correct family being south of Dumfries, but dates for Elizabeth and Catherine loosely fit.

What do others think of this family? Or am I completely wrong...??

1851 census shows them in Ruthwell, with all except Matthew’s wife Margaret having been born there

There is also a son Mark, born c1849

By 1861, there were also two grandchildren Charles Wilson and John Briggs, both born Ruthwell

BTW…..I doubt that the child with birth year c1838 on the 1841 census is the one baptised in 1830

May I ask why you looked for children of Matthew and Margaret? I can’t see those names in any of the info you’ve had from helpers………..

She and her family are in Ruthwell in 1841

Elizabeth was born in Moniaive which is 16 miles north-west of the town of Dumfries. Her parents are Thomas Wilson and Ann McWhirr as per her death certificate shared by Argyllgran
1 Feb 2026 00:20

1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Smiths Croft, Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Household members (5 people)
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Thomas Cowan - Married Male 57 1844 Coal carter Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
>>Elizabeth Cowan - Married Female 57 1844 Carters wife Moniaive, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Mary Cowan - Single Female 22 1879 - Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Lizzie Cowan - Single Female 20 1881 Rural post girl Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
George Wilson - Single Male 29 1872 Wood sawyer Collin, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Elizabeth's family without her in 1861 (she was working for the McMillans)

1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Guildhall Row, Kirkconnell, Kirkconnel, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Household members (11 people)
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Thomas Wilson Head
Married Male 48 1813 Ploughman Kirkpatrick, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland
Ann Wilson Wife
Married Female 50 1811 - Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Charlotte Wilson Daughter
Unmarried Female 24 1837 Domestic serv Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Mary Wilson Daughter
Unmarried Female 20 1841 Ag lab Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Agnes Wilson Daughter
Unmarried Female 14 1847 Ag lab Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Jane Wilson Daughter
- Female 8 1853 - Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
John Wright Grand son
- Male 7 1854 - Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
An Hyslop Grand daughter
- Female 3 1858 - Kirkconnel, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Robert Brown Grand son
- Male 1 1860 - Kirkconnel, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Margaret Wilson Grand daughter
- Female 0 1861 - Kirkconnel, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Elizabeth Maxwell Mother-in-law
Unmarried Female 75 1786 Formerly pauper (domestic serv) Dumfriesshire, Scotland


1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Smithton Cottage Smithton, Kirkconnel, Kirkmahoe, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Household members (10 people)
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Thomas Wilson Head
Married Male 57 1814 Agriculturel ploughman Kirkpatrick, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Ann Wilson Wife
Married Female 58 1813 - Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Mary Wilson Daughter
Unmarried Female 27 1844 General servant Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Jane Wilson Daughter
Unmarried Female 17 1854 Farm servant Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
John Wright Grand son
Unmarried Male 17 1854 Farm servant Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Robert Brown Grand son
- Male 9 1862 Scholar Kirkconnel, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Mary A Ferguson Grand daughter
- Female 7 1864 Scholar Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Agnes S Hunter Grand daughter
- Female 6 1865 Scholar Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Lizzie Scott Grand daughter
- Female 4 1867 - Dumfriesshire, Scotland
William Wilson Grand son
- Male 1 1870 - Dumfriesshire, Scotland

That’s why I asked why the OP looked for MATTHEW and MARGARET. I couldn’t see any reason for so doing :-S :-S

I think Marcus was desperately trying to find a Wilson family with two daughters named Elizabeth and Catherine.

But they're all very common names, and in any case, Elizabeth definitely was the daughter of Thomas and Ann!

ArgyllGran, yes, I'm confusing myself trying to find a Wilson family that fits !!!

Slightly panicked which is not good..!

So, back on track, Elizabeth is daughter of Thomas and Ann

Meanwhile I think I have an entry for my ancestor Catherine Wilson c 1830.

She was born 1 October, 1830 in Morton, to James Wilson and Janet Black key or Blacklaw.

Parents marrying 1820 and has 4 siblings Robert 1820, Jean 1822, Robert 1824, & Adam 1828. All born Morton.

Just want a connection with Catherine and Lizzie/Elizabeth !!

Only doing free searches on Scotland people for now.

Catherine is my known ancestor, and Lizzie is described as a Cousin - but exactly what is the connection??

Details of that Catherine posted on 1 Feb at 00.39 and 01.03.

As Elizabeth and Catherine were not sisters, they may have been cousins - just a suggestion.
If so, PERHAPS their fathers were brothers: James approx 1798, and Thomas approx 1811.

But no - probably not unless the family moved.
Per censuses, Thomas was born in Kirkpatrick Durham, and James in Kirkconnel, about 40 miles apart.

ADDED:
But 1841 says James was born in Kirkpatrick Irongray, about 5 miles WNW of Dumfries, and only about 15 miles from Kirkpatrick Durham.


Records aren't exhaustive so far back.

Thanks for your help in this!

I am continuing to look for information, but nothing has happened yet...

I'll post again soon if and when I get anything useful...

Thanks!