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I don't know how well indexed the 1861 and 1871 censuses are but here goes. I am looking for the following family: Catherine (maiden name Frood) Gallacher (born c.1848)and her Husband John Gallacher/Gallagher (born c.1848). I have them in the 1881 census living at 12 Victoria Street Govan, Lanark and wondered if they are at the same address in 1871. When they married in 1868 John Gallacher was living at 49 Victoria street so if anyone could look up the 1861 census and confirm that he was living at the same address in Govan that would also be a great help. I don't have any idea where Catherine Frood was living during the 1861 census but her later census entries say she was born in Glasgow and that her father's name was James and he was a shipbuilder's journeyman and her mother's name was Elizabeth. Catherine's father was deceased by the time she married John Gallagher in 1868. For anyone who can give me any help I would say thanks as I have hit a complete dead end with this part of my family as the Frood's are a complete mystery. Thanks Pamela

Hi there, you could try www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/ it has links to egional council sites and some of them have 1851 census online free to access. Another option is www.scotsgenealogy.com/ HAPPY HUNTING. Shaun

What are Johns parents names? There is a John, 14yrs old, with parents Patrick and Alice Gallaher all born in Ireland. From 1861 Index Glasgow. Parish Enum Page Line 622/2 7 15 17 There are no Froods that match. Dave.

Pamela, Only have access to street index for 1861/71 census. Searched through Victoria street and found the following in 1871 Vol 644/1 Emun 35 p 9 12 Victoria Street, Govan John Gallacher head mar 24 Ship boiler maker b.Ireland Catherine Gallacher wife mar 24 b.Glasgow ?????? Gallacher dau 2 b.Glasgow Catherine Gallacher dau 2mth b.Glasgow at 55 Victoria st. Margaret Gallacher head unm 35 Housekeeper b. Ireland plus 4 Lodgers at 59 Victoria st. Bridget Gallacher head wid 60 b. Ireland Bridget Gallacher dau unm 19 b. Ireland No sign of Frood family but there was a Joseph Flood & family at 49 Victoria st. Are you sure of catherine's surname. If you have any info on her address in 1868 then I could do a check. Jim

Thanks!!!

Hi Jim, Just double checked the record I have from Scotlandspeople and it definately states that John was born in Wigtown, Scotland but surely it is the same family. I think the chances of 2 Boilermakes named John Gallacher with wifes named Catherine living at the same address within 10 years are pretty remote. Any idea why he would have said he was born in 2 different places? Pam

Just cross checked the records and discovered the birth of Catherine Gallacher to John Gallacher and Catherine (Frood) at 12 Victoria Street Govan. Result!

I now have the addresses of Catherine Frood and John Gallacher/Galagher in 1868 when they married: Catherine was living at Haughhead House and John was living at 49 Victoria Street. (both Govan) Jim, could you do me a big favour and check who was present at the above addresses in 1861? Cheers Pam

Hi Pamela, I checked the 1861 census tonight, no new info relating to you family. It would appear 49 Victoria st. wasn't built. I did find Haughead house and all the families seem to be associated with shipbuilding (head of house listed below)so given James Frood's occupation its probable the family was there. It was listed in the 1861 index as it appears to be part of a small hamlet but wasn't listed seperately in 1871. I'm assuming that the area developed around it and it became part of a street. I was going to go back and try and find an adjacent property/street in 1861 but someone else had taken the film. I'll check again next week. 1861 Haughead house (646-1 Emun 15) Head of household ( all living with families) William Ralph Carpenter Journeyman Owen Melaniff Labourer in boatyard James Swanson Shipbuilder Journeyman John Reilly Labourer in boatyard Micheal Barton Sailmaker Journeyman William Burns Quay Labourer I did think why John's birthplace may be confused. I'm assuming its a record of birth you have, but given that he was born c.1847 this would be a parish record as it pre-dates official registration from 1855. It may therefore be a record of his Christening & not birth hence born Ireland christened Scotland. If it is a later census then it was most probably an error at the time. I also took a transcript of the 1861 census details supplied by David. It lists another 5 children, 3 born in Scotland. Can forward this if you want. Patrick is listed as a Quarry labourer, don't know if this ties in with John's marriage cert. Jim

Pamela, Don't think my theory on John's christening can be right as I have just realised 2 of John's younger siblings were also born in Ireland. The census would date their arrival in Scotland to be after 1854 & before 1856. If you know John's parents are Patrick & Alice and the census is probably them then you could always check one of the Scotish births to confirm Alice's maiden name. You would also get the location & date of their wedding. Mary c.1856 b. Glasgow Patrick c.1859 b. Springburn, Lanarkshire Sarah 1861 b. Springburn, Lanarkshire (2mth on census)

Hi there, I just checked the 1851 census for Wigtown and there are no Gallachers on it so if they were there it wasn't for long. Shaun

Just a thought for you - Wigtownshire in Scotland was a major destination for Irish people, perhaps they went from Ireland to there first. Could be a case of being asked 'where are you from?'. I have one ancestor who has Edinburgh on one census and Perth on another - still can't work out why! - Karen

Thanks for checking things. I don't have John's birth certificate. I got his parents names from his marriage certificate and his origin as Wigtown from the 1881 census. I have now located his entry in the 1901 census and it looks like it may say Ireland but is is not easy to read, it definately says either Ireland or England. I have decided to go on the assumption that it says Ireland. John's parent's names are given on his wedding and deather certificate as Patrick Gallacher and Mary/Bridget Brogan. I will examine John's marriage certificate when I get home to make certain it says 49 Victoria Street and not 59 as Bridget Gallacher at 59 may well be his mother. I have been able to corroborate that the records I have for John are correct by cross checking dates of marriage on his children's birth certificates and also from addresses. Thanks Pam

Hi Pamela, I think it probably safe to assume the 1881 census is a transcription error and he was Irish. I would also discount the 1861 census entry from David as being the wrong person if Alice wasn't his mothers's name. The 1891 census has a surname index, and although I did look at it there were to many Johns. Do you know names of John's children that might make them easier to trace ? Also were they still in Govan in 1901. Let me know if you want a 1891 look-up Jim

I hae checked John's marriage certificate and his address at the time of his marriage to Catherine Frood in 1868 is definately 49 Victoria Street. In 1868 - John gives his father's name as Patrick and that by the time of his marriage to Catherine his father is deceased. In 1868 - John gives his mother's name as Mary Brogan and she is still living. By 1900 when John get's remarried he still gives his father as Patrick but he gives his mother's name as Bridget Brogan. His mother is given as Bridget Brogan on John's death certificate. I still think it is possible that the Bridget Gallacher living in Victoria Street could be his mother.

If possible would someone be able to check the 1861 census for Victoria Street Govan and let me know if Bridget Gallacher and her family are living there? Thanks Pamela

Hi Pamela, I found Bridget living at 17 Victoria Street in 1861. It manages to tie the Gallaher & Brogan name together but causes more confusion over John's birthplace. I'm begining to think he may have been born in Scotland after all, and perhaps didn't know hmself or assumed Irish nationality through his parents. Dist 646/1 emun 9 p14 Dwl 17 Victoria Street. Bridget Gallaher head wid 40 Lodging house keeper b.Ireland John Gallaher son unm 13 Rivetter (app) b. Muirkirk, Ayrshire Bridget Gallaher dau 10 b. Partick,Lanarkshire Letetia Brogan sister unm 32 White seam sewer b.Ireland James Cornie boarder unm 32 Boatyard labourer b. Ireland Hope this progresses your research. Jim PS Partick is now a district of Glasgow