Alexander Cameron/Ann Miller

[annenian]

I have hit a brick wall in my search for my 2nd great grandfather, Alexander Cameron’s roots and am hoping someone may be able to help.
So far I have established that ALEXANDER CAMERON married ANN MILLER on the 7th Dec 1810 in Glasgow and the IGI shows that they had 5 children there between 1811 and 1819.
They next appear in Moray and I have found a further 4 children born here between 1821 and 1827 including my great-grandfather PETER.
Strangely, I have been unable to find any trace in Moray of the 5 children born in Glasgow which makes me wonder why they moved to Moray as they would surely not have left such young children behind.
The 1841 census shows ALEXANDER CAMERON living at Moss of Longhill, in the Parish of Urquhart, Moray with ANN, his wife, and one daughter, Margaret. This entry gives the ages of both ALEXANDER and ANN as 50 but, since I know that ANN was born in 1785, I can’t trust this as a basis for his year of birth. The entry also states that ALEXANDER was born in Moray.
He is not shown in the 1851 census, although Ann and Margaret are still at the same address, so I presume he died between 1841 and 1851.
So, the only firm information I have on ALEXANDER is that he was born in Moray, was a Mason, married in 1810 and died between 1841 and 1851. (I have a copy of ANN’s death certificate and this has enabled me to trace her line quite a way back.)
I would be grateful for any fact or pointer that may enable me to get over this hurdle.
Thanks,
Ian Cameron

[ChrisDoak]

Hi Ian,

The ages for adults in the 1841 Census were generally rounded down to the nearest 5, so it is quite possible that Alexander could have been any age between 50 and 54 (Anne too).

What birthplace does the 1851 Census give for Anne - was she a Moray girl, or a Glasgow lass?

I am just wondering if there are two couples in Scotland at this time called Alexander Cameron + Anne Miller.Certainly,as regards the missing five children in Moray,I checked the Burials Record for the Gorbals Parish in Glasgow,and there doesn't seem to be any record of these 5 dying prior to 1821 (when your family seems to have arrived in Moray).

Regards,Chris.
Glasgow.

[annenian]

Hi Chris,
Thanks for your reply and for checking the burial records.
Anne was born in Glasgow and I have her birth as 29th May 1785 although that may be her christening. She was the daughter of Adam Miller and Catherine Witherspoon. She died in Moray at the home of her son(my great-grandfather) in 1857 and I have her death
certificate. For a long time I also thought, like you, that there were 2 couples but the 1851 census shows her as being born in Glasgow and that, and other pointers, have now convinced me that they are one in the same. I could be wrong though.
I am guessing that Alexaqnder was born between 1787 and 1891 but,unfortunately, I still need something else to enable me to find the correct line.
Many thanks again for your help.
Regards,Ian