I dont see you have had a response; I dont think its wise to be persuaded by any "tree" that cant provide source information. I have no conclusive answer but you are part way there in having a burial record to enable you to trace backward, which is what we do by default. Uncertainty is often the enduring situation. In 1851 I found one Joseph Ironside b abt 1793 who has Mary in his household. The transcription states he was born in Old Deer, Banffshire and that Mary Ironside is his spouse and her mother Margrat Wilson born 1769 who is also in the household at South Street, Fetterangus, Aberdeenshire. In 1861 Joseph is aged 69 at Old Deer with "May Ironside" (probably a mis transcriptin) You would now be able to purchase his death certificate for them both to examine the evidence relating to them both; hopefully it would give you the names of their parents and, possibly, a date of marriage which may or may not be after. Of course, the information in the death certificate is only as good as the Informant but it might help you reach a decision about what you decide to do in your record keeping. Hope this helps. Janet ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cindy Seibel" <[email protected]> > Hello listers. > > I'm wondering if someone might be able to help - either with information or a path to > get it. > > I am looking for the Margaret Wilson that married Joseph Ironside 18 Aug 1789 in Old > Deer, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The name appears in two different family trees using the > same birth record - b. 8 april 1759. The second tree marries her to William Lillie 22 > Aug 1785 and d. 29 Sep 1820 (with record from New Deer cemetery attesting). > > There is an 1851 census record showing Margaret living with her son Joseph and his wife, > and her est. birth year is 1769 in Old Deer. Assuming this is actually the correct birth > year, I still don't have a conclusive Old Deer birth record that matches. There is an > Auchterless record in 1768 and 2 Old Deer records in 1765 and 1766. > > Is there a "best" way to match Margaret to her birth records, and therefore her parents? > > Thanks for your help! > Cindy