Hi All, I am most appreciative of the interest in my search for the antecedents of Mary Boyd who bore a child [Barbara] by Stewart Murray Fullarton in 1794 (GROS Data 595/00 0020 0062). While I am still hoping to find at least some of the info that I am seeking I will try to cover the several questions that have been raised in your responses. Firstly Mary Boyd and Stewart Murray Fullarton did not marry; I suspect that her social position may not have permitted this. Stewart did acknowledge the child on the Baptism at Irvine as his "Natural Daughter" on 02/10/1794 (GROS Data 595/00 0020 0062), born 01/10/1794 There does seem to have been some longer standing feeling or relationship between these two as I have found the daughter, Barbara, now married to David T. Glover a sea captain, at Stewart's home in High St. Irvine on the 1841 census. The 1851 Census records William Fullarton aged 23 at Barbara's home, he had been listed at his father's home [Stewart] in 1841 as 12 years, his occupation in 1851 was given as "House Proprietor of Irvine Ayrshire" Stewart married Rosetta the apparent daughter of his second cousin, Colonel William Fullarton, on 04/01/1796 and that marriage is registered at both Irvine and Dundonald on that day, GROS Data 590/00 0020 0089 and also 595/0030 0082. Their first female child, born in 1798, was also named Barbara the name of Stewart's mother and also that of the wife of Colonel Fullarton his predecessor as Laird. Mary Boyd appears to have been born C 1774 given the age of 84 stated on her death record in March 1858 (GROS Data 564/02 00521). The informant was a son, James, who stated that Mary's father was a Ropemaker, John Boyd. In August 1803 Mary Boyd married William Roxburgh at Greenock "Old or West" (GROS Data 564/03 0040 0289), there is no reference to the occupations of either's father. During the 1770's there are only 3 recorded births in Ayrshire of a Mary Boyd with a father named John. Of these one has no father's occupation listed, one records the father as a "taylor" [no doubt a tailor], while regarding the third I have requested a Scottish friend to try to discern the minister's writing [GROS Data 602/00 0010 0222], also this baptism took place in 1775 which could fit with the age stated at death. This last record was made at Largs where I would anticipate the trade of Ropemaker would be in demand. So this Mary Boyd is most unlikely to be a high born individual such as the respondents are looking for; however I would very much appreciate any information that may be out there on this family both the Boyds and the Roxburghs. Peter Melbourne Australia