Bob I found the death certificate of a Janet Reid m.s Hamilton who died in the New Monkland poorhouse on October 15, 1859, aged 32. The image is very poor but I think I can just make out that she was a widow. I can't quite make out what was the cause of death but whatever it was she had been ill for 12 months before her death. She was buried in New Monkland Churchyard. The death was reported by the Governor of the Poorhouse who was unable to supply the name of her mother or the first name of her father. This may not be your Janet, of course, but such early deaths might explain why you have been unable to find the family in later censuses. Alexander may have been sent to live with relatives, or brought up in the poorhouse. I did find a certificate for a James Reid who also died in the New Monkland Poorhouse. He died in May 1856 aged 23. But according to the informant, he was single, and a pauper. And I found a James Reid, a furnace labourer, who died in Old Monkland on December 31 1858 aged 37. He was the son of Alexander Reid and Margaret McKie. Unfortunately his widow was named Isabella and not Janet (she was the informant, and her signature is on the certificate). I will send you the image of Janet Reid's death certificate off-list. Scotlands People may be able to provide a transcription for you from the original. Rhoda .