Hello Everyone, 1851 and 1861 censuses tell me that Thomas Wilson was born at Hamilton in 1810, but I have come to wondering whether rather than this being either the township or parish, whether it may in fact have been a farm closer to the Baillieston/Bargeddie area. His marriage to Helen Crichton took place at the Tollcross Church in 1835, and as I write this I have realised that I do not know exactly where this church was located; was at Shettleston. The 1841 census sees the couple at ‘Main Hill’, Thomas a male servant. Alexander Findlay was listed as a farmer at ‘Main Hill’, and others listed there were the families of John Waddell a male servant, and Tomas Brown an agricultural labourer. 1851 sees Thomas listed as a carter and spirit dealer of Edinburgh Road, Baillieston, and still at Baillieston in 1861 he appears as a coal contractor employing seven boatmen and 4 wagoners. Baptisms of the children from the marriage took place at Tollcross until 1845, but from 1849 were at Crosshill. I’m wondering if anyone can give me any help with any of this as to locations, as a conversation recently, led me to think that there may have been a “Hamilton Farm” in the Baillieston area, and perhaps ‘Main Hill was close by. Thomas’ death certificate indicates that he was the son of James Wilson, but does not name his mother. Perhaps I have been looking too far afield for Thomas’ origins. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou, Janet Wilson.

Hi Janet > 1851 and 1861 censuses tell me that Thomas Wilson was born at > Hamilton in 1810, > but I have come to wondering whether > rather than this being either the township or > parish, whether it may in fact have been a farm closer to the > Baillieston/Bargeddie > area. If Thomas was consistent in saying in the census he was born in Hamilton, then it means that he believed himself to have been born in the parish of Hamilton. > His marriage to Helen Crichton took place at the Tollcross > Church in 1835, and as I > write this I have realised that I > do not know exactly where this church was located; > was at Shettleston. Are you absolutely certain that the marriage ceremony was actually performed in the church building? Because if it was, that is extremely unusual for labourers and servants at that time. Generally the wedding was held in the home of the bride, or, if for some reason that wasn't possible, then in her employer's house or in the manse (the minister's residence). There is a Tollcross in Glasgow and another one in Edinburgh. See http://www.glasgowhistory.co.uk/Other%20Sections/100%20Churches/TollcrossCentral.htm - this is indeed in Shettleston, which was in Barony Parish, Glasgow, but was erected into a quoad sacra parish in its own right by the 1840s; I'm not sure of the exact date. > The 1841 census sees the couple at Main Hill, Thomas a male > servant. > Alexander Findlay was listed as a farmer at Main Hill, and > others listed > there were the families of John Waddell a male servant, and > Tomas Brown an > agricultural labourer. Mainhill is marked on the 1st edition of the six-inch Ordnance Survey map but it no longer exists. It was pretty much smack under what is now a large motorway junction. Go to http://maps.nls.uk/ and click on 'Series Maps'. Click on 'Six-inch to the mile, 1st edition - 1843-1882' and then on 'as a seamless zoomable overlay'. Type NS692641 in the box at top left labelled 'Gazetteer/NG Ref' and then hit the 'Enter' key. Mainhill is in the middle of the view, below the letter 'M' in 'Old Monkland'. You may need to click on the '+' symbol at top left of the map to see it. Once you have found it, you can select a different map group to see how it changed over time, or you can use the slider marked '< >' at upper left to see the same spot in Google maps. > 1851 sees Thomas listed as a carter and spirit dealer of > Edinburgh Road, > Baillieston, and still at Baillieston in 1861 he appears as a > coal contractor > employing seven boatmen and 4 wagoners. Baillieston is on the same map, under the 'L' of 'Old Monkland' > Baptisms of the children from the marriage took place at > Tollcross until 1845, but > from 1849 were at Crosshill. Crosshill is just below Baillieston. > I'm wondering if anyone can give me any help with any of this > as to locations, as a > conversation recently, led me to think that there may have > been a 'Hamilton Farm' in > the Baillieston area, and perhaps > Main Hill was close by. There were almost certainly 'Hamilton farms' in the sense of farms owned by the Duke of Hamilton. I have yet to find one in Old Monkland which was actually called Hamilton Farm. (In Scotland it is unusual for the word 'farm' to form part of the name of a farm.) > Perhaps I have been looking too far afield for Thomas' > origins. Any suggestions > would be greatly appreciated. I don't think you have. It is much more likely that Thomas was one of the many children whose baptism records, if they ever existed, have not survived. Anne (your 6th cousin)