Greetings all and wishing you the best in the New Year. Working on my McMunn line. James McMunn is reputed to have been born or baptized in Hamilton, Lanark, on 8 Feb 1842. He died in Hamilton, Ontario Canada, on 16 Aug 1927. Married Agnes Simpson on 8 Oct 1869. They had a large family and I have documented them and descendants in Canada and the U.S. James McMunn was a "pit headman" and I have documented him in the Scotland Censuses from 1851 to 1901 in Hamilton, Lanark. He emigrated to Canada with his family in 1905. >From various records that I have obtained from Scotlands People, it seems that James' father was William McMunn (McMinn), a weaver, born 1808, Barony, died Hamilton, Lanark, 1865; mother Jane Lamont or Limmond. William the weaver born 1808 in Barony, married Jane Lamont on 4 Jul, 1832 in Airdrie. The baptism of William McMinn born 1808 indicates he was the second son of William McMinn, a Calton weaver, and Ann Newton. William and Ann married in 1806 in Barony. The father of this William McMinn may have been born in Rerrick, Auchencairn in 1785. After poking around on Ancestry, I found a lead to a possible father for William McMinn born 1785, a David McMinn, innkeeper, Auchencairn, Kirkcudbright. Though I have doubts, as I have not found any Davids among McMunn descendants. ************* I apologize for too much detail, but I have two questions: 1. In this timeframe, how likely was it for the son of an innkeeper in Kirkcudbright to become a Calton weaver? I think it is quite possible, and also quite possible for weavers to have become coal miners in the mid 19th-century, but I would like to ask for the opinions of list members. 2. Why can I not find the baptism of James McMunn born 1842? His birth date 8 Feb 1842 is given on his 1927 Canadian death record. I have tried every possible search technique on Scotlands People, wildcard searches for M*M*N give me McMillan and a few McMins. I give up! Nor can I find James McMunn/McMinn's purported siblings born between 1833 and 1850. My sense is that perhaps James and his family were "Free Church" and so their records are not available on SP. Does this mean I must consult a private researcher? *** Thanks for listening. I have kept copies of my searches and I have a lot of McMillans, in case any one would like to check them out! Best to you all. Carolyn