Hi I have an Alexander Scott who was born in 1843 at Woodside of Mosstowie, Alves, Moray. The 1881 Census shows him at the Royal Marine Artillery Barracks, Eastney, Hampshire with his wife Mary Jane Scott where he was serving as a Colour Sergeant in the Royal Marine Rifles. Mary Jane is shown as having been born in Ireland. In 1896 his illegitimate daughter, Margaret Mary, born in Portsoy in 1867 to Jane Smith married William Milne at West Mayfield, Edinburgh in 1896 and her marriage certificate indicates her father, who is shown as a Colour Sergeant In R.M., was alive but her mother Jane Smith who had married after Margaret Mary was born was already deceased. My searches for the marriage of Alexander and Mary Jane have proved fruitless and I have not traced a death for either of them nor have I found them in the 1901 Census. Whether they remained in England, came to Scotland or went to Ireland when his time with the Royal Marines was completed is unknown but it is unlikely that at the age of 53 in 1896 he would have served much longer in the Marines if, indeed, he was still on the active list and not pensioned. Any ideas? Ian A C Scott