----- Original Message ----- From: stephenmorrison To: MIDLOTHIAN Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 12:13 PM Subject: William Campbell I am researching my great-grandfather William Campbell. According to the 1881 census he was born in Cramond 1831, and was described as a "nailer". However, on his daughter's ( i.e. my grandmother's) marriage certificate to my grandfather, Henry Morrison, in Kilmarnock in 1895 he was described a "blacksmith, (journeyman)". That is all the information I have. To discover more about his background, parents and siblings, I imagine my best course of action would be to try and obtain the 1851 census for Cramond, when he would have been 20 years old, and hopefully still living in Cramond. Perhaps the Parish Records would be worth investigating. I have recently discovered that, in the 18th and 19th century, Cramond was a major exporter of nails, and so it is safe to assume that a nailer was someone who made nails. I would like to know if a nailer was recognised as a trade or skill, or did he simply upgrade himself after 1881? Any advice or information would be most welcome. Steve, Stephen Morrison