Gregor A month ago you wrote enquiring about the OFFICER family. There are several researchers of this name. I can give you some background though not help you directly with the St. Quivox Census for 1841. You may be on the right track as OFFICER is not a common name in Scotland and very localised in comparison with other surnames. The availability of the 1851 Census on scotlandspeople now enables the numbers to be identified. There were only 114 in the search index: KINCARDINE 38 ANGUS 32 ABERDEEN 15 PERTH 2 FIFE 1 LANARK 11 AYR 1 BUTE 1 RENFREW 3 DUNBARTON 1 MIDLOTHIAN 9 OTHER 2 Total 114 The pattern is similar for all the Census 1851-1901. So far most of these do appear to find their descent back to Kincardine and there were OFFICERs in Arbuthnot, Glenbervie, and Fordoun from the 1670/80s and from Fetteresso in the 1740s. I doubt if John or Margaret were divorced this would cost money and a separation or desertion would be more likely. Also the use of the maiden name was the usual practice except for some official records like the Census I have one ancestor where she is never recorded under her married name even in the Census, and they were married in Church, and she lived into her nineties. If John did die shortly after 1818, it is also possible that his widow remarried. There are several instances of cousins marrying cousins, both OFFICERS. There were also some OFFICERs who were not members of the Church of Scotland and this may explain the absence of a marriage for John OFFICER and Sarah GLADMOND. The records for Glenbervie are also somewhat patchy before the 1800s and are by no means complete even if people were married in the Church of Scotland. You also mention John OFFICER was a pensioner it may be worth following this up though this would require a researcher. The National Archives at Kew have in their on-line catalogue: WO 97/836/21 JOHN OFFICER Born MONTROSE, Angus Served in 71st Foot Regiment Discharged aged 39 1831-1853 WO 97/1254/45 JOHN OFFICER Born KILLADE, Antrim Served in Royal Artillery Discharged aged 33 1787-1802 Colin Milnes website includes information on the Kincardineshire Militia at myweb.tiscali.co.uk/nescotland/index.html. This has: a John OFFICER listed in No1 or Captain Nicoll's Company from the quarterly pay lists from 25 June to 24 December 1803 of the (List 6) a John OFFICER in No3, or Captain Burnett's Company for 1 August 1803 (List 8) There is also one entry in the 1881 Census that may be worth following up, especially if his Death Certificate can be found, as this may be a relative of the ones you are seeking. Dwelling: 16 Gibson St Census Place: Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland Source: FHL Film 0203642 GRO Ref Volume 644-4 EnumDist 21 Page 15 Marr Age Sex Birthplace John OFFICER M 50 M New York British Subject, America Rel: Head Occ: Strapper In Stables Margaret OFFICER M 48 F Ireland Rel: Wife Occ: Cotton Spinner Mary Jane OFFICER U 22 F Glasgow, Lanark Rel: Daur Occ: Tobacco Spinner Maggie OFFICER U 18 F Glasgow, Lanark Rel: Daur Occ: Tobacco Spinner James OFFICER 13 M Glasgow, Lanark Rel: Son Annie OFFICER 11 F Glasgow, Lanark Rel: Daur Elizabeth OFFICER 8 F Glasgow, Lanark Rel: Daur Margaret MC PHIALY 1 F Glasgow, Lanark Rel: Grand Daur Hope this is of some use to you John