Hello ... NOTE: Cross posted to Kirkcudbrightshire and Dumfries-Galloway lists I have a frustrating problem. I seek JOHN NE(I)LSON who married Mary McCARTNEY (daughter of James McCARTNEY & Hamilton WALKER) in Penninghame in 1838! His occupation has been listed as weaver and yet he is NEVER with the family in the census of 1841, 1851, 1861 nor 1871. What I do know is ... 1. George Nelson (my direct link) was born c. 1854 in Minnigaff, lived alone in 1871 in Newton Stewart and by 1875 was marrying in Oldham, Lancashire. 2. His mother was Mary Nelson (nee McCartney) ... also born Minnigaff 3. All his siblings were born in Newton-Stewart (Jane, Jessie, Mary, Margaret, Hamilton and John). 4. I have found the family in the 1841, 1851 and 1861 censuses, always somewhere in Penninghame incl. Newton Stewart. 5. At no time is the father with the family! 6. Mary McCartney and John Nelson married 18 Feb 1838 at Penninghame 7. The family was actually nonconformist and records of the United Presbyterian Church give information on Jane COWAN, Jessie AITKEN and Mary lawful daughters of John Neilson and Mary McCartney ... unfortunately, the later records have been lost and George was born just before civil registration started! 8. The indexes and entries of the Wigtown Free Press substantiate much of the family composition referring to Mary as Mrs. John Neilson 9. From George's wedding certificate, etc... we know that the father was John Nelson, a weaver. George himself became a saddler. 10. Mary died in November 1870 as reported by George who was present. She was listed as married to John Nelson, weaver, with parents of James McCartney, labourer and Hamilton McCartney M.S.(??) Walker... I'm assuming the latter to mean that Hamilton's maiden name was Walker which fits with George naming a son John Walker and with family lore. I would love to hear from anyone with any links to these families or any research brainstorms! Thanks much Diane L. Richard [email protected]