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Jane is not a sister of Margaret as I research her family abit. Common name.......

Can we find a parent for Jane and I might have a connection

If we could find a father for Allan he could just be another of Angus's illigitmate children by another mother or his younger brother

Shirley, Is John your direct line? Do you have his marriage?

His parents probably never married, I don't think that was that uncommon in the Highlands at that time. It doesn't mean that they weren't free to marry, they for whatever reason just chose not to. I have a few examples of this in my own tree. In one case, I was able to identify the correct child (with a very common name) through one of the witnesses to his second marriage as she was a "half" cousin i.e. the daughter of his mother's half brother. Not only was he illegitimate but his mother was too and her half brother (although his parents did marry later). Not much help to you I know!

Do you think Angus could be one of the Agricultural Labourers on the 1841 census? He may have changed his occupation as I think in those days they took what farm work was available.

Married my repute ? 2 children?

Rootgatherer Yes Grant is my direct line Yes John married Jane Esson 28/1/1860 Burghmuir Inverurie Aberdeen I do not have the cert

Might be worth getting his marriage certificate from Scotlandspeople. The credits won't go wrong as you obviously have a few Scottish ancestors.

Married by repute? Maybe but I am not convinced. My ancestor had her first son with one man and he was reared by paternal grandparents. She then had a further 4 children with another man and raised a paternity case for the first two. For the second two she just gave them his surname as a middle name - perhaps she was fed up taking the matter to court! Her final child was with a man that she was "housekeeper" to for nearly 20 years but never married even although they were both free to do so.

What does married by repute mean?

In Scotland you can be a "common law wife". Same thing as married by repute. You just lived together as husband and wife and it is considered as married.

Ok thanks for your help.Shirley