We found about Margaret through her daughter, Robina's, birth record. Over a period of time that led us to Margaret's marriage to Alexander Kerr, the birth of her children and a number of Census records. Like Alexander, her age differs from record to record. The evidence however supports this being the correct Margaret.

KEY EVENTS AND DATES

1801 - 06

Given the various ages ascribed to Margaret across all the records, she must have been born in this period, although no record has been found yet.

Marriage - 20th March 1826

Margaret married Alexander Kerr in Dalkeith. Margaret lived in the Parish of Liberton, while Alexander lived in Dalkeith Parish. Interestingly, one of their witnesses was called James Patterson, "Named for the Bride". This is almost certainly Margaret's father, as we know from Margaret's death certificate that her father was called James - so presumably the double 'tt' is simply a spelling mistake even though the minister had already spelled Paterson (as in Margaret) with a single 't'?

6th September 1827

Margaret's son William was born in Dalkeith. (This birth was recorded on the same page as Robina's birth.)

19th July 1831

Margaret's daughter Robina was born in Dalkeith.

28th July 1833

Margaret's second daughter Margaret was also born in Dalkeith. (This birth was recorded on the same page as Robina's birth.)

27th September 1838

And her third daughter Marion was born in Dalkeith.

1841 Census

The Census records that Margaret, aged 35 and her husband, Alexander, aged 30, lived in High Street, Dalkeith. Also living there were their children, William (13), Robina (9), Margaret (7) and Marion (2).

1842/1843

According to the 1851 Census Margaret's son Alexander was born in this period also in Dalkeith, although at this stage we have not seen the actual birth record.

1851

The Census records that Margaret, aged 49, lived at High Street, Gray's Close, Dalkeith. Living with her were husband Alexander (45) and her children William (23), Robina (19), Marian (12) and Alexander (8). Lodging with them was Alexander's sister Marian aged 50 and a James Thomson (no indication whether James was related in some way though). James was employed as a Porter to a Grocer. The record shows that Margaret was born in "Midlothian, Colinton".

1861 Census

Although the age given for Alexander in the Census record I have found, is about 3 years younger than the other records suggest, I am confident this is the correct record. The evidence for this is that his place of birth is Linlithgow; his wife's name is Margaret and he has a son called Alexander at the right age.

The record, then, has Alexander as 52 years old, with a birth year 1809. His wife is Margaret, aged 56 having been born in 1805 in Colinton, Midlothian. Alexander lived in West Wynd, Dalkeith and was employed as a Carter, as was his son Alexander, aged 19.

View the record.

1871 Census

This time Alexander's age is given as 63. Now he lives in Wildon's Close, High Street, Dalkeith with his wife Margaret, aged 68. Alexander was employed as a Coal Merchant and was born in 1808 in Hildeston, Linlithgowshire. Margaret's place of birth is recorded as "Callington" (sic), Midlothian.  (Probably this is Colinton)

22nd April 1876

Margaret died at 7 a.m. at Wilson's Land, High Street East, Dalkeith. She was married to Alexander Kerr, a Coal Merchant. She was aged 64. The death certificate records her parents as having been James Paterson, a Labourer and Agnes Brown, both deceased. The cause of Margaret's death was Cancer of Glands of Neck, 10 months. Her death was reported by her grandson George Sutter (4) who lived at Robertson. Close, Dalkeith (possibly Roberton's Close?).