I have to confess this is a bit of a longshot involving a lot of supposition and circumstantial evidence. It starts with David McKay. As I say on David McKay's record, I am short of a lot of information on him. However, I did find him in the 1851 Census and clearly identified him through his wife Eliza. The Census gave me his age and place of birth, those being 32 and Edinburgh, St Cuthbert's, respectively. His age gave me a 'suggested' birth year of 1818 or 1819. The only birth record I could find that fitted this somewhat was a joint parish entry recording the births of a David McKay and his siblings Alexander and Elizabeth. David's date of birth is given as 8th January 1819. Obviously, this is not conclusive proof that I have the correct David, but it's all I have and it fits with the 1851 Census information. David's parents are recorded as William McKay, Marble Polisher and Margaret Manson.

This in turn, led me to looking for William and Margaret in the 1841 Census. I found such a pair, living in Edinburgh, St Cuthberts at 10 Moray Street. There is nothing definitive about it, but they do have a daughter called Janet living with them and William and Margaret had a daughter called Janet born in 1824. The Janet in the Census is a couple of years younger than this one, but such age discrepancies are not uncommon. Also living at Moray Street is a brother called Alexander (also a couple of years out regarding age) and a couple of other siblings (Margaret and Jean) whose birth I cannot find. Nevertheless, the evidence, though circumstantial, is compelling when you are looking desperately to track someone down. So, I am going to suppose, for now that this my ancestor. I also found the same family in the 1851 Census and Janet and Jean are still living with their parents at Moray Street (this time at number 12). Interestingly Moray Street was not that far from where David lived in Canongate in 1851.

Unfortunately, I cannot find any sign of William or Margaret in the 1861 Census in Edinburgh, Midlothian. So, either they moved (perhaps back to Thurso) or, more likely, died in the intervening period. However, I cannot find records of their deaths either.

KEY EVENTS AND DATES

1789 - 91

If we have the correct William McKay, the ages given in the 1841 and 1851 Censuses suggest he must have been born in this period in Thurso, Caithness. I have looked a found nothing compelling.

Marriage

I have looked in Caithness, their places of birth, and Edinburgh and Midlothian, where they went to live and I have been unable to find a record of William's marriage to Margaret Manson.

Baptismal Record 13th July 1822

• The one Baptismal record includes all of the following three baptisms of William and Margaret's children. On the record, William's occupation is given as 'Marble Polisher' and his wife's name is recorded as Margaret Manson. View the record.
• 11th May 1815 - Elizabeth is baptised in St Cuthbert's, Edinburgh.
• 8th January 1819 - William's son, David McKay is baptised in St Cuthbert's, Edinburgh.
• 8th July 1822 - William's daughter, Elizabeth is baptised in St Cuthbert's, Edinburgh.

7th March 1824

William's daughter, Janet is baptised in St Cuthbert's, Edinburgh. William's employment is not recorded, but his wife is recorded as Margaret Manson.

1841 Census

The Census records that William, aged 50 and his wife, Margaret, aged 45 lived at 10 Moray Street, Edinburgh, St Cuthberts. Both their places of birth are given as simply "Scotland". No occupations are recorded. Living with them were their children - Margaret, Janet and Alexander all aged 15, which all looks a little unlikely; Janet was born in 1824 and would have been 17, whilst Alexander was born in 1822 and would have been 18 or 19, I haven't found Margaret at all. Other children living there was Jean, aged 9.

5th April 1846

William's son, David MacKay married Eliza McCulloch at Trinity College Church, Edinburgh. This church, which is now demolished, was situated at the foot of Chalmer's Close, where his David's son Robert and his wife, Ann, later lived (at No. 1). Both David and Eliza lived in Baillie Fyfe's Close at the time of their wedding.

1851 Census

This Census records that William, aged 62 and his wife, Margaret, aged 60 lived at 12 Moray Street, Edinburgh, St Cuthberts. This time their places of birth are both given as Thurso, Caithness. Jannet (sic) and Jean still live with them, aged 23 and 19 respectively. William's occupation is 'Iron Founders Labourer'.