KEY EVENTS AND DATES

6th November 1789

William was born in Wilton, Roxburghshire. The actual entry in the Parish record reads - "Gussethall - Andrew Murray & Isabel Henderson a son baptised before the congregation named William". I've no idea what 'Gussethall' is.

24th November 1822

William married Helen Biggar at Wilton in Roxburghshire. The actual record is short and reads:-

" Nov 24 | Proclamation William Murray & Helen Biggar both of this Parish |

£. S. D.

- 2 - "

1825/1826

William's daughter Jane and son Andrew were born in Hawick during this period. This was gleaned through the details shown for in the 1841, 1851 and 1871 Census. Andrew is not mentioned in the 1851 and 1871 Censuses, but is in the 1841 one. Jane is recorded as Jean in the 1841 Census, but it is commonplace for these two names to be transposed.

12th July 1827

William's daughter Elizabeth was born in Hawick - gleaned through details found in Elizabeth's marriage certificate.

20th September 1829

William's daughter Agnes was born in Hawick - gleaned from a search in 'scotlandspeople' website. Yet to see the actual record though.

1831 / 32

William's son Robert was born in Hawick, Roxburghshire - gleaned through details found in the 1851 Census

1833 / 35

William's daughter, Isabel was born in Roxburghshire - gleaned through details found in the 1841 Census

183 5 /36

William's daughter Helen was born in Hawick, Roxburghshire - gleaned through details found in the 1851 Census

1838 / 39

William's son William was born in Hawick, Roxburghshire - gleaned through details found in the 1851 Census

1841 Census

The Census records that William, aged 50, lived with his wife Helen, aged 45, at Millar's Close, Hawick. Living with them were their children - Andrew (15), Jean (15), Agnes (11), Robert (9), Isabel (7), Helen (5) and William (2). Their other daughter, Elizabeth, aged 13, was living with relatives elsewhere in Hawick, (see Elizabeth Murray's 1841 Census entry). Also living there was an Isabel Henderson, aged 80, having been born in 1761, who has to to be William's mother.

View the record.

1851 Census

The Census records that William, aged 60, lived with his wife Helen (55) at 5 Brougham Place, Hawick. Living with them were their children - Jane aged 25 and a dress, Elizabeth aged 23 and a Domestic Servant, Robert aged 19 and a dresser of Woollen Hosiery, Helen aged 15 and a Domestic Servant and William aged 12 and a scholar. Also living there was William's granddaughter Helen Jackson aged 9 months. Given that all of William's children were shown as unmarried, it is not clear whose child this was.

28th December 1855

William's daughter Elizabeth married Andrew Smith at Brougham Place, Hawick. It is from Elizabeth's marriage certificate that we got her date and place of birth, but the actual record has not yet been discovered. William was a Greengrocer at the time.

4th July 1857

William's daughter Agnes married James Lambert at Brougham Place, Hawick. William was a greengrocer still and given Agnes's place of residence, probably lived at 27 Brougham Place, Hawick.

1861 Census

The Census records that William, aged 70 and his wife, Helen, aged 65 live at High Street, Hawick. William's occupation is "Grocer and China Merchant". Also living there are their children - William (22), Joan (34) and Isabella (27). (Note yet another version of Jane/Jean.)

1871 Census

The Census records William, aged 80, as residing at 20 Dickson Street, Wilton, Hawick - the same street as his son-in-law Andrew lived in when he married Elizabeth Murray. William is described as a China Merchant and his place of birth shown as "Roxburghshire, Wilton". Also living there were his wife Helen (75) and their unmarried daughter Jane, aged 45.

20th December 1871

William's wife, Helen, died at 11 p.m. at Dickson Street, Wilton. She was aged 77 and she died from Old Age and Debility (the same as her husband later on). Her death was reported by her son William who had been present - her son lived at 35 High Street, Hawick.

9th January 1872

William died at 3 p.m. at Dickson Street, Wilton. His age was shown as 81 although he would actually have been 82. It's definitely the correct William Murray though, as the address is the same as the one found in the 1871 Census, his wife's and his parents' names are correct and he has the same occupation - China Merchant - as the one found in the 1871 Census. William died of Old Age and Debility (the same as his wife before him). His death was reported by his son William who had been present - his son lived at 35 High Street, Hawick.