RIDDELL/RIDDLE, William-Death 1851-61, Glasgow

[dianel]

To confirm the birthdate and parents of my GG Grandfather, William RIDDELL, I have been trying to find his death sometime between the 1851 and 1861 Scottish censuses. I suspect that it was before the 1855 Statutory Registration as I can't find it on ScotlandsPeople.

He is in the 1841 & 1851 census:
1841
Glasgow
Wm. RIDDLE 25 Tailor born in County
Sophia “ 40(?)
Walter “ 9
James “ 1

1851
At 17 Bell St., Calton, Glasgow
William RIDDELL 39 Journeyman Tailor b. Dumbartonshire, Govan
Sophia 39 b. Glasgow
Walter 18 b. Glasgow
James 12 b. Glasgow
Sophia 8 b. Glasgow

In 1861, Sophia is a widow, living with her children in Glasgow.

I'm tending toward 'William RIDDELL born 17 June 1807, Govan, Dumbartonshire, parents: Walter RIDDELL and Elizabeth AITKENHEAD'. This would closely fit the Scottish naming pattern as he and his wife, Sophia FAULDS, named their children, in order, Walter, James, Margaret, Sophia, William.
Sophia's parents were James FAULDS and Margaret HERCULES.

William's son, William, married Janet CAMPBELL of Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, Scotland and they emigrated to NSW, Australia in 1879. There they had 3 children: William C, James Campbell (Janet's father was James CAMPBELL), and Walter Faulds RIDDELL.

Any ideas would be most welcome.

Di

[admin]

Hi Di,

I've had a long day, so if I don't sound like I'm making a sense you'll have to excuse me - as far as I can tell, there's clearly some major inaccuracy in at least one of those census transcripts

How certain are you that Sophia's surname was definitely FAULDS?

And is this their marriage?

If the marriage is correct and Sophia's name is certain, the 1841 census would have to be wrong, as William would only have been 14 when he married. If you accept this, and also assume that the 1851 census ages are correct, then in 1841 he should have been 29. Given how easily the digits 29 could be misread as 25, I'd personally steer towards the conclusion that 1841 census probably reads age 29. This would then give a fairly firm birth year of 1812 which, unfortunately, suggests that your current theory about his parents may be wrong

How easily could you get access to an original image of the 1841 census?

Dominic

[dianel]

Hi Dominic,

Thanks for trying to help.

Marriage 4 April 1830, Parish of Barony, County of Lanark:
“William Riddell, tailor, Partick, & Sophia Faulds residing in Anderston.”

Unfortunately, the ages in the census show considerable variation, but it seems clear that these are the same family. (I think the women in my family might be inclined to lie about their age. )

1841 - The writing on the image of the original is quite clear.
Picadailly St., Glasgow
Wm. RIDDLE 25 Tailor born in County (b. abt 1816) - Did they round down like in England?
Sophia “ 40 (b. 1801)
Walter “ 9 (b. 1832)
James “ 1 (b. 1840)

1851
At 17 Bell St., Calton, Glasgow
William RIDDELL 39 (b. 1812) Journeyman Tailor b. Dumbarton, Govan
Sophia 39 (b. 1812) b. Glasgow Lappet Clipper b. Glasgow
Walter 18 (b. 1833) b. Glasgow Calico Printer b. Glasgow
James 12 (b. 1839) b. Glasgow Calico Printer b. Glasgow
Sophia 8 (b. 1843) b. Glasgow Student b. Glasgow

1861
At 36 Graham St., Glasgow
Walter Riddle Head Unmar. 21 (b. 1840) Lab. in Dye Works b. Lanark, Glasgow
Sophia Riddle Sister Unmar. 18 (b. 1843) Picker Cotton Mill b. Lanark, Glasgow
Sophia Riddle Mother Widow 50 (b. 1811) Lappet Cutter b. Lanark, Glasgow
William Riddle Brother Unmar. 11 (b. 1850) Gutta Percha Work b. Lanark, Glasgow

1881
At 49 Rumford St., Barony, Glasgow, Lanark
Both born Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Sophia Riddell Widowed 72 ( b. 1809) Head formerly Steam Loom Weaver
Sophia Riddell Unmarried 28 (b. 1853) Daughter Wincey Weaver

William junior’s Marriage Certificate, in 1879, says that his father was William Riddell, journeyman tailor (deceased) and his mother was Sophia Riddell, maiden surname Faulds.

Walter’s Death Certificate in 1895 gives the same information about his parents.

Sophia’s Death Certificate says that she is the widow of William Riddell, Master Tailor, and that her maiden name was Faulds and her father James Faulds Beamer (deceased). She died at 49 Rumford St., Glasgow.

Don’t you just love the amount of detail on Scottish certificates? When you can find them, that is!