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*Update Feb 1, 2024*

I am thrilled to report another piece of evidence, which for me provides enough confirmation that Kate Farquharson’s grandfather Colin Farquharson is indeed the same Colin Farquharson born in Cardross to John Farquharson and Jean Ferrier, that I am confident this mystery is solved. When I initially ordered photographs of Jean Farquharson’s commitment papers, the handwriting stating the places of residence for her children Colin, John, and Janet, were illegible due to the curvature of the binding. The person who took the photos was kind enough to return to the Mitchell Library in Glasgow and confirmed the entry states Colin resided in London at the time, which is what I needed to see! I now believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that we have the right family!

Original Post:

I struggled somewhat to nail down Colin Farquharson’s lineage due to questions about his age and birthplace, but I believe this is his birth record:

I haven’t been able to find a death record for Colin or any other record from his adult life with Maria Selby and children, that states a more specific birthplace than “Scotland”. Nevertheless, I do believe I have the correct family, and here are all the facts that provide at least circumstantial evidence of my theory.

1. According to Colin Farquharson and Maria Selby’s marriage record, Colin’s father’s name was John, occupation “druggist”.
2. The 1861 England Census records John’s birthplace as Scotland. His age is difficult to decipher on and seems to read 39, tracks.
3. According to Colin and Maria’s son Joseph Farquharson’s baptism record, Colin was working as an engineer.
4. The 1841 Scotland Census recorded Colin Farquharson, an engineer apprentice, living with father John, herbalist living at 6 Margaret Street in Gorbals. The age is off and I think it was a mistake. Colin and his sister Jean were both recorded as being 15 years old. However they were baptized 2 years apart in different places, so it follows that Colin was a couple years older than recorded, which tracks.
   • Note: The 1841 Census recorded another Colin Farquharson, age 25, living on Charlotte Street in Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire with his parents James and Mary, and siblings. I now believe this was our Colin’s cousin, son of John Farquharson’s brother James.
   • Note 2: Interestingly, the John Farquharson family lived next door to a Dodds family– John ad Elizabeth Dodds and their children. I wonder if it’s possible they could have been descended from the same family as Maria Selby’s grandmother Margaret Dodds. This could have explained how the Selbys met the Farquharsons.
5. Old Parish Registers birth record for Jean Robertson Farquharson (Colin’s sister), born 4th September 1823 to John Farquharson, herbalist, and Jean Ferrier in Greenock New or Middle, Renfrewshire. Jean Robertson was John’s mother’s maiden name.
6. The birth record for Colin’s sister Margaret Farquharson, born 1 March 1827 in Tradeston, Gorbals gives the middle name Gourlay, which was Jean Ferrier’s grandmother’s maiden name– Margaret Gourlay.