William Pinkerton was born on 10^th March 1812 and baptised on the 21^st at Abbey, Paisley:

William SL To William Pinkerton & Elizabeth Lata born 10 bapd 21 March - Pinkerton

William married Jane Gardner in Abbey, Paisley, as recorded on 4^th September 1838. The Parish Register relates that they were booked on 25^th August and married on 4^th September by the Rev. Robert McNair at the Abbey Manse. William was designated as a farmer of Boghead.

William and Jean’s first son, William, arrived on 25^th February 1839. William was once again designated as a farmer of Boghead.

It should be noted that the family’s association with Boghead goes back to at least 1824, when William was twelve. He may well have been born there. However, William left shortly thereafter, possibly following the death of his parents.

When his son Alexander was born in 1840, William was a farm servant at Ferguslie. When daughter Jean Jackson Pinkerton arrived in 1843, he was a ‘farm servant, King Street’.

At the time of the 1841 census, William was living at what appears to be Ribbuckstane, Abbey, Paisley. He was a farm servant and his age was given as 25. Living with him were Jean, 20; William, 2, and Alexander, eleven months.

In 1848, in connection with the birth and baptism of his daughter Elizabeth Latta Pinkerton, William was designated as a ploughman of Lounsdale.

In 1851, William and Jean were living at a property called Stonehouse, at Inchinnan, Renfrewshire. William’s age was entered as 38, and he was stated to be an ‘overseer’. Jean’s age was given as 35 and their four children were entered as:

William, 14, scholar. Alexander, 10, scholar. Jean J. (the ‘J.’ stands for Jackson), 8, scholar. Elizabeth L., 2, at home.

All members of the family were stated to have been born in ‘Renfrewshire Abbey’.

It is worthy of note that at the time of the 1851 census, ‘Boaghead’ was occupied by one James Gardner, 36, unmarried, farmer of 51 acres employing three labourers, and his sister Elizabeth, 32, also unmarried, ‘house keeper’. Both were natives of Abbey Parish. It is likely that these were relatives of William’s wife Jean.

When sons ‘Mathew’ and John Latta Pinkerton were born at Southbar, Inchinnan Parish, in 1852 and 1854 respectively, William was an overseer. At some time thereafter, he became a potato merchant in Paisley.

In 1861, William and Jean were living at 32, Broomlands, High Church, Paisley, in premises having three rooms with one or more windows. The full entry runs:

William Pinkerton, 48, potato merchant & grocer Jean, wife, 45 Jean, daughter, unmarried, 18 Elizabeth, 12 Matthew, 8, scholar John, 7, scholar

All were entered as having been born in Paisley.

In 1871, William and Jean were living in what was apparently a tenement property at 3, Hamilton Street, Paisley, in premises having four rooms with one or more windows. The full entry runs:

William Pinkerton, potato merchant Jean, wife, 55 Elizabeth Latta Pinkerton, daur, unm, 22, house keeper Matthew G. Pinkerton, son, unm, 18, potato dealer’s assistant

On this occasion, Matthew’s place of birth was given as Inchinnan; the others were entered as born in Paisley.

In 1881, William and Jean were again living in a tenement property at 3, Hamilton Street, Paisley, on this occasion entered as being in premises having five rooms with one or more windows. His age is given as 62, but this appears to have been scored out, and a 69 entered in its place. His place of birth was entered as Paisley. Living with them were their unmarried sons Matthew Gardner Pinkerton and John Latta Pinkerton, as well as a general domestic servant, Mary McEwan, who was unmarried, aged 24, and born in Alva, Clackmannanshire.

William died on 20^th June 1887, the cause of death being certified as senile decay. Jean had died just a few months previously and in each instance the usual residence was entered as 11, Abercorn Street, Paisley. Both were 75 at the time of death. In each instance, the informant was J. L. Pinkerton, their son.

The following entry appears in Confirmations & Inventories, 1888 (p. 610):

Pinkerton, William Value of Estate, £113, 14s. 3d. 26th March. – Confirmation of William Pinkerton, Potato Merchant, Paisley, who died 20 June 1887, at Paisley, intestate, granted at Paisley, to Peter Wright, Farmer, Knoch, near Renfrew, Executor dative qua creditor.

Brothers and Sisters

William Pinkerton junior was the second of eight (known) children of William Pinkerton senior and Elizabeth Latta. His six brothers and one sister were:

Allan, born on 5^th December 1809 and baptised 14^th January 1810, at Abbey, Paisley. He appears to have died in infancy, most probably after the birth of his brother William on 18^th March 1812.

Allan, born on 19^th December 1814 and baptised on 8^th January 1815, at Abbey, Paisley. Allan Pinkerton later married Mary Burnett and died on 23^rd November 1889 at Coatbridge, Lanarkshire.

Alexander, born on 10^th September 1816 and baptised on the 29^th, at Abbey, Paisley. Alexander Pinkerton was later married first to Margaret Lang and second to Mary Muir and died on 29^th April 1898 at Paisley.

Agnes Smilie, born on 2^nd September 1818 and baptised on the 13^th, at Abbey, Paisley.

Hugh, born on 17^th October 1820 and baptised on 5^th November 1820, at Abbey, Paisley.

Robert, born at Boghead, Abbey, Paisley on 25^th August 1824 and baptised on 12^th September. He may be taken to have died in infancy.

Robert Latta, born at Bogside (a variant of Boghead?), Abbey, Paisley on 15^th February 1826 and baptised on the 26^th.