On the combined evidence of the census records, her 1875 marriage certificate and 1926 death certificate, Jeanie Marshall was born in either late 1851 or early 1852 in Avondale, Lanarkshire.

At the time of the 1861 census ‘Jane’, 9, a scholar, was living in the family home in the village of Chapelton.

In 1871, Jean, unmarried, 19, silk weaver, was living in the family home at Boghall, Glassford.

Jeanie Marshall was a silk handloom weaver, spinster, aged 23, when she married James Watson in 1875. She was usually resident in Chapelton.

Jean Watson, married to James Watson, road surveyor, died on 28^th September 1926 at 4^h 55^m pm, at Willowbank, Strathaven. Her age was entered as 74. The causes of death were certified as phlebitis, right leg, from which she had been suffering for four months, and thrombosis abdominal veins, fifteen weeks. The informant was James Watson, the deceased’s widower, entered as present.

Brothers & Sisters

Jeanie Marshall was the oldest of ten known children of the family.

Margaret, 6, a scholar, born c. 1854, Avondale, appears in the 1861 census, living in the family home. What became of her is presently unknown.

Janet Marshall was born 12^th April 1856 at nine in the evening, at Ballgreen, Strathaven. The informant on 24^th April at Strathaven was the child’s father, Gavin Marshall.

William Marshall was born 29^th May 1858 at seven in the evening, at Chapelton. The informant on 4^th June at Westquarter was the child’s father, Gavin Marshall. William, 2, also appears in the 1861 census. What became of him is presently unknown.

A second Janet, 4 months, born late 1860 or early 1861, Glassford, is also known from the 1861 census. She was aged ten and again living in the family home in the 1871 census.

Isabella Marshall was born 1^st December 1863 at nine in the evening, at Boghall, Chapelton. The informant on the following day at Westquarter was the child’s father, Gavin Marshall. Isabella, 7, a scholar, was living in the family home in the 1871 census but does not reappear thereafter.

Christina Marshall was born 10^th May 1867 at twelve noon, at Boghall. Christina, 3, appears in the 1871 census and again aged 13 in 1881.

Francis, 2, born c. 1868, Glassford, appears in the 1871 census and aged 12, scholar, in 1881.

James Marshall was born 25^th February 1869 at eleven at night, at Boghall.

‘Brother’ Gavin Marshall was born 17^th March 1871 at 3^h 30^m pm, at Boghall, in the Parish of Glassford. The informant on the 30^th at West Quarter was the child’s father, Gavin Marshall.

Gavin’s birth certificate bears a cross-reference to entries in the Register of Corrected Entries, in terms of which for ‘male’ was substituted ‘female’ and for ‘Gavin’ was substituted ‘Marion’.

The first of these entries reads:

The above alteration is made on the authority of a certificate in the form of Schedule D, under the hand of the Rev. John McGavin A.M., Minister of the Established Church, Chapelton, June 17th 1871, Alexander Paterson, Registrar

To this document is appended:

In so far as the above relates to the substitution of Female for Male the Authority of Schedule D is incompetent. Sh. 4. 24th Decem. 1872

This difficulty was subsequently judicially resolved as follows:

The above correction is made under the direction, and by the written authority of the Sheriff, in consequence of the deposition (dated 7th March 1873) of Gavin Marshall, Informant of the Birth to which the said Entry relates. 10th March 1873 at West Quarter, Alexander Paterson, Registrar

As Marion, aged one month, ‘Gavin’ reappeared living in the family home in the 1871 census.

In 1881, Marion was a scholar, aged ten, living in the family home in Glassford.

In 1891, Marion was unmarried, 20, a stocking machinist, and the only child of the family still living in the family home at Brownhall, Glassford.

In 1901, Marion was single, 30, a hosiery machinist, and still living with her father and step-mother at Bankfield, East Kilbide.

Marion acted as informant on their father Gavin Marshall’s 1901 death certificate.

Paternal grandmother of Helen Kyle Watson