On the evidence of his daughter Margaret’s 1855 birth certificate, on which he acted as informant, James King was born c. 1808, in Barony Parish, Glasgow. The 1861 census suggests a later date of birth, c. 1811.

James King married Agnes Steele, as recorded in the Cardross (Dunbartonshire) Parish Register of Proclamations, dated 15^th January 1848:

King & Steele - James King and Agnes Steele both in this parish gave in their names for proclamation of Banns in order to marriage and received an Extract.

He was referred to as ‘James King Wright in Renton’ in connection with a bequest in favour of his wife in the 1853 Deed and Settlement of Archibald Clark and Margaret McAulay.

James King was a joiner, aged 46, when he acted as informant on the 1855 birth certificate of his daughter, Margaret.

James King was a joiner (journeyman) when he acted as informant on the 1861 birth certificate of his son, James Aulay King.

At the time of the 1861 census, James King was living on King’s Land, in the village of Renton, Parish of Cardross, in premises having four rooms with one or more windows. He was 49, a joiner, born Lanarkshire, Glasgow. Living with him were his wife Agnes, 40; son John, 8; daughter Margaret, 5, and son James Aulay King, two weeks, all born in Cardross. There was also a house servant, Isabella Campbell, unmarried, 18, born Kilmichael, Argyllshire.

James King was widowed when his wife Agnes died in 1863; at this time he was a bone merchant. The lengthy delay in registering the death (eleven days), taken with the fact that someone who was not a family member eventually acted as informant, suggests that James was, for some reason, unavailable.

At the time of his son John King’s marriage in 1885, James King was designated as a portioner. When his other son, James Aulay King, married the following year, he was designated as a house proprietor.

James King, coal merchant (retired), widower of Agnes Steele, died on 20^th January 1895 at six in the morning, at 103, Back Street, Renton. His age was entered as 89. The cause of death was certified as malignant disease of the stomach, from which he had been suffering for about twelve months. The informant on the following day at Renton was the deceased’s son, John King, of 27, Burnbank Road, Hamilton.

James King was recalled as a feuar (deceased) when the younger James remarried in 1898.

James King was recalled as a joiner (journeyman) (deceased) on the 1917 death certificate of his son, John, and again of his other son, James Aulay King, in 1949.

Forebears

The marriage of Hugh King and Catherine Clerk was recorded in Barony Parish, Glasgow, on 11^th May 1800:

Hugh King weaver Andn & Cathn Clerk residing there married by the Revd John W. Lawson

Andⁿ is taken as signifying ‘Anderston’.

James King’s parents were recalled on his 1895 death certificate as Hugh King, weaver (journeyman), and Catherine King MS Clark, both deceased.