Families in Scotland

Families in - Bradford | Brotherton | Burnley | Cumbria | South Shields and Tynemouth | South Wales | Scotland

Other Townsley details - Links and References | Commonwealth War Service Deaths | World War I Medals | Emigration to Canada | Links to USA | Coat of Arms & Origins of Name | Thomas Townsley - How Many Were There? | Today in Australia | New Zealand | Canada | UK by Postcode

This is the first attempt at documenting the Townsley families found in Scotland while researching the surname within the UK.

Some families with Scottish connections appear in South Shields and Tynemouth section so are not repeated here.

As covered on the Origins of the Name page there is a steady growth in the number of Townsleys spotted in the Scottish Census -

Census 1841 - 7 Townsley | 3 Townsly | 5 Tounsley | 11 Townslay
Census 1851 - 29 Townsley | 7 Townsly | 12 Tounsley | 0 Townslay (see details below)
Census 1861 - 33 Townsley | 4 Townsly | 4 Tounsley | 17 Townslay | 1 Townslie | 7 Townslee (see details below)
Census 1871 - 57 Townsley | 1 Townsly | 1 Tounsley | 0 Townslay | 8 Townslie (see details below)
Census 1881 - 127 Townsley | 3 Townsly | 17 Tounsley | 0 Townslay
Census 1891 - 167 Townsley | 3 Townsly | 6 Tounsley | 0 Townslay
Census 1901 - 234 Townsley | 6 Townsly | 4 Tounsley | 3 Townslay

In 1841 family occupations were listed as itinerant tinker, metal caster, blacksmith and tinsmith. The changes in numbers seem to support a theory that the Townsley families in Scotland were immigrants from other parts of the British Isles. Many of the 1841 entries give a birth place of Ireland. The largest Irish family group (12) is recorded at Broompark, Old Luce (see Glenluce History for maps, census and parish records) with another family of 5 at Stranraer. Both near the short sea crossing from Ireland. The remaining entries are 1 family at Campbeltown (Argyll) another family at Craigie (Ayr) plus individuals at Kirkliston (West Lothian), North Knapdale (Argyll) and 3 at Campsie (Stirling) - sister + 2 brothers?

The combination of travelling, repeated first names and not being part of a settled community make tracing families difficult. Also there seem to evidence that some Townsley marriages being were held at "irregular" marriage venues. The General Register Office for Scotland has details at Irregular Border and Scottish Runaway Marriages. The Marriage House at Coldstream is one place possibily used by some families but its records may not have survived. Finally migration impacts the research efforts as family members (or complete families) disappear completely from the Scottish records.

Being based in England I have yet to make a trip to examine family records in Scotland. Also I have yet to get an understanding of the Scottish laws and practices regarding births / deaths / marriages.

One example of a situation that I have not found in England is the marriage of Andrew Townsley to Martha Whyte at Perth in 1914.

Click to Enlarge

Here the couple are married "By Declaration" at what seems to be a private house - 42 Tay Street. The double surprise is that the witnesses themselves married at the same address on the day before - with Andrew Townsley and Martha Whyte as witnesses for them!
Note also that Mary Whyte's mother is another Townsley and that Andrew Townsley's mother is another Whyte

After some more work this page will be extended to cover the type of family trees listed for the other regions.

Work in Progress - Looking at the Census entries summarised above in more detail the following family groups have been drawn up -

Census 1851 Townsley

ROBERT M 22 ABERDEEN ABERDEEN CITY/ABERDEEN 168/0A 021/0A 014
MARY F 23
CATHERIN F 17
FRANCES M 0

JOHN M 64 DUNFERMLINE /FIFE 424/00 018/00 015

ALEXANDER M 25 FALKLAND /FIFE 428/00 004/00 015
HELEN F 23
BETSY F 1

ELISABETH F 0 CAMPSIE /STIRLING 475/00 003/00 021

MARYANN F 30 CAMPSIE /STIRLING 475/00 005/00 020
THOMAS M 7
WILLIAM M 5

ISOBELLA F 0 CAMPSIE /STIRLING 475/00 005/00 078

HUGH M 31 CAMPSIE /STIRLING 475/00 008/00 008
SARAH F 30
WILLM M 12
HUGH M 10
MARGARET F 8
HELLEN F 0

RATCHEL F 80 CAMPBELTOWN /ARGYLL 507/00 003/00 018

CHARLES M 28 KILLEAN AND KILCHENZIE /ARGYLL 519/00 004/00 030

ROBERT M 24 KILLEAN AND KILCHENZIE /ARGYLL 519/00 004/00 032
ALEXANDER M 15

ROBERT M 26 GLASGOW GLASGOW/LANARK 644/01 041/01 015
MARGARET F 20

ALEXANDER M 19 OLD MONKLAND OR COATBRIDGE /LANARK 652/00 019/00 001
MARY F 18

MARY F 36 PENNINGHAME /WIGTOWN 895/00 010/00 009 Married b: Penninghame Wgt (Dau of John Summers)
MARGARET F 1 b: Kirkmabreck Kbt

Census 1851 Townsly

JOHN M 31 BIGGAR /LANARK 623/00 002/00 020
MARGRETT F 30
JANET F 6
JOHN M 3
THOMAS M 1

MICHAEL M 26 GLASGOW GLASGOW/LANARK 644/01 062/01 021

MARGARET F 15 KELSO /ROXBURGH 793/00 005/00 013

Census 1851 Tounsly

JOHN M 44 GLASGOW GLASGOW/LANARK 644/01 265/01 016 - Head Tinsmith b: Ireland
MAY F 37 - Wife b: Ireland
JOHN M 25 Son Tinsmith b: Killean, Argyll
AGNES F 12 b: Killean, Argyll
JAMES M 10 b: Killean, Argyll
WILLIAM M 8 b: Killean, Argyll
DANIEL M 6 b: Killean, Argyll
MARY F 4 b: Killean, Argyll
-- F 63 Lodger Widow b: Ireland
-- F 29 Lodger Widow b: Killean, Argyll
RACHEL F 9 Lodger b: Campbelltown, Argyll
HELEN F 7 Lodger

Census 1861 Townslay

ANDREW M 39 KILMORE AND KILBRIDE /ARGYLL 523/00 007/00 009
MARGARET F 36
MARGARET F 15
CATHERINE F 7
WILLIAM M 5
ALEXANDER M 2

ROBERT M 52 NEW MONKLAND LANDWARD /LANARK 651/02 010/02 002
MATILDA STEWAR F 52
ALEXANDER M 27
MARY F 24
WILLM M 20
AGNES F 18
JOSEPH M 17
MARY F 9
MARGARET F 2
METILDA F 1

THOMAS M 29 DALZIEL /LANARK 639/00 006/00 009

Census 1861 Townslee

ROBERT M 31 JURA /ARGYLL 539/01 005/01 011
CATHERINE C F 30
RICHARD A M 9
JOSEPH M 7
SARAH F 5
CATHERINE F 3
ELIZABETH F 0

Census 1861 Townsley

ROBERT M 2 ST NICHOLAS ABERDEEN CITY/ABERDEEN 168/01 045/01 021

ISABELLA F 10 CAMPSIE /STIRLING 475/00 004/00 004

HELEN F 36 CAMPSIE /STIRLING 475/00 006/00 021

HUGH M 19 EASTWOOD /LANARK 562/00 012/00 022

JOSEPH M 19 DUNDONALD /AYR 590/00 002/00 001

THOMAS M 28 KILBIRNIE /AYR 596/00 006/00 006
ROSA F 24
WILLIAM M 5
MARGARET F 3
ELISABETH F 2

JOHN M 38 TRANENT /EAST LOTHIAN 722/00 010/00 004
MARGARET F 36
THOMAS M 11
MARGARET F 9
WILLIAM M 6
MARION F 4
RACHEL F 3
CHARLES M 0

THOMAS M 63 PEEBLES /PEEBLES 768/00 004/00 025
ESTHER F 39
MARY F 16
CHARLES M 15
REBECCA F 12
THOMAS M 10
ANN F 7
ELISABETH F 4
HUGH M 2

SAMUEL M 43 STONEYKIRK /WIGTOWN 898/00 006/00 004 MARY F 42
JANET M 13
JAMES M 10
MARY F 6
WILLIAM J M 4

Census 1861 Townslie

JOHN M 21 PARTICK GLASGOW CITY/LANARK 646/02 004/02 020

Census 1861 Townsly

JOHN M 50 STRANRAER /WIGTOWN 899/00 005/00 011
ELISABETH F 48

CHARLES M 36 WHITHORN /WIGTOWN 900/00 007/00 013

ROBERT M 18 KIRKMAIDEN /WIGTOWN 890/00 007/00 014

Census 1871 Townsley (in progress)

MARGARET F 24 ST ANDREW DUNDEE CITY/ANGUS 282/04 002/40 033
THOMAS M 15 FORFAR /ANGUS 288/00 001/00 018
WILLIAM M 55 GLENISLA /ANGUS 290/00 004/00 012 JOHN M 8 BALFRON /STIRLING 472/00 001/00 002
WILLIAM M 4 BALFRON /STIRLING 472/00 001/00 002
MARYANN F 19 CAMPSIE /STIRLING 475/00 002/00 010
WILLIAM M 14 DUNOON AND KILMUN /ARGYLL 510/00 009/00 008
MARY F 44 DUNOON AND KILMUN /ARGYLL 510/00 009/00 008
MARY F 76 DUNOON AND KILMUN /ARGYLL 510/00 009/00 008
JOHN M 44 DUNOON AND KILMUN /ARGYLL 510/00 009/00 008
JOHN M 6 DUNOON AND KILMUN /ARGYLL 510/00 009/00 008
JESSIE F 9 DUNOON AND KILMUN /ARGYLL 510/00 009/00 009
JOHN M 5 BEITH /AYR 581/00 007/00 014
ROSEANN F 35 KILBIRNIE /AYR 596/00 006/00 005
MARGARET F 14 KILBIRNIE /AYR 596/00 006/00 005
JOHN M 10 KILBIRNIE /AYR 596/00 006/00 005
WILLIAM M 15 KILBIRNIE /AYR 596/00 006/00 005
WILLIAM M 5 KILBIRNIE /AYR 596/00 006/00 032
WILLIAM M 18 KILBIRNIE /AYR 596/00 008/00 017
MARY F 16 KILBIRNIE /AYR 596/00 008/00 017
SAMUEL M 25 SHETTLESTON GLASGOW CITY/LANARK 622/03 010/03 003
MARY JANE F 1 SHETTLESTON GLASGOW CITY/LANARK 622/03 010/03 003
JANET F 36 DALZIEL /LANARK 639/00 003/00 021
THOMAS M 39 DALZIEL /LANARK 639/00 003/00 021
THOMAS M 23 BRIDGETON GLASGOW/LANARK 644/03 013/03 020
JOSEPH M 0 BRIDGETON GLASGOW/LANARK 644/03 013/03 020
JANE F 19 BRIDGETON GLASGOW/LANARK 644/03 013/03 020
PATRICH M 33 CLYDE GLASGOW/LANARK 644/05 009/05 019
WILLIAM M 53 NEW MONKLAND LANDWARD /LANARK 651/02 014/02 009
JOSEPH M 13 ST GEORGE EDINBURGH CITY/MIDLOTHIAN 685/01 012/01 003
WILLIAM M 7 ST GEORGE EDINBURGH CITY/MIDLOTHIAN 685/01 012/01 003
JOHN M 70 LESWALT /WIGTOWN 891/00 001/00 006

Census 1871 Townslie

ROBERT M 43 NORTH KNAPDALE /ARGYLL 530/00 004/00 016
CATHERINE F 40
JOSEPH M 16
SARAH F 15
CATHERINE F 13
CHARLES M 8
JULIA F 7
ROBERT M 2

Census 1871 Townsly

ALEX M 17 KILFINAN /ARGYLL 518/00 001/00 004

Inveraray Jail Records are available with an online search facility that includes photographs as well as records of inmates at this former Jail. A search for Townsley found 1 photograph and 12 individuals records. A summary of the Townsley entries is given below. See www.inverarayjail.co.uk for more.