My Family Tree

The fact that William Binnie was present on two 1851 census records seems suspicious. However, several facts speak for a census-taking error. He appears as the brother of Margaret in the Bennetstone census entry. Looking at Margaret's own story: she was single and remained single to her death, as an 'out door farm worker'. Her parents on her death certificate, as informed by a nephew, James Liddell. were William Binnie and Helen Craig. Thus William Binnie's parents were also William Binnie and Helen Craig.

That couple had, among others, three children named Margaret (b. 1790-12-20, Polmont), William (b. 1796-09-04, Polmont) and Ann MacKay (b. 1801-04-10, Polmont). Ann married John Liddell 1827-07-11 in Muiravonside. These data are all consistent with both 1851 census records. In the other (Oldwalls) census entry his occupation was entered as 'Farmer of ', in other words incomplete. The Bennetstone record describes him as 'Railway Labourer & Quarrier'. Had he had his fill of farming and thought he had a better future on the new railways and their infrastructure? It looks as if his wife was uncertain, thus the incomplete 'farmer of ' entry in his absence. For his part, he provided the census-taker at his sister's home with his own, perhaps wishful, thoughts. If this construct is correct, he continued with farming, anyway, judging from his own later census data, although after his wife Elizabeth died, he has apparently given up his 52 acre farm (see 1861 and 1871 censuses)