Tracing the Gilbertsons: Margaret’s family

On the certificates of my great, great grandmother Margaret Gilbertson her parents are listed as John Gregor Gilbertson, a shoemaker born in Shetland, and Catherine Ross. Although this family is easy to follow through the censuses, going further back has presented some difficulties.

In the Census of 1841 there are two John Gilbertsons of about the correct age, both living in Lothian. One is recorded as a shoemaker aged 20 to 25 living with his mother Margaret Gilbertson aged 50 at 17 West Nicholson Street, Edinburgh. There other is aged 25 to 30 working as a Male Servant on the Fishery of the Hopetoun Estate in Abercorn to the west of the Forth Bridges.

In the 1851 Census John and Catharine [sic] are living in Nairn with the first two children Angus R (1) and Margaret (0 ie.8months).

Catherine’s brother Paul Ross and servant Margaret Grant. Catherine’s mother’s maiden name was Grant but I haven’t established concrete link yet.
On Margaret’s marriage certificates that her father

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