Going this far back, it is always difficult to be certain of anything, but having found Marion Andrew through the birth record of her daughter, Margaret Brown, which also showed Margaret's father to be James Brown, I'm pretty sure that I have found the marriage record of Marion Andrew and James Broun (sic). Certainly it is the only marriage record of a couple with these names in a period stretching back to 1700. As James's daughter, Margaret, was born in 1720 and in the same place, West Linton, that Marion's marriage took place in, this seems to confirm that this is in all likelihood, my direct ancestor.

I have found two birth records for a James Brown born in West Linton and either of them could be the correct one. One, whose surname is spelt "Broun", was born in 1691 and the other, whose surname was spelt "Brown", in 1699. Given that his wife, Marion Andrew, was born in 1679, it seems more likely that it is the one born in 1691 that is the correct one. Also, both his and his his father, John's surname is spelt in the record as "Broun". That is the spelling of James's name on his marriage record. So, in the absence of other evidence, I am going to take a punt, with a large dose of salt, on James Broun born in 1691.

I have been unable to find a reliable death record for James.

KEY EVENTS AND DATES

29th December 1691

If I have the correct record, James was born on this day in West Linton, Peeblesshire. His parents were recorded as John Broun (sic) and Margaret Henderson. (To my reckoning, it is far from clear that his mother's surname is 'Henderson'; it could be, but it's difficult to be sure. Nevertheless, that is what ScotlandsPeople reckon it to be.

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15th November 1716

James Broun (sic) married Marion Andrew in West Linton, Peeblesshire. The entry itself is quite difficult to decipher. It appears to record that proclamation to intend to marriage took place on 21st July 2016, but that the actual marriage took place on 15th November 1716. See for yourself by reading the actual record.

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11th January 1719

James's son, William, was born in West Linton, Peeblesshire. In this record, Marion's maiden surname is given as "Andrews" rather than "Andrew". At this stage I have not acquired the actual record, but have this information from ScotlandsPeople.

23rd January 1724

Marion Andrew died, where she lived her life, in West Linton, Peeblesshire. From her date of birth, she must have been only 44 years old. There is very little detail in the entry, but it does note that there was a charge of £5.00.00 for a horse and what looks like a "mortclath",which, from referring to a Scots dictionary, I think means 'a pall covering a coffin'. See for yourself and see what you think.

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View record extract.

19th December 1728

Marion's daughter, Margaret Brown was baptised in West Linton, Peebles, on this date. The parish record entry notes that she was eight years old at the time, making her year of birth 1820. Her parents are recorded as being James Brown and Marion Andrew.

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16th May 1742

Marion's daughter, Margaret Brown, married James Moffat, on this day in Innerleithen, Peeblesshire. The record indicates that Margaret was of the parish of Stow, whilst James was of the parish of Innerleithen. The record shows that they paid the sum of 14 shillings for the proclamation.

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