General Notes

Daughter Agnes Neil SMITH (also known as Agnes BALMER) was illegitimate, and the father is unknown.  She was raised by Margaret's aunt, Elizabeth Allan and Elizabeth's husband George Balmer.

It is unknown why George Balmer and Elizabeth Allan raised Agnes — perhaps to remove shame from her mother, or perhaps Margaret died quite young.  In the 1881 census Agnes is listed in their household with her proper relationship ("Grand niece"), but by the 1891 census she has taken on the surname "Balmer" and is simply listed as a daughter.  On her marriage certificate to Duncan McNab, it lists George Balmer and Elizabeth Allan as her parents.  She is certainly their adopted daughter, but biologically she was Margaret's daughter and Elizabeth Allan's great-niece.

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  Recorded Events in Her Life

• She appeared on the 1851 Census of Scotland on 30 March 1851 in Tarbolton, Ayrshire, Scotland. ⁴
  

Census 1851 - Tarbolton.
Book 3, sch. 9
Millburn Mill:

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Name  Relationship to Head  State  Age     Profession          Where born

John Allan         Head     mar     58     Farmer 86 acres     Sorn, Ayrs
Margaret Allan     wife     mar     58       --                Dundonald
Robert Allan       son      un      26     Farm Lab.           Tarbolton
John Allan         son      un      18       --                Tarbolton
Agnes Allan        mother   wid     83       --                Dundonald
Margaret Smith     gr/d.    --       6       --                Tarbolton

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• She appeared on the 1861 Census of Scotland on 7 April 1861 in Tarbolton, Ayrshire, Scotland. ^{3 4}
  

Scotland Census 1861 - Tarbolton.
    Book 4, sch. 9
    Millburn Mill:

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    Name  Relationship to Head   State     Age    Profession             Where born

    Margaret Allan     Head       wid.     68     Farmer of 36 acres     Dundonald
                                                    employing 1 man &
                                                    1 woman
    John Allan         son        un       26     Overseer               Tarbolton
    Helen Allan        dau        un       23       --                   Tarbolton
    Margaret Smith     gr/d.      --       15       --                   Tarbolton
    David Allan        gr/s       --        7       --                   Mauchline

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• She worked as a domestic servant in 1874 in Tarbolton, Ayrshire, Scotland. ⁵