Ross & McLauchlan place in Dumfries?

[Andersonic]

I have a Mary Ross, b 1852 Dumfries, in my family tree. In 1861 and 1871 she is listed in the household of her parents, Thomas Ross "Innkeeper"and Jane (McLaughlan). In 1881, after Mary has married and left, Jane/Janet is "Innkeeper" alone - we assume Thomas has died between the census dates.
My query is: is there any way I can discover which Inn they may have been in charge of, 1861-1881? The addresses at the censuses are consistently "Bridge Street" Dumfries. In 1861 it's No 7, in 1871 No 38, for example.
Interestingly enough (well, to me it is) in 1871 Janet/Jane has her father, James McLauchlan with them as an old man, and in 1861 a James McLauchlan figures as a retired farmer at No 3, Bridge Street.
I would be grateful for any help that anyone may be able to give or to guide me to.

Also: (sorry if this ought to be another query, elsewhere) the birthplace given for Thomas Ross seems to decipher as "Irvingory" or "Invergary" or "Irongray" in Kirkcudbrightshire - and I've not yet managed to discover it on any map?? I thought I'd found an "Ironmacannie" just off the A713 between St Johnstown and Castle Douglas, and yet that seems too different. Do I just need a better map?
Thank you in advance for your time reading this, and any assistance anyone may feel able to give me.

[AndrewP]

Hi Andersonic,

I can help with the geography question. Irongray is in Kirkcudbrightshire, about 5 - 6 miles west to north-west of Dumfries (and across the county boundary). It was the rural parish of Kirkpatrick Irongray. There is not a village of Irongray. The parish looks to be dominantly made up of farms.

For an 1890s map, see http://maps.nls.uk/os/view/?sid=74400765 where you will find Kirkpatrick Irongray parish coloured blue towards the south-east corner of this map.

To see a modern Ordnance Survey map: click here. Irongray Church is shown at the arrow marker.

All the best,

AndrewP

[Currie]

Hello Andersonic,

I couldn’t find anything in the newspapers or elsewhere that linked the name Ross to an Inn in Dumfries.

However this extract from an 1878 Parliamentary report will give you an idea of the situation then existing. (1878 [C.1941] Grocers' licences (Scotland) Commission. Report by the commissioners appointed to inquire into the laws regulating the sale and consumption of excisable liquors sold not for consumption on the premises in Scotland)

Mr. John Malcolm, examined.
The chairman.—You are the superintendent of police in the town of Dumfries? —I am.
How long have you been superintendent? —For eleven years past.
Will you tell us the present number of publichouses in the town of Dumfries? —There are 98 licenses altogether, of which there are 20 hotels, 56 publichouses, and 21 grocers. That was at the licensing court of April last.
Is that for the town of Dumfries or for the county?—For the town of Dumfries.
What is the population of the town? —The population of the royal burgh of Dumfries is about 15,000.
So that you have got one house to every 150 souls? —That is so.
Has that number been increased or diminished of late years? —It has been diminished. In 1866 there were 117 licenses granted.

All the best,
Alan

[Andersonic]

Thank you very much, AndrewP. No wonder I couldn't find a place such as a village, even after crawling all over the biggest old map I have! As the McLauchlans seem to have been very much a farming family, then probably they did mean a farm in the area - and after all this time, as there's nothing helpful on censuses, then there's not a lot of chance of getting further on that one. Dead end in a farmyard (again). I do appreciate your help and have looked at the links with interest. Thank you for taking all that trouble.
Thank you, too, Currie. I must admit, it was an astonishing account you had unearthed, but fascinating to read. What a heavy-drinking lot they must have been! It would probably have been easier to find a family who was not in a public house, judging by that.
However, they must mainly have been in a very small way, if there were so many establishments. Gives me a good picture of how it must have been. Ah well, this time I'm stranded in a small Beer House!
It's fascinating how, although one may not get any further researching one's own family, one gains a great deal of interesting odd information on the way.

[Spacot]

Have you tried the Old Parish records on Scotlands people for the baptism of any of the people whose names you have. A baptism record could give the farm of the parents,
I had a quick look and found David, James, John, Margaret, and Agnes born to James McLaughlan and Mary McKnight 1825-31 in Irongray on a farm or place called [Bents?]
in 1851 census I found this record
Name: ROSS , Thomas
Address: Fleet Street(855)
Parish: Anwoth
Relationship: lodger in household of Jannet McLachlan
Marital Status: married
Occupation: SPINNER master (cotton)
Age: 44
Born: born Spinnadale Suth
Household No: 3/73
Might be worth checking a wider area

[Andersonic]

Thanks, Spacot for the suggestion. As until very recently I didn't think I'd got anybody further north than Cumberland, and that the Ross was "only visiting"I've not yet succumbed to joining "Scotland's People" - it looks like I'll have to do so. Odd really - I was firmly convinced that I had English, a bit of Welsh, and some Irish - but no Scots at all. Thanks for your interest, good suggestions and guidance. The name I had given was the publican's daughter who married into my Cumberland line, and that was all that I had. I'd been hunting to see if the Inn or Public House might still be identifiable, largely for interest, and thought it was worth a try, as I couldn't see anything easily via modern Google Earth that I thought likely.