George Horn, Father of Robert H. Horn

George Horn and Mary Barrie, the parents of Robert Houston Horn and George Horn, were married December 21, 1827 as recorded in Glasgow parish registers, and shown as a 'register extract' on the IGI. The orginal record probably shows at least witnesses and residence of the couple, and perhaps parents. This would be a worthwhile search.

A descendant has looked at the birth registrations for the two sons of George and Mary and reports:
" I checked over the Official Birth Registration for.... Robert Houston Horn and his brother George again and believe their mother's maiden name is Mary Barrie. Robie Houston shown as a sponsor or witness could be a best friend or relative. The other person Peter Brien doesn't seem to be connected other than perhaps a friend." (Source T. H.)

There are many Houstons in the 1841 census for Barony, Glasgow.

The Horn family appears in the 1841 census. This census may be viewed on the FreeCEN website.

SCT1841/644 Place: Glasgow -Lanarkshire
Enumeration District: 12 Civil Parish: Glasgow
Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: St John
Folio: 78 Page: 19, Address: Hunter Street
HORN, George, 35, Police Officer, b. Lanarkshire
HORN, Mary, age 35, b. Lanarkshire
HORN, Robert H., age 10, b. Lanarkshire
HORN, George, age 3, b. Lanarkshire

The family emigrated before the 1851/52 census was taken in Canada West and they appear in Dalhousie Township living close to Parks and Pauls.

1851/52 Census Canada West - Dalhousie Twp
Concession VII Lot E26 - 200 acres - 24 1/2 ac. in crops 25 1/2 pasture
Part 2, pg 47
George Horn, 49, farmer....b. Scotland, United Presbyterian
Mary Horn, 52................................................b. Scotland
Robert Horn, 22, single, labourer................b. Scotland
George Horn, 14, single, labouer.................b. Scotland

T.H. notes,
"I have checked in the book "The Lanark Society Settlers" and noticed that James Barrie, Sr. and Jr. came over on the ship "Prompt" in 1820 with the Lesmahagow Emigration Society and settled on Lot 9 Concession 6, Dalhousie Township in Lanark County. So you see, George and his wife Mary could have had another connection beside the Horn family for coming to Lanark County!"

By 1861, George's son, Robert, has married Sarah Gavin, and they appear in the 1861 census for Dalhousie Township, Lanark County not far from Sarah's parents.

1861 Canada West Census
Dalhousie Twp, Lanark County
Robert H. Horn, 31, farmer.....................b. Scotland, C of Scot
Sarah Horn, 30........................................b. Scotland
Sarah Horn, 7...........................................b. Upper Canada
Mary Horn, 4........................................ ...b. Upper Canada

I have not found George Horn Sr. and Mary, or his son, George in the 1861 census. However, a Horn descendant (G.H) provides the following information which does appear to have some inaccuracies:

"Soon after Robt. H. [Horn] married Sarah Millar [Gavin] (after 1851 census) George & Mary moved to Lanark village (15 mi.). George went to work at Caldwell Woollen Mills at his old trade, weaver..."

I believe the following is incorrect, but have included it in case anyone else has this information.
" Mary worked at 'charwork' (housework) see 1861 census for Lanark Village. After George died [??], Mary went to keep house for Wm. Stead ( a widower) at Hopetown.

I have checked the 1891 census, and indeed found a Mary Horn, domestic, living with the widowed William Stead. However, Mary Horn was 63 years old and born in Ontario; therefore, she could not be Mary Barrie, the wife of George Horn. This is thought to be Martha Horn, the wife of Robert Downie Horn. All the other details, except given name, are correct. This would tie in with the remarks below.

"A touch of irony here, when Alex Horn was no longer able to work, lot 15w was sold to Wm. Stead. It is still in the Stead name. The lake is named after James E. (sic) Horn- Horne Lake...an 'E 'is now on the sign. They are burried in Lanark Village Cemetery [Is this George Horn and Mary Barrie?]"

I have found a marriage for a George Horn on the Ancestry.com website:

George Horn, 64, b. Scotland, son of James and Margaret Horn
to Madeline LaTour, 41, b. Quebec,
June 23, 1868 at Carleton Place, Ramsey Township, Lanark.

And finally in 1871, there is a widowed George Horn, 68 years old, weaver, living in Lanark North. He is with an Irish couple, Abraham and Letitia Code and their large family.

I have been unable to find any registration of death for George Horn, Mary Barrie Horn, or their son George Horn. I have not found George Jr. in a census after 1851. Mary died before George's second marriage in 1868, and George Sr, died after 1871 census.

I have noted several facts from these records in coloured print above.
- George Horn, his wife and family were all born in Lanarkshire, Scotland
- George was a police officer in Glasgow in 1841
- his second marriage in 1868 records his parents's names as James and Margaret Horn.