I found this Benjamin but he is not married, born England living in Kilwinning

1851 Scotland Census
Name: Benjamin Ratcliffe
Age: 30
Estimated birth year: abt 1821
Relationship: Head
Gender: Male
Where born: England
Parish Number: 599
Civil Parish: Kilwinning
Town: Kilwinning
County: Ayrshire
Address: Corsehill
Occupation: Potter
ED: 13
Household schedule number: 45
LINE: 15
Roll: CSSCT1851_134

Benjamin Ratcliffe 30

.............................................................................
There is also this one again born England but it does not state where. He must have been an apprentice to a potter at one time because he is a Journey Man. A journey man was a period of time after completing an apprenticship when you developed your skills, (normally 2 years)


1861 Scotland Census
Name: Benjamin Ratcliff
Age: 40
Estimated birth year: abt 1821
Relationship: Head
Spouse's name : Mary Ratcliff
Gender: Male
Where born: England
Registration Number: 599
Registration district: Kilwinning
Civil Parish: Kilwinning
Town: Kilwinning
County: Ayrshire
Address: Main Street
Occupation: Potter Journey Man
ED: 15
Household schedule number: 91
LINE: 4
Roll: CSSCT1861_87

Benjamin Ratcliff 40
Mary Ratcliff 30
Mary Ratcliff 12
Thomas F Ratcliff 12
Janet Ratcliff 5
William Ratcliff 3
Margaret Ratcliff 1

1871 Scotland Census
Name: Benjamin Ratcliffe
Age: 50
Estimated birth year: abt 1821
Relationship: Head
Spouse's name : Mary Ratcliffe
Gender: Male
Where born: England
Registration Number: 599
Registration district: Kilwinning
Civil Parish: Kilwinning
Town: Kilwinning
County: Ayrshire
Address: Main Street
Occupation: Clay Maulder ( moulder ?)
ED: 13
Household schedule number: 113
LINE: 10
Roll: CSSCT1871_112

Benjamin Ratcliffe 50
Mary Ratcliffe 40
Janet Ratcliffe 10
William Ratcliffe 13
Margaret Andrew Ratcliffe 11 (born 2 dec 1859 )
Neil Ratcliffe 37 ???? (I think this should be 7 yrs)
Jane Ratcliffe 5
......................................................................

Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950"
Name: David Ratcliffe
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 04 May 1851 *** this after the 1851 Scotland census
Christening Place: , KILWINNING, AYR, SCOTLAND
Birth Date: 06 Mar 1851
Father's Name: Benjamine Ratcliffe
Mother's Name: Margaret Andrew
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C11599-5
System Origin: Scotland-VR
GS Film number: 1041389
Reference ID: 2:15G5LPX
.........................................................................
Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950"
Name: Mary Ratcliff
Gender: Female
Christening Date: 15 Apr 1849
Christening Place: , KILWINNING, AYR, SCOTLAND
Father's Name: Benjamin Ratcliff
Father's Birthplace:
Father's Age:
Mother's Name: Margaret Andrews
Mother's Birthplace:
Mother's Age:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C11599-5
System Origin: Scotland-ODM
GS Film number: 1041389
...............................................................

Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
father Benjamin Ratcliffe
spouse: Mary Mcneilage
child: Jeanie Ratcliffe
Birth Date: 08 Jul 1866

Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
father Benjamin Ratcliffe
spouse: Mary Mcneilage
child: Margaret Andrew Ratcliffe
Birth Date: 02 Dec 1859

Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
father Benjamin Ratcliffe
spouse: Mary Mcneilage
child: Neil Mcneilage Ratcliffe
09 Apr 1864


Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
father Benjamin Ratcliffe
spouse: Mary Mcneilage
child: William Ratcliffe
09 Jan 1858

Found This marriage but it does not show fathers names.

Scotland, Marriages, 1561-1910"
Name: Benjamin Radcliff
Spouse's Name: Margaret Andrews
Event Date: 31 Jul 1847
Event Place: , Kilwinning, Ayr, Scotland
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M11599-5
System Origin: Scotland-VR
GS Film number: 1041389
Reference ID: 2:G3V8H2

I could have all of the above but I found it while searching so posted it in case you don't. It would be best to try the site below. Its not free but you might get more details, you can view BMDs census etc.

http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/?gclid={SI:gclid}&gclid=CK3-hayc4r0CFZShtAodtFwATA

Have you tried looking for Mary 1849 in the 1851 census, she may be with her Andrews grandparents. The above as 8 Mary,s list in the 1851 census. Sorry I cannot help any more

Just found this again no fathers shown :

Scotland, Select Marriages, 1561-1910
Name: Benjamin Ratcliffe
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 31 Dec 1851
Marriage Place: Dundonald,Ayr,Scotland
Spouse: Mary Mcneilage
FHL Film Number: 1041340

Thank you for this information. My sister was fortunate to find some of this earlier this year. Your recommendation to search for Mary might be helpful. We thought that Benjamin was a less common name and might have been easier to track.

Another question. Mary and Thomas disappear from the 1871 census-could this mean that they are no longer in the home, married perhaps or working in an other location?

Thank you
Katharine and Colleen Ratcliffe

According to the 1861 Census Mary and Thomas are both 12 yrs. So it is possible they are working away from home or could be married or died.

I think it would be worth spending money on some credits with :

http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/

You get 30 credits for about ?7. I have just looked at a marriage for one of my great unlces it took 6 credits but it did show the original marriage entry. Listed were both parents names and occupation of fathers, where bride/ groom were living at time of marriage and their occupation. Both of Benjamin's marriage detail are in posts above you could look at one or both and hopefully it will give Benjamins father and occupation.

You get 30 credits for about ?7