Many thanks Brian. So James **was** born in Scotland. That makes my day (or year actually.) It had been deduced that the family originated in Scotland, but with the surname Kyle. A very probable family (parents and three children) had appeared in the records there. The surname presumably changed because of dialect differences.

Fancy him hanging on until he was 90, in order to appear in the 1841 census!! What a kind man.

Thanks also to Donna, who replied direct, and to Barbara. Yes, I've made good use of the Scotlandspeople site. If only I lived nearer Edinburgh.