Hi Sue and Mary,
Thanks for the info and ideas on this question - I have tried for a couple of hours to do more searching and see if I can pull together some of the threads you've suggested Unfortunately no joy so far.

I think the multiple marriages is a real possibility. However I can't find a single one of the family present in Lord Street Douglas in 1891 in the 1901 census.

Unless you have any more ideas on this I think I'll have to write to the registry and request 2 or 3 of the childrens entries and see if that unearths anything.

Perhaps they emigrated between 1891 and 1901?

thanks again

John