The time gap between the first and fourth child was short so it was not surprising that children two and three turned out to be twins - Robert and Elizabeth. Both parents are identified on the birth record with John’s occupation as a weaver confirming other data. Elizabeth Irvine lived until 1857, marrying John McCloy in 1824 and having at least four children. Her death certificate confirms parentage giving her maiden name as Irving. No details about Robert Irvine have been found and it may be that he died young. This record throws a spanner in the works in that it states that the parents had both been married previously. Based on their dates of birth it seems quite likely that this was true. Marion Lamont born in Kilmarnock in 1759 and baptised on 30 Sep 1759. If, as seems likely, this is the correct person she would have married John Irvine when aged 36 having had plenty of time for a previous marriage, while still being of child-bearing age. The Old Parish Registers of Kilmarnock show a Marion Lamont marrying Thomas McMurtrie on 28 Jul 1785. ‘Our’ Marion Lamont would have been 24 years old at that time so they are likely to be one and the same person but this is not proven.