Archibald Buchanan

In the 1841 census taken on 6 June, Archibald (45) is the head of the household in George Street, Parish of St Quivox, Ayrshire. Original document not seen and the transcription has spelling errors (e.g. 'Buchamen' throughout). He was born in Ayrshire and is described as 'teal keeper' (presumably toll keeper - same occupation as his father-in-law). Other members of the household are 'Martan' (Marion) (40), 'Jullies' (female,11), Archibald (9), William (7), Robert (5), Marian (9m) and Ressa Muchan (15).

This source http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/SCT-WIGTOWNSHIRE/2005... provides a birth and a marriage from the local newspaper dated 31 October 1844, which confirm Archibald's occupation as toll keeper at the New Bridge toll gate, Ayr. "BUCHANAN, Female - B28/10/1844 - at Ayr, at the New Bridge Toll, on the 28th current, Mrs Buchanan, of a daughter." and "M'EWEN, William - M28/10/1844 - at Ayr, on the 28th instant, by the Rev. Robert Renwick, Mr William M'Ewen, cloth merchant, to Margaret, eldest daughter of Mr A. Buchanan, toll keeper."

There is an engraving from 1840 of New Bridge, from the Newton side, which shows the toll house, here http://www.ayrshirearts.com/Spaces/Gallery/Theatre/Ayrshire/Ayr/New....

The 1851 census has Archibald Buchanan 'father-in-law' born in Monkton, living with his daughter Margaret and son-in-law William McEwan and their family, at Kirk Port, Ayr. But it states he is 100 and born about 1751! Again, this is a transcript and something must be amiss here. It states he is a 'Miaslin Weaver' (presumably muslin weaver and employed by his son-in-law). Meantime the census reveals that his wife Marion, with her aunt, Marion Barr (86) and most of their children, is eight miles north working as a victualler at Loans. His son William (17) and daughter Helen (7) are with his wife's father just north of the river. What had happened to split the family up?