32. John Soutar and Jannet Gillespie
John and Jannet were married on 03 Feb 1828 in Bendochy parish. Both, according to the entry in the O.P.R., lived in the parish. John, who was approaching his thirty-seventh birthday, was the son of James Soutar and Helen Anderson. Jannet, whose date of birth is not known, must have been about twenty-nine. Her parents were George Gillespie and Jean Smith.
John worked all his life on the land. In early documents, when living at Coupar Grange, he is described as an agricultural labourer and in later ones when he is at Balbrogie he is variously a farm overseer, a grieve, or on his death certificate, a crofter.
Working on the land, John must have often attended the Coupar Angus cattle market and the horse fair, both of which were annual events. There was a local saying "The horse fair syne (then) summer". During the horse fair, which was held on the third Thursday of March, a local baker made gingerbread horses to mark the event. This tradition continued after the horse fair, even into the 1950's when gingerbread horses were being sent all over Scotland. The tradition died out sometime in the late1950's. In the early 1990's, however, the cutters that had been used to shape the gingerbread horses were found in the baker's shop and, for a time in March, the horses were once again produced for sale.
As well as the annual markets, Coupar had a weekly market held on a Thursday. It was a post town and letters were delivered daily. The Defiance, "one of the best conducted coaches in the country passes daily betwixt Edinburgh and Aberdeen" and coaches ran four times a day on the railway to Dundee. Despite (or perhaps because of) all these advantages, the population was decreasing in the 1830's and 40's mainly as a result of emigration to towns.
By the time of the 1841 census, Jannet and John's family was complete. They were living at Coupar Grange, a farmtown North East of Coupar Angus (and on the opposite side of the Isla), consisting of 13 households with a total of 65 inhabitants.
1841 Dist. 332 Alyth Bk.1 p11.
Name marital age occupation Born in county? condition Coupar Grange Soutar John m 44 Ag. Lab. y Soutar Janet m 41 y Soutar Janet 10 y Soutar Helen 5 y Soutar Margaret 4 y Soutar Andrew 1 y
The Statistical Account of 1843 tells us something of the conditions in which farm servants lived. "Farm - servants are engaged for twelve months; and the average wages of a ploughman, qualified to work a pair of horses, are about £12 in money, 35lb. of oatmeal per week, and three chopins (old measure) of milk per day. Good day-labourers receive on average, 10s.per week during the period when they can work ten hours per day. After that period, the hours of work are counted, and the rate of wages is slightly raised". (A chopin was about a litre or 1.76 pints).
By 1851, the family has moved to Balbrogie, a farm town to the East of Coupar Angus. This "town" is described in the Statistical Account as having a population of about 70 although the census shows that it had only 8 households with 57 inhabitants:
1851 Dist 279 Coupar Angus Bk.1 p10.Balbrogie Soutar John h m 50 Ag. lab. Perth, Alyth Soutar Janet w m 48 wife Perth, Bendochy Soutar Hellen d u 15 scholar Perth, Bendochy Soutar Margaret d u 13 scholar Perth, Bendochy Soutar Andrew s u 11 scholar Perth, Bendochy
The headings for the columns in the census are: Name, Relationship to head of house (h = head, w = wife,
s = son, d = daughter etc.), male/female, age, trade or profession and Place of birth. The 1891 census has the additional column "Employed?" Which is marked with a cross if the person is employed.
The eldest daughter, Janet is no longer in the family home. In both these preceding censuses, the ages of the parents are incorrect. While in the later ones they are correct. It would be interesting to know why. By 1861 Balbrogie has 12 households and 58 inhabitants. The family are still at Balbrogie and we are told that they had three rooms with windows.
1861 Dist 279 Coupar Angus bk2 p9.
Balbrogie
Soutar John h m 70 ploughman Perth, Alyth Soutar Janet w m 62 Perth, Alyth Soutar Margaret d u 23 Perth. BendochyThe ploughman was in many ways the aristocrat of the farm steading yet the work was far from easy. Malcom Gray in 'Farm workers in north east Scotland' (1984), says "The ploughing itself usually started at six or seven a.m. and continued without interruption for five hours; then followed a meal break of two hours in which the ploughman and his team would return to the steading, and finally a further four or five hours in the fields. The working day was, however, much longer …. The ploughman might well have to thresh his horses' feed for the day, starting at four a.m. or even earlier; then as well as the tasks of yoking and unyoking and the trek to and from the fields, there was evening work in the stables grooming and suppering the horses". The 1871 census shows a similar entry although there is a mistake in John's birthplace, which is recorded as Forfar, Alyth instead of Perth, Alyth. By the age of eighty it is unlikely John would have been able for the work described above and his occupation as "grieve" may have reflected this. 1871 Dist 279 Coupar Angus
Balbrogie
Soutar John h m 80 Grieve 45 acres all arable Forfar, Alyth Soutar Janet w m 72 wife of do. Perth, Bendochy Soutar Margaret d u 31 housemaid Perth, BendochyThis house had three rooms with windows.
John died at Balbrogie in April 1874 when he would have been aged 84. Janet then moved to Coupar Angus, (the house at Balbrogie presumably being a tied one) and she died there in January 1879.
A gravestone was erected to the couple, the inscription being:
John Soutar who died at Balbrogie 03 Apr 1874 aged 83 years and his wife Janet Gillespie who died at Coupar Angus 03 Jan 1879.
Unfortunately the location of the grave has not been recorded.
When looking for other information, the following two entries were found in the Dundee Advertiser. The first must have had an impact on John and his family. The second is included for interest:
23.8.1861 Waygoing sale of livestock, implements of husbandry and other effects on the farm of Balbrogie near Coupar Angus.
On same date the paper advertises:
Dundee Fair
Dundee and Newtyle Railway 28th Aug 1861.
Special train to Newtyle and intermediate stations also to Ardler, Coupar Angus and Blairgowrie at 6.45 a.m.
Return fare 3rd 2 shill, 1st 4 shill.
Note:
Between Coupar Angus and Balbeggie is Soutarland - a piece of land gifted by the Abbey of Coupar Angus to artificers to provide shoes to the monks.
33. Ancestors of Jannet Gillespie
As with most research at this date it is difficult to produce corroborative evidence. The evidence we have is based on the following entries from Old Parish Registers:
Angus, Kettins 1788 George Gillespie in this parish and Janet Smith in the parish of Bendochy proclaimed Oct 19, Oct 26, Nov 3. Married Nov 3. No duty.
Perth, Bendochy 1768 Jean law. dau. to James Smyth and Margaret McRitchie in Corylden? was bapt at Tullyforgan Oct 27th 1768.
Angus, Airdler 1762 Andrew Gillespie and Janet Robertson in Airdler had a son baptised called George.
Also
Angus Kettins 1762 Andrew Gillespie and Janet Robertson in Airdler had a son bapt. called George.
Perth, Bendochy 1762
At Bendochy Feb 28th
Samuel Hill in the of parish of Kettins and Elspeth Miller in this parish
also James Smith in this parish and Margaret Mc Ritchie in the parish of Blairgowrie were regularly proclaimed and no objections made. Married.
Perth, Bendochy 1729 30th November. Margarat lawful daughter to George McRitchie and Agnas Guilruith was bapt.
Perth, Bendochy 1718. 17 June. George McRitchie and Agnes Gilruith both in this parish being proclaimed were married by the minister of this place.
The following entry appears in the 1984 version of the I.G.I. but not in the 1992 version. There is no corresponding entry in the O.P.R.
Angus Kettins 1758 Andrew Gillespie and Janet Robertson.
The batch/film no. is A458275 serial 0291.
The film obtained from the Mormon Church had the following information:
No. Sc33284 Book 50359 Page 0303
Robertson - Janet
Born abt. 1734 Kettins
Buried 1774
Marr 1758 to Andrew Gillespie (1730)
Submitted by Archibald Boyack relation in 1965.
Kettins Church, which was only twenty years old in 1788 is probably the only building in the area which has survived from the time of George and Jean's wedding. The wedding of course would not have taken place in the church but at the bride's home. (The church bell is much older, being dated MCCCCXIX).
William Ferguson (1) Janet McKenzie
(2) Mary N Hoggand The Firm of Ferguson Brothers
William Ferguson married Janet McKenzie at Coupar Angus in Perthshire on 20th Nov 1841. The Old Parish Register records the event as "William Ferguson, molecatcher and Janet McKenzie. Both this parish - three Sundays"
Janet was the daughter of Alexander McKenzie and Elizabeth Miller and was aged twenty. William, the son of John Ferguson and Margaret Mitchell was aged eighteen.
Their children, recorded in the Old Parish Register (OPR) as born before 1851, were: Margaret, born 13 July 1843, Elizabeth, born 05 May 1945, George, born 10 Jan 1850,
The 1851 census sees the family at Causewayend, Coupar Angus:
The headings for the columns in the census are: Name, Relationship to head of house (h = head, w = wife,
s = son, d = daughter etc.), male/female, age, trade or profession and Place of birth. The 1891 census has the additional column "Employed?" Which is marked with a cross if the person is employed.William Ferguson h m 27 Manufacturer employing 18 men & 17 women Perth, Coupar Angus Janet Ferguson w m 29 Perth, Kinclaven Margaret Ferguson d u 7 scholar Perth, Coupar Angus Elizabeth Ferguson d u 5 Perth, Coupar Angus George Ferguson s u 1 Perth, Coupar Angus
Post 1851 births in OPR's are: Alex, born 17 Feb 1852 and Janet, born 14 Jun 1854. All the foregoing births are recorded at the one time in 1854 (Fr885) as are the births in many other families in the area and not surprisingly, the Register uses the same form of words to record the birth of each child:"William Ferguson manufacturer and Janet McKenzie had a lawful child born named -------- ". Perhaps the clerk or minister had become very much behind with his records and, with the coming of statutory registration and the submission of OPR's to New Register House, thought he had better catch up!
Other children whose births are not recorded in OPR's and are only known about through a gravestone inscription found in Coupar Angus Churchyard. They are:
William, died in early childhood in 1849,
John, died Pawtucket U.S.A. 13 June 1890 aged 32 years.
Janet's death is also recorded on this stone:
Also Janet, who died in Pawtucket U.S.A. 27 Mar 1889 aged 34 years.1857 brought the death of Janet at the early age of thirty-six, and only one month after the birth of her son John. The cause was recorded as "ulceration of the bowel" of duration two months.
The 1861 census shows the family still at Causewayend in a house which had 3 rooms with windows. 279 bk 5 pg 12:
Ferguson William h m 37 Manufacturer employing 80 people Perth, Coupar Angus Ferguson Margaret d u 17 domestic duties Perth, Coupar Angus Ferguson Elizabeth d u 15 domestic duties Perth, Coupar Angus Ferguson George McKenzie s u 11 scholar Perth, Coupar Angus Ferguson Alexander s u 9 scholar Perth, Coupar Angus Ferguson Janet M d u 7 scholar Perth, Coupar Angus Ferguson Jean d u 5 Perth, Coupar Angus Ferguson John s u 3 Perth, Coupar Angus McKenzie Agnes niece u 20 domestic servant Perth, Coupar AngusThe "domestic servant" is Janet's cousin employed to help the two older daughters run the home after their mother's death. The McKenzies were near neighbours to the family in Causewayend.
In 1861, tragedy struck again. On fifteenth August, eleven-year old George drowned while bathing in Coupar Burn. The Blairgowrie Advertiser did not exist until October 1861 and the Dundee Advertiser in its edition of 20th August does not record this particular event but does describe the weather at the time "For the last five weeks we have not had 24 hours on end free of rain and it is always getting worse and worse. There is now a great need for a time of dry weather ----. It was melancholy to see the River Isla so terribly swollen as it was yesterday and at a season of the year when so much depends on the quality of the weather"
On 23rd January 1867 William remarried. His new wife was Mary N Hogg, the widow of James Smeaton.
The 1871 census shows the family still at Causewayend 279 bk 5 pg 19
Ferguson William h m 47 Linen Manufacturer Perth, Coupar Angus Ferguson Mary N w m 44 Edinburgh, Penicuick Ferguson Janet M d u 16 pupil teacher Perth, Coupar Angus Ferguson Jane d u 15 scholar Perth, Coupar Angus Ferguson John s u 13 scholar Perth, Coupar Angus Smeaton Jane B. step-d u 12 scholar Perth, Coupar Angus
The next useful record is a sasine dated 29 December 1875 when William withdrew from the partnership of Ferguson Brothers. In this document, William is described as "sometime Linen Manufacturer in Coupar Angus, now residing there". On Jan 10 1876 a further entry in the Register of Sasines described William as "designed sometime Manufacturer, Coupar Angus, now in America or elsewhere abroad".
William Ferguson, therefore, left Scotland in early 1876 en route for America. By the 1880 U.S. census, he was established as a farmer in Oregonville North Carolina with his wife, Mary N Hogg and stepdaughter June Smeaton:
Oregonville, Rockingham, North Carolina.
Name Relation Marital Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Mother's Status Birthplace Birthplace Wm. Furgusen self M Male W 55 Scotland Farmer Scotland Scotland Mary B Furgusen wife M Female W 53 Scotland Keeps Home Scotland Scotland June B Smeaton dau S Female W 22 Scotland At Home Scotland Scotland Wm Whitchent other M Male B 22 NC Works on farm NC NC J Bethell other M Male B 10 NC Works on farm NC NC
(In the adjacent household where Rufus Fitzgerald,a grocer and farmer, is head of the household, is
Jno. Furguson, 22, from Scotland. His occupation is given as "clerk in store").Shipping lists in Fayettville, NC have been consulted without finding the record William's arrival in U.S.
Since William had previously been involved with linen production, it seems possible that he might have been attracted to grow cotton, one of the crops in this district. The main crop in the district is, however, tobacco and the U.S. government was subsidising tobacco growing about that time so it is perhaps more likely that he was a tobacco grower.
Shipping lists in Fayettville, NC were consulted in 2330 without finding the record William’s arrival. An enquiry to NC Archives in January 2004 about a possible land grant to William Ferguson in Rockingham County between 1876 and 1885 received the following reply:
“We have searched Secretary of State, Land Grant Office without finding William Ferguson, various spellings.”
The 1890 U.S. census for the Oregonville area has been destroyed and there is no sign of the family in the 1891 Scottish census so there is no further information about William until his death in Dundee, Scotland in 1893:There may be a record of purchase of land (land deeds) during that period but so far these have not been consulted.
The 1890 U.S. census for the Oregonville area has been destroyed and there is no sign of the family in the 1891 Scottish census so there is no further information about William until his death in Dundee, Scotland in 1893:
1893 Dundee, Scotland (282/5) No. 91
William M 69 1893 John Ferguson Catarrhal Alex Baxter Ferguson April 5th Grocer (master) Pneumonia Ferguson farmer 9h 15m p.m. (deceased) 14 days present married to 4 Park Tce. Margaret Ferguson Mary Hogg Dundee M.S. Mitchell
The death is recorded in The Blairgowrie Advertiser of Saturday 8th April 1893:
At 4 Park Tce., Dundee, on 5th inst. William Ferguson, of Ruffin, North Carolina (formerly of Coupar Angus), aged 69.
The same announcement appeared in The Dundee Advertiser with the addition of "(American papers please copy)". Notes: Park Terrace, Dundee is between 259 and 271 Blackness Road. Ruffin is a small town east of Oregonville.
The only Ferguson listed at these houses for this time in Dundee Directories and at this time is an Alexander, described as a manager (possibly William's son owned the house). This may be the same Alexander who, from 1886-1889 is listed at Dunmore Villa, Baldovan as "of Ferguson Brothers" and later at 3 Park Tce. as "Manager, Johnston Street Factory"(this is more properly called the Lindsay Street Mill). Hilda Allan had a clock which had been presented to Alexander and which is inscribed:
"To Alexander Ferguson from his workmates at London Spinning Mill 15th September 1887". Enquiries have not revealed the whereabouts of this mill. Alex later lived in Carnoustie.
No executor was confirmed to William's estate although, when his widow died intestate on 2nd January 1898 her daughter, Jane was appointed executor:
1898
Ferguson, Mary Hogg or Smeaton or. 2 Lauriston Park Edinburgh, widow, died 2nd January 1898 at Edinburgh, intestate, Confirmation to Jane Seaton, 2 Lauriston Park daughter. Value of estate £378-7s-6dThere is also a gravestone in Coupar Angus, Scotland with the following inscription:
Wm. Ferguson manufacturer, Coupar Angus, who died 5th April 1893 aged 69 yrs.
There appear to be several possible lines of enquiry that might yield further information:
His wife Janet McKenzie who died 18 Aug 1857 aged 35 yrs.Their children:
Wm. who died in early childhood 1849.
Janet died in Pawtucket U.S.A. 27 Mar 1889 aged 34 years.
John died in Pawtucket U.S.A. 13 June 1890 aged 32 yrs.
George who was drowned in Coupar Burn 15 Aug 1861 aged 11 yrs.
Mary N Hogg widow of the above Wm. Ferguson d 2.1.1898.
(1) William might have purchased a farm prior to going to U.S. In that case any Land Grant would not be recorded in the period searched by the Archives. (NC Archives restrict enquiries to ten years at a time.) (2) Had William retired and moved from Oregon Hill (as it is now called) to Ruffin, shortly after it came into existence in 1887? If so there might be a record of the sale of the farm and purchase of something else. An index to all Land Grants in Rockingham County is due to become available on fiche but ‘phone calls to the North Carolina State Archives indicate some confusion about when this will happen. (3) Did William intend being in Scotland on a temporary or permanent basis when he died? (He is not listed in Dundee Directories at this time.) If temporary there may be a record of a land sale in U.S. after his death. (There is of course the possibility that the farm was never purchased but was leased.) (4)There was a downturn in the economy in 1893 so perhaps William was an early victim of the downturn. (5) There should be shipping lists in U.K. in which William’s return might be recorded but where are they and what additional information (if any) would they give? (6) William’s daughter, Janet died in Pawtucket, Rhode Island in 1889 and his son, John, who had been living close by in Oregonville in 1880 died in Pawtucket, in 1890. Other members of William’s family remained in Pawtucket after this date. This might have influenced his movements.
Ferguson Brothers.
William had four brothers, Peter, born 08 Feb 1820, Alex born, 7 July 1825 (who died age 16), John, born 19 Sept 1830 and Robert born 20 Oct 1832. Peter, William and John play a part in the development of a family business.
In the 1841 census, only Peter and William are old enough to be working and both are described as molecatchers, the same employment as their father had been in for much of his early life. This work involved moving around the country and it seems that both became involved in combining molecatching with a sideline of delivering the local hand loom weavers' cloth from their cottages to the stamp office in Coupar Angus. There, Government officials or inspectors, would measure the web, stamp it in the name of the sovereign if of satisfactory quality and impose tax on it. (Normally, a web was 146 yards in length and any extra was cut off and confiscated by the official). The agent or 'manufacturer' would then have the responsibility for selling the web, deducting his own commission and paying the weaver.
The Statistical Account of 1843 says "The chief employment of the labouring classes is weaving, principally of the coarser articles of linen manufacture. In the present depressed state of trade, the remuneration is extremely small. Able-bodied men cannot earn, on average, above 5s. or 6s. Per week. The privations which this imposes are borne, with a most praiseworthy spirit". (At this time the average wage of a ploughman qualified to work a pair of horse was £12 a year in money, 35 lbs. of oatmeal per week and three chopins (old measure) of milk per day. Good day-labourers could earn, in season, as much as 10s for a ten-hour day). In this climate, it would make sense that weavers were away from their looms as little as possible, and, having someone to carry out the delivery, even for a small charge, would enable them to continue working. This was a fairly common means of starting a considerable number of businesses all over Scotland and the 'manufacturers' or 'agents' did much to regulate the trade.
If the births of all the Fergusons had been recorded in the OPR's at the correct times, rather than all together in 1854, more information about their progress from molecatchers to 'manufacturers' might have been gleaned. The detail given in the 1851 census shows that the one-time sideline has developed to the stage where William is described as a "Manufacturer employing 18 men and 17 women" and at the same time, his brother, Peter is a "Linen Manufacturer employing 40 weavers". For both, this occupation would now, most likely, involve not only collecting the finished cloth and arranging the stamping and sale of it, but would probably extend to purchase of the spun yarn and its supply direct to the weavers. It is also possible that they passed through a stage of owning weaving sheds fitted out with hand looms and employed weavers to operate them. From the wording of the census this latter is perhaps more likely. Their brother, John, is described in the Coupar Angus census of 1851, as a "miller wright (apprentice)"
The coarse linens produced in the Angus towns catered, in the early stages of development of the linen industry, for markets in sail canvas, "soldiers 'sarking' (i.e. coarse linen shirts for soldiers) and clothing for Negro slaves in America. The Crimean War of 1854-56 lent impetus to the industry with demand for tents, sails and soldiers' clothing.
In 1860 in Slaters Directory, under Manufacturers of Linen in Coupar Angus are listed:
Ferguson, William; Causewayend and Ferguson, Peter, Barlatch Street as well as MacKenzie, George; Causewayend (the brother of Janet McKenzie, William's wife).By 1861 John has become an "engineer fitter" in Dundee. In view of subsequent developments, it seems likely that this must have been in one of the Dundee power loom factories. Peter in 1861 is a linen manufacturer employing 16 men, 28 women and 20 more partially employed while William is described as a manufacturer employing 80 people.
American Civil War (1861-65), which cut off imports of cotton from Southern States to the Northern States of America, led to increases in demand for linen (and also jute) from
North America.Power loom weaving was late to develop in Coupar Angus. As the land round the town is relatively flat and some of it subject to flooding, little head of water was available for waterpower. The only indigenous source of fuel was peat, which had been worked out before the end of the 18th century. This ruled out steam power at least until the coming of the railway, which reached Coupar Angus in 1837, enabling supplies of coal (often English) to be imported to the town.
In 1866, three power loom factories were built. This would change the town dramatically. The new found prosperity arising from the many jobs the mills created led to a rapid increase in house and shop building.
Mrs Margaret Laing of Blairgowrie, in an unpublished manuscript says:
"New roads were constructed and old ones upgraded, while some had a change of name. What had formerly been referred to as "The New Road" was now Union Street, Barlatch Street became George Street, The Timber Market became George Square and The Wynd was changed to Trades Lane. Most houses in the town now had mains gas since a gas holder had been built in Campbell Street as early as the 1830's and streets too were now lit by gas."
Peter, William and John Ferguson built the first of the 1866 factories. Thus William and Peter's knowledge of the linen trade was combined successfully with John's knowledge of engineering. The Valuation Roll (1866) describes the factory as being 'Near the Railway Station'. This sketchy address later became Union Street. The brothers continued to run the business under the name 'Ferguson Brothers' until 1880 when they sold out to James Campbell and John Smith. After another change in ownership, the factory converted to jute production and continued in this line under various owners until 1940 when it was destroyed by fire.
36. Andrew Robbie and Charlotte Deuchars.
Andrew and Charlotte were married on 05 June 1852 in Inverarity & Methy Parish, the parish register stating simply "Both this parish". Andrew was the son of John Robbie and Margaret Greig and had been born on 16 Sept 1832 at Millton in the parish of Glamis. Charlotte's father was George Deuchars and her mother was Jannet Millar. She had been born 05 March 1831 in Inverarity and Methy Parish.>In October the same year a first child, John was born at Kincreish Mill.
Nearly two years later, James was born. The O.P.R. (old parish register) entry was: "15 May 1854. James, son of Andrew Robbie, miller, residing at Skare and Charlotte Deuchars his spouse. Born April 18th. Baptised May 15th".
The hamlet of Skare (if it even merits the title hamlet) consisted of two houses and was a short distance north of Kincreish Mill. At the 1851 census the enumerator had recorded a family called Bennett in one of the houses along with one empty. As the Bennetts were still there in 1861 it seems likely that this empty house is the one into which Andrew and Charlotte moved.
The enumerator (who was the Church Officer) started at Bottomyre (3 households), went to Easter Meathie (3), Wester Meathie (4 + bothy), to Durieburn where the Randalls, a family of eleven stayed. George Randall was a tailor and employed three other tailors all of whom stayed with his family. Then to Skare (2), over the Forfar Road to Invereighty Cottage, back over to Roadside, (4 including the Deuchars family), Cuttie Haugh (4 including the Robbie family), Kincreish Mill (2), West Mains of Kincaple and the bothy, Leys (4), Kincaldrum House and Bothy, Kincreish, Gateside (5), Old Grange (2), Grange Mill and bothy, The Manse, Inverarity Mill, and lastly Woodmill.
In 1986, the farmer could remember four small fields being combined into the present-day one field and the last house in Skare, which stood in the centre of this picture, being demolished. The stones were used to build the dyke round the field. The track from the main road to Skare was ploughed up at the same time.
In the Second Statistical Account, the annual production of oats, barley and wheat of Inverarity parish in 1835 was estimated as 12,290 bolls. A number of the mills in which this grain would have been processed are shown in the 1865 map above.
There were two schools in Inverarity parish, the parochial one and a private one, taught by a female. John and James would not have been old enough to start their education in the parish school before the young family moved from Inverarity and Methy to Benvie (around 1855). By 1861, Andrew, Charlotte and their family are to be found in Benvie Mill:
Angus, Benvie 1861 district 301 bk 1 pg 5
The headings for the columns in the census are: Name, Relationship to head of house (h = head, w = wife, s = son, d = daughter etc.), male/female, age, trade or profession and Place of birth. The 1891 census has the additional column "Employed?" Which is marked with a cross if the person is employed.
Benvie Mill
Robbie Andrew h m 27 meal miller, journeyman x Forfar, Glamis Robbie Charlotte w m 29 millers wife Forfar, Inverarity Robbie John s 8 scholar Forfar, Inverarity Robbie James s 6 scholar Forfar, Inverarity Robbie Henrietta Jack d 4 Forfar, Liff & Benvie Robbie Mary Morton d 1 Forfar, Liff & Benvie
At this point they had one room with a window. At the same time, his parents are in Benvie Cottage, which has four rooms with windows:
Bk 1 pg. 6
Robbie John h m 64 meal miller employing 1 man x Forfar, Tannadice Robbie Margaret w m 59 millers wife Perth, Clunie Robbie Jessie d un 16 millers daughter Forfar, Inverarity
In December 1863, Andrew and Charlotte's younger daughter, Mary died and less than three weeks later, her older sister, Henrietta also died. Both these deaths were caused by an epidemic of scarletina (scarlet fever) which killed seven children in the Benvie & Liff area in a period of four months. Following these tragedies, the Robbies had two further children, William in 1864 and Catherine in 1866. The people recorded in the census of 1871 were:
1871 Benvie 301 dist. 1 pg. 12
Benvie Mill
Robbie Andrew h m 37 Miller Forfar, Glamis Robbie Charlotte w m 39 Forfar, Inverarity Robbie William s 6 scholar Forfar, Liff & Benvie Robbie Catherine d 5 Forfar, Liff & BenvieSons James and John are missing from the family home at this census. It is probable that they are serving apprenticeships elsewhere but at present their whereabouts at this time is unknown.
In one of the Benvie Cottages at this time are Andrew's parents:
Dist 1 pg. 12
Robbie John h m 75 Miller Forfar, Inverarity Robbie Margaret w m 71 Perth, ClunieTwo rooms with windows
Benvie Mill
Robbie Andrew h m 48 Miller (Master, corn & Barley) Forfar, Glamis employing 1 man & 1 boy. Robbie Charlotte w m 50 Forfar, Inverarity Robbie William s u 16 Miller Apprentice Forfar, Liff & Benvie Robbie Catherine d 15 Milliners apprentice Forfar, Liff & BenvieThree rooms with windows.
Robbie James h m 26 Miller, Corn & Barley Forfar, Inverarity Robbie Sarah C w m 27 Fife, Balmerino Robbie Sarah J d 6mo Angus, Liff & Benvie
Two rooms with windows
Later but still in the first half of the 1880's, Andrew and Charlotte moved to New Mill of Knapp and there the family celebrated the marriage of Catherine to Tom White on June 9th 1890. Tom was a footman at nearby Knapp House. The young couple emigrated shortly after to New Zealand where they had a daughter, Lottie. Catherine died in 1894 at the age of twenty eight but the family here kept in touch with Tom and Lottie (now Mrs Pullar), until the 1960's.
At the 1891 census in New Mill House, Knapp. Dist. 377 bk 4 pg 7 are:
Robbie Andrew h m 58 Farmer and miller (employer) Forfar, Glamis Robbie Charlotte w m 60 Forfar, Inverarity Lowe, Jane visitor u 32 Forfar, Dundee
Nearby, at Knapp cottage is their son, William and his family Dist. 377 bk. 4 pg. 6:
Robbie William h m 26 Miller (employed) Forfar, Liff & Benvie Robbie Susan w m 30 Forfar, Airlie Robbie Charlotte d 5 Perth, Longforgan
Back at Benvie Mill in 1891, James and his family have moved into the Mill:
Liff Dist.301 book 1 pg. 3
Benvie Mill
Robbie James h m 27 Miller, meal & flour Forfar, Inverarity Robbie Sarah C w m 28 Millers wife Fife, Balmerino Robbie Sarah J d 10 scholar Forfar, Benvie Robbie Charlotte D d 9 scholar Forfar, Benvie Robbie Catherine Sime d 7 scholar Forfar, Benvie Robbie Andrew s 5 Forfar, Benvie Robbie Agnes d 1 Forfar, BenvieThey had four rooms with windows .
James's brother, John was the enumerator so it seems strange that both James and Sarah have aged only one year since the last census when James was enumerator!
There is a family tradition that a second floor was added to the mill house during the Robbie's tenure there.
At the time of writing this, one hundred years have passed since these events and only one piece of information that has been passed down through the generations. That is that Charlotte was a jolly soul who was quite capable of going off gathering flowers, completely forgetting about making meals for the family.
Charlotte and Andrew died within a month of each other in 1899. She on 23 November and he on 22 December.
Confirmation:
1900 Robbie, Andrew the Knapp parish of Longforgan died 22 December 1899 at the Knapp aforesaid, Intestate. Confirmation granted at Perth to John Robbie, gardener Ancrum Road, Lochee, James Robbie, miller Benvie near Dundee and William Robbie, miller, the Knapp aforesaid executors dative qua next of kin. Value of estate £318:11s:10d Sc12/3/1900
Inventory of the personal estate of Andrew Robbie
1 Scotland
Cash in house £ 3:00: 00 Value of livestock, crop and grain, implements and other effects belonging to the deceased at the date of his death situate at New Mill, Knapp, Longforgan according to inventory thereof made by David M Johnston, licensed valuator, Dundee dated 4th Jan 1900 £190: 9: 9 Book debts due to the deceased £205: 2: 1 total estate of the deceased all situate in Scotland £398:11:10 No land was owned by Andrew.
The following contain some information gathered about the children of John Robbie and Margaret Greig:
John Robbie Agnes Russell
John had been missing from his parents' home in the 1871 census and was not in the immediate vicinity either. As he married in Edinburgh a few years later, it is likely that he was apprenticed to a gardener in that area. He married Agnes Russell, a widow with twin daughters, on 03 July 1874. He was the gardener and she an assistant housekeeper at 13 Moray Street, Leith Walk.where they both lived and were they were married. This, presumably, is where they were employed. According to their grave stone in The Western Necropolis, Dundee, (Balgay Cemetery as it is commonly known) an infant daughter died in Edinburgh. Finding this daughter's birth and death certificates would help to track the family's movements.
By 1881 John and his family were living at Gardeners Lodge, Craigsanquhar near Leuchars in Fife where John was gardener.
445 Dist 4 page 29
Robbie John h m 29 gardener (domestic servant) Forfar, Inverighty Robbie Agnes w m 31 wife West Calder, Edin. Robbie Marion d 10 scholar Edinburgh, Edinburgh Robbie Rosia d 10 scholar Edinburgh, Edinburgh Robbie Charlotte d 6 scholar Edinburgh, Edinburgh Robbie Andrew s 8mo Fife, Leuchars
By 1891 John, now 39, was back in Benvie area, staying in Grey Lodge and working at Grey House as gardener and domestic servant. Two of the daughters, Rose (20) and Charlotte (16), both of whom had been born in Edinburgh, were working as jute weavers although where they worked is not known but it would most likely be in Lochee, where the nearest jute works were situated.
Three other children, Andrew (10) Betsy (9) and John (7) had been born in Leuchars. The youngest, William (4) had been born after the family came to Benvie.
1891 Census Liff & Benvie 301 dist. 1 page 1.
Grey Lodge
Robbie John h m 39 Gardener, domestic serv. Forfar, Inverarity Robbie Agnes w m 42 Wife West Calder Robbie Rose d un 20 Jute weaver Edinburgh Robbie Charlotte d un 16 Jute weaver Edinburgh Robbie Andrew s 10 Fife, Craigsanquhar Robbie Betsy d 9 Fife, Craigsanquhar Robbie John s 7 Fife, Craigsanquhar Robbie William s 4 Forfar, Liff Two rooms with windows
The enumerator for the district at this census was none other than John Robbie who covered an area including Gray Lodge, Gray Walk, Benvie, Flockloans, Ladyfield, Balruddery, Gray House, Kirkton of Liff, Village of Liff, (including the manse, the inn and the school) and Loch of Liff.
Marion, who was missing from the family home on the night of the census, was in service at 17 Strawberry Bank, Dundee with Joseph Ainslie, a retired accountant and his niece-housekeeper, Jemima McKay. (282/1 dist. 21, page 1.)
In later years, John set up in business for himself with a market garden in Ancrum Road, Dundee. The family lived in the cottage at the corner of Ancrum Road and what is now Peel Street but what was then an un-named lane. John is recorded on the voters roll as having a market garden and byre in nearby Rose Lane.
The whole family was musical and at one time formed a dance band. Rose (Robina) and Bet later taught music. In their later years these two lived in Monifieth where they died in 1958 as the result of a gassing tragedy which was reported in the Dundee Courier on Friday 20 June:
Sisters gassed at Monifieth
Two elderly sisters were found gassed in their home at 23 Well Street, Monifieth yesterday morning. Miss Robina Robbie (80) was dead and her sister, Miss Elizabeth Robbie (78) was taken to Dundee Royal Infirmary with severe gas poisoning. Late last night she was still unconscious and seriously ill.
Mrs Ann Allan, who lives next door saw a paper in the letter box and a milk bottle at the door about eleven o'clock. She received no reply to her knocking.
Mrs Allan told the "Courier": "The woman next door to the Robbies, Mrs Petrie, is in the habit of looking in to see how they are every morning, but she is on holiday just now."
Mrs Allan had the key for the back gate and at the back of the house noticed a strong smell of gas. She could not get in and for phoned the police.
Through window
Entering by the front window they found the Misses Robbie lying on the kitchen floor with gas escaping from the cooker.
Miss Elizabeth was a music teacher and the couple had lived in Well Street for about 30 years. There is a brother in Blairgowrie and another in Canada. The one in Canada was home last year.*
*There were in fact two brothers in Canada.
In 1901 or 1902, Agnes and John's son, Andrew emigrated to Canada, establishing himself in Montreal. His family is detailed in the chart on page 512. His brother, John followed him from Lochee to Canada in 1904. John was employed by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway when he arrived in Montreal and was transferred west to Rivers Man in 1908, moving to Edmonton later in 1908.
Andrew never returned to Scotland but John returned while serving in the 49th Edmonton, Alberta, Battalion as an infantryman during the Great War. He became reacquainted with Jessie Warden of Panmure Street, Monifieth, and when the war ended they married and settled in Edmonton and had two children, Jean and Ian. Ian was killed fighting with the Royal Canadian Air Force in the second world war. During his posting in Britain he had visited his parent's city several times.
John Robbie died in 1974, surviving his wife by 24 years. During his latter years, when Daughter, Jean would ask him if he would like a nap he would reply "I'll go if the gang is going". A phrase which she did not understand until she found that the family had lived at Knapp Mill at one time.
Charlotte, who was the last surviving member of John & Agnes's family still in Britain, died 19th March 1946.
38. John Duncan and Sarah Johnston.
The marriage of John and Sarah is recorded in both Balmerino and in Dundee although they were married in Dundee. The wedding was on 23 May 1847. John was twenty-eight and Sarah was thirty-four. Both belonged to the parish of Balmerino, John being the son of John Duncan and Catherine Henderson and Sarah the daughter of John Johnston and Janet (Jenny) Harley. John's occupation is not mentioned in the marriage record but he was to have several different occupations during his lifetime, including fishing and weaving. Nine years before the wedding, the local minister had described, for The Statistical Account, the conditions in these jobs. Of weaving, he said: "A good weaver labouring twelve hours per day will average about 2 shillings". (This compared with labourers 1s 6d and female field labourers 8d per day, female house servants from £5 to £6 per annum and ploughmen £10 to £12 with 61/2bolls oatmeal per annum and a pint Scots of sweet milk per day). Salmon fishing which had once been very productive was now very restricted in the estuary, being restricted by law to the toot-net method. This method employed a net 50 to 80 yards long attached to a boat at anchor, the net only being hauled in when the toots-man, on the boat saw a fish hit the net. The minister felt that, although the regulations were ostensibly to preserve stocks, the main reason for the restrictions was to ensure monopoly prices for the river fishers and landowners. He also pointed out that "Aged females and others have been deprived of an excellent and healthy employment in the working of nets". A first daughter, Janet, was born on 12th September the same year and a son, John nearly two years later on 20th Aug 1849. The 1851 census finds them living at Balmerino shore:
1851 Balmerino Dist 409 Book 3 page 1
Duncan John h m 32 Labourer Fife, Balmerino Duncan Sarah w m 35 Labourers wife Fife, Balmerino Duncan Janet d un 3 Labourers dau Fife, Balmerino Duncan John s un 2 Labourers son Fife, Balmerino
By the next census, George, Sarah, James and David had been born, George on 7 September 1851, Sarah on 11 September 1853, James on 5 Nov 1855 and David in Nov 1856. Of these, only Sarah and James appear with their parents in the next census. George and Janet were with their granny, Janet Johnston and their Uncle George, two doors along the road. Of David there is no sign, perhaps an infant death?
1861 Balmerino Dist 409 Book 3 Page 8
Sch 44
Duncan John h m 42 Weaver Fife, Balmerino Duncan Sarah w m 46 Fife, Balmerino Duncan John s 11 scholar Fife, Balmerino Duncan Sarah d 7 scholar Fife, Balmerino Duncan James s 5 scholar Fife, Balmerino They had two rooms with windows and there were three children at school.A few years later in "The Parochial Directory of Fife and Kinross for 1866". We have, under "Carriers": Duncan, John, Balmerino. To Dundee on Friday. Also under "Salmon Fishers": Duncan, John, Norham.
On the occasions of the births of at least three of their children, John is described as a "seaman"- he must have been a man of many parts! It seems reasonable to assume that his carter activities involved not simply the use of a horse and cart but also a boat, presumably the one he would use for fishing at other times but the term "seaman" seems a bit extravagant for these activities. In the same directory, under "Weavers Agents" appears: Duncan, Mrs, Norham.
A weavers agent, collected finished cloth from local weavers, transported it to market, sold it, deducted commission and possibly purchased spun yarn to take back to the weavers. As income from weaving depended on the amount of cloth produced, this system avoided the weaver himself being away from his loom, and unproductive, for long periods, perhaps as much as a whole day. As far as the Duncans were concerned this work would fit in very well with John's carter business, supplying Sarah with the means of transport between her customers homes (and looms) and Balmerino harbour as well as to and from the Dundee market. Sarah also acted as a bone setter, a skill which she learned from her mother. By 1871, only John and Sarah are listed in the census:1871 Balmerino Dist. 409 Book 3 Page 9
Sch 52.
Duncan John h m 51 fisher Fife, Balmerino Duncan Sarah w m 56 Fife, BalmerinoTwo rooms with windows.
1881 Balmerino Dist. 409 Book 3 Page1
Norham, Balmerino
Duncan John h m 61 Salmon fisher Fife, Balmerino Duncan(m.s. Johnston) Sarah w m 66 Fife, BalmerinoThree rooms with windows.
On May 7th in the year before the next census John died age 71 the cause of death being given as "cerebral degeneration with effusion - several years". Possibly Parkinsons Disease?
1891 Balmerino Dist. 409 Book 3 Page 1
Norham, Balmerino
Duncan Sarah h wid 77 Crofter Fife, Balmerino Duncan Sarah g-dau 6 Fife, Balmerino
Sarah died aged 82 in January 1895 by which time she was living with her daughter Sarah and son-in-law James at Benvie Mill near Invergowrie on the north side of the Tay. The house called Norham is still on the shore at Balmerino to this day although what had been a house, a byre and outhouses is now one house. Hilda Allen and her mother visited Aunt Maggie (George's widow)and "Uncle Jim", Maggie's son at Norham on several occasions in the 1920's. Hilda remembers the trout in the well, having to wait for her tea until the butter was churned and Aunt Maggie making and selling cool drinks to people walking between Wormit and Balmerino. She also remembers one fragment of conversation when Uncle Jim said to her mother "I wrocht for your faither". (Presumably at the mill at Benvie) A Family Tale
There is story passed down by Sarah and John's grand-daughter, Jemima that there were five sons in John Duncan and Sarah Johnston's family, all of whom were drowned at sea, a tradition which it has not been possible to confirm. No other births to John and Sarah are recorded in Old Parish Registers but these registers should have stopped at the end of 1854 as Statutory Registration began in January 1855. No search of the statutory records at New Register House has been carried out to discover if there were any more children. In any case there is no sign of other children in the censuses. There are, however two indications that the story may have some truth in it, firstly there is, in the family, an Indian shawl displayed alongside by Hilda Allan which may have been brought back from foreign parts. Where did it come from? Secondly, there were in the family two strings of amber beads which are show in the scrapbook, worn by Charlotte Robbie and Sarah Robbie these might indicate some connection with the Baltic. Only two or three beads from these necklaces survive today.
With this generation apparently having insufficient sons to sustain the story, could it be
completely untrue or could it belong with an earlier generation of the Duncans?
40. William Neilson and Jean Horne.
The marriage of William and Jean is recorded in the Old Parish Register for Bothwell, Lanarkshire. The record is cryptic: 08 Feb 1835. William Nelsons and Jean Horn paid 4s. This is presumably a record of the payment for making the proclamation. Four shillings is equivalent to about £12 nowadays. By the 1841 census they and their family are in Holytoun, part of the parish of Bothwell.Nelson William 40 labourer y Nelson Jean 30 y Nelson John 10 y Nelson James 7 y Nelson Mary 5 y Nelson Janet 3 y Nelson Agnes 1 yWhat kind of labouring William did is not recorded. Later he was a railway labourer and railways, including mineral lines were certainly being constructed around Holytown around this time so he may have been employed on this construction work. On the other hand, most of his neighbours were miners so it may be that he worked in or at a pit. By the 1851 census the family had moved to Bridge Row, Old Monklands:
Neilson William h m 52 railway labourer STI St Ninians Neilson Jean w m 47 wife of do. LKS Bothwell Neilson James s u 14 railway lab LKS Bothwell Neilson Janet d u 12 scholar LKS Bothwell Neilson Agnes d u 12 scholar LKS Bothwell Neilson William s 8 scholar LKS Bothwell Neilson Alexander s 6 scholar LKS Bothwell1861 census 652 (Old Monkland East) Village of Calder. Book 5 page 20.
Neilson William h m 63 platelayer STI, St Ninians Neilson Jean w m 56 LKS, Holytoun Neilson James s u 25 hammerman LKS, Old Monklands Neilson Janet d u 23 domestic servant LKS, Old Monklands Neilson William s u 19 waggon driver LKS, Old Monklands Neilson Alexander s u 17 waggon driver LKS, Old Monklands Smith James gr-son u 3 LKS, Old Monklands(Holytoun was in the parish of Bothwell so there is no conflict with the other censuses). It is not clear who the mother of James Smith is.
Neilson William h m 75 platelayer unemployed Stirling, St. Ninians Neilson Jean w m 65 Lks. Bothwell Neilson James s u 34 labourer Lks. Bothwell Neilson Alexander s u 24 labourer Lks. Bothwell Neilson Agnes d u 30 Lks. Bothwell Smith James g-son u 15 labourer Lks. WhiffletAll six adults were living in a house which had only one room with a window!
Neilson Jane Horne h w 80 LKS, Bothwell Neilson Alexander s m 45 general labourer X LKS. Old Monkland Neilson William gr-son 14 general labourer X LKS. Old Monkland Neilson John gr-son 12 scholar LKS. Old MonklandA few months after the census Jane died at the same address at the age of 85 years.
42. John Wilson and Isabella Lindsay.
John and Isabella were married on 29 February 1856 at the manse of Clarkston. Isabella was the widow of John Baird and a near neighbour of John's in the hamlet of Moffat. Prior to this, on 23 January 1855 Isabella, a widow for more than four years, had given birth to a child who was named Christina Lindsay.
The person who reported the birth to the Registrar and who had been present at the birth was John Wilson. John is not named as the father, that column on the certificate remaining blank. On Christina's marriage certificate in 1876, however John is named as her father despite the fact that she is still named Lindsay. In the 1861 and 1871 censuses Christina was listed with surname Wilson.
It seems likely that John was the father but perhaps did not record the fact perhaps to avoid trouble from the church. Research continues on this assumption.
By 1861, John and Isabella are living with five children in a house that has only one room with a window!
Census 1861 dist 651 book 15
Village of Moffat, Houses West of Cow Brae:
Wilson John h m 34 Engine keeper Lks, New Monkland L Wilson Isabella w m 35 Lks, Wishaw Baird Alexander stepson u 16 Paper maker Lks, New Monkland L Baird Thomas stepson u 12 Paper maker Lks, New Monkland L Wilson Christina d 6 scholar Lks, New Monkland L Wilson Janet d 4 Lks, New Monkland L Wilson John s 1 Lks, New Monkland L
In the year 2000 when seeking out a map of the area but not really believing that Cow Brae would be on any map it was interesting to hear the reaction of the assistant in Airdrie Library to the request "Oh! One of my colleagues lives there"!
Ten years later, the two Baird boys have moved out, probably married, and Isabella has been born. The family is now occupying a house with two windowed rooms, a big improvement!
John is now working in the iron industry. Some of the effects of this industry had been described in 1869 by David Bremner in “Industries of Scotland”:1871 census District 652/1
4 Harvies? Road
Wilson John h m 45 Mould shovel welder Lks, New Monkland Wilson Isabella w m 46 Lks, Cambusnethan Wilson John s 11 scholar Lks, New Monklands Wilson Christina d u 16 cotton weaver Lks, New Monkland Wilson Jane d 9 scholar Lks, New Monkland Wilson Isabella d 6 scholar Lks, Old Monkland
1881 Dist.652/3 book 2 page 18.
79 Stewarts Land
Wilson John h m 54 Iron tube labourer Lks, New Monkland Wilson Isabella w m 55 Lks, Wishaw Wilson Jane d u 19 Cotton weaver Lks, New Monkland Wilson Isabella d u 16 Cotton weaver Lks, Old Monkland Wilson John br.l u 48 Iron tube labourer Lks, Wishaw
The last census available to us at the time of writing is the one of 1891. It shows John and Isabella on their own in what looks like the same house. (A guess, based on the fact that their houses in both 1871 and 1881 have the same number)
1891 Dist 652/2 book 7 page 2.
79 Cliftonhill Buildings
Wilson John h m 65 tubeworker labourer employed LKS Airdrie Wilson Isabella w m 65 LKS Wishaw2 rooms with windows.
Isabella died in 1904 and John in 1909.
44. Joseph Forrester and Jean Stark.
Joe and Jean were married on 2nd June 1848 in Cumbernauld parish. He was aged twenty-seven and she was about the same age or a little younger although this cannot be verified as no record of her birth has been found. Their first child was James, born 9th October 1849 at Hole farm, Cumbernauld. They remained at this farm for the whole of their working lives.
The early death of this son James in 1882 prevented any information about the Forresters being passed down through the generations so any first hand information is missing from this account. Details of the census returns for 1851 to 1881 are given below.
1851 Census District 495 book 7 page 9
Hole farm Forrester Joseph h m 29 farmer (of 62 acres) DNB, Cumbernauld Forrester Janet w m 29 farmers wife STI, Falkirk Forrester James s 1 at home DNB, Cumbernauld Gibson John serv. u 46 farm servant ABD, Straiton Grant Agnes serv. u 17 house servant LKS, Hamilton Edwards William serv. u 17 farm servant PER, Loch Dowie
Hole farm Forrester Joseph h m 39 Farmer 64 acres DNB, Cumbernauld Forrester Janet w u 40 do. wife STI, Falkirk Forrester James s u 11 scholar DNB, Cumbernauld Forrester Jean d u 8 scholar DNB, Cumbernauld Forrester Ebenezer s u 6 scholar DNB, Cumbernauld Forrester Joseph s u 3 DNB, Cumbernauld Scott Christina serv u 19 farm serv domestic STI, Denny Turner Robert serv u 18 ploughman STI, Falkirk
1871 Census District 495 book 3 page 2
Hole farm Forrester Joseph h m 49 Farmer 81 acres arable DNB, Cumbernauld Forrester Janet w u 50 do. wife STI, Falkirk Forrester James s u 21 ploughman DNB, Cumbernauld Forrester Jane d u 17 employed at home on farm DNB, Cumbernauld Forrester Ebenezer s u 15 employed at home on farm DNB, Cumbernauld Forrester Joseph s u 13 employed at home on farm DNB, Cumbernauld Love Elizabeth serv u 13 general servant STI, Slamannan5 rooms with windows
1881 Census Cumbernauld, Dumbarton 495 Book 3 page 2
Hole farm
Forrester Joseph h m 59 farmer of 85 acres emp DNB, Cumbernauld
3 men 2 women 1 girl
Forrester Janet w m 60 farmers wife STI, Falkirk
Forrester Ebenezer s u 25 farmers son DNB, Cumbernauld
Forrester Joseph s u 23 farmers son DNB, Cumbernauld
Fulton Susan serv. u 19 dairymaid STI, Slamannan
Bryson Mary serv. u 14 general servant DNB, Kirkintilloch
At some time after this Joe and Jean retired to the village of Cumbernauld where they purchased property in 1881. This property was in Main Street and included the former United Presbyterian Church manse, which became their home.
1891 495 book 8 page 27
Main Street Cumbernauld
Forrester Joseph h m 69 retired farmer DNB, Cumbernauld Forrester Jannet w m 72 STI Kilsyth6 rooms with windows
Jane died in 1898 at the age of seventy-eight, the cause of death being given as senile decay. Joseph survived until 1900.
Sc.65/34/47
Inventory:
Cash £10-00-00. Household furniture £42-12-00 Amount contained in partial assignation by trustees Of the late John Whyte, banker, Cumbernauld in favour Of the deceased….. etc. etc. £404-18-03 Reg. Of sasines May 1885. Assignation by Mrs Jane Cairns or Kay, widow. Sasine over tenement of Houses at Cumbernauld Station £809-16-07 Clyde Navigation Trust Bond £202-05-04 Promissory note by Mrs Janet Hamilton or Forrester dairy keeper, Kilsyth dated 31 Dec 1888 £253-15-07 Royal Bank £20-04-08 Total £1746-12-07 Debts and expenses £23-12-07
Note: The estate would be valued around £300,000 in 2000.
The following bequests were made: To Jeannie Forrester or Allan, wife of John Allan, farmer, New Zealand-£400. To daughter-in-law Janet Hamilton or Forrester-£100. To the son, Joseph and the daughter, Jean of Janet Hamilton or Forrester-£100 each. (If she has not repaid her promissory note by the time of the death of Joseph Forrester Sen. repayment is to be deducted from these bequests). To Janet Scobie or Millar, wife of Robert Millar, colliery manager, Carfin-£40.
(£100 approximately £625 in 2000).
All investments are to be realised and the amount remaining after the above payments have been made is to be divided between sons Ebenezer and Joseph.
From the Register of Sasines:
Dumbarton 1900 243 (no.2) April 28 1900.
Not. Instrument Trustees of the deceased Joseph Forrester sometime farmer, and latterly residing at the Old U.P.Manse, Cumbernauld, - to the extent of £400, remaining due bond (dated 7th and recorded in this register 8th Sept. 1881) for £600, by John Longwill, banker, Cumbernauld, to the trustees of John Whyte, - over of a burgess steading or tenement in the town of Cumbernauld, with houses, yeard, etc. thereto belonging being the houses from the close east, with half of the yard, as now a continuous cutting of ground on the south side of and now thrown into said yard, in Barony of Lenzie and easter parish thereof or of Cumbernauld - on extract gen. trust disp. & settl., dated 21st Aug 1899 and recorded in book of council and session 3rd April 1900 and by said Joseph Forrester; with warrant of registration thereon on behalf of said trustees. Presented by Don. Stewart, reg. of sasines.
437.197
Index of deeds and sasine writs:
Forrester Joseph, Cumbernauld, farmer - disp. & sett. vol 3021 page 315
Date of regn. or county Apr 3 sheet 5.
£400 would be worth £2500 now (2000).
46. Alexander Johnston Hamilton and Jean Cuthill.
Alex, having been born on 24 November 1812, was thirty-six when he married twenty-four year old Jean. (She had been born on 31 Oct. 1824). Both were resident in the parish of Denny. They were married in 1949, the banns being recorded at Denny, Stirlingshire on 20 January. The wedding would have taken place at her family home, Banknock which lies to the North West of Dennyloanhead and its church. Rev. Dr. James Stark was the minister and his assistant, Rev. Dr. John Edmond.
Five of the silver spoons pictured in the scrapbook were a wedding present to Alex and Jean. They are monogrammed JC but engraved in a script which allows JC to be read as H. They are hallmarked Glasgow 1847 and have a story of their own:
On Jean's death, the spoons passed to the couple's grand-daughter, Jeannie who eventually gave them to her daughter, Chris. Years later when Chris's sister, Nettie was visiting she spotted some of the spoons thrown in the farm midden. She gathered five of them up and returned them to her mother. Much later again, Nettie's son Douglas, troubled that there were only five when, he assumed, there should be six, set to and made a matching spoon to "complete" the set. This sixth spoon is hallmarked Edinburgh 1987. Since then it has been suggested that there may originally only have been five, the number five signifying health, wealth, happiness, a boy and a girl.
The first child, Janet was born on 9th December 1849 and baptised on the 27th December. A year later the census shows the young family at Righead farm.
1851 Denny. Census district 489 book 1 page 6
Righead Hamilton Alexander h m 36 Farmer (50 acres 2 labs) Stirling, Denny Hamilton Jean w m 26 Stirling, Denny Hamilton Janet d u 1 Stirling, Falkirk Buchannan Janet serv u 20 servant house STI, Denny McCan John serv u 17 servant ag NK Smiley William serv u 12 servant ag STI, Slamannan
Later in 1851, Jean was born on 28 June, followed by Helen in 1853 on 20 August.
Earlier in 1853, Alex had been ordained and inducted as an elder in the church at Dennyloanhead by Rev. James Stevenson, who had succeeded Dr Stark as minister there in 1850.
A first son, Alex was born on 14 August 1855 then Mary Stark was born 21 July 1856 and John on 17 August 1859 so that at the next census the people recorded were:
1861 Denny. Census district 479/2, book 11, page 3
Rigghead Hamilton Alexander h m 40 farmer of 40 acres STI, Denny Hamilton Jean w m 30 STI, Denny Hamilton Janet d 11 scholar STI, Denny Hamilton Jean d 9 scholar STI, Denny Hamilton Helen d 7 scholar STI, Denny Hamilton Alexander s 5 scholar STI, Denny Hamilton Mary d 3 STI, Denny Hamilton John s 1 STI, Denny Pitcairn Thomas serv 40 farm servant LKS, Rutherglen Hopkin Isobel serv 14 domestic servant STI, Falkirk Bryce Alexander serv 12 farm servant STI, Denny
The house had three rooms with windows
The final children to complete the family were: James, 1 Feb 1864 and Robert, 27 July 1867.
By the 1871 census, the address had changed. Previously the neighbouring farm of Rashbush had been tenanted by Alex's cousin, John with his wife Margaret Gilles and their family. After John's death it appears that Alex took over Rashbush as well as Rigghead. The wedding of Alex and Janet's daughter in 1876 certainly took place at Rashbush but by 1881 the family were living at Rigghead. Later still in 1888, Alex is described, when being confirmed as his father's executor, as "farmer Rashbush". In 2001 nothing remains of the Rashbush buildings, only a slight widening of the track where they had once been. The present owners of the land had no knowledge of Rashbush.
1871 Denny. Census district 479 book 11 page 3.
Rashbush Hamilton Alexander h m 57 farmer STI, Denny Hamilton Jane w m 46 farmers wife STI, Falkirk Hamilton Jannet d u 26 farmers daughter STI, Falkirk Hamilton Jane d u 17 farmers daughter STI, Falkirk Hamilton Ellon d u 19 farmers daughter STI, Falkirk Hamilton Alexander s u 15 farmers son STI, Falkirk Hamilton Mary d u 13 farmers daughter STI, Falkirk Hamilton John s 11 scholar STI, Falkirk Hamilton William s 9 scholar STI, Falkirk Hamilton James s 6 scholar STI, Falkirk Hamilton Robert s 3 STI, Falkirk
1881 Denny census district 492/2 book 2 page 1.
Reghead Farm Hamilton Alexander h m 65 farmer of 200 acres 100 arable 1 boy Stirling, Denny Hamilton Jane w m 55 farmers wife Stirling, Denny Hamilton Alexander s u 25 farmers son Stirling, Falkirk Hamilton Ellen d u 27 farmers daughter Stirling, Falkirk Hamilton Mary d u 23 farmers daughter Stirling, Falkirk Hamilton John s u 20 cabinet maker Stirling, Falkirk Hamilton William s u 18 joiner Stirling, Falkirk Hamilton James s 16 scholar Stirling, Falkirk Hamilton Robert s 13 scholar Stirling, Falkirk Paterson David serv 14 farm servant DNB, Cumbernauld
Alex & Jean's granddaughter, Jeannie, passed down the following information:
At one time there was an outbreak of anthrax at Righead. The beast nearest a broken window caught it first and of course it spread to the whole herd. As normal in these cases, the entire herd was slaughtered and the carcasses buried on the farm. The field where they were buried was said by Jeannie to be the best on the farm for years after.
Does the fact that the story of the broken window has been remembered make it look as if there may have been recriminations along the lines "It wouldn't have happened if you had repaired that window"? This certainly seems plausible.
Another story from Rigghead, re-told by Jeannie was about the tailor who called once a year to make clothes to last the family for the ensuing year. (This was normal at one time). This tailor had the habit of arriving drunk. One year some of the older children saw him approaching. One of them lifted a black pudding from the kitchen and ran down to lie in wait behind a hedge. When the tailor passed, the boy pushed the pudding through the hedge and called "quack quack". This was repeated several times at various places on the road. When the tailor eventually reached the farm, he told an involved story about how he had been attacked by a gang with a gun on the road and had beaten them off single handed. When Jeannie told the story it always ended "and they showed him the black pudding and said 'there's the gun' ".
The church played a big part in the lives of the Hamilton family, as it did for many people. Alex and Jean saw another two ministers in the Dennyloanhead charge, Rev. Dr. Charles Jordan in 1867 and Rev David Kerr in 1879. (David Kerr was the son-in-law of Robert McKenzie and Jean Menzies who are mentioned elsewhere in this work).
The majority of the congregation, of course, walked to church each Sunday and in the case of the Hamiltons, the distance travelled one way was in excess of four miles. The most likely route appears to have been by way of Lochgreen, Forresterquarter, and Greenhill then along a right-of-way through Seabegs Wood to Seamores and thence to the church. To save on the cost of boots and shoes, they walked in bare feet for most of this distance, putting on boots only when they reached the main road or even at the church door.
The services were long, very long, by present day standards and frequently lasted several hours. Outside the church after the service there would be long conversations with friends, relations and neighbours. In good weather these too might last for hours before the long walk home, a walk no doubt enlivened by the recollection of all the gossip which had been gathered if not by the inspiration of the service!
At the end of each year, Alex and Jean wrote up their books for the year and on one occasion discovered they had a surplus of one penny. This penny they gave to the church.
Alex died 21st July 1888 of senile debility and chronic nephritis and confirmation was granted to his son, Alex:
Alexander Hamilton, 31 Aug - confirmation of Alexander Hamilton, farmer, Rashbush,
Castlecary, parish of Falkirk, County of Stirling who died 21 July 1888 at Rashbush aforesaid,
testate, granted at Stirling, to Alexander Hamilton Junior, farmer, Rashbush, aforesaid, his
son, executor nominated in will or deed dated 2 October 1884 and recorded in court books of
the commissariat of Stirling, 31 August 1888.
Sc67/36/87 fol 438.
Value of estate: £278.5s.6d.21 August 1888. Inventory: St. Duty £1,10/-
1 Cash in house £ 8-0-0 1 Crop, stock, farm implements, household furniture and other effects which belonged to the deceased conform. To appraisement thereto made by Thos. Binnie, Auctioneer, Falkirk 8/8/88. £270-5-6 Total personal £278-5-6
(This is equivalent to approximately £17500 in 2000).
Affidavit by executor. Deceased had no heritable estate in this country.
Essence of Disposition & Settlement dated 2 Oct 1884.
Sole executor Alex Hamilton - must "ailment and maintain Jean Cuthill in the event of her surviving me during the period of her life after my death and that in a manner suitable to her station in life. Also to pay 6 months after my death £20 to each to Janet Hamilton, Jane Hamilton, Helen Hamilton, Mary Hamilton, John Hamilton and William Hamilton and to Robert Hamilton my youngest son, £40. In the event of James Hamilton not having completed his education prior to my death said Alexander Hamilton jnr. shall be bound to pay him whatever sum or sums may be required to complete his education and to maintain him in a suitable manner during the time he is receiving his education."
The explanation for the last part of the will is that James was studying for the ministry. On qualifying, he emigrated to Canada, settling in Tugask, Saskatchewan where he remained for the rest of his life. On December 2 1953 The Tugaske Globe carried the following as part of its Senior Citizens' Week:
Rev J Hamilton, who is approaching his 91st birthday, gave a challenging message to the younger generation to perpetuate the rich religious heritage found in our midst. Mr Hamilton in a forceful message challenged young men and women to rally round the Christian Church, the "Faith of the Fathers". He pointed out that a wide gap in church leadership existed which could only be filled by a greater interest in church life.
Early pioneers were not only interested in material progress but were also concerned with Spiritual things. Many times they faced hardship caused by early frost, economic depression and drought. Many were poor and helpless and had doubts in God and fellowmen. With faith they were sure and confident that a better day would come and they rose from the dust to carry on. Many willing and glad hands served Christ in their community but their work remains unfinished as they passed on. The Christian Church is the best medium, through which man can express his highest in morals and ethics. This heritage can only be preserved by the succeeding generations accepting their challenge and responsibility. James was not the first of the Hamiltons to enter the ministry, his uncle Robert had followed the same course and had also emigrated to Canada.
After Alex's death Jean remained at Rigghead with Robert and Mary helping in running the farm. Although in "Slater" 1893 both Alexander and Robert are listed at Middle Bankhead.
1891 census.
Falkirk L 479/2 Falkirk L Dist 10 Page 4.
Rigghead farm Hamilton Jane h w 66 tenant of farm Hamilton Robert s u 23 farmer employed Hamilton Mary d u 33 farm servant employed Muir Agnes serv u 18 farm general serv. employed
Jean died 22 May 1899 of pneumonia.
48. David Valentine and Janet Rea.
No record has been found of David's birth although must have been about 1816 and the censuses all agree that it took place in Forfar. Janet had been born in Scarborough, England in 1820 when her father was stationed there during his service with the Royal Artillery.
The couple were married in Forfar on 2 February 1840 when they were described as being "both this parish" and he was a weaver. A daughter, Elizabeth, was born in May that year.
Just over a year later they are living at Zoar, which is now the northern part of Forfar.
1841 Census Forfar, Forfar. Dist 288 book 14
Zoar
Valentine David h m 25 linen HLW y Valentine Janet w m 20 y (a mistake!) Valentine Elizabeth d u 1 y
When their son, Wm. Rae (or Rea) Valentine was born in Forfar on 17 Nov 1844, David was a linen handloom weaver and they were living at Horsewater Wynd which is now called Craig-o'-Loch Road and is in the west of the town. The house was 12 houses north from West High Street although it is fairly certain that the houses here have been re-built since then. At that time the area was mainly populated by people who were earning their living by weaving.
1851 Census Forfar Dist. 288 Book 14 Page17
Horsewater Wynd
Vallantine David h m 35 HLW linen yarn Forfar, Forfar Vallantine Janet w m 30 weavers wife England Valantine Elizabeth d u 10 at home Forfar, Forfar Vallantine Mary s u 8 scholar Forfar, Forfar Vallantine William s u 6 scholar Forfar, Forfar
On 14 May 1855 Janet gave birth to a son, James at Birkenbush Cottage in the parish of Othlaw. This is several miles north of Forfar. This is the only birth to the couple that took place after statutory registration of births began. The certificate tells us that David was 44, and an agricultural labourer. Janet is recorded as being 35 and born in Scarborough. As a "bonus" the 1855 registration tells us that James was her 7th child, of which two boys and three girls were still living and one boy and one girl were deceased. James himself is not with the family in 1861 census and we can probably assume an infant death.
By 1861 the family had moved to the Lochee suburb of Dundee where they remained until at least 1871.
1861 Census. Dundee, Lochee Dist 282/3 bk. 2 pg. 22
Mid Street, Smith's Land
Valentine David h m 46 lab Forfar, Forfar Valentine Janet w m 40 England Valentine Elizabet h d u 20 linen weaver Forfar, Forfar Valentine Mary d u 18 linen weaver Forfar, Forfar Valentine William s u 16 stoker Forfar, Forfar Valentine Margaret d u 10 scholar Forfar, Forfar 2 rooms with windows.2 rooms with windows.1871 Census Dundee, Lochee Dist 282/5 Book 2 page 15
114 Mid StreetValentine David h m 55 gardener Forfar, Forfar Valentine Janet w m 50 housekeeper England Valentine Margaret d u 19 power loom weaver Forfar, Forfar
(As district 282/3 became 282/5 in 1871 it is probable this is the same house that they were occupying in 1861).
Despite repeated searches nothing further has been found about David and Janet after this date. They do not appear in the 1881 census in any part of Britain. There is no record of their deaths anywhere in Scotland. (The indexes have been checked repeatedly both on the old paper indexes and on the modern computerised system). They may have moved furth of Scotland but there is no family tradition of such a move, this in a family which knew its history in considerable detail before any research was started.
A David Valentine of 4 Mid St reported the death of his brother Robert on 31 Mar 1874 but the 1881 census reveals that this David was born 1810, his birth place was not Forfar and his wife's name was not Janet.
As neither birth nor death has been found for David and there is no record of any property owned by him or of a will left by him, no further progress is likely on this line of research.
In 1923 on the death of David and Janet's son, William, their grand-daughter, Catherine had David recorded as "wine merchant (deceased)" but nothing can be found to substantiate this.
Two Old Parish Records:
O.P.R. Angus, Forfar
20 Dec 1821. William Rea, Royal Artillery and Elizabeth Lindsay his spouse had a daughter Janet born Scarborough 20 Dec 1820
O.P.R. Angus Forfar
2 Feb 1840 David Valentine weaver and Janet Rea both this parish were three several times proclaimed in the churches of Forfar and were afterwards married.
50. David Jenkins and Helen Jack
David Jenkins, a seaman, and Helen married in Dundee on 18 Nov 1839.
The O.P.R. for Dundee says on 18th November 1839:
David Jenkins seaman and Helen Jack, issue of Alex Jack.
In the 1841 census for Angus, no one with the name David Jenkins appears and the only Helen
Jenkins is to be found living in the St. Peters district of Dundee.
Dundee 282 book 36 page 11:
15 West Wynd
Helen Jenkins 20 steam loom weaver y
Coupar Lane, Sherwoods Land.
Helen Jack h m 32 weaver ANS, Dundee Ann Jenkins d 6 scholar ANS, Dundee
Helen Jenkins 20 steam loom weaver y
Coupar Lane, Sherwoods Land.
Helen Jack h m 32 weaver ANS, Dundee Ann Jenkins d 6 scholar ANS, Dundee
Doigs Land, South Church Street
Thomas Gow h m 39 Flax weaver. Out pensioner of Chelsea Hospital PER, Moulin Helen Gow w m 43 ANS, Eassie
Thomas Gow h m 49 jute weaver, Chelsea Pensioner PER, Pitlochry Helen Gow w m 53 jute weaver ANS, Eassie
Thomas Gow h m 59 Chelsea Hospital Pensioner PER, Moulin Helen Gow w m 63 jute weaver ANS, Eassie
Ellen Gow ` h w 74 ANS, Eassie
52. David Smart and Isabella Innes
O.P.R. Perth, Collace (340)
Smart, David and Isabella Innes both in this parish after due proclamation of the banns of marriage: were married in the manse by the Revd. Mr. Rodgers the 19th day of July 1823.
The births of three children, Andrew, Robert and Jean, are also recorded:
Perth, Collace. 4 Jan 1824 Andrew , son of David Smart and Isabel Innes his spouse was born at Collace on 20th Dec 1823 and bapt. On the 4th Jan 1824 in the face of the congregation by Mr. Rogers
Perth Collace 17 Jun 1827 Robert, son of David Smart and his spouse Isabel Innes born at Collace on 25th May 1827 & bapt. the 17 June following in the face of the congregation by Revd Mr. Rogers.
Perth Collace 30 Jan 1830 Jean, dau. to David Smart & his spouse Isabel Innes was born at Collace 25 Jany 1830 & bapt. in her fathers house on the 30th of the same month by the Rev Mr. Rogers.
John Rodgers was first assistant then encumbrant at St Ucan's from 1800 - 1851. From 1838 - 1843 Andrew Bonnar was assistant then successor to Mr. Rodger. At the Disruption (1843), Bonnar left to establish the Free Church at Kinrossie and his place was taken by James Laing.
In 1841 the address given in the census was simply "Collace":
1841 census Collace district 340 book 1 page 3
Collace
David Smart 35 linen H.L.W. y Isabel Smart 40 y Andrew Smart 15 y Jean Smart 11 y
Thirteen-year old Robert is missing. At this age he could well be working, perhaps, in view of later information, as an agricultural labourer. The other major source of employment in the parish was the quarry on Dunsinane Hill, although this was probably so close that he would have lived at home. All the Collace census books have been checked and he is not in that district. Similarly his whereabouts in 1851 is unknown:
Nothing is known about the family for the next ten years, then the 1851 census gives the following information:
1851 Census Collace, Perthshire (340) book 1 page 8
The headings for the columns in the census are: Name, Relationship to head of house (h = head, w = wife,
s = son, d = daughter etc.), male/female, age, trade or profession and Place of birth.
Village of Collace
David Smart h m 50 crofter Perth Kettins Eisbella Smart w m 54 Perth, Errol Jean Smart d u 21 H.L.W. Perth, Collace
On 19th December 1856 Jane Smart married Robert Miller. This branch of the family subsequently farmed at Madderty, which is between Perth and Crieff.
By 1861 David is described as a pendicler. Mostof Collace village cottages had a pendicle attached: a long strip of land, between 3 and 10 acres. Part of this would be home to the family's pig, possibly a cow and certainly hens. The remainder would grow food for family and animals, any surplus being sold. Hens supplied eggs, meat, and feathers for stuffing pillows, the cow provided milk and butter. Any calves would be fattened for sale. The pig re-cycled household waste and when the time came would be slaughtered, the meat being cured in brine before being hung up to dry and for storage. Many of the village houses retained their strips of land well into the 20th century. The cottages, like many in Scotland, had box beds built into the wall where adults slept in a sitting position.
In 1861 Robert is present as a labourer and there are two others described as servants, although one of these is also described as a scholar.
1861 census Collace (340) district 1 page 12
6 Collace
David Smart h 62 pendicler of 12 acres Forfar Kettins Isabella Smart w 70 pendiclers wife Perth, Errol Robert Smart s 33 Ag. labourer Perth., Collace James Burns serv 13 scholar Perth, Abernyte Helen Duncan serv 15 domestic servant Perth, Cargill
David and Isabella died within just over two years of each other, She in 1864 and he in 1866:
54. James Neish and Ann Stewart
James and Ann were married in Lundie and Fowlis parish, Angus. The O.P.R. says:
James Neish farm servant & Ann Stewart both this parish contracted 19 Nov 1841 (No marriage date given).
Nearly ten years later at the 1851 census in Lochee 282/3 book 104 page 36/37 the family is
recorded at Ryehill Park, Baillies Land:
Neish James h m 30 flaxmill overseer PER,Collace Neish Ann w m 32 ANS, Dundee Neish Ann d u 8 scholar ANS, Dundee Neish Jessie d u 6 scholar ANS, Dundee Neish Marjorie d u 2 PER, Newtyle
In June the next year the clerk at Lundie extracted the births of Ann and the three daughters from the session records. This extract is still in family hands. The reason for this extract being made will probably never now be known. It certainly proves relationships in the family and could be in connection with a legacy, however small.
By the next census two more daughters had been born, both of them in the parish of Liff which then included what is now the Dundee suburb of Lochee.
1861 Lochee, Dundee, Angus 282/3 book 6 page 3.
High Street, Colvils Land
James Neish h m 40 mill overseer PER, Kirkgill Ann Neish w m 42 overseers wife ANS, Lundie Ann Neish d u 18 linen power loom weaver ANS, Lundie Jessie Neish d u 16 linen power loom weaver ANS, Lundie Margery Neish d 12 scholar ANS, Newtyle Elizabeth Neish d 6 ANS, Liff Margaret Neish d 2 ANS, Liff
Shortly after the census, their long-awaited son arrived and was named James after his father. This completed the family.
1871 Lochee, Dundee, Angus 282/5 book 8 page 4.
12 Loans Road
James Neish h m 49 carter PER, Cargill Ann Neish w m 51 ANS, Lundie Margerie Neish d u 21 power loom weaver ANS, Newtyle Elizabeth Neish d u 15 power loom weaver ANS, Lochee Margaret Neish d u 11 scholar ANS. Lochee James Neish d 9 scholar ANS, Lochee
Two houses away were James and Ann's daughter Ann and son-in-law Robert Smart.
The 1881 census shows James living and working at North Powrie while Ann is at Loons Road.
District 313 book 2 page 18
North Powrie Bothy, Murroes.
James Neish lodger (head) m 56 agricultural labourer PER, Cargill John Anderson lodger u 15 agricultural labourer ANS,Ruthven
The bothy, of course, had only one room.
1881 District 282/3 book 26 page 18
309 Loons Road, Dundee.
Ann Neish h m 60 ANS, Lundie James Neish s u 20 Commercial clerk jute manufacturer ANS, Lochee Margaret Neish d u 22 ANS, Lochee
This house had two rooms and again daughter and son-in- law were living close by at number 303 Loons Road. The 1871 and 1881 houses were at opposite ends of Loons Road, the 1881 houses being in the part now known as Strathmore Avenue. 303 and 309 were opposite the end of Hospital Street, an area which has was re-developed around 1999. Some seven years later, when James died aged 66 at Charleston in 1889 his usual residence was given as 3 Tofthill, Lochee, where Ann and son James are still to be found in 1891, living with Ann’s daughter, Ann and son-in law Robert:
1891 census, Lochee, Dundee, district282/5 book 8 page 42: 3 Tofthill, Lochee. Smart Robert h m 56 Inspector of clensing X Perth, Collace Smart Ann w m 48 Forfar, Lundie Smart David s u 14 factory worker X Forfar, Lundie Smart Isabella d u 18 sack machinist Forfar, Lundie Neish Ann m-in l w 77 Forfar, Lundie Neish James br-in-l 26 mercantile clerk X Forfar, Lochee Six rooms with windows. X indicates in employment.Ann (Smart) died later that year.
1901 census Dundee second district (282/2) book 24b page 40 2 Gardener Street Neish Annie h w 83 ANS, Lundie Neish James s u 39 Clerk jute works ANS, Lochee
56. David Fraser and Janet or Jessie McIntosh
David Fraser and Janet (often known as Jessie) McIntosh married around 1845 although no record of the marriage has been found. He had been born at Little Dunkeld on 12 Sept 1810, to John Frazer and Margaret Black. No record of her birth has been found although she has been found in the 1841 census. David has not been found in the 1841 census despite a search of Blairgowrie, Lethendy & Kinloch and Little Dunkeld. He may have been in North America.
The 1843 Statistical Account for Blairgowrie notes that "In the upper district of the parish the Gaelic language is still spoken by the common people; but there are none who cannot speak English. The Gaelic is however gradually disappearing; and it is likely that in a short time, it will be altogether disused".
The 1851 census for Blackcraig, Blairgowrie 335 (formerly 285) book 1 shows:
Fraser David h m 40 Ag. Lab Perth, Lethendy Fraser Janet w m 45 Perth, Blairgowrie Fraser Margaret d u 5 scholar Perth, Blairgowrie Fraser James s u 2 at home Perth, Blairgowrie Fraser David s u 5mo Perth, Blairgowrie Young Ann wife-d u 10 scholar Perth, Blairgowrie Mitchell James vis u 26 Ag. Lab Ireland
The Old Parish Register for Blairgowrie (335/4 Fr 1154) records the births of all these children in 1855. As this date is some considerable time after the events, the dates may not be reliable. This is most noticeable in the case of Ann:
Jessie McIntosh had an illegitimate child born August 14 1830 and named Ann Young.
David Fraser labourer in Blackcraig and his wife Janet McIntosh had a child baptised Feb 17 1846 named Margaret.
The last named couple had a child baptised September 18th 1848 named James.
They had another born October 8th 1850 named David.
They had another born March 7th 1854 named Jessie Buttar.
The last child, and the only one young enough to be registered under the statutory registration system, was John, born at Blackcraig on 26 June 1856. Problems must have arisen shortly after this because on 1st February 1858, in the minute for the meeting of the Committee of the Blairgowrie Parochial Board is the following entry:
"David Fraser's wife. The inspector reported that this woman had become insane and that it would be necessary to send her to the Asylum. Inspector instructed to make further inquiry into the case and if necessary to have her removed to Montrose or Perth Asylum".
No further entries regarding Janet are to be found in the Board minutes in the months following and there are no clues to her whereabouts until, according to the records, she was admitted to Perth and District Asylum at Murthly when it first opened on 1st June 1864. Here she became number 153 in the records. Records for this Institution are in Perth Archives. She remained there until the end of her life. Did the family have any further contact with her? She is named as married to David in 1866 both on his death certificate and on the burial ground record. On her son, John's death certificate in 1883 it is apparent that they knew she was still alive. When she died on 28th February 1886 a telegram was sent from the Asylum presumably to the family. These, admittedly slim pieces of evidence may indicate that there was at least minimal contact.
Census records for the Asylum have been found for 1871 and 1881.
In the1871 census Enumeration District for Perth District Lunatic Asylum at Murthly Vol 373 Page 5 line 23:
Janet McIntosh or Fraser, patient, Married, 62. Occupation: outdoor worker. Birthplace: unknown. Lunatic.
In 1881: Census place: Little Dunkeld, Perth, Scotland Vol 373, Dist. 9 Page 4.
Perth District Lunatic Asylum.
Janet McIntosh or Fraser, Married, 73, F, Born Blairgowrie.
Pauper patient, Outdoor worker. Handicap - lunatic.
By 1861 (the year the railway came to Lochee with a service of six trains a day) David and the family had moved to Pitalpin Street in Lochee. A few years previously the hamlet of Pitalpie had been described as eight thatched houses occupying a most beautiful position, surrounded by some of the finest scenery in the area and was indeed a holiday resort for better off Dundee families. After 1840 however, the rise in the jute trade led to tenements being built in the area with little attention being paid to good design and this was Pitalpin Street.
The 1861 census, overleaf, shows Jim is missing from the family home. At age 12 he could
easily be working away from home, perhaps in stables as we know from his death certificate in
1883 that he was later employed as a stableman.
1861 282/5
Pitalpin St. Mitchell LandFraser David h m 50 labourer Perth, Blairgowrie Fraser Margaret d u 15 weaver Perth, Blairgowrie Fraser David s u 9 Perth, Blairgowrie Fraser Jessie d u 7 Perth, Blairgowrie Fraser John s u 4 Perth, Blairgowrie Young Ann step d u 20 weaver Perth, Blairgowrie
The D.R.I. Admissions Record, below, showing that David was recommended for admission to the infirmary by "Cox" almost certainly means that he was employed at Cox's Mill by the time of his death. The wage books which could have confirmed this are missing from Dundee University Archives which has Cox's wage books for other periods.
David was admitted to Dundee Royal Infirmary on 01 May 1866 (although the admission register calls him James). The following information is given:
2748 James Fraser. Age: 52. Labr. Occupation: mill. Residence: Lochee. Recommended by:
Cox. Admitted: May 1st. Date of Demission: May 31st.
30 days in Infirmary.
Disease: Gangrene of scrotum. Medical, Surgical or Fever?: S. Result: died.
David is buried in the Eastern Necropolis, Dundee
1866 June 1, 3727, David Fraser, Place of residence: Infirmary,
Birth Blairgowrie
, Male, age 57, Died 31 May, cause unknown.
Married: Janet McIntosh.
Parents: John Fraser and M. Black.
Interred in No. 126 RG W.
6d.
The assistant at Dundee City Leisure and Recreation, where burial records for the town are kept, thought that what looked like RG was probably PG and stood for poor ground.
After 1866, the family continued to live in Pitalpin Street:
Census 1871 252/5
45 Pitalpin St
Fraser David h u 19 jute worker Perth, Blairgowrie Fraser Jessie sis u 17 jute weaver Perth, Blairgowrie Fraser John bro u 14 jute weaver Perth, Blairgowrie Young Annie half s u 28 jute weaver Perth, Blairgowrie Young Mgt Ann n u 8 scholar Lochee Young Eliz. n u 5 scholar Lochee
David (junior) married on 29 December 1876.
Possible ancestors of Janet McIntosh
With the exception of the entry below, taken from the 1841 census, nothing is known about Janet's early life or her ancestors.
1841 census Blairgowrie 335 bk. 1 pg. 7
Blackcraig born in the county? (y or n)McIntosh Janet 26 hand loom weaver y Young Ann 9mo. y Young Henry 15 yThe 1841 census, of course, does not give the relationship of the people to the head of the house. From the 1851 census we know that Ann is Jessie's daughter and from the O.P.R. in 1855 we know that she was illegitimate but we have no similar information about Henry Young. Could he be Ann's father? Ages of those over ten in the census were meant to be rounded down to the nearest five years so Henry might have been as old as nineteen although the enumerator in this district was not consistent in the rounding down process. For example, Janet's age was not rounded and in many of the surrounding homes he rounded some ages and not others.
A few lines above and in the same building but not the same household, we have:
McIntosh Robert 55 farmer y McIntosh Margaret S. 45 y McIntosh Robert 15 y McIntosh Jean 14 y McIntosh John 10 y McIntosh Ann 25 hand loom weaver y Soutar Peter 5 y
There is just a possibility that this is Jessie's family
Like the rest of Scotland, Blairgowrie was dominated at this time by handloom weaving (a figure of 84,000 weavers has been suggested for the whole of Scotland in 1838). Throughout the last few years of the eighteenth century and the first half of the nineteenth, handloom weavers were plagued by frequent bouts of unemployment
The parliamentary Select Committee on Hand Loom Weavers, 1834, took evidence from one James McEwan, a weaver from Perth who assessed the wage necessary to support a wife and two children at nine shillings and three pence. This covered the purchase of two and a half pecks of oatmeal, three and a half pounds of barley, three and a half pounds of beef, as well as vegetables, milk, and house rent but allowed nothing for bread, drink, tea, sugar, tobacco, medicine or clothing.
(A peck was about 9 litres and three and a half pounds about 1.75 kg.)The average weekly earnings for a weaver at the time were:
Age under 16 years 5s 9d
Age between 16 and 55 8s 9d
Age over 55 6s 0dFrom each of these had to be deducted the 1s 0d cost of hiring the loom from a merchant for use in the home.
Janet was admitted to Murray Royal on 30th Aug 1858.
The entries from the Physicians Case Book Vol 6 are:
Janet McIntosh or Fraser. Act 42; adm; August 30th 1858 G.R. 1152
Mania,
Chronic,
Religious.
Belongs to Blackcraig in the parish of Blairgowrie but is married and now resides with her husband, who is a labourer, in Barlatch Street, Coupar Angus. Her married name is Fraser, she is the mother of a family. Before marriage, employed as a domestic servant. She belongs to the Baptist Church. In few families is such a strong hereditary predisposition to insanity observed as would appear to exist in this; none of her husband’s relatives have been known to be insane, but in the family of McIntosh, an aunt, two uncles and a sister, have all been affected, and the last named, is at present under treatment in this asylum; Janet McIntosh like her sister, Mrs Jackson, has had repeated attacks, this present one being the fourth. These must have followed very closely one on the other for she was only thirty six years of age when she had the first; hitherto she has been treated in her husband’s home at Coupar Angus.
The presentation dates from January last and is supposed to have been excited or if not excited, aggravated by the contemporaneous affliction of her sister in a similar way. Dangerous symptoms would appear to have manifested themselves within the last few days when she had several times threatened to commit suicide. Her Mother and daughter report that she made attempts with that intention by means of scissors and articles available for hanging, She would seem also to have become suddenly possessed of strange sagnant notions as this morning she made attempts to escape and make for America to see her sister. She is not Epileptic nor in any way dangerous to others. Dr Lowe of Coupar Angus certifies that she “Talks of various matters at random, without any connection between them. Fancies she sees mice and that they are possessed with some charm etc. etc.” John Lowe surgeon in the same place states that she is
“talking incoherently on several subjects such as seeing her sister arrive from America in a balloon this morning and would not be allowed to speak to her; ill treatment from her husband and daughter etc.”
August 1st 1861 For some time after admission she kept pretty quiet and was engaged in the workroom where she proved pretty useful. By and by, she began to get restless, annoying the other patients by her wailing and general despair. She laid herself on the cold stones and refused to move stating that such a position was good enough for her. After she stated that she was lost and clung to the Drs. arm beseeching him to assist her out of her spiritual difficulties; and demanded home to look after her family she was restless and sleepless at nights and is and noisy and desponding during the day. She is noted at this time (1858) as having “fissured palate, which has healed spontaneously” and likewise enlarged tonsils. She was sometimes refactory (unruly, unmanageable, obstinate) and required the use of a private airing court. ….. year she required feeding with a stomach pump her refractory conduct was marked. She became afterwards an assistant in the Malcolm G. where she was and still is of some service not withstanding her obstreperous Language and conduct which occasionally requires the solitude of the refractory court. She calls herself the wife of Christ Jesus and various other scriptural personages. Curses Matron as a harlot and thief and accuses her of wearing her clothes, and using language the most outrageous and indecent. Me, she christens as none of her clan, and is violently enraged that she hear the name. She is pretty kind to her neighbours. Some attempts were made by the JP to remove her but proved abortive. Physical condition excellent.
Vide D.C. Book (note 1) 1858pps.
204.207.209.210.214.217.219.325.328.329.333.357.358.364.365.367.368.385.386.405.410.414.419.442. 1859pps.24.27.90.101.125.126.128.205. 207.210.211.213.215.219.221.250.260.261.266.306.307.314.332.370.381.384.396. 1860pps11.17.
January 1st 1862 A useful assistant in her gallery and generally saluting us at visit with a volley of mingled indecency and religious averring that we shall all go to hell and such like localities. At the catamenial periods she is excessively filthy and manustuprates(note 2) most eagerly seated on her knees in the airing court as vociferations rise higher and higher until her voice fails her and she commences again. Her voice is hoarse and booming and she has a development of the lower jaw, which apparently affects her speech. Her delusions of her religious position remain as above. Her physical health has been good. Habits dirty and degraded.
Vide DCB 1860-61 pp 24.20.217.284.406.411.455. 1861-2 10.17.
January 1st 1863. Noisy as before and a frequent rotary? to manustupration when in the latter state she openly practices the art and requires to have dresses sewn up in front, Even when so shut up she often manages to undo stitches and indulge her habits. Physique excellent.
Vide DCB 1861-2 pp131.199.358.391.395.396.420.430. 1862-3 p171.
September 30th 1863. Janet has continued noisy as ever sometimes for days making the court resound with her very unmusical voice and that in a most indecent manner mingling obscenity and religion together. At other times she made herself very useful in the gallery brushing but when the matron happened to go in she immediately made the usual filthy salutations. She sometimes declared that she was God and that she made me & c---. She still continues to indulge in her filthy habits and in fact is much the same as last report. Today she was transferred to Montrose Royal Asylum and on being told she was going away she seemed very well pleased, shook hands with me and was led to the cab and got in very quietly saying she would be back at night- see D.C. Book pp 267.285.375.376.454.456- pp23.45.49. 51.72.79. 81.99.101. 113.114.
Unimproved
(1). Daily Case Book. (2). stuprate: to ravish, to violate.
The meaning of some notes in the left hand margin is not clear.
The clinical records for Montrose Asylum for the required period are not in Dundee University Archives with the rest of the records. In 1864, she was transferred to Murthly Asylum where the Physicians casebook 1864-65 has the following information:
Mrs Janet McIntosh or Fraser. Age 56. Adm: 1st June 1864. Register 153.
Mania
Religious
Nymphomania
She is a married pauper of the parish of Blairgowrie, a transfer from the Montrose Lunatic asylum; and was admitted on the 30th August 1858 into Murray’s Asylum Perth. The date of her admission into Perth is not given. She is not an epileptic, neither is she suicidal or dangerous to others. Dr. Howden certifies that “she labours under chronic mania. She believes herself to be God Almighty.” And that she is in good bodily health.
At Perth she conducted herself in a somewhat troublesome manner and was dirty in habits both by night and day. Periods of excitement occurred very frequently, during which she “manustupated” intensely. She assisted occasionally in the coarse work of the gallery, but generally in so noisy a manner as to render her industry more troublesome than her idleness. The doors suffered severely from her habit of violently dashing them about, but she only smashed panes on one occasion, on which she severely cut her wrist and wounded an arterial twig. Her bodily health was on the whole good, & she was seldom under medical treatment except for wounds, scalds and other traumatic causes.
Aug 1st 1865, She occasionally does a little work: her time, however, being chiefly spent in marching about the Gallery or Court, repeating terrible anathemas, which she hurls at all and sundry. She is noisy, clean and never dangerous.
1st January 1866. Continued cleanliness in habits characterizes the present condition of this Patient; who also gets through a good deal of scrubbing & is often engaged in mending dresses. She was tried in the laundry, but though inclined to work, she was too apt to wander from one tub to another, and of course, could not be corrected. She works well in the Gallery, if allowed her own time & manner of overtaking the labours.
1st January 1868. Continues industrious but occasionally very noisy. Her health is good. When irritated by her noisy neighbours she becomes very violent, pushing them off their chairs and declaring that she will murder them. She is constantly carrying on dialogues in which she speaks for both parties. She often refers to herself as “Lord God Almighty”.
1st January 1869. No change has occurred in the mental condition of this patient, She continues very industrious but occasionally very noisy when irritated by the noise of her neighbours. Her bodily health continues excellent.
1st January 1870. This patient who is constantly cursing herself, gets very wrath when she hears any of the other patients using bad language and often attacks them savagely. At times she holds out her hand to shake yours in a friendly manner, at others hurls imprecations on your head. Bodily health good.
1st January 1871. Her general behaviour is unchanged. She has been guilty of several assaults, and one committed on Janet McEwan was of an aggravated character. She does a little dusting and window cleaning in a boisterous & demonstrative manner.
1st January 1872. Is still an occupant of Birnam where she holds forth in good style upon any occasion that she may be interfered with. She never now assaults anyone but is frequently very noisy. She enjoys good bodily health but does not improve mentally.
1st January 1873. Mother (as she is called) remains in all respects as at last entry. She is subject to fits of excitement during which she takes great pleasure in executing a grotesque kind of war dance and after this is done she usually is seen to vociferate loudly weeping all the time.
1st January 1874. A marked improvement is noticeable in this case. She now works daily in the sewing room & does a fair amount of knitting. She is still noisy and is apt to respond to any observation made by her neighbours in a very loud and boisterous manner, her favourite exclamation being “I, God swear.” She then interrogates herself as to the cause of her swearing and responds in a most emphatic manner. She never assaults now, but is sometimes the victim of some of her more violent neighbours. She weeps to see windows broken or other damage to “her” house and anathematizes the transgressors with much power of lungs. Physically she is in excellent health.
1st January 1875. “Mother” is the best scrubber in the house and does about as much as any other two. She also knits in the sewing room: and accompanies all her labours by talking to herself. She frequently apostrophises, and often recites Scriptural phrases & texts, her favourite books being the Songs of Solomon & Proverbs. In the Chapel this apostrophising sometimes comes in rather shout. When excited, she dashes her washing cloth or stocking down to the ground. She refuses to wear any headdress. In the Dining Hall she has sheet iron dishes as she dashes them about and smashes ordinary earthenware. Her physical condition is good.
1st January 1876. This patient who goes by the name of ‘mother’ has continued to be a very good scrubber, In the sewing room she is employed in darning stockings. Her mental feature is unchanged. Is free from bodily ailments.
1st January 1877. Mentally this patient remains unchanged. Her time is usefully employed in scrubbing, cleaning and darning socks in the sewing room. Her bodily health has been good.
1st January 1878. The remarks about her industry still apply and she is of much value on the female side in such occupations. Her most objectionable habit is that of interfering with the contents of the water closets, which she appears to think ought to be cleaned out & accordingly tosses them out of the windows. She occasionally enjoys a walk outside & has been at a picnic or two. Her bodily health is excellent.
1879 Jany 1st. “Mother”, as she is called, remains very much as above noted. She is very industrious, and darns most of the stockings herself. She occasionally makes an awful swear if her humour be crossed in any way, literally roars & swears at the top of her voice, which is not by any means a soft or sweet one, but very decidedly the reverse. She is very fond of wandering through the house when she gets the chance of an open door. Her bodily health has been excellent throughout the past year.
1st January 1880. This patient continues to take an active interest in the affairs of the house. She is most industrious and is a most useful scrubber & cleaner. She seems to take the darning under her special charge & may be seen any day at visit squatting on the floor surrounded by an enormous pile of stockings, with one of which she is usually busy. If irritated in any way, she scolds furiously – and makes a great noise owing to the peculiarly man-like voice of which she is possessed. At these times she looks most dangerous & a stranger would expect – if he had incurred her anger – instant and severe punishment but the outburst ends as it began with “words, words, words” – she appears to be in robust health.
1st January 1881. “Mothers” reputation is still maintained as being the “Scrubber” & “Darner” of the House. She is a most industrious worker, in the morning washing floors, & scrubbing, afterwards sallying forth to the Sewing Room, with her hair parted neatly at the side of her face and her hands carefully washed. There she is in her element surrounded by a huge pile of stockings, darning. If any remarks are addressed to her she rejoins in fearful anathemas, the Deity being freqly invoked her everted lower lip & masculine voice being shewed off to a great advantage.
Jany 1st 1882. No change has transpired in this case at all during the year; she is quite the same as mentioned above. Her bodily health has continued excellent.
Jany 1st 1883. To the sobriquet of “mother” she responds far more than her real name. She has not altered any during the year, her bodily health has been good and she has been most industrious in the Sewing Room & also as a scrubber in the Galleries. Her speech is much that of a ranting enthusiast.
Jany 1st 1884. No change has taken place in her mental condition, she exhibits still the same peculiarities stated above, About 4 months ago she had a rheumatic attack & intense hyper asthesia but rapidly recovered. She is not quite as stout as she was. Jany 1st 1885. This old lady still rejoices in the name of “Mother” and answers to it more readily than to her own name. She has enjoyed fairly good bodily health during the year, but as age advances her facial aspect becomes even more forbidding, as she develops a tendency to hang out her tongue. She has continued fairly industrious at her old occupation of darning, and is still very fond of washing floors etc.. She is usuly quiet, but occasly breaks out into noisy declamation.
Jan 1st 1886. This patient has spent a year of history repeating itself. She has maintained her old position in the Sewing Room darning stockings, and has also helped in Gallery work. Her facial aspect is very striking. She has enjoyed fairly good health, with the exception of toothache. She still breaks out into attacks of noisy excitement at times.
Feb. 28th 1886. Mother was in the lavatory combing her hair this morning before breakfast & suddenly fell down unconscious, medical assistance was at once obtained, but on the writer going along she was quite dead. A P.M. Examination was made & death found due to syncope (note 3).
Died.
note 3: syncope - fainting most likely a cerebral haemorrage or embolism.
58. Allan McLaren Ferguson and Elizabeth Fawns
Alan McLaren Ferguson and Elizabeth Fawns married in Dundee on 26 May 1854 afterwards setting up home in Simpson's land in Rose Street. Alan was a mason to trade.
The first census after this date was in 1861. It shows the parents and two children living in a house which had two rooms with windows:
1861 282/2 bk. 5 pg.16
Rose Street, Simpsons Land. Ferguson Allan h m 41 Mason Lochee Ferguson Elizabeth w m 38 Masons wife England Ferguson Isabella d u 5 Lochee Ferguson Ann d u 3 Lochee
Later in 1861, a daughter, Jessie, was born at Rose Street making the family complete.
There were a number of quarries in Lochee at the time and it is not known which Allan worked in or whether he worked in different ones at different times.
Ten years later they appear to be in the same house:
1871 282/5 bk.5 pg. 25 Rose St. Ferguson Allan h m 51 Mason Lochee Ferguson Elizabeth w m 50 England Ferguson Isabell d u 16 Powerloom weaver Lochee Ferguson Ann d u 13 Powerloom weaver Lochee Ferguson Jessie d u 9 scholar Lochee
Four years later Elizabeth died as a result of "inflammation of the bowels" at 14 Rose Street which it is probably safe to assume was the same house that they had been in all their married lives. By 1881 Allan and Jessie are listed at 6 Rose Street:
1881 282/5 Dist 5 p35. 6 Rose Street Ferguson Allan h m 61 mason, unemployed Lochee, Forfarshire Ferguson Jessie d u 19 jute weaver Lochee, Forfarshire
Finally we have Allan and Jessie living in Peebles Lane where Jessie appears to have found the secret of eternal youth! She aged only two years in the ten years between censuses.
1891 282/5 Dist. 001 Pg. 32 3 Peebles Lane Ferguson Allan h widr. 73 retired mason Liff, Lochee Ferguson Jessie d u 21 jute weaver empl. Liff, Lochee Two rooms with windows.
buried Arbroath Cemetry. occupation:- basketmaker & cooper. employed 10 men in 1851 census.
Adddresses: 1841 Hawkhill Dundee
1851 6 Thorter Row Dundee
18660-61 Kirkton of Strathmartine Village
1867 22 Market Place Arbroath
1871 9 Gravesend Arbroath
1882 Gravesend Arbroath
Died at 14 Abbot Street St Vigeans. Congestion of the lungs. Buried Arbroath Cemetry.
Living Kirkden village 1861
1861 occupation freestone quarries living at Millgate, Kirkden, Friockheim, Angus.
1871corn miller 13 Westgate Friockheim
1888 Pitmuies Mill
Witnesses at birth Charles Cruikshanks at Myreside & Billy Low at Threapmuir.
May have had a child called Belle although Belle may have been the wife of his son Charles.
died at 34 Church Street, Arbroath.