soutar - pafn07

Ancestors of Doug and Sheila Soutar

Notes

64. James Soutar

Origin of the Name Soutar

According to "The Surnames of Scotland" by George Black, New York, the name is from the occupation of shoemaker or cobbler (Middle English Soutere from Old Norse Sutare).

It has been claimed that the name came to the Perth and Angus areas when sons of Adam Johnston, Baron of Johnston in Annandale came to the area and assumed the name Soutar. An act of Parliament later allowed their descendants to resume their former name.

The following, from "The Acts of Parliament of Scotland" volume VII, page 467 gives some details:

Edinburgh 21st day of August 1663. (King Charles II) for changing the name of Soutar of late used by some of the name of Johnstoun.

The estates of Parliament haveing heard a supplication presented unto them be Mr David Johnstoun alias Souter Student in Divinity for himselff and in the name and behalff of his remanant kinsmen of that name within the Sherreffdome of Pearth and Fforfar Mentioning that the petitioners predecessor and his brother of the Surname of Johnstoun in the year 1460 (as they are informed) came from Annandale to Scone in Perthshire, upon some discontent, and ther attendit the ouner of that place for a long time, and assumed to themselffs the Surname of Souter that thereby they should not be noticed for the tyme;
One of the breither dyeing without issue, The other surviveing, for his good deportment, wes maried to a Gentlewoman from which marriage procedit diverse honest men who are growin into considerable families whairof the petitioners are decendit And being desireous that they may be restored to their true and antient sirname of Johnstoun Therefor humbly craveing they may be empowered to alter their surname and that in all time coming they may be designed after the surname of Johnstoun As the supplication bears;
Which being taken into consideration The Kings Maiestie with the advice and consent of his estates of Parliament Doth heirby allow the supplicants to take the Surname of Johnstoun, and that they and their posterity be designed and called in all timecoming after the surname of Johnstoun Notwithstanding of their former designation be the name of Souter;
And declares that this change shall noways preindge them nor their airs and successors in any manner of way of the benefite of any writs or securitys wherin any of them are designed by the name of Souter.

This branch of the Soutars, now extinct, were burgesses and members of the Glovers Incorporation in Perth. There is a stone to the family in Greyfriars Graveyard, Perth.

65. (2) Helen Anderson

On Helen's side, one further generation can be added from information in O.P.R's:

Perth, Meigle 1760 June 14th James Anderson and Jannet Simpson both this parish

Many of these people were likely to be closely involved with the land in one way or another. The main crops in the area were oats, barley, peas and flax, (in a good year a lippie* of lint-seed could give a yield of a stone of dressed flax). Turnips and hay were also grown as winter-feed for cattle. Young cattle were raised and either sold to drovers or fed up then taken to Falkirk to "meet the English merchants". Potatoes, although introduced only within the last 20 years, were grown in large quantities.

*Note:
4 lippies = 1 peck
4 pecks = 1 bushel

As 1 bushel = 8 gallons and 1 gallon = 4.5 litres,

1 peck = 9 litres and 1 lippie =2.5 litres.

1 stone = 14 lbs or 6.36 kg

66. George Gillespie

All known information about this couple is to be found in the notes about their daughter, Janet.

68. John Ferguson and Margaret Mitchell

William's parents were John Ferguson and Margaret Mitchell. They were married on 06th April 1819 at Coupar Angus. "Proclaimed and married March 6th John Ferguson, molecatcher and Margaret Mitchell. Both this parish".

She was nineteen and he twenty-seven. Over the next fifteen years nine births are recorded to the couple, only four of these children survived into adulthood. Margaret died in 1839 when the youngest child, Robert, was only six and John re-married three years later, his new bride being Janet Inches. Only the names are recorded in the OPR with no further information. The 1841 census shows that John has changed his occupation, becoming a grocer in Coupar Angus.

1841Census Dist. 279 Book 3 Page 5

Barlatch or George Street

Ferguson John 45 grocer Y Ferguson William 15 molecatcher Y Ferguson Alexander 15 LHLW Y Ferguson Helen 14 female servant N Ferguson John 10 Y Ferguson Robert 8 Y

The ages for adults in the 1841 census were rounded down to the nearest five years and a "Y" indicates Yes, born in the county. An "N" indicates, Not born in the county.

Who is the female servant, Helen Ferguson? Presumably a daughter whose birth was never registered.

The 1851 census at Dist. 279 book 3 gives:

Barlatch Street

Ferguson John h m 58 General grocer Perth, Perth Ferguson Janet w m 48 Perth, Coupar Angus Ferguson John s u 20 Miller Wright (apprentice) Perth, Coupar Angus Ferguson Robert s u 18 HLW Perth Coupar Angus

The 1860 edition of Slaters Directory shows us that John's shop was in George Street but no other information is given. The Valuation Rolls show that both house and shop were in Barlatch Street (the old name for George Street)

In the 1861 census at Dist. 272 Book 5 Page 9 living in a house which has three rooms with windows and is situated in George Street are:

Ferguson John h m 58 Merchant (grocer) Perth, Perth Ferguson Janet w m 59 Perth, Coupar Angus

John died on 2nd July 1862 and the death was recorded in the Dundee Advertiser. In those days intimations were not listed alphabetically, as they are now. They began with the address of the deceased or at least in indication of the address, followed by the date of death then the name of the deceased. They were inserted, presumably, in the order they were submitted to the paper. The notices in the edition of 4th July1862 are shown below.

Confirmation and Inventory is to be found at: Sc 49/31/74 02.07.1862 folio 260

I Scotland

1 Cash Ł3-3-1 2 Household furniture, shop goods & fittings and his Apparel as per appraisement by James Anderson, LicensedAppraisers at Berryhillock dated 11 July 1862 Vis: 1 Household furniture Ł19-15-6 2 Shop fittings Ł 1-10-0 3 Shop goods Ł74 - 3-3 Ł95-8-9 3 Deposit Account at Coupar Angus branch of Union Bank of Scotland. Ł383-00-8 4 Interest receipt at ditto dated 17 Feb 1862 with interest. Ł161-6-6 Ł642-18-6 5 Debts due to the deceased by the parties aftermentioned. Vis:
David Luke Tullybackart 3- 11 - 1/2 John Somerville Hallyburton 1- 8 - 9 John Bruce Mason, Presinct 4- 13 - 1/2 John Hume Barlatch 1- 18-111/2 Peter Myles Baldowrie 3 - 6- 41/2 R Brodie Halliburton 10 -11- 0 Mr Irons Station Agent, Coupar Angus - 8- 4 Hugh Lawson Ledcrieff 7- 8- 11/2 James Myles Denhead 5- 9- 6 Charles Burns Ashley Cottage 1- 4- 41/2 Mrs Fawns Barlatch -14- 61/2 John Adams Barlatch - 5- 3 James Whilson of Islapark - 2- 0 John Mitchell Hay Street -10- 5 Andrew Robertson Ley - 2-111/2 Andrew Dargie Washington 1- 0- 0 James McNabb Washington 1- 2- 4 Peter Duncan Barlatch - 3- 51/2 David Cramond Couttie - 1- 71/2 David Cochrane blacksmith, Coupar Angus - 6- 0 John McLeish Athole Street - 2- 9 James Cameron Arthurstone - 2- 6 George Fleming Balbrogie -6-10 Mrs McKay Keithock -3- 8 Mrs Maudsley Keithock -3- 8 Helen Dysart Barlatch -4- 7 William Donaldson Commonsby -3- 0 Ł45-15-1 Total Ł688-14-0

No estate in England of Ireland
The executors were "Peter Ferguson, manufacturer, Coupar Angus William Ferguson manufacturer there and Thomas Inches Gas Manager Coupar Angus"

John's bequests were: Margaret Ferguson, eldest daughter of his son Peter Ł5. Elizabeth Ferguson second daughter of his son William Ł5. To his brother William Ferguson, resident in Forfar, he left Ł10 and his body clothes.

Furniture and effects, still in existence which were brought Janet Inches or Ferguson when they married were to be delivered to her and John expressed his desire that his wife should continue in business and left her one third of his estate (this to include the shop fittings and stock). The remainder he left to the children of his first mariage.

Finally after John's death on 2nd August 1862, Janet is left alone in the family home at George Street: 1871 Census Dist 279 Book 4 Page 7


Ferguson Janet		h  widr	67	Merchant (grocer)		Perth , Coupar Angus.

70. Alexander McKenzie and Elizabeth Miller

Nothing definite is known about Alexander McKenzie and Elizabeth Miller. In the book about their grandson, "Sir James McKenzie, M.D. 1853-1925" it is speculated that the family originated in Ross-Shire, came south into Perthshire after the '46 and settled at Stanley about 7 miles north of Scone. Here, the author says, their son, Robert (i.e. Sir James's father), was born at Derrymill Farm.

72. John Robbie and Margaret Greig

John Robbie and Margaret Greig were married in September 1820. The event is recorded in the Parish of Rescobie on 09th September "Margaret Greig, parish of Murroes and John Robbie this parish" and also in the parish of Murroes on 17 Sept 1820.

Shortly after the wedding, John and Margaret settled in Maryton (or Balmuckety feus) south east of Kirriemuir. Sandra Affleck in "A Little Red Town" explains that "Gilbert Meason was one of those responsible and helpful landowners who offered some of his land for the creation of houses-cum-workshops for weavers.…..In the early 1820's, therefore, the little communities, or "colonies", of Maryton and Ellenorton appeared, named after the two Meason daughters." Maryton still exists in 2000 but Ellernorton was at sometime re-named after the Biblical Padanaram. Prior to 1820, the Kirriemuir district had, from 1817, been affected by a period of great poverty and in 1819 was badly affected by typhus fever, which was said to have "spread like the plague". (In 1819 the church paid for 38 coffins). By the time the Robbies arrived, however, things must have been improving as a Provident Bank opened in the town in May 1824 and gained sixty customers who deposited a total of Ł118-5-7.

The birth of John and Margaret's first child, Jean in late 1820 is not recorded but Elspeth (1822), Ann (1824), Alexander (1826), and John (1828) are all recorded as born in Kirriemuir or more precisely at Balmuckety.
Andrew (1832) was born at Millton of Ogilvie. Margaret (1834), David, (1836) and Mary (1837) were born at Holemill, parish of Glamis.

Holemill was a large mill, built into the side of a small valley below the mill dam. It had three floors, the nature of the site allowing easy access by ramp to each floor.

By the 1841 census the family have returned to Milton again. Perhaps when they were there before, John had been an apprentice and now he was the miller.

Glamis 289 dist. 3 page 8
Millton

Robbie John 40 millar y Robbie Margaret 40 n Robbie Andrew 9 y Robbie Margaret 7 y Robbie David 5 y Robbie Mary 3 y

Also in the same district, of Glamis 289 dist 4 page 2 is what appears to be a daughter of the family:

West Denon

Robbie Ann		17			y	(no occupation given)

Three years later, by 1844, at the birth of Janet, the family is at Kincreish mill in the Parish of Inverarity and Methy. Some of the information given about this parish in the First or "Old" Statistical Account in January 1835 was:

"The nearest market-town to Inverarity is Forfar, four miles distant. A turnpike-road from Forfar to Dundee passes through the parish, for four miles. Two public coaches travel on the road daily, one from Aberdeen to Edinburgh, the other from Brechin to Dundee".

The population was estimated to consist of:
Under 15 years 500
15-30 years 140
30-50 years 120
50-70 years 46
upwards of 70 years 20

The number of families in the parish was 176. Of these, 81 were chiefly employed in agriculture and 52 in trade, manufactures or handicrafts.

The first census after the Robbies arrived in the parish was in 1851 and the relevant entries are:

1851 Inverarity and Methy 292 book 1

Cuttiehaugh

Robbie John h m 55 oatmeal millar employing 1 journeyman Forfar, Tannadice and 1 apr. Robbie Margaret w m 50 Perth, Clunie Robbie Andrew s u 17 miller (journeyman) Forfar, Glammiss Robbie Margaret d u 15 millers daughter Forfar, Glammiss Robbie David s 13 miller (ap) Forfar Inverarity Robbie Janet d 6 scholar Forfar, Inverarity Smart Margaret g-dau 8 scholar Forfar, Glammis

By 1861, John and Margaret had moved to Benvie and census records for 1861 and 1871 for them are recorded with information about them. After John's death in 1873, Margaret moved into Dundee where she died nearly five years later.

Jean Robbie and Henry Jack

Jean married Henry Jack, an event which is recorded at Monikie 06 Dec 1844 and at Liff & Benvie 23 Nov 1844.

1881 census Fowlis Easter 356 dist. 1 page 1.

Jacks Henry h m 58 miller and farmer of 60 acres arable employs
3 men, 1 boy & 2 girls Forfar, Liff & Benvie Jacks Jane w m 60 Forfar, Murroes Jacks Henry s u 27 farmers son Forfar, Liff Jacks Jane d u 19 farmers daughter Perth, Fowlis Easter Jacks George s u 16 farmers son Perth, Fowlis Easter Murray Jeannie gr dau 4 Forfar, Dundee Kay Mary serv u 17 general servant domestic Forfar, Muroes

A stone against the east wall of Fowlis Easter Churchyard reads:

Front

Sacred to the memory of
Henry Jack
Tennant for 41 years of
The Mill of Fowlis
And elder for 36 years of the
United parishes of Lundie and Fowlis
Who died at Mill of Fowlis
On 25 Dec 1897 aged 75 years
A man greatly beloved
Also of
Jean Robbie wife of Henry Jack
Who died 31 Dec 1899 aged 79 years
Also their daughter
Jane Jack
Who died 22 July 1904 aged 42 years
Also of Elizabeth Gilchrist
Wife of Henry Bell Jack
Who died 30 Nov 1973 aged 85 years

North of stone
Died at Menzieshill and interred here
Peter Bell Jack aged 15 years and 5 months
son of Henry Jack and
Helen Buchannan Bell
The above Helen Buchannan Bell
Died 8 Feb 1916 aged 54 years
And the above Hendry Jack
Died 16 June 1924 aged 71 years
Also their son
Hendry Bell Jack
Died 8 June 1931 aged 45 years
And their daughter Ellen Buchannan Jack
Died 28 Feb 1936 aged 46 years.

An adjacent stone is that of the Bell family.

Alexander Robbie and Helen Thain

Alexander married Helen Thain on 31 Dec 1849 in Dundee. They had the following family:

Helen (place and date of birth not known).
Joan b 25 Dec 1856 Dundee (mother Helen Anderson Thain), ). m John E. Mann (b c 1850) 15 Nov 1875 , Dundee
John McLean b 19 Dec 1860 Dundee (mother Helen Robertson Thain)d 23 Mar 1862 Dundee.
John McLean b 04 Sept 1863 Dundee (mother HelenAnderson Thain) d 23 Sept 1867, Dundee..
Jean Greig b 10 Apr 1867 Dundee (mother Helen Anderson Thain)).m Robert Lindsay Kerr 24 Dec 1889. Jean died 1908 as did her daughter Margaret.
Margaret Greig m Robert Keillor Butchart (b c 1852) 4 Dec 1878, Dundee.
Mary Ann b c 1854 d 8 Nov 1859.

In the 1851 census for Dundee Bk 37 page 38 they are at:

128 Mid Street

Robbie Alex h m 25 bootmaker Forfar, Kirrymuir Robbie Robertson w m 27 Forfar, Dundee Robbie Helen d 6mo. Forfar, Dundee

In the Lockit Book of the Cordiner Craft of Dundee held (in Oct 1997) by J M Hardie of Edward Parker & Co. Unit 4 Coldside Road Dundee DD3 8DF is recorded:

"At Dundee 29th day September 1859.
Alexander Langlands being Deacon -
Alexander Robbie, son of John Robbie Miller, Benvie presented himself before a meeting of the incorporation and after a specimen of his work was inspected he was admitted a Free Master of The Cordiners Incorporation of Dundee".

Alex and Helen's daughter, Helen A Robbie, married John E. Mann. Their son Alexander is also mentioned in the records of the Cordiners:
16 May 1904 "Alexander Robbie Mann son of John E. Mann admitted.

1881 census Dundee 282/1 dist. 1 pg. 35
13 Park Entry

Robbie Helen h wid 58 partner of Robbie & Mann bootmakers Forfar, Dundee Robbie Joan d u 24 saleswoman Forfar, Dundee Robbie Jane d 13 scholar Forfar, Dundee

David Robbie and Elizabeth Small

David married Elizabeth Small 17 Dec 1858 at Inverarity. They had the following family:

Margaret b 21 Mar 1860 Inverarity mother Elizabeth Small m John Carmichael 20 Jul 1894
Ann b 06 Dec 1861 Inverarity mother Elizabeth Small
James b 08 Jan 1864 Inverarity mother Elizabeth Small
George b 02 Mar 1866 Inverarity & Methy mother Betsy Small
Jemima b 28 May 1868 Mains & Strathmartine mother Elisabeth Small d 30 Nov 1861, Mains
Catherine Morgan b 23 Jun 1870 Mains & Strathmartine mother Betsy Small d 24 May 1892
Alexander b 18 Jun 1872 Mains & Strathmartine mother Betsy Small
David b 23 Aug 1874 Dundee mother Betsy Small. d 10 Oct 1874 Mary Abernethy, b 5 Jan 1876, Dundee.
Charlotte Deuchars, b Dec 1878, Dundee d 13 Aug 1898, Dundee.
William Small, b 25 Feb 1881, Dundee.

1861 Inverarity 292 dist 1 page 5

Robbie David h m 24 meal miller Forfar, Glamis Robbie Betty w m 22 wife Forfar, Inverarity Robbie Margaret d 1 Forfar, Inverarity

1871 Mains book 2 page 40
New Mill of Mains

Robbie	David		h  m	34	meal miller		Forfar,  Glamis
Robbie	Betsy		w  m	32				Forfar, Inverarity
Robbie	Margaret		d 	10	scholar			Forfar, Inverarity
Robbie	Ann	 	d	  8	scholar			Forfar, Inverarity
Robbie	James		s	  7	scholar			Forfar, Inverarity
Robbie	George		s	  5	scholar			Forfar, Inverarity
Robbie	Catherine	d	9mo					Forfar, Inverarity
Black	Eliza		serv.	14	general servant		Fife, Ferryport on Craig
					domestic

4 children at school, 3 rooms with windows.

1881 Dundee 282/4 Dist. 18a Page 3

31 Dura St.

Robbie David h m 45 sugar grinder Forfar, Glamis Robbie Betsy w m 43 Forfar, Inverarity Robbie Margaret d u 21 flax weaver Forfar, Inverarity Robbie Ann d u 19 jute weaver Forfar, Inverarity Robbie George s u 15 message boy Forfar, Inverarity Robbie Catherine d u 10 Forfar, Mains Robbie Alexander s u 8 Forfar, Mains Robbie Mary d u 5 Forfar, Dundee Robbie Charlotte d u 2 Forfar. Dundee Robbie William s 1m Forfar, Dundee

Euphemia Robbie and Peter Moncur

Euphemia Robbie was an illegitimate daughter of John Robbie and Margaret Greig. She married Peter Moncur on 5th December 1846 at Inverarity & Methy. Euphemia, who was a domestic servant, at the time of her marriage, already had an illegitimate daughter, Mary, who married a Thomas Allan. Mary died 31 July 1871 in Edinburgh.

74. George Deuchars and Janet Miller

George Deuchars born 24 April at Mosside of Bridgetown, Kinnettles married Jannet Millar, the record of whose birth has not been found. George was described at various times later as a joiner, a wright, a cart wright and plough wright and a millwright. Many years later, George's grandson James Robbie told his grand-daughter, Hilda Soutar or Allan, that George, as part of his work, would, on occasion, walk, carrying his tools, from Inverarity to Benvie (some twelve miles as the crow flies). The connection may have been Strathmore Estates, which owned property in both places.

1841 Census Inverarity 292 dist 4 page 3.

Inverighty
Deuchars George		35	wright		y
Deuchars Janet		29			y
Deuchars Jane		11			y
Deuchars Charlotte		10			y
Deuchars William	       	 8			y
Deuchars Helen		 5			y
Deuchars Georgina	       	 2			y
Nearby also at Inverighty (292, dist 4 page 5) was a Deuchars James, 74, labourer. This could be George's father but as no record of his father's birth has been found this cannot be confirmed. (A James Deuchars was born at Glamis to John Deuchars on 06 May 1767).

1851 Census Angus, Inverarity 292 dist. 1 page 4

Roadside
Deuchars George		h  m  	45	cart and plough wright			Forfar, Kinnetles
					employing 1 app.
Deuchars Janet		w  m 	39						Forfar, Murroes
Deuchars Jane		d  u	21	handloom weaver (brown linen)		Forfar, Inverarity 
Deuchars Charlotte		d  u 	20	general house servant			Forfar, Inverarity
Deuchars William	         s  u	18	wright app.				Forfar, Inverarity
Deuchars Helen		d  	15	scholar					Forfar, Inverarity
Deuchars Georgina	      	d	12	scholar					Forfar, Inverarity
Smith Charlotte	    	g dau	 2						Forfar, Inverarity
1861 Census. Angus, Inverarity 292 dist.1 page 4

Roadside Inverighty
Allan Alexander		h  m	33	ag lab				Fife, Not.Known.
Allan Jane		w  m	30	ag lab's wife			Forfar, Inverarity
Allan Margaret		d 	1					Forfar, Inverarity
1861 Census. Angus, Inverarity 292 dist.1 page 4

Roadside Inverarity
Deuchars George		h  m	56	millwright (master)		Forfar, Kinnettles
Deuchars Janet		w  m	51	millwrights wife			Forfar, Murroes
Edward Jane	        g-dau  	 8	scholar				Forfar, Inverarity
1 room with window
1871 Census Inverarity 292 dist. 1 page 4/5
Address illegible
Deuchars George		h  m	67	millwright (master)	Forfar, Kinnettles
Deuchars Jane		w  m	61				Forfar, Murroes
Clark Henry	      g-son	11	scholar			Forfar, Inverarity
Deuchars David  	Brother widr	73	teacher (retired)		Forfar, Kirriemuir
David  is recorded as lunatic
1881 Census Angus, Inverarity 292 dist. 1 page 3
Roadside Cottage
Deuchars George		h  m 	78	joiner (out of employment)	Forfar, Kinnettles
Deuchars Jannet		w  m	70				Forfar, Murroes
George is recorded as being blind.

Notes.
In Archives at Glamis Castle there is a reference in the Accounts of the Factor for the period 11th Nov 1863 - 14 Nov 1874 of George Deuchars - Home and Land - No arrears. Money rent Ł16:12:0d. Interest on advances for building and draining Ł2:4:8d. Total rent crop 1864 Ł18:16:8d. Arrears outstanding 11th Nov 1865 Ł12:13:11d. (arrears by Nov 1866 had risen to Ł21:10;7d).

Also noted in Glamis Archives is "John Deuchars his discharged accompt of slates anno 1768 and Mr Lyons order Ł4:1:0d." This may or may not have any family connection but possibly linked with it is the following from Liff Kirk Session Minutes:

Saturday November 26 1719 The session met and being duly constituted by prayer the minister represented that in obedience to his appointment he had seen to the reparation of the quier - east loft and other things decaying in the church and that he had employed one John Deuchars wright in the parish of Benvie to the same, and also that the said John was to wait on the session to give his account, the session having heard and considered the same and finding everything honoustly done were satisfied : and decided that the said John might be called upon the said John being called compeared and gave in the following account of his work done be him in the church (viz) primo ye quier sufficiently furnished with communion tables all new; the east loft furnished, with seats raised; the lantorn altered; the west loft amended; the seat of repentance made knew; the church stiles made sufficient with new doors and Balgay's seat rectified, Ordering the quier windows, going to Dundie for timber to make up the said pieces of work. the session having heard and considered the said account desired of the minister to enquire at him what he would take for the whole of his work be the lump; and withall that he might be easie as possible in regard as it was the poors money whereupon the minister (illegible) and the session (illegible) the said John after reasoning on the pieces of work, they unanimously agreed to give him thirty pund Scots withall the said John was satisfied: the session not having money at present to give him for his work, and the said John not being able to want it, the minister in the face of session promised to give it to him tomorrow or once this week without fail of what was in his hands belonging to the session and report accordingly at the next meeting. The minutes of the next meeting make no mention of John or his payment!

The Teachers Record, Tannadice, which (in 1998) is in Angus Folk Museum, contains the following, which may or may not be relevant to the family:

1775 Charles Hendrey Jan 12th
1754 Decr. 8 David Hendrey
1755 George Deuchar payed
1755 June 21 George Deuchar - Never removed
Nov 8 George Deuchar
1758 George Deuchar June 8
1758 Nov 1st ditto
1760 Oct John Hendrie
Robert Hendrie
1761 Nov 17 John Hendrie
Robert Hendrie
Dec 7 David Hendrie
1762 John Hendrie
Robert Hendrie
1780 Eliz. Hendrie

Also in the notebook are the following, now curious, conversion factors:

Scots Paris and Amsterdam ounces are to the English Troy ounce 95 to 96.
The Scots Paris or Amsterdam grain is to the English Troy ounce as 19 to 23.
The Scots Ł to the English Avoirdupoice as 38 to 35.
The Scots firlot wheat measure is to the English Winchester bushel as 100,000 to 99,042.
The wheat firlot is to the bear firlot as 211/4 to 31.
The Scots Ell is to the English yard as 31/10 to 3.
The old Scots foot is to the English foot as 186 to 185.
The Scots pint contains 103,421 cubic inches.

76. John Duncan and Catherine Henderson

The first five of the following events were recorded in Fife, Balmerino (409)

1818 Novr. 29th Duncan & John Duncan & Catherine Henderson Henderson both of this parish.

1818 FR 470
Birth Bapt.
Augt. 1 John, son to John Duncan and Catherine Henderson, Coutrie

(There is no date given for baptism as there is in most of the later births. Perhaps because the parents weren't married?)

02 May 1821
Elizabeth, daughter of John Duncan & Catherine Henderson Coultra. born 2 May, bapt 13 May.

23 Mar 1823
James, son of John Duncan & Catherine Henderson, Balmerino. born 9th, bapt Mar 23

12 Jun 1825 FR518
Andrew, son of John Duncan and Catherine Henderson, Norham born May 28 bapt June 12

The next two births took place in Ferry-Port-on-Craig (now Newport) in Fife.

18 Dec 1826
Born 18th: George son of John Duncan & Catherine Henderson and bapt Dec 31st.

28 Sept 1828
Sept 17th: born David son of John Duncan & Catherine Henderson and baptized Sept 28th

By the time of the next recorded birth, the family are back in Balmerino

07 Apr 1833
Alexander, son of John Duncan weaver, Newbiggin & Catherine Henderson his wife born Mar 24th bapt Apr 7th.

30 Apr 1836
William son of John Duncan weaver, Newbiggin & Catherine Henderson his wife. born Apr 13th bapt Apr 30th.

26 Dec 1839
Catherine, daughter of John Duncan, weaver, Littlegracy and Catherine Henderson his wife. born Dec 26 bapt Jan 12.

Normally the next piece of information about the family would be found in the 1841 Census, unfortunately, this census has been lost so that we have to wait until 1851 to see them at Feus of Kirkton, Balmerino.
The Enumerator in 1851 obviously did not approve of people falsifying their ages as he appended the following note: "some of the schedules contained errors in the ages of the persons named which I have corrected from the parish records". The same enumerator also recorded some interesting occupations for example, "Superintendent of cows" and quite simply, "Idiot". Balmerino, Fife (409) Book 1 page 3

Feus of Kirkton Duncan John h m 63 HLW linen Fife, Balmerino Duncan Catherine w m 56 Weavers wife Fife, Kilmany Duncan William s 14 HLW linen Fife, Balmerino Duncan Catherine d 11 scholar Fife, Balmerino

By 1861 little has changed: 1861 Balmerino (409) Book 2 page 6 sch 37 Kirkton

Duncan John h m 74 weaver (linen) Fife, Balmerino Duncan Catherine w m 65 Fife, Kilmany Duncan Catherine d u 21 weaver (linen) Fife, Balmerino Fowler George g-son 9 scholar Fife, Balmerino 1 room with a window, 1scholar.

John died in 1867, the cause being given as Apoplexy. This had lasted a few days. Catherine continued to live on her own.

1871 409 book3 page 9

sch 53	
Duncan Catherine	h	wid	75		Fife, Kilmany		3 rooms

In the final census in which Catherine appears she is living at Norham, on the shore at Balmerino with George Duncan aged 29, who is presumably a grandson.

1881 Norham, Balmerino

Duncan George 	                   h	m	29	Salmon fisher  	Fife, Balmerino	
Duncan(m.s Henderson) Catherine	mo	widr	86		         Fife, Kilmany

Death 1869 409 Balmerino No.1

John Duncan 1869 M 81 John Duncan Apoplexy John Duncan H.L.weaver June 24th farmer a few days son married to 10h 45m. p.m. (deceased) cert by John present Catherine Kirkton Elizabeth Stuart Physician Henderson Balmerino Duncan and surgeon M.S. Smith Newburgh (deceased)
Death 1888 Balmerino (409) No. 5

Catherine Duncan F 94 1888 Unknown. James Henderson George Duncan Widow of John July 23rd. No medical agricultural labourer son. Duncan, linen weaver 1888 attendant (deceased) Kirkton Elizabeth Henderson Balmerino M.S. Anderson (deceased). Registered at Gauldry.

78. John Johnston and Janet Harley

The first mention of John and Janet is in the Old Parish Registers for Gretna, Dumfries:

O.P.R. Dumfries, Gretna FR284 14 Nov 1808
William a naturel child; son to John Johnston now residing in Balmerino & Janet Harley in Blaaklees

It is likely that the Kirk Session would have censured Jenny (as she was known) for having a child out of wedlock. So far, no search has been made in Gretna Session records for such a censure . Repeated searches have been made in all parts of Scotland for the record of a later marriage between Jenny and John but none has ever been found. It is quite possible that they never married formally and only became married by "habit and repute". (Habitus et reputatus, held and reputed. In civil law the reputation of being married coupled with cohabitation, constitutes an irregular marriage).

Their next child, Grace, was born in Balmerino:

O.P.R. Fife, Balmerino (409) FR 462 30 June. 1810
Johnston, Grace dau. of Jn. Johnston & Janet Harley Boilinghouse

George, their third child was born John Johnston and Janet Harley

O.P.R. Dumfries, Graitney FR300 29 Jan 1812
George son to Johnston & Jenny Harley was baptized born 24th inst.

From around this time John, who had worked in the Tay and sometimes the Forth since about 1808, went to work in the Murray Frith area as well. The rest of their children were born in Balmerino where the clerk used a tabular method of recording:

1813. FR 465 Birth Bapt Name 2 Dec Johnston Sarah dau. of Jn. Johnston & Janet Harley Boilinghouse

1816 FR 468 April 24 Johnston Janet, daur of John Johnston and Janet Harley, Boilinghouse.

1818 FR 470 May 24 Johnston Elizabeth dau. of Mr. John Johnston and Janet Harley, Boilinghouse.

About this time John gained experience on the coast of Ireland, the river Bann, Lough Foyle and rivers and the river Bush.

1820 FR 473 and FR 504 21 May 9 June Johnston Catherine, dau. of Mr. John Johnston & Janet Harley, Boilinghouse
1822 FR 516 6 May 22 May Johnston John Little, son to John Johnston and Janet Harley.

(John Little was possibly named after the master to whom John had been apprenticed as a salmon fisher on the Solway in 1799 although the Rentals of Naughton Estate in 1813 list Messrs Littles as paying rent of Ł72 for Boilinghouse. Could this be the same Little? If so it might explain John's move from the Solway to the Tay).

1824 FR 518
May 4 	May 10	Johnston		Robert, son of John Johnston and Janet Harley, Boilinghouse

There are several interesting points about these entries. First, the last five children were all born in late April or in May. It is not known if the fact that Tay salmon-fishing season finished on 25 August had any bearing on this! Second, on occasion, John is referred to as "Mr." in the parish registers. No one else is referred to in this way. One reason for this could have been that John had at some time matriculated at a university. Indeed Archie Duncan, Professor of History at Glasgow University, regarded this as almost certain. Despite much searching, no record confirming this could be found and it now seems that the "title" was simply recognition of his standing in the community. Thirdly, only the three youngest children appear to have been baptized. It appears that John and Jenny conformed to the conventions of the day as he grew in stature in the community.

In May 1824, John gave evidence to The Select Committee on Salmon Fisheries of the UK. This appears to have been an early example of concern for the environment and much of the questioning was aimed at discovering the life history of the salmon. John's answers however reveal a great deal about him and his work. Most the following has been gleaned from the report of this committee.

In establishing John's credentials, the Committee asked:
Be so good as to state what the fisheries are in which you are at present concerned? - Upon the Tay, on the North side there are, in the frith of Tay, the town of Dundee fishery, Mr. Mylne of Mylnefield's fishery, Mr. Paterson of Castle Huntly's, Mr. Hunter of Seaside's fisheries: then on the south side of the Tay there are Lord Dundas and Mr. Wedderburn of Wedderburn and Birk Hills fishings, the Hon. Archibald Stewart of Balmerino, Mrs. Morrison of Naughton and Mr. Wedderburn's fishings of Wormit: then in the Murray frith there are the property of the Earl of Seafield, along the coast of Banff shire, Sir James Gordon's, on the same coast, Mrs. Stewart of Tannachie, Mr. Young's of Burghead: and on the north side of the frith, part of the Marquis of Stafford's fishings.

Other questions revealed that John had been employed to survey "the friths of Cromarty, Dornock, and Beauly or Inverness" and had, for his own information, surveyed the "sea coast of east Scotland with reference to salmon fishery".

Throughout the proceedings, John appeared to be very confident and not at all in awe of the Committee. For example:
Can you state the produce now at those stations where the stake nets were formerly placed? - I can state the produce of all those with which I am connected.
State the produce as far as you can? - It must be from my books; I have not the memorandum upon me; I will prepare a statement from my books, and deliver it to the Committee.
Similarly, on another occasion:
You have fished in September and October in the North of Scotland, can you furnish any statement showing the produce of your fishery during these months? - I can furnish a statement by giving me time: I have accounts of them in London. (This last seems to imply that John had premises in London).
When asked about fishing out of season, John had no hesitation in naming the Earl of Kinoul and the Earl of Breadalbane as two who, maintaining that they had the right to fish during close season, broke the law.

Some idea of John's business is gained when, on the second day of his evidence, he was asked:
Be so good to state whether, in your opinion, stake nets, if generally established, would furnish employment to a considerable number of persons along the coast? - Yes, to a great number of men, besides women and children; the men would be employed to erect the nets and keep them in repair; the women and children would be employed in the weaving or working of the nets. There would also be a number of coopers employed making boxes and kits; there would be ropemakers employed making the cordage and twine, carpenters employed building and repairing boats, and so on; women would be employed washing the fish when they are kitted; carters would be employed to drive the ice when it could be had. I have paid above 7,000l. a year for rent and these purposes.
(A kitt is a circular tub or box. Ł7000 in 1824 would be worth about Ł350,000 in 2001).

State the number of persons who were actually employed at one time at the stake net fishery on the Tay, with which you were connected? - To the best of my recollection, we had above 100 men employed in the fishings with which I was connected, at one time on the Tay, besides other places, and we had from four to six coopers constantly; above 20 women and children, besides ropemakers, who were employed. There were above 100 fishermen.

What proportion did that number bear to the whole persons employed in the stake net fishery of the Tay? - It would not be half the number, to the best of my recollection; they would be double. (It is unclear what John is saying here. He appears to be musing as he speaks, saying that he wouldn't have employed half of those employed on the Tay, perhaps the number others employed would be double what he employed. If this is the correct interpretation, he must have employed somewhere between one third and one half.)

On other occasions John talks of receiving and in some cases personally bringing cargoes of salmon from as far afield as Ireland to Balmerino then forwarding them to London. How they were preserved is not clear, although the name of his house "Boilinghouse" may give a clue. At other times he makes it clear that he does not think it possible to preserve salmon in ice for several weeks. "It gets into a bad and soft state; I have never done it myself; I should prefer not to keep it one week; it depends on people's tastes". When talking about fish caught out of season, he says "They are generally kippered, sometimes salted, or sold as fresh fish in the country wherever they could be sold; sometimes put into kits and the fish sent to London". He also states that fish can be kept for two or three weeks and sold as fresh fish "but the fish will be soft and of inferior quality".

John Ross Jnr. In "Curing and Preserving Fish in Scotland and Its Islands" says that pickling in brine seems to have been the most common method used on the Tay as it was less labour intensive than kippering or smoking. The fish would be headed, gutted, packed in barrels and topped up with brine.

The method of transporting fish from Ireland to Balmerino is not clear but, on one occasion, when he talks of up to 20,000 fish being brought to London he says "They come by smacks from the east of Scotland". A.R.B. Haldane in "The Great Fishmonger of the Tay" says that the voyage from the Tay to London might take as little as 60 hours with good winds and on the other hand easterly gales might prevent boats leaving the Tay for days. In this case, the boats would return to port where the fish would be boiled or cured in salt and vinegar.

John's career was brought to a sudden end when he died on 23dr October 1829 aged forty-four. This event is recorded in the burial register at Balmerino:

Balmerino Death Reg. 1829

Octr	28	Johnstone		John Johnstone Boilinghouse was buried.

The Fife Herald on November 5 1829 (No. 400) carried an announcement:

"Died on the 23rd ultimo, Mr. John Johnston, salmon fisher, Balmerino".

This too must be an indication of his standing as such announcements were rare for all but people of some social standing.

John, Janet and other members of the family are commemorated on a gravestone in Balmerino New Cemetery.

No. 73 1811 Wm Rome, w Eliz Johnston 27.8.1811 (21): John Johnston b 6.6.1785 d 23 10.1829, w Janet Harley b18.6.1780. d 21.11.1862.
da Grace J or McEwan b 30. 6.1810 d 22.6.1884.
da Sarah J or Duncan b 2.12.1813 d 19.1.1895 (w of John Duncan) b 1.8.1819 d 7.5.1890.

no. 69 John Duncan late tennant Coultrie 2.2.1802 w Elizabeth Smith, chn Alex, Eliz inf.

no 62 (resting against wall) Wm Rome, w Eliz Johnston 27.8.21.

There is also no.70 may or may not be related: 1845 John Duncan shoemaker, Gauldry 5.7.1840 ( 65), w Eliz Paton 14.7.1838 (56).

After John's death, Janet, who had long enjoyed a great reputation for skill in bone setting continued in this art. People are said to have come to her from far and near and after her death in 1862 the art continued to be practised by her daughter Sarah.
The census for Balmerino for 1841 has been lost so the next known mention of the family is on the occasion of Grace's marriage in 1844:

 Augst. 31	McEwan	                   Henry McEwan, Aberdeen & Grace Johnston gave up their names 
                 & Johnstone                  for proclamation in  order to marriage: they were regularly
                                               proclaimed & no objections offered. 
                                               Married at Norham Sept 1844.

Norham is the house at the shore Balmerino where the family was to remain until well into the 20th century.

Following this wedding, nothing more is known about Janet and her family until the census of 1851.

Census 1851 Balmerino, District 409 book 3 page 1

Norham Johnston Janet wid 68 Has as much land as keeps Dumfries a cow. Hutton Betsy serv. un 12 Cow herd FS. Fife, Balmerino

Ten years further on and Janet is living with her unmarried son, George

Census 1861 Balmerino (409) book3 page 1 Johnston George h un 49 Salmon fisher Dumfries, Gretna Johnston Janet mother wid 80 Dumfries, Gretna Duncan Janet niece 13 Fife, Balmerino Duncan George nephew 10 scholar Fife, Balmerino
Janet apparently remained there until November 1862 when she died:

Death 1862 Balmerino (409) No. 17

Janet Johnston F 83 1862 Bronchitis William Harley George Johnston Widow Nov. 21 10 days (deceased) son. Norham Dropsy of the Sarah Harley Pericardium (deceased) 8 days M.S. Forsyth (deceased)

Note. A brief piece of information claiming to be about John is to be found in the 1899 edition of "Balmerino and Its Abbey" by Rev. J Campbell, which, at page 595 says:

"About thirty years ago 'Boat of Balmerino'- a small packet which sailed every Friday to Dundee and carried merchandise and passengers to-and-fro sank in Dundee harbour during a storm and was never replaced. It was owned and sailed by Mr. Johnstone, who lived at the houses on the shore called Norham".

Everything about this appears to be wrong and it probably refers to John's son-in-law (see John Duncan and Janet Johnston).

80. James Neilson and Mary Campbell

The wedding of James and Mary is recorded in both St Ninians, Stirling and in Larbert, Stirling:

O.P.R. Stirling, St Ninians. 488/5 FR 1910
1776 December 15th James Nelson in this parish and Mary Campbell in the parish of Larbert gave in their names in order to marriage.

Also: O.P.R. Stirling, Larbert 14 Dec 1776 485/1 FR298
Dec 14 1776
James Neilson in parish of St Nians and Mary Campbell in this gave up their names for proclamation.

O.P.R. Stirling, St. Ninians Fr1375.
1st March 1793 Parents: James Nielson Mary Campbell. Children: William. Witnesses:Relief . Residence:Throsk

James was recorded, on his son's death certificate, as a farmer. He might be the James Neilson listed in the O.P.R.I. born to Thomas Neilson and Janet Gibson in St Ninians parish on 1st June 1755 FR 1117.

82. John Horn(e) and Jane Alexander

Marriage: John Horn & Jean Alexander,
Glasgow 1792 644/1 FR 2941
29 January 1792

Horn	John Horn, carter in Glasw: & Jean Alexander residenter
 in Whitburn Parish.

also Whitburn 673/2/32 FR460 (given in the form of accounts)

1792 		Charge Coll.  							0-7-0 
January 15	Proclamation dues from Jo. Horn in Glasgow and Jean Alexr this parish	0-2-6
		Mortcloth dues for the corps of Jas son to Jas Wilson in Whitburn	0-7-6

Birth: Agnes Horn Glasgow 27 Feb 1802 644/1/20 FR 1899

Horn   	John Horn carter and Jean Alexander, L daughter: Agnes, bo:27 witn: William Smith, Thomas                                      Whitton

Bothwell 625/1 FR 346 Horn: Jane lawful daughter of John Horn (Two words illegible. Second looks a bit like Wallacetoun) and his spouse Jane Alexander born 16 Aug and baptized 15 Sept 1805.

Other births to the couple are:
Birth William Horn, 12 Feb 1792 Whitburn West Lothian FR 72
Birth Alexander Horn, 20 Sept 1798 Glasgow LKS FR 1806
Birth Mary Horn, 15 Jan 1796 Glasgow LKS FR 1732

John was a gardener on his daughter Jane's death cert.

84. John Wilson and Jean Thomson

John and Jean were married in 1821. The marriage is recorded in two places, Dalziel and Hamilton:

O.P.R. Lanark , Dalzeil. 639/2 FR261
18 Dec 1821 John Wilson of Hamilton and Jean Thomson in this parish were proclaimed and were married 18th ditto.

And at
Lanark, Hamilton 647/5 FFR1149
1821John Wilson and Jean Thomson both this parish for one day  Wilson

							16 Dec. 	       Thomson
The only other information uncovered so far is in the 1851 census by which time, John is dead and Jean is living with her son, John and two "visitors" who were probably boarders taken to make ends meet.

1851 District 651 (formerly 642) book 13 page 3 sch 9.
 Moffat Hamlet, Clarkston.
Thomson Jean		h	u	48	laundress	   LKS, New Monklands	
Wilson	John		s	u	24	paper maker  LKS, New Monklands
Aitken	James		visitor	u	78	paper maker   Mid Lothian, Kirknewton
Walker	Alexander	         visitor	u	50	paper maker   Mid Lothian, Currie
In view of the fact that Jean had been married, the assumption must be that that the 
enumerator asked "are you married" he was told "no" and he did not check whether she was a 
widow.
Laundresss would probably have been a "suitable" occupation for a widow. Indeed in some 
areas widows were given a mangle by the parish to enable them to make a living by "taking in" 
mangling.
86. William Lindsay and Janet Douglas

Research into William and Janet, who were Isabella Lindsay's parents proved difficult when using her marriage certificate alone as it named only her father and gave even that name incorrectly. Later, Isabella's 1904 death certificate was found to list both her parents, i.e. William Lindsay, coal miner and Janet Douglas. The information was supplied by one of Isabella's daughters, also called Isabella. It is hard to imagine why this daughter could supply both names, correctly as it turns out, when her mother who was presumably present at her own marriage, did not appear to know them nearly fifty years earlier.

The names were confirmed by looking at Isabella's children from her first marriage. They included a Thomas Douglas Baird and a William Lindsay Baird as well as an Alexander Baird. (See drop line chart page 615).

William and Janet were married on 2nd March 1816 at Cambusnethan and the O.P.R's record that they had seven children:

23 Jan 1817 Cambusnethan FR 219
Wm Lindsay son to William Lindsay at Stewarton & Janet Douglas his spouse was born on the 23 Jan and bapt 9th Feb.

10 Dec 1820 Cambusnethan FR 571
Catherine Lindsay daughter to William Lindsay at Stewarton & Janet Douglas his spouse was born 10th and bapt 3rd Dec.

5 Oct 1823 Cambusnethan FR 577
Isobel Lindsay daughter to William Lindsay at Stewarton & Janet Douglas his spouse was born 30 Sept bapt 15 Oct Her third child.

30 Nov 1829 Cambusnethan FR587 James Lindsay son to William Lindsay at Croftfoot & Janet Douglas his spouse was born 30 Nov bapt 13 Dec Her fifth child.

8 Jan 1832 Cambusnethan FR589 John Lindsay son to William Lindsay at Croftfoot & Janet Douglas his spouse was born 8th Jan bapt 22 Jan Her sixth child.

O.P.R. Clarkston New Monklands 561/6 FR1439 20 July 1834:
Lindsay Janet Douglas L: daughter of William Lindsay collier in Clarkston and Janet Douglas was born 28 July and bapt. 10 Aug 1834.

No post-1855 death record has been found for either William or Janet so it is probably safe to assume that they both died prior to this. Despite searching the 1841 and 1851 censuses for both Old and New Monklands it has not proved possible to find them there either. Assuming that they were about twenty when they married, deaths prior to 1841 would mean they had both died by their early forties. This reflects life expectancy at that time particularly in view of the fact that they were a mining family.

Prior to 1799 records show that many miners had been little more than slaves, they could not legally leave their employment without the written permission of their employer. If the mine they worked in was sold they could be sold with it and were listed in inventories along with horses and stocks of timber. Their children were drawn into servitude by 'arling' at their christening. That is a gift was given by the employers to the parents at the time of the baby's christening in return for a promise on the child's behalf that he would be brought up a miner.

The man was the hewer of coal while his wife was the bearer who carried the coal from the coal face to the bottom of the stairs then up to the surface. During a working day of ten hours or more a woman would carry nearly two tonnes to the surface. Children followed their parents into the mines at around six years of age thus whole families could be enslaved. Unlike slaves, however, miners were paid and the fact that wages rose throughout the eighteenth century shows that masters could not have had complete control, as they would surely have reduced wages as much as possible.

After the 1799 Act abolished serfdom many miners remained trapped by the 'truck ' system whereby they were allowed credit in the overpriced Company stores until payday when a paper transaction paid off their debt but left little or nothing over. This forced them to go into debt again before next payday, rendering them unable to save or to shop around for cheaper goods or to leave their employment.

T C Smout in " A History of the Scottish People" says "There are signs that for Scottish coal miners as a whole the decades between 1790 and 1810 represented a peak in their standard of living which they did not approach again until after 1850". Janet and William were married in 1816 but there is no way of telling whether collier William was affected by any of the above. What we do know is that conditions underground would still have been dreadful. Most hewers suffered from silicosis or 'black-spit' which made them invalids by the time they were forty. The only support when they could no longer work was from the parish, which gave only a pittance. Accidents were commonplace, roof falls and explosions caused by the use of naked candles went almost unremarked. No records of these events were kept centrally until 1855.

As mentioned before, research into Isabella Lindsay's parents started badly. On Isabella and John's marriage certificate names both of John's parents are given but no mother is named for Isabella although her father was said to be James Lindsay, collier. Following this slim clue, led to a death certificate for a possible father who was about the correct age and had the correct occupation i.e. collier or more specifically pit brusher. A pit brusher did not, as might be imagined, keep the pit tidy by brushing and cleaning up but was the person who constructed roads in the pit out of stone and possibly also did some work on stone supports for the roof. This certificate has nothing to do with the family being researched but is included as it helps illustrate the conditions in the mines at the time.
1875 Old Monklands Mid 652/2 No. 287
James Lindsay	M	65	1875		David Lindsay	Accident	         Mary
Pit brusher			July 4th		Army pensioner	6 days		Lindsay
married to Mary			4h 15 m p.m.	(deceased)	cert by		daughter
Ann Stevenson			12 Waddells 	Agnes Lindsay	J Farquason	present
                                     Land, Whifflet     M.S. Barbour
                                                         (deceased)
See Reg. of corrected entries vol. 2 page 82 date July 20 1875:

The following report the result of a precognition has been received touching the death of James Lindsay registered under No.287 in the register book of death for the year 1875.
Name, age and sex	 Where and when died		Cause of death

James Lindsay	 1875 July 4th. about		Severe injuries on the face and
about 65 years	 4h 0m pm in the house		back and also internally
male		 in Waddels Land 		         received 24th last in No.7 Coal 					
		 Whifflet within the parish          pit Whifflet by a fall from the 
                   of Old Monkland occupied	         roof.     
		 by the deceased.
           
						- Dr Farquhason Coatbridge
						attended on the deceased till the
					         time of his death.
Procurator Fiscal's Office
Airdrie 14 July 1875
Cert by Thomas Clark
1875 July 20
at Coatbridge. 
James Mitchell Magistrate.
12 May 1876
It would be ironic if the roof fall had been caused by a fault in supports he himself had built for the roof.

88. James Forrester and Ann Scott

James, the son of William Forrester and Margaret Henderson could not have been more than sixteen and Ann Scott, daughter of John Scott and Elizabeth Hay no more than fifteen when their first child was born. No record of their marriage is known to exist. The births of all their children are recorded in 1837 in the parish of Cumbernauld:

Cumbernauld 495/3 FR 593
1 Jan 1812 Forrester, James & Ann Scott Tollpark had a child born & baptized after named William.
15 Aug 1816 Forrester, James & Ann Scott Tollpark had a child born & baptized after named John
1 April 1821 Forrester, James & Ann Scott Tollpark had a child born & baptized after named Joseph
16 Aug 1826 Forrester, James & Ann Scott Tollpark had a child born & baptized after named James
24 Sept 1828 Forrester, James & Ann Scott Tollpark had a child born & baptized after named Eilzabeth
28 Oct 1830 Forrester, James & Ann Scott Tollpark had a child born & baptized after named Ann
1 Jan 1832 Forrester, James & Ann Scott Tollpark had a child born & baptized after named Alexander
28 Oct 1835 Forrester, James & Ann Scott Tollpark had a child born & baptized after named David
20 Nov 1837 Forrester, James & Ann Scott Tollpark had a child born & baptized after named Hugh.

Tollpark farm is now part of the site of Cumbernauld Airport. Nothing remains of the farm buildings.

The 1841 census shows that the whole family has survived childhood - quite an achievement in those days.



1841  495 dist 7 page 7							

Tollpark	

Forrester	James			47	farmer		y	
Forrester	Jean			46			y
Forrester	John			27			y
Forrester	Joseph			20			y
Forrester	James			15			y
Forrester	Elizabeth		         13			y
Forrester	Ann			11			y
Forrester	Alexander		         9			y
Forrester	David			7			y
Forrester	Hugh			4			y

In 1841 the ages of those over fifteen should have been rounded down to the nearest fife years. This does not appear to have been adhered to in this case.
By 1851 there is something of a mystery! Who is the twenty-six year old George? He did not appear among the births or in the 1841 census but is clearly named on this one occasion as a son of James and Ann:

1851 census 398 (under 495) Bk 3 Page 20

Tollpark farm.
Forrester	James		h  m	56	farmer of 40 acres	         DNB, Cumbernauld
Forrester	Ann		w  u	55				STI, Denny
Forrester	George		s  u	26	farmers son		DNB, Cumbernauld
Forrester	James		s  u	24	farmers son		DNB, Cumbernauld
Forrester	Ann		d  u	20	farmers daughter		DNB, Cumbernauld
Forrester	Alexander	         s  u	18	farmers son		DNB, Cumbernauld
Forrester	David		s  u	16	farmers son		DNB, Cumbernauld
Forrester	Hugh		s  u	13	farmers son		DNB, Cumbernauld

Tollpark farm had 3 rooms with windows at this time.

Ten years later again, and James senior has retired from the farm and he and Ann are living nearby at Faulds Cottage where there is one inhabited house and one uninhabited.



1861  495 book 7  page 2

Faulds Cottage 
Forrester	James	h	m	67	retd. farmer	DNB, Cumbernauld
Forrester	 Ann	w	m	66	wife		STI, Denny
Forrester Ann	g-dau	u	10	scholar		DNB, Cumbernauld

Son James now appears to have taken over the farm although his age is incorrect:

1861 census Dist495 Book7 page2
Tollpark farm

Forrester	James		   h  m	24	farmer 50 acres		DNB, Cumbernauld
Forrester	Elizabeth	            w  m	25	farmers wife   		LKS Airdrie
Forrester	James		   s  u	2	farmers son		DNB, Cumbernauld
Forrester	William		   s  u	1mo	farmers son		DNB, Cumbernauld
Forrester	Hugh	        serv   u	21	ploughman		         DNB, Cumbernauld
Yule Helen	        serv   u	18	domestic servant		LKS, Airdrie
Bryson William	        serv   u	13	labourer			DNB, Cumbernauld

3 rooms with windows

When carrying out the census, the enumerator visited properties in the following order: Inn smiddy, Faulds Cottage, Faulds Toll Bar, Toll Park Farm. So far no sufficiently detailed map has been found to see the route taken.

By the 1871 census, James and Ann have moved into Cumbernauld village. The address is not given but the house they are occupying is on one side of the United Presbyterian Church while the manse is on the other.



1871 Census  495   book 8	pg 1
Forrester	James	h	m	76	retired farmer		DNB, Cumbernauld	
Forrester	Ann	w	m	75	retired farmers wife	STI Denny

1 rm with window

Ann died just over three years after the 1871 census at the age of seventy-eight. After this James survived more than six years, dying at the age of eighty-six.

Death: Cumbernauld (495) No. 42

Ann Forrester F 78 1874 John Scott old age and John Forrester married to Aug 9th. weaver general debility son James Forrester 9h p.m. (deceased) 3 years late farmer at Elizabeth Scott as cert. by Cumbernauld M.S. Hay David Coutts Physician.

Registered Aug 14 Cumbernauld.

Death: Cumbernauld (495) No. 4

James Forrester M 86 1881 William senile decay Joseph Forrester portioner Jan.9th. Forrester son widower of Cumbernauld farmer (deceased) Hole farm Ann Scott …… Forrester Cumbernauld M.S. …… (deceased)

No inventory or confirmation has been found for Ann but James left estate valued at Ł87-2s-3d (worth around Ł4300 in 2001) and the confirmation is given below:
1881 Feb 12 Inventory of James Forrester, sometime residing at Parkhead, afterwards farmer at Tollpark, thereafter at Abronhill cottage, latterly residing an Cumbernauld, who died 9 Jan 1881 at Cumbernauld. Testament given at Dumbarton, by Joseph Forrester, farmer, Hole, Cumbernauld executor named in will or deed dated 29 Dec. 1858 and recorded in court books of Dumbarton 12 Feb 1881.

Two references to James have been found in the Register of Sasines:

29	Jan 21 1881

Not. Instrument. Trustees of the late James Forrester, sometime residing at Parkhead, thereafter farmer, Tollpark, thereafter residing at Abronhill cottage and latterly in Main Street, Cumbernauld - of part of a tenement and steading of ground described in the original title deeds as consisting of a fore dwelling house and barn and stable contiguous thereto on the North, and yard, bounded on the South by the High Street, in town and parish of Cumbernauld; - on Gen. Trust Disp. & settl., dated 29th Dec. 1858 by said James Forrester; and another writ, with warrant of registration thereon, on behalf of the trustees.

                                                                                  140.86

180	July 17 1846

James Forrester, farmer, Toll Park near Cumbernauld, Seised - in 20 falls of ground with dwelling house thereon part of the lands of Longcroft par. Of Denny.; on disp & Settl by William Forrester tenant, Parkhead, with consent of Margaret Henderson, his spouse to trustees, Mar 14. 16. 1812 & disp. & Assig. By them, Sept 14. 27 1818.
(Willliam Forrester was James’s father.)

90. Ebenezer Stark and Jean Hill

Apart from censuses, no concrete information has been unearthed about this couple. The 1841 census finds them at Rashbush. This farm (also known as Threshbush) lay between the farms of Rigghead and Bandomnie. It does not appear on the map which was surveyed in the 1860's but is nevertheless mentioned as late as 1888 when other branches of the family were occupying it. (See Alex Hamilton and Jean Cuthill)

1841 Census Dist. 479 book 18 page 4

						

Rashbush	
Stark	Ebenezer		60	farmer		y	
Stark	Jean		40			y	
Stark	Jane		22			y	
Stark	Jannet		20		         y
Stark	John		10			y
Stark	Agnes		8			y
Stark	Elizabeth		5			y

By 1851 the family were in Bandomnie which they were to occupy for many years:

1851 Census Dist. 479 book 1 page 6.

Bandomnie
Stark	Ebenr.		h  m	70	Farmer 70 acres		STI, Denny
Stark	Jean		w  m	60				STI, Denny
Stark	Jean		d   u	30	Employed at home		STI, Denny
Stark	Mary		d   u	26	Employed at home		STI, Denny
Stark	Margaret	         d   u	22	Employed at home		STI, Denny
Stark	John		s   u	20	Employed on the farm	STI, Denny
Stark	Agness		d   u	18	Employed at home		STI, Denny
Stark	Elizabeth	         d   u	15				STI, Denny
Anderson  John	      serv   u	12	farm lab			LKS

By 1861 the size of Bandomnie had increased from 70 acres to 120 acres, perhaps reflecting the incorporation of at least part of neighbouring Rashbush.

1861 census Dist. 479/2 book 11 page 4.

Bandomnie
Stark Ebenezer		h   m	80	farmer of 120 acres		STI, Falkirk
Stark Jean		w   m	70					STI, Falkirk
Stark Jean		d	39	domestic servant			STI, Falkirk
Stark Mary		d	33	domestic servant			STI, Falkirk
Stark John		s	28	ploughman			         STI, Falkirk
Stark Agnes		d	23	domestic servant			STI, Falkirk
Stark Elizabeth		d	21	domestic servant			STI, Falkirk
Hutton William	      serv  	19	farm servant			LKS Barony

5 rooms with windows

Ebenezer died in 1865 and son John took over the farm. At the census in 1871, Jean, aged 79, is living with John and his family.

1871 Census 479 book 11 page 3

Bandomnie
Stark John		h  m	38	farmer				STI, Falkirk
Stark Isabella		w  m	34	farmers wife			STI, Denny	
Stark Isabella		d 	 6	farmers daughter			STI, Falkirk	
Stark Jane	    mother  w	79	farmers daughter			STI, Falkirk	
Lothian Mark	      serv  u	24	farm servant			Linlithgow	
Sneddon	 Richard	      serv  u	13	farm servant			LKS, Airdrie	
Binnie Agness	      serv  u	21	farm servant			STI, Falkirk	
Welsh Ellin	      serv  u	16	general domestic			STI, Denny

4 rooms with windows.

Jean died at the beginning of December in the same year.
Inventory and Confirmation for Ebenezer:

Ebenezer Stark farmer at Bandomnie
1 cash									Ł   40-00-00
2 Crop, stock, furniture etc.						Ł  440-17-06
3 Commercial Bank								Ł  418-02-04
                “								Ł  413-01-10
	    “								Ł  201-15-01
  Clydesdale Bank								Ł  259-16-02
  	    “								Ł  101-10-07
	    “								Ł  100-12-01
4 Loan to John Spiers							Ł   11-12-01
									Ł 1987-14-02

Executor John Stark sometime at Rashbush now at Bandomnie only son.
Legacies: Wife: Ł20 held for alimentary ease.
Ł12 p.a. to unmarried daughters.
Janet, wife of Joseph Forrester, Holebrae. Margaret, wife of James Wyllie, Abronhill. Elizabeth Stark, wife of John Spiers, Burnhouse, Ł30 each.
Mary and Agnes Stark, Ł200 each plus their choice of a cow from the byre. (eldest to choose first) plus all the furniture west of the kitchen.
John is the only son and gets the tack of the farm of Bandomnie.
Ł10 to U.P.Church Cumbernauld.

92. Alexander Hamilton and Janet Paul

Alex. and Jean were married on Friday 29th November 1805:

O.P.R. Denny Parish 476/1 1805
Nov 1st Alexander Hamilton servent Bankhead and Janet Paul lawful daughter of William Paul.

The next information we have about this couple is the births of their children in the same parish. The earliest found in O.P.R's is that of William:

FR320 30th December 1810
William Hamilton lawful son to Alexander Hamilton and Janet Paul, Banknock was born on August 2nd last.

Prior to this, however, John had been born on 25 Jan 1807 (see Stirling, Falkirk FR CH2 v20) and Janet circa 1808. A complete list of their family is given on Janet's 1855 death certificate.

Most of the children were away from home by the time of the 1841 census. John became a farm servant at Castlecary, Janet married James Kerr, a baker in St Ninians parish, William emigrated to Australia, Mary married William Henderson, a wright in Stirling. Robert became a minister and went to Canada, David emigrated to Australia, James emigrated to Canada, Jean married John Laing of Stirling and Thomas became a miller in Dunblane and subsequently in Kilmahog near Callendar.

Although the family lived at West Banknock from at least 1810, the first usable census (1841) finds them at Righead, the farm on which Alex. himself had been born and which his son, Alex. later occupied for many years. (Notice that in this instance, all the males are listed first followed by the females then the female servant).

1841 495 book 18 page 3
Righead
Hamilton	Alexander			60	farmer		y
Hamilton	Alexander			25			y
Hamilton	Thomas			12		         y
Hamilton	Jane			40			y
Hamilton	Margaret			 8			y	
McClay	Janet			12	FS		y
The Statistical Account of 1841 describes the parish of Denny as having a post office with an annual revenue of about Ł300 (Ł14000 now), ten miles of turnpike road with, in winter, 22 public carriages passing and re-passing each day. It also had a parish school where the teacher was paid Ł34: 4s: 41/2d (Ł1600 in present day terms) annually and nine other schools. There was a library and about fourteen Societies, including The Banknock Friendly Society. Apart from the Established Parish Church there were two Dissenting chapels, one being at Denny Loanhead, the church to which the Hamilton's belonged. It is described as "among the oldest and strongest in point of wealth, in the Secession Church". From 1831 Denny Loanhead Church had a Congregational Library with 500 volumes and dues of 1s. 6d. per quarter ( Ł3.50 now).

By 1951 the family are in their accustomed place at Banknock with only Margaret, the youngest still at home.

1851 census Denny, Haggs 476 book 7 page3
Banknock
Hamilton Alex		h  m	78	Farmer of 15 acres land	Stirling, Denny	
Hamilton Janet		w  m	61				Stirling, St. Ninians
Hamilton Margaret	         d  u	19				Stirling, Denny	
Nearly four years later, Janet died of ascites (also known as Dropsy or Hydropsy which was fluid retention, probably caused by kidney failure or heart disease) which she had suffered from for twelve months.

Alexander erected a stone, the remains of which are in Dennyloanhead Churchyard and which is inscribed:

MDCCCLVI
Erected by
Alexander Hamilton Banknock
In memory of
Janet Paul his spouse
who died 13th February 1855
aged 64 years
also of
James Hamilton their son
who died 13 November 1855
Aged years.

The stone is badly eroded particularly at the last line where the number is probably 37

In view of the ages given in the 1851 census, Alex's death certificate and in his obituary the age given in the 1861census below is probably wrong.

1861 Census Denny, Haggs 476 book 7 page 1
Banknock
Hamilton Alexander	h  m 	80	retd. farmer		Stirling, Falkirk
Hamilton Margaret	d  u	24	teacher			Stirling, Denny
In 1862, following Margaret's death Alex wrote a codicil to his will, recalling a legacy of Ł100 made to her. Thereafter Alex remained at Banknock until his death in April 1863. A family tale says that Alex, when aged over ninety, had never seen Glasgow. To remedy this, he set out and walked the eighteen miles there. He looked at Glasgow and the dirty water of the Clyde and was not impressed so turned and walked back home!

It has been suggested that he may not have completed the whole walk at one time but had perhaps stayed with friends and relatives on the way. Whatever the truth, it is said that he died shortly after completing this feat.

The following obituary was published:

IN MEMORIAM

We have to record this week the death of Mr Alex. Hamilton, of Banknock in the parish of Denny, at the ripe old age of 921/2 years. The deceased was born at Rigghead, in the parish of Falkirk and was the son of Mr John Hamilton. He was a remnant of a very few of the original anti-burgers belonging to the Dennyloanhead United Presbyterian Church. In 1810 he was ordained an elder in the Secession, and since then up to the date of his death, discharged the duties connected therewith with distinguished earnestness and discretion. He was, what every elder ought to be, a regular attender of all the meetings of the kirk session, and he devoted a great deal of time to visitation and administering comfort both to the sick and the dying. Although seldom an advocate for innovations on what were generally understood at that time to be the orthodox principles of public worship, he witnessed the introduction and subsequent establishment of simultaneous communion, paraphrase singing, and other religious rites. These he was wont to describe as "hameward made things".
During his long eldership of fifty-three years, he say under the ministry of four different clergymen vis. The Rev. Mr Walker, Dr Stark, Dr Edmond (now of Islington, London), and the present incumbent, the Rev. Mr Stevenson, by all of whom he was justly esteemed. Three years ago his jubilee was in the manse of Dennyloanhead. When the deceased gentleman was presented by the Moderator, in the name of the kirk session, with a Family Bible, Psalm Book and Church Bible. At one time the Hamiltons were very strong in the session at Dennyloanhead, as many as many as four of them being members at the same period. Mr Hamilton had three brothers and two sisters, and, as will be gathered from the following, which is a complete list of there names and ages at their death, longevity seemingly has run in the family: - Mary aged 84 years: Jean aged 85 years: John aged 881/2 years; William, aged 871/2 years; James aged 72 years; and Alexander, she subject of our notice, 921/2 years-united ages 5071/2 years. Last Sabbath Mr Stevenson, feelingly alluded to the death of Mr Hamilton and paid a tribute of respect to his memory.
It is interesting to note that Mr Ernest W Sutherland, F.C.T.L., M.R.S.T. organist and choirmaster of Erskine Church, Falkirk is a great-grandson of Mr Alex Hamilton.

His sons, John, Alex, Robert and Thomas were appointed executors in Alex's will:

Sc 67/36/46 p550
Alexander Hamilton residing at Banknock in the parish of Denny, County of Stirling.
Died at Banknock 16 April 1863.
1. Household furniture, bed and table linen napery & other effects 
belonging to the deceased conform to the Inventory & Valuations 
thereof  by David Black licensed valuator, Falkirk dated 20th May 1863.
								 	 Ł17-12s-6d

2. Rents due to the deceased current at the date of death as under.		
John Dunshire						Ł  4 - 0 - 0
Ro. Jarvie						Ł  9 - 15 - 0
James Shaws						Ł 12 -  0 - 0
									Ł 25 - 15 - 0
3. Interest on rents from 15th May 1863 to date of death hereto.Ł  0 -  8 - 2

Total estate situated in Scotland 						Ł43   15 - 8
(In 2001 this would be worth around Ł2100 plus the property detailed below).
Affidavit…..John Hamilton sometime farm servant at Seabegs now at Banknock eldest son of the
 deceased, Executor nominated along with Alexander Hamilton, farmer Righead, Castlecary, Robert
 Hamilton, minister in Canada West, Thomas Hamilton, miller, Dunblane. 
Give grant & dispone to and in favour of John Hamilton farm servant at Seabegs and Alex 
Hamilton farmer Righead Castlecary both my sons equally between them share and share alike and 
to the heirs of their separate bodies upon failing to survive John Hamilton and Alexander 
Hamilton to their separate heirs and assignees of John Hamilton and Alexander Hamilton 2s 3d 
land of old extent in Banknock with houses, yards, tofts, crofts, outsets, pasturages. 
infields, outfields, mosses, muirs, longerines privileges, parts and pendicles together with 
the liberty and priveliges of the common muirs lying adjacent to the said lands according to 
old extent of the said lands pro rata all lying within the Barony of Herbert As also all and 
whole the 3s 10d land of old extent of Banknock as a part of the 5s land of old extent 
anciently belonging to Robert Stark with houses, buildings, yards, mosses, muirs, meadows, 
pasturages grass, pendicles and whole pertinents there of being part of the Ł2 land of Banknock
 lying within the Barony and lordship of Cumbernauld Parish of Denny and Sherifdom of Stirling 
reserving to the superior of the haill foresaid lands the coal within the ground thereof with 
all liberties and privileges for working, winning and transporting the same as mentioned in 
the original rights and Infeftments of the said lands which lands above disponed were 
purchased by the late John Hamilton my father from the trustees of the creditors of Alexander 
Bryson of Banknock and in the manner of the said Alexander Hamilton do hereby with and under 
the same burdens and others after written Give Grant and Assign and Dispone to and in favour 
of Robert Hamilton minister Canada West and Thomas Hamilton Miller Dunblane both my sons 
equally between them share and share alike and to the heirs  whom failing to survive the above 
heritably and irredeemably all and whole  First all and haill that part of the lands of Wester 
Banknock being a thirty penny mail of land of old extent with the land thereof and houses 
biggins yards grass and whole pertinents and privileges of the same bounded in the north by 
lands which belonged to the deceased John Boyd on the east by the lands which belonged to the 
now deceased Alexander Adam on the south by the lands belonging to James Paterson and the 
deceased Thomas Russell's heirs on the west by the lands which belonged to the deceased John 
Martin together also with the seats in Denny Church and lairs in Denny Church Yard belonging 
to the said lands lying there the said subjects in the Barony of South Herbertshire parish of 
Denny and (second) all and whole of that part of the lands of Banknock called Calfward and 
Brae with the haill pertinents of the same lying in the Barony of South Herbertshire of Denny 
together with the whole parts pendicles privileges and pertinents belonging to the said lands  
But declaring always as it is hereby expressly provided and declared that the lands and others 
with the pertinents above specified are hereby disposed with and under the burden of the said 
John Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton, Robert Hamilton, Thomas Hamilton and their foresaids jointly
 and severally and the real burden on the lands and others before disposed of making payment 
equally among them share and share alike at the first term of Whitsunday or Martinmas happening
 6 months after my decease with interest thereon at the rate of 3% per annum till paid of the 
following sums of money viz. First to Janet Hamilton my daughter, wife of James Kirk Baker 
Saint Ninians of the sum of Ł50. Second to Mary Hamilton also my daughter wife of William 
Henderson Wright Stirling of the sum of Ł50 . Third to Jean Hamilton also my daughter wife of 
John Laing residing in Broad Street Stirling of the like sum of Ł50.  Fourth to Margaret 
Hamilton, my youngest daughter residing with me at Wester Banknock of the sum of Ł100 and 
Fifth to David Hamilton my son presently in Australia of the sum of Ł150 But providing and 
declaring that this latter sum of Ł150 payable to the said David Hamilton shall not be payable 
to him if he does not make a claim within two years from the date of my decease. Declaring that in the event of any of my daughters and son David dying and leaving lawful issue such issue shall be entitled equally among them to the legacy bequeathed to their pre-deceasing parent the children of David Hamilton claiming within the period foresaid and further the said Alexander Hamilton do clearly give grant assign and dispose to and in favour of the said John Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton, Robert Hamilton, Thomas Hamilton equally between them share and share alike and to their respective heirs and assignees whosoever Heritably and irredeemably by all and sundry after lands and heritages goods and gear debts and source of money and in general the whole Estate and Effects heritable and moveable real and personal of whatever kind or denomination or wheresoever situated presently belonging or which shall pertain and belong to me at the time of my death with the whole vouchers and instructions thereof and writs and evidents of and concerning my said Estate and Effects heritable and moveable generally and particularly above conveyed with all that has followed or may be competent to follow thereon But declaring that these presents are granted in favour of my said Disposees under burden always of paying and the said John Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton, Robert Hamilton and Thomas Hamilton and their foresaids shall be bound as by acceptation thereof of the Bind and oblige themselves out of the said estate and effects generally above conveyed and in the event of the same being inadequate out of the heritable properties hereby specially disposed to pay equally between them and jointly and severally all my just and lawful debts, deathbed and funeral expenses including such of the legacies as are due by me under my brother John Hamilton's settlement which have not been already paid and discharged or consigned and also including the sum of Ł200 in a bond and disposition in security granted by me in favour of Miss Ann Bow residing in Denny over the subjects first above disposed to the said Robert Hamilton and Thomas Hamilton with the whole interest due thereon or such parts of said sums as may be due at the date of my death. Declaring that although paid legacies and Bond may be preferable burdens over any of the subjects above especially disposed yet it is my wish and the said John Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton, Robert Hamilton and Thomas Hamilton shall be bound as by acceptation - they bind and oblige themselves to pay said sums equally as above It being hereby declared that as I have already given advanced or paid on account of William Hamilton, my son presently in Australia more than I would otherwise have given him under this settlement I do hereby exclude him from participating in any part of my Estate heritable or moveable and which provisos before conceived in favour of my said sons and daughters and the sums which have already been paid to or on behalf of the said William Hamilton my son by me.
Codicil 1 made 10 Oct 1861:

Legacies in favour of daughters Janet, Mary, Jean: sufficient to be signed by themselves 
excluding husbands present and future.

Codicil 2 made 30 Aug 1862:

Daughter Margaret is deceased and legacy of Ł100 to her recalled.

The sum of Ł10 each to Janet Hamilton or Kirk, Mary Hamilton or Henderson, Jean Hamilton or 
Laing on top of the Ł50 legacy to each at the same term and in the same way as the original 
legacies were payable and said additional legacies shall form a burden on John Hamilton, 
Alexander Hamilton, Robert Hamilton and Thomas Hamilton and a real burden on the lands and 
others therein. Also bequeathed to son William the sum of Ł20 payable by John Hamilton, 
Alexander Hamilton, Robert Hamilton, Thomas Hamilton at the first term of Whitsun or Martinmas 
6 months after the decease of Alexander Hamilton with interest thereon at the rate of 3% p.a. 
sons to guarantee payment. Revokes the legacy of Ł150 to David H - declared null & void. And 
in lieu leave & bequest to David H the sum of Ł100 guaranteed by sons John Hamilton, Alexander 
Hamilton, Robert Hamilton, Thomas Hamilton. Further declaring that the jus mariti and right of 
administration of the husbands of said daughters Janet, Mary, and Jean shall be excluded from 
the management of the additional legacies of Ł10….

94. John Cuthill and Janet Hay

Janet and John were married on Friday 23rd May 1823. The Old Parish Register says:

Denny (476/3) FR826 May 3rd 1823.

John Cuthill of Banknock and Janet Hay, daughter of James Hay of Muirhead gave in their names in order to marriage and were proclaimed on the three following sabbaths and married on twenty three curt.

John’s elder brother, William, who would normally, under Scots law, have inherited Easter Banknock when their father died in 1818, was already a successful business man in Denny so the property was passed to John who became “Laird of Banknock”. Ownership of any land by ordinary people was unusual at the time and led to Janet and John being referred to as “Laird Bodies”.

One interesting fact that has been passed down is that the couple’s wedding china had no handles on the cups. They were disappointed because this was old fashioned since handles were “coming in”. When they were first married they had a double saddle i.e. a normal saddle with a side-saddle behind. The fact that this snippet of information has been passed down may mean that this was unusual. They seemed to have had no form of wheeled transport.

John was ordained an Elder in Dennyloanhead Secession Church 12 March 1837.

The first child, Jean was born eighteen months after the wedding and the family continued to grow until by the census of 1841 there were seven children listed.

1841 Banknock 476 Book 8 page 3


Cuthill	John			40	Portioner farmer	y
Cuthill	Janet			30			y
Cuthill	Jean			16			y
Cuthill	Helen			14			y
Cuthill	Elisa			9			y
Cuthill	Mary			7			y
Cuthill	William			5			y
Cuthill	James			3			y
Cuthill	John			1			y

Daughter, Janet who had been born on 7th October 1828 is not listed with the family. She may have been staying with relatives.

The year following the census, Christina was born on 8th May, followed by Margaret on 1st April 1845 and Catherine on 6th March 1848.

The following year, the oldest daughter, Jean, was married to Alexander Hamilton. It was thought by the family that she had made “a good marriage”. The young couple were first cousins once removed, Jean being Alex’s cousin’s daughter. The banns were recorded at Denny, Stirlingshire on 20 January 1849.

By the next census the entry read:

1851 476	bk7	p2


Banknock					
Cuthill	John		h  m	54	Farmer of 53 acres	Stirling, Denny
Cuthill	Janet		w  m	46				Stirling, Denny
Cuthill	Helen		d	24				Stirling, Denny
Cuthill	Janet		d	22				Stirling, Denny
Cuthill	Mary		d	18				Stirling, Denny
Cuthill	William		s	15	Farmer			Stirling, Denny
Cuthill	James		s	13				Stirling, Denny
Cuthill	John		s	10				Stirling, Denny
Cuthill	Christina		d	8				Stirling, Denny
Cuthill	Margaret		d	6				Stirling, Denny
Cuthill	Catherine		d	3				Stirling, Denny

Nearby in another house at Banknock was Janet’s mother, Jean with her “niece” Elizabeth Cuthill. This should surely read granddaughter.

1851Denny (476) book7 page 1

Banknock				
Hay	Jean		h 	m	83	Annuitant		Stirling, Falkirk
Cuthell	Elizabeth		niece.	u	20			Stirling, Denny

Also in 1851 the Great Exhibition was held at The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London. John Cuthill and a neighbouring farmer went to see it, travelling in a covered waggon. John brought back what were probably penny cups, for the children.

Catherine Shearman (Catherine’s granddaughter) still has one of them although it is, unfortunately, cracked. 1853 was a year of mixed fortunes. Janet had a stillborn son on 29th April and the next of their children to marry was Helen who married Robert Chalmers on 21st November. Before the wedding, the family bought a lamp. This was considered very “up-market” as they had used only home made candles up to this time.

At weddings of the farming community in Scotland in the 19th century, brides did not wear white. She would have a silk dress in a dark colour as it was to be her “best dress” for years to come. Often the dress was made to be let out “in case needs be”. Helen’s dress was dark brown.

At the time of this wedding, crinolines were in fashion. The three youngest girls were so disappointed because they could not wear them. They cut themselves willow wands (which bend very easily), made holes in the hems of their petticoats and inserted the wands to make their own crinolines! Needless to say, they got into a lot of trouble for making holes in their new petticoats.

The next winter, 1854-55, the siege and fall of Sabastapo1 took place. Years later, Catherine told her granddaughter that, during a snowy spell, she and her brothers and sisters had snowballed a wall, pretending they were at the siege!

January 23rd 1855 saw the untimely death of twenty-six year old Janet. Janet had never been very well and always rode the two miles to Church on horseback while the others walked. This walk involved scrambling down in to the valley of the Kelvin and up the other side before the track joined the main road.

1860 saw another family wedding, that of Elizabeth, who married Thomas Laing on 27th April.

The census of 1861 shows John as being retired but since he is apparently still at work in 1871 there must be some mistake.




1861 Census Dist 476 book 8 page 2

Banknock farm
Cuthill John		h  m	64	retired			Stirling, Denny
Hay Janet			w  m	56				Stirling, Falkirk
Cuthill Mary		d  u 	28				Stirling, Denny
Cuthill William		s  u	25				Stirling, Denny
Cuthill James		s  u	23			  	Stirling, Denny
Cuthill Christina		d  u	18				Stirling, Denny
Cuthill Margaret		d  u	15				Stirling, Denny
Cuthill Catherine		d  u	13	scholar			Stirling, Denny
Six rooms with windows

At this time, wool from the sheep on the farm was still spun on the farm by the womenfolk then sent to the local weaver to make blankets. Janet and Jean also grew flax to be spun and woven into linen. The youngest daughter, Catherine, said that her mother boasted that “she never had a piece of cotton on her back”.

1865 saw the marriage of Mary to Thomas Chalmers, 1867 that of John to Margaret Arbuckle and 1869 that of James to Robina Connell. With only three of the children now at home, and Elizabeth, John and James in Canada, Catherine wrote the poem Titled "The Old Hearthstone" which is the only one of her poems to survive. It is printed in the appendix to this section.

Census year came round again the following year:

1871 census 476 dist 8 pg 1

Banknock farm
Cuthell	John		h	m	74	farmer of 63 acres		STI, Denny
Hay	Janet		w	m	66	blank			STI, Falkirk
Cuthell	Christina		d	u	28	blank			STI, Denny
Cuthell	Maggie		d	u	25	blank			STI, Denny
Cuthell	Catherine		d	u	23	blank			STI, Denny
5 rm with windows

The 1872 Return of Owners of Land for the Stirling area records: John Cuthill, Banknock, Denny: 58 acres Gross Annual Value: Ł70-5s.Later the samr year, John died of peritonitis. He left a will, some details of which are given below:

Synopsis of Inventory. John Cuthill, portioner, Banknock died 20 Nov 1872.

1. Cash							        Ł  18
2. Household furniture, stock, implements, etc.			Ł123-17-01
3. Proportion of year’s rent letting to William Baillie. (Ł3 p.a.)     Ł    1-02-06
4. Surface damage due in connection with coal working on
    lands of Easter Banknock (est.)			                Ł    4-05-00
							         Ł147-04-07

This estate would be worth Ł6400 in 2002. John’s widow, Janet Hay or Cuthill is executor and the estate is to be distributed as follows:

Liferent to wife and all moveable effects (except threshing mill which goes with the land). Son James Ł135, son John Ł210, Jane (eldest daughter) Ł210, Ellen Ł110, Elizabeth Ł110, Mary Ł110, Christina, Margaret and Catherine - Ł150 each if unmarried. If they marry after their father’s death and during his wife’s lifetime, William is to borrow Ł40 for each for a marriage outfit and wife is to pay the interest. If they are married before their father’s death then they get Ł110 each.

Note William is not mentioned as a beneficiary. This is because he, as eldest son, would automatically inherit the whole of the heritable property i.e. land, minerals in the ground and buildings. This is recorded in Sasine Abridgements:

Feb 12 1873
1424
Not. Instrument. Janet Hay, widow of John Cuthill, portioner of Banknock, in her liferent use allenary and William Cuthill, engineer, Denny, in fee, - of the 5s land of Easter Banknock, with houses thereon in parish of Denny. with teinds, - on Disps. & Setts, dated 6 Mar 1871, by said John Cuthell, with consent of Janet Hay, with warrant of regn. thereon, on behalf of the said Janet Hay and William Cuthell.
39.156

Margaret, a dressmaker, and Christina, who was slightly simple, never married but Catherine married James Chalmers on 27th April 1876. Catherine’s dress was of clerical grey silk and was made by her sister, Margaret. As was usual, the minister came to the house to perform the ceremony. A meal followed and the couple went to their new home in the evening. Owing to the methods of photography in those days, no photo was taken on the day. Sometime during the next month the couple put on their wedding clothes and went to the photographer in the nearest town to have the photo taken. Catherine's wedding photo is included in the scrapbook.

The next census sees Janet living on her own in the Village of Cumbernauld:

1881 Cumbernauld Dumbarton 495 dist 8 pg 15

Main Street, Cumbernauld

Cuthill, Janet 		h  w	75	annuitant		Stirling, Denny

Janet survived a further eight years, dying in May 1899 at the age of seventy-six the cause of death being recorded as heart disease.

98. William Rea and Elizabeth Lindsay

The first mention of William and Elizabeth is in Dunnichen Old Parish Register:
17 May 1812 Dunnichen (283), Angus
William Rea in Forfar and Elizabeth Lindsay sometime in this parish unmarried persons had a child baptized Agnes.

After this there is nothing until 1818 when the Register at Kirkden records the following:

16 February 1818, Kirkden (298), Angus.

William Rea gunner 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Artillery and Elizabeth Lindsay gave in their names for proclamation in order to Marriage. They were proclaimed accordingly and afterwards married.

There is then a nine-year gap until 1827 when the following appears in the Forfar Register:

29 July 1827 Forfar (288), Angus.

William Rea weaver and Elizabeth Lindsay his spouse had their fifth child born 24th and baptized 29th July named Mary Ann.

Then, nearly two years later:

11th April 1830 Forfar (288), Angus. FR 1460.

Rea: William Rea pensioner and Elizabeth Lindsay his spouse had their 6th child born 6th and baptized 11th April named Joseph.

On the same page, and three entries below, appears the following, which fills in some of the gaps.

William Rea, Royal Artillery and Elizabeth Lindsay, his spouse, had their daughter born at Scarborough 29th December 1820 baptized 15th January 1821, Janet (The baptism of Janet is also recorded in Scarborough at the Old Meeting House – Presbyterian or Independent, Scarborough, Yorkshire, England.)

The above party had their son born at Woolwich 2nd and baptized 12th December 1818 named William.

The above party had their son born at North Shields 13th November and baptized 7th December 1823 named James.

The final child was Elizabeth:

11 Oct 1833 Forfar, Angus

William Rea pensioner and Elizabeth Lindsay had their seventh child born the 10th and baptized 11 October named Elizabeth.

It would appear that, after the birth of their first child, Agnes, William must have joined the Royal Artillery, returning six years later to marry Elizabeth. They then travelled on army postings among which were Scarborough, North Shields and Woolwich before William was discharged and they returned to Forfar sometime between 1823 and 1827.

The 1841 census for Forfar (288) book 10 page 8. Finds the family at Archies Park.
(Note that “y” means yes, born in the county, “n” means no, not born in the county. “E” indicates born in England).


Archie’s Park
William Rae	54	H.L.W. Army P		y
Mrs Rae		53				y
William Rae jr.	22	tailor j.			n	E
James Rae		17				n	E
Mary Rae		13				y
Joseph Rae	11				y
Elizabeth Rae	 7				y

The index of the Minutes of the Forfar Weaver's Incorporation has been checked but no one named Rea is therein.
Only two children remain in the family home by the time of the 1851 census.

 Forfar (288) book 13, page 12.

Archie’s Park
William Rea	h  m	64	pensioner R.A.			Forfar, Forfar
Elizabeth Rea	w  m	62	yarn winder			Forfar, Othlaw
Joseph Rea	s  u	20	HLW linen				Forfar, Forfar
Elizabeth Rea	d  u	17	scholar				Forfar, Forfar

William and Elizabeth died within six months of each other in 1858:

Death, Forfar Dist 288 no. 45.

William Rea	1858	M  71	Alexander Rea	Disease of 	New cemy 	Joseph Rea
Linen hand	March 1		crofter		heart and		Forfar	son
loom weaver	11h30m p.m.	(deceased)	general dropsy	as cert by	
(married)		Archies Park	Elspet Rea	several years	Joseph Rea
		Forfar		maiden name	as cert by Alex	
				Cargill		Smith MD who
				(deceased)	saw the deceased	
						25 Feb 1858

Death, Forfar District 288 No. 148

Elizabeth Rea	1858	F  71	Alex. Lindsay	Disease of 	New Cemy.	Joseph Rea
Widow of a 	23 September	linen weaver	heart and	Forfar 	as	son present.
linen weaver	Archies Park	(deceased)	lungs.		Cert. by 	
		Forfar		Elizabeth Lindsay			Joseph Rea	
				M.S. Doig				son.
				(deceased)

No tombstone is recorded in the available books of tombstone inscriptions.