Thursday 14 March 2013

Stevenson Family of Clackmannan

In Clackmannan Churchyard beside the gate
on the eastern perimeter wall
 is a rather plain wall mounted tablet in memory of
William & Helen Stevenson (nee Grindlay)
and their son Thomas.


The inscription reads:

Sacred to the memory of
Mr. WILLIAM STEVENSON who died 27th July 1839 aged 74 years
HELEN GRINDLAY his spouse died 8th November 1844 aged 63
THOMAS their fourth son died 29th November 1833 aged 24


The Stevenson stone can be seen in the above photo against the wall.


Clackmannan Church

William Stevenson and Helen Grindlay
were married at Falkirk on March 22nd 1801.

The image below (from Falkirk Parish Registers)
shows that Helen was of ‘this’ Parish, meaning Falkirk
and that William was of the Parish of Cumbernauld.


By searching for the birth of further children, it appears that the couple
had 7 children, but the fact that Thomas was listed on the gravestone as their
fourth son, indicates that there was possibly a male child born between
1806 – 1811 who’s birth had never been registered or perhaps had been
stillborn or died very early in infancy,

The children found are as follows:

William Stevenson, born 27th January 1802,
Christened 4th February 1802, Cumbernauld
Helen Stevenson, born 24th August 1803,
Christened 31st August 1803, Cumbernauld
Charles Stevenson, born 5th April 1805, Cumbernauld
Thomas Stevenson, born 16th December 1811,
Christened 6th January 1812, Cumbernauld
George Stevenson, born 17th July 1814,
Christened 14th August 1814, Cumbernauld
Robert Stevenson, born 13th January 1817,
Christened 3rd February 1817, Cumbernauld
Mary Stevenson, born (unknown),
Christened 22nd December 1819, Clackmannan

The births of the children show that the family were likely to have
lived at Cumbernauld and moved to Clackmannan around 1818,
between the births of Robert and Mary.
Various online sources state that William Stevenson was an
Innkeeper at Cumbernauld,
but rather than trying to delve further back,
the 1841 Census seemed a good place to start.

 Helen Stevenson (nee Grindlay) aged 55 can be found in the 1841 Census
at ‘Park’ Clackmannan.
Her occupation is listed as Independent, i.e. living on her own means.
There are no relationships given on this Census,
but also living at ‘Park’ is a 20 year old Robert Stevenson, farmer.
This is most likely to have been her son and his age would
have been closer to 24. Helen would have been nearer to 60.
(Ages were rounded down to the nearest 5)

Two months after his mother’s death, Robert married Jane Maria Blair.
Their banns were called and the marriage took place at
Clackmannan, 13th January 1845.


As can be seen in the above image, Jane was from the Parish of Drymen

She was the daughter of John Blair, Minister, Drymen and Jane Blair
(John Blair was educated at Glasgow University
and ordained in September 1816)

Robert and his growing family were at Park Farm House
on the following Census Returns:

1851
Robert Stevenson, Head, age 34, born c1817, Cumbernauld
Occupation: Farmer of 170 Acres employing 10 labourers
Jane Maria Stevenson, wife, age 28, born c1823, Girvan, Ayrshire
Jane Maria Stevenson, daughter, age 5, born c1846, Clackmannan
William Stevenson, son, age 4, born c1847, Clackmannan
Helen Anne Stevenson, daughter, age 2, born c1849, Clackmannan
John Blair Stevenson, son, age 8 months, born c1850, Clackmannan

1861
Robert Stevenson, Head, age 44, born c1817, Cumbernauld
Occupation: Farmer of 220 Acres employing 6 men, 1 boy and 4 women
Jane Maria Stevenson, wife, age 39, born c1822, Girvan, Ayrshire
Jane Maria Stevenson, daughter, age 15, born c1846, Clackmannan
William Stevenson, son, age 14, Scholar, born c1847, Clackmannan
Helen Anne Stevenson, daughter, age 12, Scholar, born c1849, Clackmannan
John Blair Stevenson, son, age 9, Scholar, born c1852, Clackmannan
Jemima Stevenson, daughter, age 7, Scholar, born c1854, Clackmannan
Mary A. Stevenson, daughter, age 4, Scholar, born c1856, Clackmannan
Ellison Ann Stevenson, daughter, age 2, born c1859, Clackmannan


O.S. Map, 6 inch 1st edition, 1843 – 1882. Perthshire, Sheet CXL.
Survey date: 1861-63, Publication date: 1866
(Possible Park Farm)


1871 Census, at 11 Forth Place, Stilring
Robert Stevenson, Head, age 50, born c1817, Cumbernauld
Occupation: Timber & Coal Merchant
Jemima A. Stevenson, daughter, age 17, Scholar, born c1854, Clackmannan
Mary A. Stevenson, daughter, age 14, Scholar, born c1857, Clackmannan
Ellison Ann Stevenson, daughter, age 12, Scholar, born c1859, Clackmannan


Forth Place, Stirling.


Entry in Stirling Trade Directory.

1881, at Nibley, Gloucestershire, England
Robert Stevenson, Head, age 63, born Scotland
Occupation: Farmer of 215 acres
Jane M. Stevenson, wife, age 57, born Scotland
Mary A. Stevenson, daughter, age 23, Scholar, born Scotland
Alexander Buchanan, Boarder, Single, age 53, Annuitant, born Edinburgh
(Archibald Buchanan is listed as ‘Imbecile from Birth’)

Daughter Ellison Ann (age 22) and son John Blair Stevenson (age 29)
were found in 1881 as visitors with the Christie Family
at 11 Abercromby Place, Stirling.
John’s occupation is listed as Timber Merchant & Farmer of 20 acres.
(Ellison’s relationship to William Christie, Head of the Household is listed as cousin.)



11 Abecromby Place, Stirling.

Robert died between 1881 and 1891 as in 1891 Jane is listed as widow.

1891 Census, at Melrose House, Fownhope, Herefordrshire, England
Jane M Stevenson, Head, Widow, age 68, born Ayrshire, Scotland
Occupation: Living on her own means
Ellison A. Stevenson, daughter, age 31,
Living on her own means, born Clackmannan
Mary A. Stevenson, daughter, age 23,
Living on her own means, born Clackmannan
Alexander Buchanan, Boarder, Single, age 63,
Living on his own means, born Edinburgh

1901 Cansus, at Melrose House, Fownhope, Herefordrshire, England
Jane M Stevenson, Head, Widow, age 77, born Scotland
Occupation: Living on her own means
Ellison A. Stevenson, daughter, age 38,
Living on her own means, born Scotland
Alexander Buchanan, Boarder, Single, age 75,
Living on his own means, born Scotland

England & Wales FreeBMD lists the death of Jane Maria Stevenson, age 86.
Registered in Hereford in the January, February & March Quarter, 1909

Note that from (at least) 1881 to 1901, the family seem to have had a permanent
boarder living with them – Alexander Buchanan.

No further information has been saught on
Robert & Jane Maria’s children, but it appears their son
William became Minister of Bothkenner Church, Stirlingshire.

He can be found enumerated at the Established Church Manse,
Bothkennar in the 1851, 1861, 1871 and 1881 Census Returns
and is said to be buried in the Churchyard adjoining the Church
although no existing/legible gravestone can be found.


Bothkennar Church and Churchyard.


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Tuesday 12 March 2013

New locations in Bathgate,West Lothian

Kirkton Churchyard (or 'Old' Churchyard)



High Churchyard (or 'New' Churchyard)



Bathgate (Paulville) Cemetery




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Four children who died at Troon, May 1873 ……


Or so the inscription on a stone in Glasgow’s Western Necropolis says.

Was this a drowning? A disease epidemic?

By sourcing their death certificates, it was discovered that tragically, each of them contracted Diptheria and all died within a period of 19 days

They were the children of John Wingate, a Calico Printer in Glasgow and
Jean Langlands his wife.



In loving memory of JOHN WINGATE,
Born 8th July 1820, died 21st November 1891
Also four children who died at Troon, May 1873
And buried at the Cathedral, Glasgow
NORMAN, aged 3 years
NELLY FLEMING aged 5½ years
WATSON aged 19 months
And RALPH aged 4 years
His wife JEAN FLEMING LANGLANDS,
Born 3rd November 1828, died 25th March 1899
Their son ARTHUR WINGATE
Born 7th September 1862, died 4th November 1910

The stone is in Section XX, (Lair No.unknown)



Norman Wingate, age 2 years, died of Diptheria, 28th April 1873
Nelly Fleming Wingate, age 5 years, died of Diptheria, 4th May 1873
Watson Wingate, age 1 year, died of Diptheria, 14th May 1873
Ralph Wingate, age 4 years, died of Diptheria, 16th May 1873

The address listed for Norman and Nelly is ‘South Beach’, Troon’
The address listed for Watson and Ralph is ‘Sea Bank’, Troon

Perhaps the family were on holiday or they had taken the children to the
sea-side in the feint hope that cleaner-air would air their recovery.

After scouring the burial grounds at Glasgow Cathedral, no memorial for
these children has been found, but there is a possibility that they were interred
in the lair of their Grandparents John Wingate and Jean Smith.

John Wingate Senior, can be found from the 1841 & 1851 Census
where his occupation is that of ‘Clothier’

In 1841, John (Senior), his wife Jean Smith are living at Govan Villa, Govan
With sons Alexander age 20, John, age 20, James age 15, Walter age 5
and Robert age 3 and their one daughter Mary, age 9

By 1851 only John Junior, age 30 and daughter Mary, age 19
were still with their parents, living at Cessnock Park, Govan.

John Senior died 2nd May 1852 aged 64
The Wingate Lair is located on Wall C, Lair No. 163

(This indicates that the location is on the first ‘internal’ wall and faces west,
towards the rear of Glasgow Royal Infirmary building)




In memory of JOHN WINGATE died 2nd May 1852 aged 64
JEAN SMITH his wife died 27th December 1874 aged 81
And their children JEAN, ANDREW & HELEN who died in infancy
ALEXANDER died 1859 aged 41
ROBERT died 1876 aged 39
JAMES died 4th October 1888 aged 66
MARGARET his wife died 2nd February 1894 aged 72

Jean Wingate (nee Smith), widow of John Senior can be found in the 1861 Census
age 67 living at 17 India Street, Glasgow with her two sons,
John Junior, age 40 and Walter age 25

On previous Census Returns, John Junior’s occupation had gone from ‘Clerk’ in 1841
to ‘Clothier’ in 1851 & 1861, so perhaps he had followed in his father’s footsteps.

John Wingate married Jean Fleming Langlands on 9th January 1862
in Glasgow’s Blythswood District.

Their first child, Arthur Wingate, was born in Glasgow
on 7th September 1862 and his sister Janet Watson Wingate was also
born in Glasgow eighteen months later, on 20th March 1865.
Their third child Jeannie J came along in 1867 but she was born in
Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire.

On the 1871 Census, the family are found living at ‘The Knowe’ Villa,
Millken Park in Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire
where John is now involved in the Calico Trade.

John Wingate, Head of Household, age 50, born c1821, Glasgow
Occupation: Partner in Warehouse/Calico Printer
Jeannie Fleming Wingate, Wife, age 40, born c1831, Ireland
Arthur Wingate, Son, age 8, born c1862, Glasgow
Janet W. Wingate, Daughter, age 6 born c1865, Glasgow
Jeanie J. Wingate, Daughter, age 4, born c1867, Kilbarchan
Nelly H. Wingate, Daughter, age 3, born c1868, Kilbarchan
Ralph Wingate, Son, age 2, born c1869, Kilbarchan
Norman Wingate, Son, age 10 months, born 1870, Kilbarchan

The deaths of their 4 children may have instigated a move back to Glasgow.

The 1881 Census shows the family living at 6 Kelvin Drive, Glasgow:

John Wingate, Head of Household, age 60, born c1821, Glasgow
Occupation: Printed Calico Merchant
Jeannie Fleming Wingate, Wife, age 51, born c1830, Londonderry, Ireland
Arthur Wingate, Son, age 18, born c1862, Glasgow
Janet W. Wingate, Daughter, age 16, born c1865, Glasgow
Jeanie J. Wingate, Daughter, age 14, born c1867, Kilbarchan

John Wingate born 8th July 1820, died 21st November 1891, age 71
His wife Jean Fleming Wingate (nee Langlands)
Born 3rd November 1862, died 25th March 1899, age 70

The following newspaper articles may refer to the above Wingate Family
And if so, tell their own story.

Edinburgh & London Gazette







Arthur Wingate, the eldest son of John Wingate and Jean Fleming Langlands
Can be found in the 1901 Census now married with his own family
and carrying on the family tradition/occupation as ‘Calico Printer’

Living at 10 Prince’s Gardens, Partick, Glasgow
Arthur Wingate, Head of Household, age 38
Annie L. Wingate, Wife, age 33
Daughters Ruth M. Wingate, age 6 Lois M. Wingate, age 3
And Son John L. Wingate age 1


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