Fife Family History Society Journal

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FIFE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY JOURNAL

NEW SERIES No 36 Spring 2016

CONTENTS

Contents,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1 Editorial,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.,,,2 The Funkie Family in Fife. By Sandra Collins,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,3 Robert Noble (1857-1917) and The Fife Connection. By David Affleck,,,,,,,,,,,8 Spens/Spence Family of Berryhill, Abdie, Fife. By Adam Spence,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,11 Syllabus,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,15 The Munday/Mundy Family in CDysart. By Jackie Welch,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,16 Bobby Brown – A ‘Dunfermline Worthy.’ By David Allan,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.21 Who Do You Think You Are -- Jim Baxter – A Fife Footballing Family Tree,,25 Londoner Left Seething. By David Allan,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,30 Fife Family History Fair. 8 October 2016,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,32 Fife Family History Society,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,35 Help Wanted. Fife Convict Transporttes,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,36 Kirkcaldy Baptisms, 1662-1666. By Bruce Bishop,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,51 Some More Fife Soldiers and Sailors,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 60 Fife Family History Society. Chairman’s Reprt, AGM, 14 June 2016,,,,,,,,,,,,,65

The next Fife Family History Society Journal will be published in Sep 2016. All articles to the editor by 31 August 2016.

ARTICLES WANTED. Once again the Editor appeals for articles. It would help if these were typed and sent by computer disc or e-mail attachments, but they do not have to be. Please send the articles on in normal spacing, not space and a half or double spacing. Notes should be put at the end of the article, and not as footnotes. This will all help in editing. Hand written articles will also be accepted, but there may be a delay in these appearing in the Journal.

FIFE FAMILY HISTORY FAIR. Carnegie Conference Centre, Dunfermline, 8 October 2016. Members are reminded about The Fife Family History Fair, to be hosted by The Fife Family History Society and to be held at the Carnegie Conference Centre in Dunfermline on Saturday, 8 October. You will find more information about the Fair, Speakers, and Stallholders, in our Editorial on p2, and also in the Centre Pages, on Pp 32-34. A Delegate`s Booking Form has been enclosed with this Journal.

EDITORIAL

JOURNAL. We are sorry for the late publication of the Journal. This is due to the Editor waiting for all the latest news to be collected on the Fife Family History Fair to be held by the Society at the Carnegie Conference Centre in Dunfermline on Saturday, 8 October.

FIFE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY FAIR. As stated above The Fife Family History Society will be holding a Family History Fair on the 8th October in the Carnegie Conference Centre in Dunfermline. Enclosed with this Journal you will find a Delegate’s Booking Form, and in the centre pages you will find a list of Guest Speakers (with information on them and their talks), and a list of stallholders who have so far booked. We are pleased to announce that Mr Robert Watt, a member of our Society, will be coming from Canada as one of our guest speakers. Mr Watt was Chief Herald of Canada from 1988 to 2007, since when he has held the title of Rideau Herald Emeritus of the Canadian Heraldic Authority. He was one of the Guest Speakers at the International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Science held in St Andrews in 2006.

CUPAR LIBRARY. Our Family History books and manuscripts, currently in Methil Library will be transferred in the next few weeks to Cupar Library, where we have been given a room. Packing will take place on the 6th August and the Society will announce when the room is up and running. Our stock of OPR and Census microfilms, and also microfiche, will remain at Methil Library, and thus there is still the opportunity at Methil to undertake family history research. Once the transfer is complete, our room in Cupar Library will be manned two or three days a week by Fife FHS volunteers to give help and advice to those researching their family history. Cupar is more central than Methil, has good transport links, and also the Library there has a really good card index to the local newspapers. It also has files of the Fife Herald and the Fifeshire Journal which covered the whole of Fife, and also of the East of Fife Record (1856-1917) and the East Fife Observer (1914-1967), which covered the East of Fife.

McLAY/McLEAN FAMILY GATHERING. On 6th August the McLay/McLean of Fife group will be holding their biannual gathering at the Lochgelly Centre between the hours of 12 and 2pm. All who are interested are invited to attend, especially those who may have McLean or McLay in their ancestry. Light refreshments. No cost. Contacts: Alicia Horne McLean and William McLean. Relatives will be attending from Canada, USA, Germany, Australia, and of course, Scotland. Further information on the Facebook page of The Fife Family History Society website.

2 The Funkie Family in Fife

Sanda Collins

I always had an interest in my ancestors and loved to hear stories about them

My 3 x Great Grandfather was Francis (Frank) Joseph Funkie (1798-1874), - married to Janet Keddie (1795-1872) - who was born/baptised at Wemyss, 6/10 April 1798, son of Christopher Funkie, gamekeeper (also described as footman, to Colonel Wemyss of Wemyss Castle), and Euphan Fowler.

This Christopher Funkie is a mysterious character. According to one report, he was of German origin, born in about 1775 in Westfalen, Prussia, the son of Franciscum Funkie and Sybilliam Funkie (nee Weller). According to family tradition he was a ship`s lad when he was shipwrecked off Prestonpans, made it safely to shore, and never left. It is assumed that he came to shore in East Lothian. “All the Funkies in Scotland are descended from this one man.” The first were born in the Lothian area, and from there made their way into Fife. The story was carried down from generation to generation, and even as late as the 1960s older members of the family were still speaking of this shipwrecked German sailor. BUT, according to another family tradition, he came to Scotland with an officer who had connections with Wemyss Castle. From the birth details of his son this officer would appear to be Colonel (later General) William Wemyss of Wemyss (1760-1822). Family tradition also has it that he helped a Wemyss officer in the Peninsular Wars. This officer would be the latter`s son, also General William Wemyss (1790-1852), who, although serving to the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders (which did not fight in the Peninsular campaign) served as a staff officer (ADC) to Sir William Erskine of Torrie, and was at the Battle of Fuentes d’Onor (5 May 1811), for which he was awarded the Military General Service Medal, with clasp.

It was not unusual for servants to accompany their masters into battle. M F Conolly in his Addenda to his Eminent Men of Fife in his “Fifiana” (1869), has a biographical notice on David Balfour Hay (1780-1868) of Leys and Randerston, who served in the Army under the Duke of York, and was wounded in an engagement in Holland, “and only saved by being carried off the field of battle by his servant, who came home with him and continued in his service”

Christefer Funkie was married to Euphan/Effie Fowler, who, according to one report was born at Prestonpans on 26 April 1761. From the births of his children we know that he was firstly in Haddington, before moving to Fife. He had the following recorded children.

[1] Mary Funkie; born Haddington, 15 July 1789; married Kettle, 15 May 1820, James Tod, son of James Todd and Elizabeth Henderson, who were married in Kettle in 1762; died Balmalcolm, 28 June 1865 aged 77

3 [2] Anna Christina Funkie (or Fonchie, as she is noted in the record); born Haddington, 9 Sep 1793. Single, she died at West Wemyss on 25 July 1857 aged 65, and was buried in West Wemyss Churchard.

[3] Francis (Frank) Joseph Funkie; born/baptised Wemyss, 6/10 April 1798; married Wemyss, 26 July 1822, Janet Keddie, dau of Robert Keddie, coal manager, and Janet Adamson; died East Wemyss, 26 Jan 1874);

[4] Chrisopher Funkie, born/baptised West Wemyss, 24 April/5 May 1800; m 1826, Margaret Scott; died Leven, 28 March 1864.

The birth of Christopher Funkie, on 15 July 1823, son of Frank Funkie, gamekeeper at Wemyss Castle, and Janet Keddie, suggests by the designation of the father that the first Christopher Funkie was then dead. From the obituary of Francis (Frank) Funkie in a local newspaper we are told that “regarding his ancestors many a stirring tale might be told, none more so than that attending the death of his father [Christopher Funkie], who was unhappily shot in Glasgow when wearing the uniform of his master, a military officer, who was held in low estimation by the Regiment to which he belonged.” Without the date of his father`s death, we are unable to progress the matter further, and a precognition does not seem to have been held into his death. After he was shot the Funkie family were given the option of a pension for life, a piece of land, or one of the children to be educated. The family thinks that Frank got the education, to enable him to succeed his father as gamekeeper at Wemyss Castle. His newspaper obituary tells us that he was head game-keeper on the Wemyss Eastate for “a long course of years,” and for a number of years had held similar situations on the estates of Raith and Brechin. Latterly he had been in the employment of John Haig of Cameron Bridge, “who showed much regard for him as an old servant”

Frank Funkie was married to Janet Keddie (born 1795; died Cameron Bridge, 25 Nov 1872), daughter of Robert Keddie, coal manager, and Janet Adamson. She was the sister of Philip Keddie (1793-1852), married to Mary Gibb (d 1869), who were the parents of the Victorian novelist, Henrietta Keddie (1827-1914), who wrote under the pseudonym of Sarah Tytler – see her “Three Generations: The Story of A Middle-Class Scottish Family,” published by John Murray of London in 1911. Frank Funkie and Janet Keddie had the following children:

[1] Christopher Funkie; born/baptised Wemyss, 15/27 July 1823; became a blacksmith at Windygates, in Markinch parish, where he died 3 June 1872 aged 50; married to Janet Spittal (she died 5 Mid Street, Abbotshall, 16 Dec 1903 aged 79), daughter of John Spittal, joiner, and Barbara Whyte; incorrectly described as the widow of Frank Funkie, maltman, on her death certificate

[2] Robert Funkie; born Fettercairn, 25 Jan 1825; became baker in Edinburgh; died Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh (usual residence, Ravenswood), 29 Nov 1900 aged 75; was residing at No 5 South Richmond Street, Edinburgh, when he married at St Cuthberts Church, Edinburgh, 8 Feb 1850,

4 Margaret Macdonald of No 4 Morrison Street, Edinburgh; daughter of Duncan Macdonald, carter in Middle Church Parish, Perth, and Jean Armour; she died Edinburgh, 16 April 1899 aged 74

[3] Janet Funkie; born Fettercairn, 12 June 1826; married [1] Simpson; [2] William Semple, coal miner; nurse to the Haig children of Cameron Bridge; died Edington House, East Wemyss, 12 Jan 1909 aged 83

[4] William Shand Funkie; born Fettercairn, 25 June 1828, son of Francis Funkie “at the Burn, and Janet Kiddy;” became journeyman baker in Edinburgh; died 14 North Richmond Street, Edinburgh, 30 July 1905 aged 70; was residing at No 18 West Richmond Street, Edinburgh, when he married Isabella Taylor, of No 12 same place, daughter of William Taylor, brassfounder in Kirkgate, Leith, in St Cuthberts Church, Edinburgh, on 29 Oct 1847; she was his first wife; his 2nd wife was Alice Thompson Wright (daughter of Thomas Wright, iron moulder, and Jane Dempster, who died Brown Street, Edinburgh, 7 Dec 1918 aged 56

[5] Margaret Funkie; born Edzell, Forfar, 26 April 1830; married to Andrew Wyles, merchant seaman; died Edington House, East Wemyss, 21 March 1915 aged 84

[6] Francis Funkie; born Edzell, Forfar, 5 May 1832; variously described as general labourer and private watchman, residing High Street. Innerleven, and latterly at Elgin Cottage, Leven, where he died 22 Dec 1904 aged 73; married to Margaret Deas (daughter of James Deas, merchant seaman, and Janet Rodger), who died High Street, Innerleven, 17 Feb 1897 aged 62

[7] Euphemia Fowler Funkie; born Auchterderran, 5 Feb 1835; married to James Sharp, iron moulder; died 98 High Street, Innerleven, 1 Oct 1930 aged 96; of whom more below

Euphemia Funkie (1835-1930), married James Sharp (1836-1917), had 7 children and lived at 98 High Street, Dubbieside. James Sharp was a metal moulder. Euphemia had a market garden at the back of the house. James built a shop on the side of the house, so that Euphemia could sell her vegetables. After her husband died in 1917, Euphemia relied on her market garden to make a living, with the help of her great-grandson, Armer. She was still digging her garden in her 90s.

Euphemia and James` son, John Balfour Sharp (1871-1948) - great grandfather of the author – married Annie Dewar Cation (1871-1889), who sadly died 3 days after the birth of her daughter, Mary Ann Arnott Sharp. John Balfour Sharp then married again to Isabella Campbell Neilson (1874-1958), and in 1910 he and his family emigrated to the USA, settling in Detroit. They had 7 children.

Mary Ann Arnott Sharp (1889-1978) – grandmother of the author – married Ebenezer Henderson (1886-1920). First they courted, and then got engaged. Then Ebe decided to emigrate to Canada. He went first, to get a job and find a

5 place to live, and Ann was to follow and they would get married in Canada. Ann`s grandmother, Euphemia Sharp, wanted a letter from the minister to prove that they were married. Ann arrived in Canada on 15 May 1912; they were married on the 14th June, and Euphemia duly got her letter from the minister. Sandra Collins still has that letter, and also the marriage certificate. When Ann and Ebe left the Church they were spotted by a passing fire engine, which drove in front of their cab, one of the fire-men ringing the fire- bell.

Ann and Ebe`s first son, John Henderson, died in 1913 aged 6 weeks. He is buried in Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal. Ann and Ebe then moved to Detroit, to live near Ann`s family. Ebe got a job with General Motors. Their son, Armer Henderson – Sandra`s father – was born in 1916 in Detroit.

In 1919 Ann got word from Scotland that her grandmother, Euphemia Sharp, was dying. Leaving Ebe in Detroit, she and Armer went back to Dubbieside to look after her. However, Euphemia did not die; she recovered, and Ann and Armer then made preparations to return to the USA. They were due to leave on 9th Jan 1920, but then came the sad news that Ebe had died of typhoid on 3rd Jan 1920. Ann then decided that she and Armer would stay at Dubbieside. She never married again.

Armer Henderson – Sandra Collins` father – often used to help his great- grandmother, Euphemia, in the garden. He was given a shovel and pail, and sent to shovel up the dung left by the passing horses. During the Miners` Strike of 1926, she gave the miners vegetables for their soup kitchen. When Armer, then aged 9, asked for some soup and was refused, Euphemia told the miners in no uncertain terms that if they wouldn`t give the laddie a plate of soup, they would not get any more vegetables from her garden.

When Euphemia`s father, Frank Funkie, worked for John Haig, Euphemia used to take the Haig children – Alexander and her sister – around the grounds of Cameron in panier baskets on a donkey – her sister, Janet Funkie, was their nurse. Haig House was gifted to the community as a fever hospital. It was going to be enlarged, but they couldn`t find the foundations stone. As Euphemia was then aged 95, and the oldest inhabitant in the parish, she was asked to point out the stone, which she duly did. With her in the photograph is her daughter, Helen (seated right), and Cllr Phoenix (centre back)

Armer Henderson (1916-2013) and Jean McMahon Brown (1917-1964) married in 1941. They were the parents of Sandra Collins. During WW II, after getting permission from the American Embassy, Armer joined the US Air Force. He was an aircraft mechanic, working on the aeroplanes. Armer was posted to Canada. When he got leave he was able to visit his relatives in Detroit, and spend time with his family. At the end of the War Armer had to go back to the USA Embassy to swear allegiance to the flag.

At the age of 34, Sandra Collins went out to America for the first time. Three of her gran`s brothers were then still alive, aged 80, 84, and 86, all fit and healthy, and looking much younger than their years. She had a lovely time

6 with them. “They are all gone now. But I have lots of cousins. We are very close, visit each other, and write and phone to keep in touch” – Sandra Collins

FRANCIS FUNKIE & JANET KEDDIE EUPHEMIA FUNKIE SHARP (SEATED LEFT) WITH DAUGHTER, HELEN SHARP HENDERSON, AND CLLR PHOENIX, BEHIND CENTRE, AT CAMERON HOSPITAL

7 ROBERT NOBLE RSA (1857-1917) AND THE FIFE CONNECTION

In May 2017 there will be exhibitions in Haddington and Kirkcaldy to mark the centenary of the death of Robert Noble, who was resident in East Linton in East Lothian for 30 years. Described in his obituary as one of the most able landscape painters in Scotland, he was “a constant contributor from 1877 to all Scottish and many foreign exhibitions, a founder member and first President of the Society of Scottish Artists.” We are told he made it a spendid training ground for younger artists. He was made a full member of the Royal Scottish Acadey in 1903.

In 2010 I wrote an article which was published in No 18 of the Fife FHS Journal. It was in response to an earlier article in their Publication No 41 relating to Provost William Greig of Buckhaven, and referred to his son, Thomas Greig, a draper in Methil, and his 2 sons, Thomas D Greig and William Greig, who both served in the Scots Greys during WW1. The late Roger Durman of East Linton hd bought the house called Drylawhill in 1998, discovered that it had been sublet to Robert Noble and his wife, Christian (later Christina) Greig in 1887, and that their first child had been born there in May of that year. Roger was curious to find out more, and undertook detailed research on Robert Noble`s success as an artist until he himself died in 2003. He left a very full archive of his research by listing the paintings and their subsequent ownership, with background information gleaned from owners, art dealers, and Curators of Art Galleries. One section of his files is devoted to the link which Roger managed to uncover with Fife. At least 20 paintings on Fife scenes by Robert Noble were identified, along with 4 by his brother, David, 2 by his cousin, James Campbell Noble, and 2 by another brother, James. However, it is the houses by the sea wall near the beach at Hyne Head in Old Buckhaven that offer the artistic record of local life rather tan other paintings of Fife`s pastoral landscape. The area is known to have attracted artists at the end of the 19th and early 20th Centuries. Robert`s visits would appear to be the background to his marriage on 7th October 1886 to “Christen” Balfour Greig at “Kirkland, Wemyss” by the Minister of the United Presbyterian Church in Buckhaven. He was 29 years of age, of 6 Comely Bank, Edinburgh, and she was 26 years old (This Church could have been the Old Meeting House, situated on the Links of Buckhaven, 2 miles from the Parish Church). Roger`s detailed notes on the stories linked to beach scene paintings are invaluable, as it is a community which has now lost its older protective but attractive sea wall. The houses of the fisher folk at this part of Old Buckhaven have been replaced with less attractive but probably better equipped houses. In its day the appearance of the area would have shown a link with the East Neuk architecture of St Monance and Pittenweem.

On the 16th March 2016 I walked the area with the Editor and listened to his 55 years experience as a Buckhaven resident. We passed areas I had been vaguely familiar with from my school days at the former High School in College Street. The former oil skin factory is no more, the old Harbour Wall has been washed away, and although there has been modern housing near the Old Harbour, the signs of neglect and measures to counteract vandalism were evident. Why, I asked Andrew, had it experienced so much planning

8 neglect. I was familiar with other examples of community restoration providing more attractive environments for people to live in and care for. Andrew`s response was to gift me a copy of the book, “Rambles in the Parishes of Scoonie and Wemyss,” written by Andrew S Cunningham in 1905. On p174 it refers to the changes from livelihoods based on fishing to coal, adding that “the streets which formed the old fishing village with the old red roofed houses cling to the rocks are still preserved.” It is different today. By 1910, the houses at the East Links, including the home of the Greig family, had been demolished to may way for the substantial expansion of the Wellesley Colliery. Coal was King, with its bings facing the sea.

More recent housing development has been built to inject new life in the former shore area, but the unattractive play park area had visible signs of rust. Initiatives such as environmental planting appeared to be lacking; but the saddest spot was the sight of a padlocked house, with flowers and toys by its side, where a young child had died. Some adjacent houses have metal grids to protect the glass. It was possible to spot the areas which suggested significant deprivation. I was reminded of my Pittenweem study of community life for the period from 1800 to 1855 and the exploration of social networks. Family networks and community cohesion will still exist, but are they strong enough to deal with the pressures of drug culture and unemployment? Politics in Scotland has changed as the prominent large house in East Wemyss, with its wall painting promoting “Yes” to the recent referendum campain, demonstrates. It had the appearance of a French Chateaux rising above a historic village, but a message reflecting the divisions in today`s political climate. Fife Council and the Scottish Government agency, Visit Scotland, promotes Fife as a Kingdom for tourists to discover. Impressive efforts to inform visitors of the area`s social history have been made, and are particularly visible at the site of the former Buckhaven High School. But the 1905 comment in Andrew S Cunningham`s book that “The Buckhyne of old is a village apart” now appears to have lost its identity.

What of the families and the descendants of the 8 children of William Greig, the former Provost of Buckhaven and father-in-law to Robert Noble. Where are they now? William`s gravestone still stands in the Old Cemetery of East Wemyss at Macduff, with its link to the old Kirk, St Mary`s by The Sea. It also names his daughter, Agnes Marion Greig who died in 1978.

My main reason for the walkabout was linked to an attempt to see if there had been ongoing links between Christian Greig/Noble, such as letters, or the sharing of Robert Noble`s momentoes. All I had found was a record that her brother, Thomas, who had taken on the family drapery business next to Methil Docks, became a Councillor, like Robert, and had been a pall-bearer at Robert`s funeral at East Linton in 1917. A newspaper report disclosed that William Greig, and his 2 sons, Thomas and William, had also attended the funeral. I also knew that paintings left at the Noble family home had been given to new owners by a daughter-in-law of Robert and his wife, when the family home was later sold in 1953. Did any of Christian`s family receive any paintings, and if so, do they still have them? Another question I cannot answer is whether Robert ever painted his wife or any of their 3 children. At the time

9 writing I have still to find any reference to Christian Greig and her 30 years of life in East Linton, or to her daughter, Isobel Margaret Lillan, who died of pneumonia at the early age of 24 in December 1913. Does other evidence of family kinship links with Buckhaven survive? An entry in the 1901 Census for East Linton shows that Christian`s brother, William, and his 3-year old son, William Allan, were staying there on that Census night.

I had another reason for my visit. When I attended the former High School on College Street, I never experienced any reference to the history of Buckhaven or ventured down the hill to see the Old Harbour. After the High School moved to a new building 2 miles away in 1957, the new headmaster of the new Junior Secondary School called Braehead was R F Mackenzie, a man I met and worked with in Aberdeen. He was a visionary in the area of Scottish education for disadvantaged children, reviled at the time in his battle to ban corporal punishment and his attempts to introduce children to natural history and the enjoyment of environment. After my visit, did any of that effort involve the community which had Braehead, the renamed school, as its centre? If he had been headmaster today would there have been links with the struggling community in their search of a future that offers more than political slogans?

And what of the Church of Scotland, the inheritors of Knox`s vision of Church and School in partnership. I had forgotten that I had attended a wedding in Buckhaven as a young child around 1948. Buckhaven had been served by a number of dissenting, or outreach, churches in the 18th and 19th centuries (one was transported brick by brick from St Andrews), with the old Church of Scotland Parish Church located at East Wemyss. William Greig`s obituary mentions his close involvement with two of them: Muiredge United Free Church, built in 1884; and the earlier United Presbyterian Church, erected after 1862. It also refers to his work for 10 years as Treasurer at St David`s UP Church. Did his descendants maintain this link. Perhaps some local historian can share their knowledge; and maybe, if I was younger, I could give more time to finding answers to my questions after this interesting and thought-provoking visit to uncover a Noble/Greig family history

(If anyone has a link with the Greig family of the Links of Buckhaven, who later resided at Rose Villa in Methil, can they please get in touch with me. It could be useful for us to meet before May 2017)

10 Spens/Spence family of Berryhill, Abdie, Fife.

According to the book, Lindores Abbey and its burgh of Newburgh – their history and annals by Alexander Laing, William Spens of Grange of Lindores died in 1628 as his son John Spens was served as heir to the lands of Inchery or Inchrye. William Spens purchased Inchrye Abbey from David Balfour in 1609 per RMS vii no. 65. From above it would appear that William Spens was born around 1560/1580 and that his son John mentioned above was born around 1600. John had six children recorded in the OPR of Abdie, these being Janat (1627), Helen and Bessie (1631), Gawin or Gawine/Gavin (1634), Alexander (1636) and Helene (1639).

Gawin Spens was possibly a solicitor or writer and is recorded in 1709 as being a baillie in Newburgh. He is mentioned on deeds/ bonds in 1662 and 1669 5 as Gavin Spens in Beriholl, along with Alexander Spens who it is believe would be his brother and is also recorded 1 as having lands in Woodfuff and Haughs. In the Cheape papers that are held at the University of St Andrews archives (see reference 22 below) there is mentioned a number of times of an Alexander Spens or Spence writer in Edinburgh and this is possible a reference to him. Additionally the coat of arms referred in the following paragraph may have been applied for by this Alexander Spens or Spence. Gawin had four children recorded in the OPR of Abdie, Jannit (1658), Alexander (1661), Bessie (1663) and Margaret (1665). There is no indication of a marriage before his children were born but there is a marriage of a Gawin Spens to an Anna Maxwell in Auchtermuchty on 13rd January 1666.

Alexander Spens of Berryholl born 1661 was a solicitor or writer and married Katherine Arnot, daughter of William Arnot and Jean Cheape, on 5th June 1686 5. They had eight children as per the OPR of Abdie, Henrie (1687), James (1688), Jean (1689), Jannette (1691), William (1693), Margaret (1696), Catrine (1698) and Alexander (1700). On the south wall of Abdie church there is a monument to Alexander Spens and Katherine Arnot that mentions a shield with a boar’s head and two barrulets for Spens of Berriehole 2. (A lion of arms register was instituted for Scotland in 1672 and on page 132 of An Ordinary of Arms 8 for SPENCE OF BERRIHOLE is the following entry “Arg. A boar’s head erased between two barrulets gu” or a black boar's head erased between two red bars on a silver shield. The family Motto is "Patior ut Potiar" (I endure as I enjoy)). Katherine Arnot was the second daughter of William Arnot and Jean Cheape born in 1666 and granddaughter of James Cheape of Ormiston, Rossie and Mugdrum, a prominent Edinburgh soliciter. In 1686 for allotment of stances at Newburgh church, Alexander is shown as occupying a double pew. Alexander may have invested in the Darien venture to central America. His name is also mentioned in 1695 1 and in 1701 4 in connection with a petition to Parliament by the “heretors of the shirifdom” of Fife concerning the Caledonian colony settlement in Darien. He died in 1713. Alexander also had a previous marriage which resulted in a daughter Isabel Spence, who first married Robert Chapman of Coblehaugh without issue, then Andrew Bruce of Newton. The following children, William, Alexander and Catherine 21 are known to be Alexander Bruce’s but it is unknown if they were Isabel’s, but they are most likely from a previous marriage of Alexander

11 Bruce. The youngest of these children, Catherine Bruce married Henry Bruce 14th Laird of Clackmannan, probably last direct descendent of Robert the Bruce. She is the Lady Catherine Bruce of Clackmannan in the painting by David Allan circa 1780. Catherine died in late 1791 12.

Alexander’s eldest son Henrie was served heir to his estate. He portioned it with his brother William but the whole estate was sold a few years late but purchased by the youngest son Alexander in 1743 who retained it until 1763 3. Henrie Spens first married Margaret Gourlay and they had one son Alexander (1720) 23 and three daughters Katherine (probably 1714) 21, Margaret (1716) 23 and Christian (1723) 23. Second he possibly married Jean Balfour 9. He died after 1738. It is possible that he was a solicitor or writer.

William Spence born 1693, son of Alexander Spens and Katherine Arnot, was a surgeon and apothecary in Dunkeld. William died in 1771 11. He married Margaret Spence in 1717, Jean Grahame in 1730 and Jean Bell probably in the early 1740s. There were at least three children from these marriages. William who became a surgeon in Great Marlebone Street in London, a daughter Elizabeth 6 and another son James born in 1746, whose mother was Jean Bell. James also became a surgeon, initially in Dunkeld - he was appointed surgeon to the newly raised 77th Regiment (Atholl Highlanders) in 1778 and in 1780 24 left to become the surgeon to the British Embassy in Turin. He also spent time in Derbyshire and married into the Fordyce family of Aberdeenshire 12. James and Elizabeth Fordyce had one daughter Elizabeth Isabella Spence, born January 1768 in Dunkeld, who became a voluminous writer, living mainly in England and made reference to the above Catherine Bruce and Clackmannan Tower in one of her writings 12.

Alexander born 1700, son of Alexander Spens and Katherine Arnot, was a surgeon and apothecary in Dunfermline, but most likely lived at Berryhole between 1743 and 1763. He married Rachel Pitcairn, daughter of George Pitcairn and Breatrix Calderwood, about 1722. They had six children as per the OPR of Dunfermline, George (1723), William (1725), John (1727), Beatrix (1728), Alexander (1729) and James (1732). Rachel must have died about 1735 as Alexander married Katherine Scott in 1737 10. They had one daughter Martha born 1739. Berryhole is located at NO258159 and per the 1st Statistical Accounts of Scotland in 1797 of the parish of Abdie, the mansion was in ruins, neglects or uninhabited like 7 others in the parish. In the second quarter of the 1800s Henry Buist purchased the property 3 in 1817 and built the present house on the foundations of the previous mansion.

Alexander, born 1720 son of Henrie Spence and Isobel Gourlay, was a surgeon and married Helene Colhune on 25th July 1745 at Kettle, Fife. They had seven children as per the OPR of Abdie Isobel (1746), Helen (1747), Margaret (1749), Alexander (1750), Catherine (1753), Peter (1754) and David (1755). Alexander died in 1768 13. Mentioned in his will of March 1768 are his children David, Isobel, Helen, Margaret and Catherine and also that he was living at Berryhill at that time.

12 William born 1725, the second son of the above Alexander Spence and Rachel Pitcairn, was a surgeon and practiced in Kinross, Leslie and Saline. He developed a number of medical recipes. One being for a cure of all kinds of nervous, putrid and epidemic fevers and the other for the cure of dysentery and blood flux 14. It is likely that his brother George died as an infant or in childhood as William is shown in the Sheriff Court of Fife Deeds 7 as only or eldest son of Alexander. William married Jean Steedman of Kinross and had five children as per OPRs, James (1753; Kinross), Eleson (1757; Leslie), James (1758; Leslie), Jean (1760; Leslie) and Peter (1763; Saline). Another daughter (the eldest) Rachel 16 is mentioned but when she was born and her mother’s name is unknown. William died in Edinburgh in 1802 11. William lived at Boreland in the Saline district from the early 1760s till around the mid 1780s, the house no longer exists but was located at NT027943 15, after the mid 1780s he lived at Farniehirst, also in the Saline district, possible location NT010950 15, until his death. Jean Steedman is probably the daughter of James Steedman, merchant in Kinross, and Janet Steedman, who were involved in a divorce case and a case for damages in 1743/174419.

Rachel Spence married William Morries in 1774 and they had four children William, Robert, Andrew and Jean. William Morries died in 1786.In 1792 Rachel married George Cairncross. A court case ensues in 1793 as George Cairncross became bankrupt and Rachel’s annuity 16 from her first husband was deemed to be part of George Cairncross’s estate. The court in 1796 ruled against the annuity being part of George Cairncross’s estate.

With reference to the above Peter Spence born 1763 in Saline; he maybe the Peter Spence, weaver, who married Catherine Miller on 8th January 1790 in Edinburgh. This is recorded in the Dunfermline Kirk Session records of 23rd February 1790 as being an irregular marriage. Per the OPR for Dunfermline they had the following children William (1790), Peter (1795), George (1798), Thomas (1800), Catherine (1803) and Jean (1806). The family lived in Brucefield and Netherton near Dunfermline and Peter is likely to have died in Netherton in July 1816. To find the father of Peter Spence, a review of all recorded births on OPRs for a period in the third quarter of the 1700s took place, also marriages of a Peter Spence that might fit and record of children born to a Peter Spence that might fit. Also taking into account the Scottish system at that time of naming children where the first son is named after the paternal grandfather and the second daughter is named after the paternal grandmother. The Peter Spence that fitted these criteria was born in the parish of Saline in 1763 to William Spence and Jean Steedman. The old parish record of the 1763 birth indicated that the father was William Spence surgeon of Boreland, Saline.

In the case of William born 1790 and married to Ann Bowman at Dunfermline in 1820, his family members can be traced to Jedburgh, Peter born 1795 his family to Portobello, George born 1798 and married to Margaret Shedforth at Inverkeithing in 1821 his family to Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Jean born 1806 married James Davie on 1st January 1826 and lived in Dunfermline in the 1800s.

13 References:

1. The court roll of the Regailitie of Lindores 1695 in the Mugdrum Archives 2. Graveyard monuments in east, north and central Fife by John di Folco, 1969-70, page 213. 3. Lindores Abbey and its burgh of Newburgh –their history and annals by Alexander Laing 4. Minutes of Parliament January 9, A.D, 1701. 5. Papers of Cheape family of Rossie archived at the University of St Andrews. 6. National Archives of Scotland 7. Sheriff Court of Fife Deeds 1715-1809 – Fife family history website. 8. An Ordinary of Arms by John Balfour Paul publishes in 1893 by William Green and sons 9. http://www.denmylne.co.uk/history/BALFOUR.html 10. Marriage shown in Midlothian; Edinburgh - Register of Marriages 1701-1750 11. Caledonian Mercury. 12. Family record of the name of Dingwall Fordyce in Aberdeenshire 13. Wills from ScotlandsPeople. 14. The Scots Magazine volume 21 page 500. 15. National Library of Scotland. 16. Dunfermline Deeds 1700-1884 – Fife family history website. 17. Fourth report of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts. Part 1 dated 1874. 18. Pittencrieff Glen: Its antiquities, history and legends by J.B. Mackie published in 1903. 19. Commissariot of Edinburgh: Consitorial processes and decreets 1658-1800. 20. History of the Fife Pitcairns and Constance Pitcairn’s History of the Pitcairns published in 1905. 21. University of St Andrews archives – papers of the Cheape family of Rossie in Fife, call # 36929 box11/107, double bond of provision, Alexander Spens in favour of children and heirs: 1711 & 1705 and call # ms36929 Box8/291, "Katherine Spence, eldest daughter to Harry Spence, sometime lord of Berryholl" dated 16 November 1738". 22. Genealogical History of the Wisharts of Pittarrow and Logie Wishart 1914. 23. Per OPR for Abdie. 24. Dunkeld archives. 25. Chartulary of the abbey of Lindores 1195-1479

Possible Spens relatives/cousins in Abdie and Newburgh:

James Spens born about 1630 married to Catherine Robertson living in Newburgh. James and Catherine had the following four children per OPR, James (1656), David (1659), Thomas (1660) and David (1663). The above Thomas married Jean Anderson 30 October 1685 and they had 7 children as per OPR, Alisone (1686), John (1688), Margaret (1690), Andrew (1703), Thomas (1706), William (1709) and Sisell (1712). He is shown in 1695 as having tenement and ruds and Woodruff land 1. David Spens born 1663, married Margaret Ballingham 6 January 1688 and they had 5 children per OPR, Thomas (1688), Andrew (1697), Jean (1704), David (1706) and Christian (1707). He is shown in 1695 as having tenement and ruds and Woodruff land 1. David Spens christen on 16th September 1627 in Abdie, son of William Spens. Possible children of the above David Spens in OPR of Abdie, Bessie (1665), Elizabeth (1667), Nans (1669) and Cristane (1671). Marriage of Agnes Spens 6th June 1701 to George Dickson in Abdie OPR – could be above Nans. Grissel Spens married to George Orme 27th December 1634. Patrick Spense married Elizabeth Forsythe 6th November 1708 in Abdie per OPR. They had the following 5 children per OPR in Auchtermuchty, Katherine (1709), Michael (1712), Margaret (1715), John (1718) and Helen (1722). There is some confusion in the records as Patrick’s name changes to Peter for the last two children and Elizabeth is shown as Elspet .

14 Also there is a marriage of 19th November 1713 of a Patrick Spence and an Elspet Forsyth in Stratmiglo – there could be an error in the year.

Possible Spens ancestors in Abdie and Newburgh:

Will of Aleson Spens of 23rd May 1605 in Burnesyde of Parkside, Ebdie, spouse to Henry Tod – St Andrews Commissary Court 13. Reference to a Murdach (Murdock) of Spens, of Wilmerston or Wylmerston, dated 22 May 1439 making reference to Lindores and Berryhole on pages 502 and 503 3. Reference to Alexander Spens of Pettycreff (Pittencrieff, Dunfermline) 15th January 1403/04, dispute with others against Abby of Lindores 18. Reference to Alexander Spens of Pettencreffe 8th February 1478/79, charter of land of the late Thomas Rossy relating to lands in Newburgh 25. Reference to Marion Spence and spouse Andrew Pitcairn, 13th Laird of Innernethy (near Abernethy), Fife deeds of 1590s/1600s in Pitcairn genealogy 20. Reference to Bessy Spens, wife of Richard Wishart (1520-1593), farmer at Woodmill, Fife 22.

Adam Spence ([email protected])

SYLLABUS

13 Sep 2016 – Edward Small. 1868: The Glorious Year 11 Oct 2016 – Records in Special Collections, St Andrews University Library 08 Nov 2016 – [To be Confirmed]: Forth Crossing 13 Dec 2016 - Entertainment Night (Details later) 14 Feb 2017 – Andrew R Nicol: SCRAN 14 Mar 2017 – David Carstairs: Fife and Forfar Yeomanry 11 Apr 2017 – To Be Confirmed 09 May 2017 – Visit to Ceres Folk Museum 13 Jun 2017 – AGM & Members` Night (their experiences in researching)

Our venue for talks is the same as last year in Volunteer House (Vonef Centre) in 69 Crossgate Cupar KY15 5AS, which is a 5 minute walk from the train station and less for the main bus stops. Crossgate is one of the main streets of Cupar. At night there is parking outside the building and there are also two public car parks. The Vonef centre is above the main Post Office, with the entrance to the right hand side when facing. Disabled chair. Talks start promptly at 7.30 - tea/coffee and biscuits included. Members entry free - Non members very welcome, entry £2 for refreshments.

15 The Munday/Mundy family in Dysart

By JACKIE WELCH

As a child growing up I can remember my mother was always proud of her Scottish roots. I had always considered myself to be half Scottish (having an English father) so when I started researching my Scottish half, the first discovery I made was that in fact my maternal grandfather was born in England and lived in England until he was 9 years old. His parents having no direct Scottish links. I'm not sure my mother even knew this, being separated from her father and brothers at the age of 10 following the death of her mother, and consequently being brought up by her mothers side of the family. The Scottish side.

This is the story of a family who moved to Dysart. The Munday family.

Michael and Elizabeth Munday ( my great grandparents ) moved with 5 or 6 of their 8 surviving children to Dysart in 1891. Their eldest son Stephen was residing in Durham, working as a coal miner at this time. John, their second son was in the navy and Albert their next son had died at the age of 2 years. Michael was a coast guard officer and throughout his married life had moved at least 6 times, both within Ireland and England. Michael and Elizabeth would by all accounts be used to moving, with both their fathers also being in the service. Michael was 48 years old when he was posted to Dysart, Elizabeth slightly younger at 40. So it is probably fair to assume that both Michael and Elizabeth, although still with a young family were probably thinking of their retirement together.

It was sometime between April and October 1891 that Michael and Elizabeth moved from Marine Parade, Yarmouth to Nether Street, Dysart. ( Nether Street was the site of the coast guard station) On two postings prior to Dysart, Michael had been described as chief boats man and Chief officer. Similarly two years after arriving at Dysart he is described as the Chief Coast Guard officer so it is fair to assume that on his posting to Dysart he was in charge of the station. Swan and Mcneill (2009) describe the coast guard station as being a small brick built watch room with a flag pole used to signal ships out in the Forth.

16 While Michael was working Elizabeth would have spent her time looking after the home and children. In 1891 at home were four children under 10 years of age and at least one older girl aged 13years. Although probable, it is uncertain if the eldest child, a girl aged 20 moved to Dysart with the family.

Old photographs of Nether street show houses that today would be classed as unfit for human habitation. Large families would live in cramped conditions with probably an earth floor and none of the “modern” sanitation facilities that we today take for granted. However as a Chief Coast guard officer Michael and his family may well have been considered to be one of the more affluent members of the community, and his family living conditions may have been somewhat better than most, maybe even living on the site of the coast guard station. Whatever the living conditions it can be certain that life for Elizabeth would have been hard by today's standards.

A hard life also for the two daughters, age 20years and 13 years, who would be expected to help their mother in the home, probably helping to look after younger siblings. However this would have seen them in good stead, for in October of that year Elizabeth died.

Elizabeth was 41 years old when she died on October 30th. 1891. She died at home in Nether Street, her death certified by a medical officer and registered in Dysart on October 31st by Michael. Her death certificate records her death as delirium tremors, double pneumonia with cardiac dilatation. Again it is speculation, but it must be considered that Elizabeth may not have been in good health when the family arrived in Dysart. If this was the case and she needed some nursing, this task as well as looking after the younger children and the house would have fallen on the daughters.

Certainly after their mothers death they would be expected to take over the running of the house.

Tragedy hit the family again just two months later in December 1891, when Michael and Elizabeth's youngest daughter died when only 21 months of age. Katherine Cecilia died at home in Nether Street suffering from Bronchitis and Inanition. Inanition, an exhausted condition resulting from lack of food and water, hopefully brought about by Katherine just being to ill to take any nourishment rather than ignorance or neglect. Katherine's death was certified by the same doctor who had certified her mother, and her father registered her death that same day. Life would

17 have carried on for the family, Michael continuing with his duties as a coast guard officer.

In April 1893 Michael remarried. Jessie Pennycook was a 53year old spinster living in West Wemyes at the time.. They were married in Nether street after the banns had been called according to the forms of the Roman Catholic church. Following the wedding they continued to live in Nether Street.

Sometime following the marriage and before the 1901 census the family moved from Nether Street. Michael would have been about 50years old by now and it could be assumed that he was retiring from the coast guard service and consequently having to move from his house that was provided by the service.

The 1901 census shows the family now living at 24 Hill Street, Dysart. Also known as “The Anchorage”, it is uncertain if the house was already named this or if Michael named it when he moved in. There had been some new houses built in Hill Street and maybe the family were lucky enough to have one of these. Michael is described as Retired Chief Officer, Royal Navy. Also living with Michael and Jessie in 1901 were three of Michael's children. Elizabeth, now aged age 23years and working as a confectionery shop assistant, Michael 18years old working as an apprentice iron bender and Howard who at 11years was a scholar.

By the 1911 census the family had dwindled again, with son Michael now married and daughter Elizabeth visiting her older sister in Edinburgh, there is only son Howard, living with Michael and Jessie. Michael is described as a naval pensioner and son Howard a mechanic working at the linen factory.

Jessie died in December 1919 from carcinoma of the tongue. She died at home in Hill Street. Her death was not registered by an immediate family member, but by a nephew from Glasgow. Why? Maybe Michael was unwell, and in all probability non of her step children were now living in Dysart ( Howard the last son to live at Hill Street had died the previous year) so the task might well have fallen to the nephew. Michael only lived four months following the death of his wife, dying in 1920 in Kirkcaldy Hospital from arterial sclerosis leading to a cerebral haemorrhage. Michael's death was registered by his eldest daughter who had come over from Edinburgh. Interestingly Michael's death certificate now shows the spelling of the surname as Mundy.

18 The first reference to the name being Mundy seems to be in 1893 when Michael and Elizabeth's eldest daughter was married. For about 10years both spellings seem to be used by different members, but by 1911 except for one or two exceptions the family were always referred to as Mundy.

Michael had outlived two wives and at least four of his nine children. So what had happened to the nine children?

1) Mary, born in 1870 was married in St. Marie's chapel, Kirkcaldy in 1893. Her husband Peter Adams was a jewellers assistant from Edinburgh. They lived in Edinburgh and had two children. Mary died in 1945 of a cerebral thrombosis.

2) Stephen, born 1871 worked as a miner in Durham before enlisting in the 1st.battalion Northumberland Regiment. He served in South Africa and was killed in Lichtenburg in 1901. Never married

3) John, born 1875 joined the navy as a boy. After leaving navy had worked as a railway wagon inspector and as a coalminer. Married in Cowdenbeath living there and later in Dunfermline. He had one daughter. Seems to have left wife and child and moved to Liverpool, enlisting in army in 1916 saying he was unmarried and had never served in any of the forces previously. This is verified by comparing signatures on daughters birth registration and army enlistment papers. Discharged from army in 1917 and according to his discharge papers was to rejoin the Navy, which he did in 1918, giving his daughter as next of kin. She was living in Edinburgh. His wife died in Dunfermline poor house in 1917. He also served in Merchant Navy during W.W.2.

4) Elizabeth, born 1878 . Although initially she worked as a confectionery shop assistant, she became a nurse, ending her career as a hospital matron. She never married and died in Edinburgh in 1955

5) Albert, born 1880 died at the age of 2years

6) Michael, born 1882. Married in 1906. and had four children. The first was born prematurely and died. Worked as a mattress maker. Enlisted in army in 1915 giving a Glasgow address although wife and family were in Dysart. Wife died 1918 of influenza, he then took sons to live in Glasgow, leaving daughter in Dysart. Remarried in 1919, within 3 months of first wife dying. Died in Glasgow 1953 of Cardiac Failure

19 7) Bernard, born 1885. Served in Navy from 1900 till 1904. Became a mattress maker, maybe in Glasgow. Unable to find any further substantiated information regarding Bernard

8) Howard, born 1889. Lived with father and step mother in Dysart. Worked as a mechanic at the local loom factory. Never Married. No record of war service. Died 1918 of influenza and pneumonia.

9) Katherine, born 1890. Died age 21 months from bronchitis and inanition.

In all probability this family were fairly typical of a family in the late 19th. and early 20th. century. Large family with not all children surviving and a second marriage after the death of one of a couple. Surviving children making their own way in the world. After the death of Michael in 1920, only one remaining member of this family appears to live in Dysart, a 12 year old girl, my mother, daughter of Michael junior. She left Dysart in 1942.

Over a 50year span the Munday's / Mundy's had arrived in Dysart, lived and worked in Dysart, moved from Dysart or died in Dysart.

References J. Swan & C. McNeil (2009) Dysart: In Days Gone By. The Dysart Trust

Jackie Welch ([email protected])

ScotlandsPeople Website.

The contract for running the ScotlandsPeople website ends on 31st August 2016. The current service provider (BrightSolid, run by D C Thomson Family History Ltd in Dundee, which also runs FindMyPast) will be replaced by CACI Ltd, a company based in England, with effect from 1st September 2016. The Scottish Association of Family History Societies has received assurances from ScotlandsPeople that all users` passwords and monetary credits will be transferred to the new service provider on that day, and that the ScotlandsPeople vouchers currently issued by BrightSolid will also be valid

20 Bobby Brown – ‘A Dunfermline Worthy’

I expect few nowadays will recall the exploits of Dunfermline’s legendary ‘ne’er do well’ Bobby Brown but or decades he was one of the auld grey toon’s characters.

Bobby Brown was born in Thistle Street, Dunfermline in April 1871. He was the son of Robert Brown from Cowdenbeath who had married a girl from Fordell named Margaret McGuire in 1861. Bobby, once he grew up, had a weakness for over indulging in strong drink and in then wreaking havoc. He started to build his reputation in the local courts and consequently through the columns of the local press in the 1890s.

In June 1897, Robert Brown, labourer, resident in Pittencrieff Street, Dunfermline, was sent to prison for 14 days by the Burgh Court, Dunfermline, having been convicted of stealing a bottle of whisky from a Dunfermline public house. The following March, Robert Brown, rag-gatherer, Dunfermline, was sent to prison for sixty days for the theft of some zinc. By October 1899, he was well known indeed. He then picked up another 14 days when he pled guilty along with a James Haggarty, to a charge of rowdy conduct. The Chief Constable highlighted that Haggarty had been convicted 52 times, and that Brown now was making his 28th court appearance. The pair were a pest in the town, and it baffled him to say what should be done with them.

Bobby though was just getting into his stride as the new Century dawned. He and his pal Haggerty started out by being imprisoned for stealing five furnace bars from a disused pit. There was 30 days for Bobby soon after that for stealing a pair of trousers from a shop in Bruce Street and then 40 days for theft of some cast steel which presaged an assault on a constable by pelting him with stones. Bobby was thereafter conveyed to the police station in a cart in which he was forcibly held down.

The Kirkgate was his favourite hangout and in 1904 he was charged with breaking into a washing-house in the Kirkgate, and stealing four washing boards, three pairs of socks, an apron, and a ladle. In court Bobby admitted, ‘It was a stupid idea, and was due to me having a “drap o’ drink”.’ He then reunited with his old partner in crime Haggarty to steal 5lbs of zinc from a plasterer’s premises. His next theft was of eight rabbit skins from a basket in a close in Catherine's Wynd. In 1905, he created a disturbance in Bruce Street on a Saturday night afterwards explaining that he had just come out of the Calton Prison on that day and had had no food. He had took a glass, and it disagreed with him. Sentence of fourteen days was imposed.

In July 1905, he was charged with having stolen from the premises of a china merchant in St Catherine's Wynd seventeen tumblers. He admitted the offence, and commenced a long story about the glasses being amongst rats. The Magistrate riposted, ‘You are not charged with stealing rats’. He sent Brown to prison for thirty days.

21 Stealing watches in Bruce Street and Dunfermline’s powerful whisky were among the reasons for his 1906 court appearances. Another spell of petty thieving saw him back in court in December 1906. The Prosecutor now believed he had the answer. He asked Sheriff Sherman to send Bobby to Perth Inebriates Reformatory for period of three years. The Prosecutor mentioned that the last person his lordship had committed to Perth had greatly benefitted from the experience. In reply to Brown’s agent who suggested less than three years' detention, the Sheriff said he did not think it would be fair to the system to limit the period, which is fixed at three years.

For three long years, Dunfermline’s streets were Bobby Brown free – law and order reigned supreme. In December 1909, Bobby was released from Perth as hopefully a reformed and sober character. He announced his return to Dunfermline though by assaulting Police-Constable Gallon by striking him the face with a cooked fish, and, after being locked in the police cells, breaking eleven panes of glass.

Back in Court, Bobby suggested he had a good excuse. He had been three years away from drink, and was sorry he took "a wee drap” for rheumatic pains. The drink went right to his head after had been so long "aff it”. The Prosecutor this time was less convinced that detention in an inebriates' reformatory was a surefire remedy. The Bailie stated it had not had much effect in Brown's case at any rate. It would be better if he were kept out of mischief over the New Year holidays and he was sentenced to a fine of 30 shillings or twenty days' imprisonment.

1910 returned him to prison for a spell after breaking into a public house. 1911 found him drunk and incapable yet again. After being sentenced to 10 days this time Bobby rushed up to the dock and implored the magistrate to give him 10 days more so as to keep him in confinement over the New Year. His request being denied, Bobby tore his clothes to shreds in his cell and threatened to hang himself. By 1912, it was noted he now had well over 100 convictions when he appeared in court. This time, he had entered the Dunfermline City Police Office and asked for a bed. His request was refused, and he left, stating that he would soon return. Later he was indeed back on a charge of having been disorderly and breaking a pane of glass in a public convenience adjoining the police buildings. Dr McGregor the police surgeon had then examined him with regard to his sanity and had found Bobby fit to plead. Bailie Norval then gave him 30 days and Bobby replied ‘that’s too much’.

Later he was sent to the Salvation Army Home in Edinburgh but only stayed there for two days before being arrested along with his brother in Dunfermline. He was then described as one of Dunfermline’s incorrigibles.

In 1916 a breach of the peace brought him before Dunfermline City Police Court. The Magistrate — ‘Have you anything to say for yourself?’ Accused – ‘I am very sorry. I have kept myself out very well this while back. I tried the soldiers, and went and offered myself a dozen times, but they won't have me. I will honestly take the pledge if you will be a wee bit canny with me’. Bailie

22 Kenny — ‘I will tell you what I will do with you this time. I will make sure you will keep the pledge by sending you to prison for thirty days. When you come out see that you don't touch drink again’. Accused (with an air of resignation) — ‘I was needing a rest anyway’.

In 1918 he admitted to nearly 200 previous convictions when he was jailed for six months for cutting a police constable on the face with a kitchen knife. The Fiscal summed him up as a notorious Dunfermline character and a perfectly hopeless piece of human driftwood.

In 1919 he was fined for being in a motor car in a garage in James Street, Dunfermline, belonging to Robert Philp, motor hirer, without permission. Pleading guilty he said — ‘I simply wandered myself into the place. I don't mind getting in at all. I had a good glass with some friends. This is the first time I have ever been in a motor car (laughter)’. 1920 saw him approach the driver of a car who was filling the tank with petrol, and ask for a shilling. On refusal Bobby tried to throw a lit match into the tank.

In 1922 there was excitement in Dunfermline one Saturday when Woolworths opened up their new shop in town. Bobby helped mark the occasion by breaking one of the shop windows. Patience with Bobby was now wearing decidedly thin and when he appeared in court on a charge of malicious mischief for the Woolies incident a second charge that he was a habitual drunkard had been added to the charge sheet. That allowed for another opportunity to send Bobby to an inebriates' home, but unfortunately there was no place available. Instead the Sheriff decided the next best thing would be to bang him up in prison for 12 months enforced sobriety.

By 1925 he was living rough in Dunfermline and got 60 days for kicking a police constable in the face in Dunfermline Glen. 1926 brought him a four month sentence for stealing three rings from a pawnbroker's shop in Chapel Street. ‘He is a piece of human derelict’, remarked the fiscal to the Sheriff adding, ‘It does not matter what you do to him - the greatest kindness you could confer upon him is to give him as much as you can to keep him out of mischief. He is absolutely hopeless. His record is deplorable’. Bobby advised, ‘I got drunk at the big fitba' match on Saturday’. The Fiscal asked then, ‘Is it the case that you have taken to methylated spirits again’? ‘No, sir’, said Bobby.

A 20 day stint inside in 1927 was preceded by a colourful story where he pleaded guilty "to ha'en a wee glass o' whusky." He said that in trying to save a dog his feet skited on a banana skin and he fell and cut his head. He was very sorry, he wasn't what they could call drunk, he was doing no harm, but just trying to save a little puppy. Bailie Wright said that accused could not look after himself, and it was desirable that he should be put away where people could look after him.

In 1929 he was found drunk in Pittencrieff Park. As regards court appearances in Dunfermline, Bailie Mackay said, ‘He must have the championship of this place’. Bobby pleaded for another chance. "Be as lenient

23 you can," he urged. The Bailie — ‘But you were up last week, and you told me if you got another chance you were going to Australia with some friends. Why didn't you go’? Accused — ‘I will never leave the town, unless, of course, to cross the Forth Bridge to prison. I was at the building of the bridge, but I never thought I would be across it so often’. Bailie Mackay remarked that accused seemed to treat the matter as a joke, but Bobby assured him that he was quite penitent. ‘Please give me another trial,’ he pleaded. Bailie Mackay, remarking that Bobby was generally a good pleader, said that he would just repeat the fine with the option of five days' imprisonment, and as accused was leaving the dock he reminded him that if he came back again he could not expect the same sentence. Accused — ‘I know, your Honour. I would not look for your kindness again’.

Late that same year, in St Andrew's Parish Church Hall, in Chapel Street, the members of the junior choir were practicing some Christmas numbers, and the music attracted the passing Bobby Brown. He wandered into the hall and, being known to most of the children, his appearance at once created considerable alarm, especially when Bobby adopted the role of soloist. When the caretaker arrived on the scene Bobby strolled towards the door with a number of hymn books in his possession and when stopped by the caretaker became abusive and struck him. It was back to Bailie McKay. The prosecutor explained that Bobby Brown had been drinking methylated spirits. Bobby expressed regret for what had happened, and explained that he had taken a drop too much with some cash he had got for working at the neeps. 10 days was the outcome.

In 1935, it was reported that he now held the British record for court convictions having by that time amassed some 369. The Thirties also saw him wage a one man war against the local Public Assistance Office in Abbott Street, Dunfermline. He would regularly visit the office seeking relief (benefits) and they would direct him to go to the Combination Home and Hospital at Leys Park Road. Bobby though did not like going there, because when he went he always had to put on a long white shirt which made him seem like a ghost. Invariably when Bobby then left the Public Assistance Office he would promptly return and throw a brick through the window – this ritual recurred several times a year throughout the thirties.

There was another episode when he was walking down Dunfermline High Street on a Saturday, Bobby Brown saw a raincoat at the doorway of a shop. He liked the look of it and donned it on top of his old one. In court he pleaded guilty to the theft. He did not need a raincoat for the next thirty days. He was off to East End Park for a game in October 1936 but had two or three pints of beer too much on the way and never got there. Instead he got another 20 days.

His loyalty to the Pars was again his downfall in September 1938. He was fined for breach of the peace in Abbott Street and blamed the incident on his excitement on hearing Dunfermline had scored a last minute equaliser v East Fife. In court, he said he went to the East Fife v Dunfermline match but came away at halftime because of the rain. Later when he heard Dunfermline had

24 scored he became excited and drank too much. The prosecutor suggested that this celebration involved Bobby approaching the Public Assistance offices and trying to throw a bottle at the window. The bottle though slipped from his hands and smashed on the ground. 20 days again.

Wartime did not dissuade Bobby from following his own path. On 2 January 1940 he was found drunk and incapable in Grieve Street, Dunfermline. Next day the Prosecutor suggested, ‘He has been behaving himself this year up till now!’ He was given another chance by Bailie Clark and admonished. This approach allowed him to be arrested drunk and incapable in Grieve Street again just one month later. The Burgh Prosecutor now suggested that not content with having 400 convictions this man wants to get up to 500.

Later that year he was charged with assault on a shop assistant. His explanation this time was that he had accidentally hit the girl on the head with bottle while doing "physical jerks". She had gone past as he was exercising with a bottle in his hand.

By the end of the War, Bobby was now in his seventies and he often preferred jail to the delights of the Dunfermline Combination Home and Hospital. In January 1948, he was found drunk and incapable in the High Street and was fined £2, or twenty days' imprisonment, and ordered to find £5 caution for his good behaviour, with an alternative of thirty days' imprisonment. ‘Ah weel,’ said Bobby philosophically on hearing the sentence, ‘it’ll maybe be better weather.’ He did not pay the fine. There were convictions then for being drunk and incapable in May and July but Bobby was now on his last legs. On 10 September 1948 he passed away aged 77 in the place where he felt like a ghost – at 64 Leys Park Road.

The centre of Dunfermline certainly became a quieter place without Bobby Brown’s presence – his incredible final tally of court convictions was reckoned to be somewhere around 500!

Who do you think you are? – Jim Baxter - A Fife Footballing Family Tree

There is a new book out about Jim Baxter – ‘Slim Jim’ – which is well worth a read. It purports though to reveal ‘the secret’ about Jim’s family background but of course much of the story is already well known in the Cowdenbeath area. However, Jim’s rather complex family history makes him a great subject for a ‘Who do you think you are?’ story and he must have one of the most amazing football family trees you could ever wish to discover.

The great Rangers and Scotland star Jim Baxter was born in Hill of Beath on September 29th 1939 – that was the accepted story but it’s just not really true. Jim was indeed born on that day but was born in Kirkcaldy Maternity Hospital. He was actually born as James Curran but adopted more or less at birth by Robert Baxter and his wife Agnes (nee Denholm) from Hill of Beath. He then became James Curran Baxter of Hill of Beath. Jim Baxter was brought up by

25 Bob and Agnes Baxter at 18 the Square, Hill of Beath and later 93 Sinclair Drive, Cowdenbeath.

The Baxters were really a Lumphinnans family. Robert (Bob) Baxter was the half-brother of baby James Curran’s mother – Betty Curran. He had played football with local juvenile side Cowdenbeath Excelsior. Subsequently, he played in the juniors with Inverkeithing and Hearts of Beath (from Hill of Beath). Bob Baxter played on the right wing in a league match v Morton in 1934 as a trialist for Raith Rovers. Bob Baxter’s brother Dave Baxter from Wardlaw Street in Cowdenbeath played senior for St Johnstone and then in the famous Raith Rovers 2nd Division championship side of 1937/38. Like his nephew Dave was a wing half.

Dave and Bob Baxter’s father was Robert Baxter. Another half back, he too played for Raith Rovers making 50 appearances for the Kirkcaldy club between 1902 and 1904. Robert Baxter was the captain of Raith Rovers but, in April 1904, he broke his ankle playing in a Fife League match against Cowdenbeath. Raith Rovers and Cowden arranged to play a benefit match for Baxter a month later. Robert Baxter remained on the books of Raith Rovers for a few years but never played for the club again. He had also been a member of the Burntisland Town Band. He moved to live in Lumphinnans and worked in the local pits. Baxter volunteered for active service when the Great War broke out and had previously served in the 1st Battalion of the Black Watch and held the King’s and Queen’s Medals for the South African War. He enlisted in the 2nd Battalion of the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) at Cowdenbeath. Private Baxter 3/3977 arrived in France on 22 April 1915. Exactly 3 weeks later, on 13 May, he was killed in action in the trenches. Robert Baxter is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial and on the Lumphinnans War Memorial.

After Robert Baxter was killed in the war, his widow married another local man named James Curran who became Bob and Dave Baxter’s stepfather. They later had a daughter named Betty Curran who of course was Jim Baxter’s mother. In 1934 when Dave Baxter was playing for St Johnstone versus Dunfermline at East End Park, he went on a darting run up the field with the ball at his feet. Watching on the sidelines was his stepfather James Curran who in the excitement suddenly collapsed. He was taken to the Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital but sadly had died after his seizure at the match. When Betty had her first child in 1939, she named him James Curran after her late father.

Now Betty Curran later married Jim Baxter’s natural father Bert Moffat and they went on to have three more children – Adam, Bert and Liz Moffat. Thus they were actually Jim’s brothers and sisters but were brought up as Jim’s ‘cousins’. Adam Moffat ran the local ‘tossing school’ and there is also a tale of how he was once summoned out of the bookies in Cowdenbeath High Street and summarily dealt with the leader of the Satan’s Slaves motorcycle gang who had arrived in Cowdenbeath.

26 Adam Moffat’s sister Liz Moffat married Ian Dair. Ian was a midfielder with Stirling Albion and Cowdenbeath in the 1970’s and played for Glenrothes when they won the 1975 Scottish Junior Cup. His brother Tommy Dair played for Kirkford United, Hibs and Hamilton Accies plus managed Crossgates Primrose. Ian’s son Jason Dair played for Raith Rovers (in their famous League Cup winning team), Millwall and Dunfermline. He is now assistant manager at Cowdenbeath. In addition, Jason’s brother Lee Dair who was a schoolboy internationalist played for Rangers, Raith Rovers, East Fife, Cowdenbeath and Hill of Beath Hawthorn.

Tommy and Ian Dair also have a well-known cousin in Tom Dair. Tam is one of Cowdenbeath’s best kent faces and a community stalwart. Tom was a Labour councillor and served on the old Cowdenbeath Town Council. Later, he was elected to Fife Council and held a number of key positions including that of Fife Council Convener. Tam played a bit of football in his younger days, footing it as a full back with Ballingry United and Ballingry Rovers when that club was first established. His grandson Rikki Dair is a strapping centre half who has lately skippered Hill of Beath Hawthorn and was called up for the Scotland junior squad.

Tam Dair’s father was Jim Dair who back in the early 1930’s played at inside left with Hearts of Beath and Burntisland Shipyard – the Dair family had originally come from Burntisland to live in Cowdenbeath. Jim Dair was married to Janet Drylie from another well known local football family – which also has further links to the Drummond and Bissett football clans from Cowdenbeath.

Jim Dair’s father was Tom Dair (the grandfather of both Tam Dair and brothers Ian and Tommy Dair). He spent 60 years working in the local pits, only retiring at the age of 76 in 1958. As a youngster, he played at right back for Kirkcaldy junior side Raith Athletic and with senior club Kirkcaldy United who were then rivals of Raith Rovers. In 1905, he moved from United to Hearts of Beath who were also a senior outfit at that time. Tom also played for Burntisland Cricket Club for many years. He also raced greyhounds in Cowdenbeath – his most successful dog being ‘Comedian’ which won a fair few handicaps in the early 1920s – when he raced against other well-known local whippets such as ‘Sunday Post’ and ‘Abdullah’.

His brother David Dair played for the original Burntisland Thistle football team which reached the Fife Cup final in both 1887 and 1888 plus won the Fife 2nd XI Cup in 1887. David also was capped by Fifeshire in an intercounty match v Stirlingshire at Falkirk in 1887. Another brother Willie Dair played at centre half in the 1887 Fife Cup final for Burntisland Thistle.

Bert ‘Puff’ Moffat who was Jim Baxter’s natural father was a member of the very famous Moffat family from Lumphinnans. Bert Moffat’s cousins were Abe and Alex Moffat. Abe and Alex Moffat of course were famed Communists and both went on to be President of the Scottish NUM. Among Bert’s brothers were Laurence and Adam Moffat. Laurence played in the Lumphinnans Wanderers side that won the Scottish Juvenile Cup in 1943 and his son Adam

27 Moffat played for East Fife and Newport County before going to Australia and playing for Auburn in New South Wales. Laurence and Bert’s brother Adam had a son named John and his son Adam Moffat played for Cowden and Raith Rovers in the early 1980’s before going to Kelty Hearts. Of course his son in turn was also named Adam Moffat and he played for Livingston, Cowden and Raith about 10 years ago – he is still playing in the Fife juniors.

I think that is a fair summary of the Moffat, Baxter, Curran side of things, It is a bit complicated! Now we can look at his adoptive mother Agnes Denholm’s side of the family and there is much, much more to be unveiled.

Slim Jim’s footballing heritage can be traced back on his mother’s side to his grandfather Willie ‘Wull’ Denholm. Willie and his brother George Denholm had been star forwards of the local Hill of Beath senior side Hearts of Beath. They both played for around a decade for ‘the Hillmen’ and helped them win the Fife Cup and the King Cup during that period.

The Denholm name reappeared in the Hearts of Beath line-up after the Great War. Willie Denholm’s son, also Willie Denholm, was a leading light at Hearts of Beath in the juniors until that club folded early in the 2nd World War. Also, when George and Willie Denholm came to Hill of Beath they were accompanied by another brother Peter. His grandson Willie Denholm was therefore a 2nd cousin of Jim Baxter. Willie played with Jim for Crossgates Primrose and made a single appearance for Dundee United in 1958 as a winger.

Willie Denholm also had another daughter named Jane. Jane married a Bob Simpson and this union also produced its share of footballing talent. Their son Alex Simpson played for Valleyfield Colliery and Crossgates Primrose in the junior league. It was actually Alex’s younger brother Bobby Simpson though that showed real talent for the game. Bobby played for Hill of Beath Boys Club and despite Cowdenbeath being eager to sign him he was soon Ibrox bound after a very successful spell in the juniors with Rosyth Recreation. He was capped by Scotland at Boys Club and junior level. Bobby though found his options limited at Ibrox – he was there for four years between 1949 and 1953. He made only 2 appearances during that time albeit he did score 2 goals in these games. He then had 2 seasons each with Alloa and Cowdenbeath before reverting to the juniors where he played for many years for Crossgates Primrose (alongside his cousin Jim Baxter) and subsequently for Blairhall and Clackmannan. Latterly, he helped run Valleyfield Juniors and still turned out for them on occasion in the early 1970s. Bobby had two footballing sons one of whom Allan Simpson played alongside him in the juniors for Valleyfield. His other son was Steve ‘Bingo’ Simpson who played on the wing for Raith Rovers.

We have now covered Jim Baxter’s grandfather Willie Denholm but we need to also look at his grandmother Janet Denholm (nee Muir). The Muir family adds another dimension to our tale. Janet Muir had 7 sisters and each has a footballing link. Their father was auld Eck Muir who was involved with the miners union for many years. In 1938, when he was 77, he had over 150

28 grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Hill of Beath who had 24 different surnames between them. His daughters, the Muir girls, we might assume on the available evidence were keen football followers. The eldest daughter Elizabeth Muir married Harry Neilson. Harry was then one of the stars of the Hearts of Beath side and also had a brief spell with Hearts (the Tynecastle version).

Now we have already revealed that Janet Muir married Willie Denholm but Willie’s brother, George Denholm, actually married his brother’s wife’s sister Catherine (Kate) Muir. George and Kate’s son George played for Hearts of Beath in the 1930’s and then went to Raith Rovers. He later played with York City. George and Kate also had a grandson by the name of John Durkin who played up front for Hearts, Dunfermline, and Gillingham after the War.

Another of the eight sisters was Margaret Muir who married a Lewis Allan. Lewis and Margaret Allan were the parents of Daisy Allan who was Andy and George Kinnell’s mother. Daisy was a great character and well known at Central Park when her son Andy was with Cowden. Sir Alex Ferguson recently recalled a run-in with Andy’s mum Daisy in a foreword to a revised edition of Black Diamonds and the Blue Brazil, the cult classic history of Cowdenbeath FC.

The Press picked up on the story – ‘The incident occurred when Fergie was playing for Falkirk in 1970 and was approached by the tea lady after a "running battle" with defender Andy Kinnell. Sir Alex Ferguson may be famous for his "hairdryer" temper in the dressing room but the legendary manager met his match when he had to be rescued from a terrifying tea lady at Cowdenbeath’.

Fergie was approached by the Cowdenbeath tea lady when he left the pitch. And he recalled: “In the tea room after the match, I was attacked by the tea lady. “‘You hit my boy!’, she said to me. She was Andy’s mother! “Andy used to kick lumps out of everybody. “I was rescued by Andy Matthew, the Cowden manager, who pretended there was a phone call for me. Cathy and I used to go on holiday with him and his wife Anne.”

Andy Kinnell skippered both Cowden and St Johnstone in the top flight and his big brother George did the same for Aberdeen. George as a youngster was my dad’s apprentice in the Co-op butchers up in Kirkford. He had a fine career down south with Stoke, Middlesbrough and Sunderland. Andy Kinnell’s son Andy also played for East Fife. George and Andy’s father was a cousin of Bert Kinnell who played with Dunfermline, Partick Thistle and Cowden after the War. Bert’s son Alan Kinnell also played for Cowden. Bert Kinnell’s brother Jim Kinnell also played for Cowden as did his son Iain Kinnell. Andy and George Kinnell also had a couple of uncles who played football – Robert Kinnell who picked up a sine die suspension playing for Kirkford Juniors in Cowdenbeath in 1934 and Willie Allan who played for Hibs and Cowdenbeath.

29 Now we previously noted that George Denholm married Kate Muir. Kate died at a fairly young age and George subsequently was remarried to a widow named Marion Sawers (nee Muir), another sister of Kate’s. George and Marion are Kevin ‘Bibby’ Fotheringham’s great grandparents. Kevin is still playing junior after a long and colourful senior career which encompassed spells with Rangers, Ross County, St Johnstone, Brechin, Arbroath, East Fife and Raith Rovers. Kevin is also a (step) cousin of Celtic’s Scott Brown.

Tommy Kelly married another of the sisters, Alice Muir, at Mossgreen Manse on Hogmanay 1914. Tommy was also a footballer - an outside left. He joined Cowdenbeath from Dunfermline in 1917. Tommy had previously played for local juvenile side Cowdenbeath Hibs and Hearts of Beath and had trialled with Raith Rovers. Later, he played again for Hearts of Beath and in total played for ‘the Hillmen’ for around 19 years. Two of his sons, Walter Kelly and Willie Kelly also became professional footballers. Willie Kelly was a rugged old school centre half. He went senior with Dunfermline and then gave both Airdrie and Blackburn Rovers years of stalwart service. Willie was married to a sister of Kelty Councillor Jock Wilkie (father of athlete Margot Wells – who herself is the wife of Olympic gold medallist Allan Wells) who played for Raith Rovers and Morton. Two of Willie and Walter’s brothers also played for Hearts of Beath. Walter conversely became a goalscoring centre forward most notably with Bury and Doncaster Rovers.

The two other sisters also married footballing brothers. Cecilia Muir married James McHale while Mary Jane Muir married Thomas McHale. James and Tom both played alongside Geordie Denholm for Hill of Beath Ramblers in the 1902 Scottish Juvenile Cup final. Later, they helped Hearts of Beath to enjoy senior success and at one time James was on the books at Cowdenbeath FC.

Thus all eight Muir sisters had footballing links. There were actually 13 Muir siblings all told – a whole football team’s worth plus 2 subs as there were also 5 sons. Alexander and Jane Muir’s 13th and last child was John Sawers Muir who was born in 1902. Sad to say Jane died in childbirth as her son John was born. Many locally though will recall John Sawers Muir (once a footballer in the juniors with Hearts of Beath) who died in Crossgates back in 2006 at the grand old age of 104.

Now if anyone feels like drawing a chart of Jim Baxter’s footballing family tree – I can only wish them the very best of luck!

Londoner left Seething

On 1 August 1943, the Sunday Post featured a photo of Mr and Mrs Peter Seath from Broad Street, Cowdenbeath. They were pictured on the steps of Cowdenbeath Miners Welfare Institute on the occasion of their Diamond Wedding with 85 of their 105 living descendants. The same photo and an article was also published that day in the Sunday Mirror.

Mr and Mrs Seath, aged in their 80s, then received the following letter – ‘Your photograph in to-day's Sunday paper with 85 out of 105 them NOT in uniform,

30 I call disgraceful. They stay at home and make money and have children galore, and they have all their creature comforts, whereas my four men from 58 -18 all at once got into uniform in August 1939, Navy, Army, and R.A.F. My husband, who went all through the Great War as an officer, has died on service in this war. Why should I give all my four men to protect your young men and women not in uniform? Cowards I call them and people who make money out of this war by stopping at home. My opinion of the Scotch is always a poor one, and your 85 stop at-homes make me despise them more than ever, but I suppose one can never expect much from the Scotch.’ The letter was signed ‘A Londoner.’

The Sunday Post reported the content of this letter in their 15 August 1943 edition and the distress caused to Mr and Mrs Seath. They set out the true facts of the matter – ‘Mr and Mrs Seath had 13 of a family. Three sons and six daughters are alive. At the beginning of the Great War three sons joined up right away — Peter, George, and Thomas. Peter enlisted in the Black Watch, and two months later was in France fighting. He became a King's corporal, being promoted on the field of battle for outstanding conduct. Twice he was wounded. His bravery won him the Military Medal. Eventually he was invalided out of the Services because of war wounds. His record shows he was twice mentioned in despatches.

George joined the Royal Lancashires and was discharged as unfit from wounds. Thomas joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders — was wounded and discharged. He died from the effects of mustard gas. In the present war, eight grandsons joined the army. One has been killed. Three are in the Royal Navy, one in the Merchant Navy. Almost without exception the others, mostly miners, have tried to enlist in the Services and have been refused because they are needed to produce coal. A family record to be proud of, Mr and Mrs Seath! If your anonymous correspondent ever gets to know the truth, she will surely regret her outburst, induced by her own loss and her silly anti-Scots complex’.

The last word on the matter came in the 22 August edition.

English Girl Apologises

‘I’m an English WAAF on a balloon site somewhere in Scotland. Let me apologise to Mr and Mrs Seath, Cowdenbeath, for "Londoner's" anonymous letter criticising the number of their family not in uniform. I've been in Scotland for 11 months, and the Scots, to my mind, are the nicest and bravest people I've met.

David Allan ([email protected])

31 FIFE FAMILY HISTORY FAIR, 8 October 2016

The Fife Family History Society will be holding a Fife Family History Fair at the Carnegie Conference Centre in Dunfermline on Saturday, 8th October. Consisting of Guest Speakers and Stalls, the Fair will be opened by our Honorary President, the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, K.T. The event will include a series of talks from key speakers on a wide range of subjects. And the Fair with stalls run by a number of Family History Societies and Local History Groups, both from Fife and wider afield. In addition, the Fair will include some new features such as “Ask the Expert,” with specialists on hand to assist visitors to overcome brick walls in their researches. Activities for children will also be available to encourage families to attend

The following Speakers have been booked:

[1] ROBERT WATT. From Canada. Mr Watt was Chief Herald of Canada from 1988 to 2007, since when he has held the title of Rideau Herald Emeritus of the Canadian Heraldic Authority. He was one of the Guest Speakers at the International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Science held in St Andrews in 2006. He has Watt ancestors in Dunfermline, one branch of which – George Watt (1806-1887) and his wife, Helen Meikle (1810-1892) – left 4 “caches” of Family Records, including photographs by local photographers from 1865, documents as far back as 1834, correspondence and some artefacts. He will be talking on the poor state of Dunfermline records, local photographers, and of how Emigration from Scotland can result in material of great interest and significance being found outside Scotland, in this case in Canada, the USA, Australia and England

[2] LLOYD PITCAIRN. Of Pitcairn Research in Dunfermline (18 Chalmers Street). This family business, which dates from 1970, was founded by his mother, Sheila Pitcairn, a noted local genealogist, as S & M Pitcairn, being joined by her daughter, Wendy Sinclair, in the 1980s, and by Lloyd in the 1990s. He had previously spent 10 years as a member of the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch. When Sheila and Wendy retired in 2005, Lloyd took over the business, and was joined by Wendy Lyn McLean. The firm specialises in Forensic Genealogy, in particular locating heirs to estates of those who died intestate (without making a will). Lloyd`s training and experience during his military career has proved invaluable in dealing with the complex issues of investigative genealogy

[3] SIMON TAYLOR. From the University of Glasgow, will be talking on The Place Names of Fife. The further back you go in your family history you may find place names which are difficult to decipher. This is where Simon Taylor can help you. He is joint author (with Gilbert Markus) of The Place Names of Fife, 5 volumes published between 2006 and 2013. Parish by parish the authors will take you through the place names (many of which no longer exist) to be found in old maps and plans, and their history. The Place Names of Fife is a masterful and scholarly work: the volumes vary in size from 560 to 760 pages; and the cost of publication was helped by grants from various Trusts and Societies. Volume 1 is now out of print, and probably the other volumes

32 will be likewise in a short time. Get your volumes now before they go out of print, for it is likely that they will not be reprinted. The only other previous book on the subject, The Place Names of Fife and Kinross (1896), by the Scottish advocate, W J N Liddall (1853-1907) of Findatie, was a single volume of only 58 pages.

[4] NEIL FRASER, of Historic Environment Scotland, will be talking about that statutory body, established in 2015, which took on the responsibilies of Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission of the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS, established 1908). Incorported into the latter is SCRAN Ltd, an online archive providing educational access to digital materials representing Scotland`s culture and history; the website contains 360,000 images, movies, and sound clips from museums, galleries, archives, and the media

[5] LEN SAUNDERS and FRANK HAY, who call themselves the Briggers, will be talking on “The Briggers: Forth Bridge Casualties” during it construction until the opening of the Rail Bridge in 1890. For those who want to know more, they are directed to the book, “The Briggers. The Story of the Men who Built the Forth Bridge” (Birlinn, 2009) by Elspeth Wills. The speakers will also touch on the Forth Road Bridge (opened 1963), and the new Queensferry Crossing. It was hoped that the latter would be opened by the end of this year, but this has now been put back to May 2017.

So far 27 stalls have been booked for the Fair, and it is likely that more will follow. The Stalls which have been booked to date are: Aberdeen & NES FHS; Aileen Clarke Crafts; Central Scotland FHS; Crail Museum; Cupar Heritage; Dundee University Archives; Dunedin Links; Dunfermline and West Fife FH Group; Dunfermline Historical Society; Elie and Earlsferry Historical Society; Fife Cultural Trust; Fife Mining Heritage; Fife Military Project; Glenrothes Heritage; Guild of One-Name Studies (GOONS); Historic Environment Scotand; Kirkcaldy Civic Society; Kirkcaldy Old Kirk Trust; Lanarkshire FHS; Lothian FHS; Markinch Heritage; Perth and Kinross Cultural Trust/Black Watch Museum; Recording Angels; Scotland`s Urban Past; Scottish Monumental Inscriptions; Tay Valley FHS; and West Lothian FHS

A Delegate`s Booking Form has been included with this Journal for those wishing to attend the talks, A light lunch of soup and sandwiches is also available. Tickets for the talks and lunches can be purchased online via Paypal by following the link at http://www.fifefhs.org/family-history-fair, or go to our webste (www.fifefhs.org), and click on “Fair.” Alternatively, tickets can be purchased by cheque by completing the booking form at the bottom of the Delegate`s Form, and sending your cheque (made payable to Fife Family History Society) to Fife FHS, 6 Church Lane, Ladybank, Cupar, Fife KY15 7LY

33 Fife Family History Society Est 1989

Fife family History & local history fair 2016 SATURDAY 8TH OCTOBER 2016

Carnegie Conference Centre Halbeath Road Dunfermline KY11 8DY

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5 Talks by Key Speakers Stalls ‘Ask the experts’ children’s activities Local History societies & groups Books Publications etc Admission to Fair and Exhibition FREE to the public/children Those wishing to attend the talks will find all information on how to book @£15 per person on our website. Lunch of soup & sandwiches @£6 per head also available but must be pre booked and paid for in advance via website. Forms also available to download. www.fifefhs.org/family-history-fair Scottish Charity No: SC025246 Email [email protected]

FIFE CONVICT TRANSPORTEES

The Editor seeks help in tracing the deaths of the following Fife Convict Transportees for his forthcoming CD on The Fife Kalendar Convicts to be published in 2018. He has chosen those on whom he has the names of the parents and spouses, and also those with unusual names. He realises that many may have died alone, and the informant of death may not have known the parents’ or spouses’ names. These are only a small fraction on whom he is trying to trace. If you have a 19th century convict in the family, he would be glad to hear from you.

The following abbreviations have been used:

PCC – Perth Circuit Court (ie High Court of Justiciary in Circuit in Perth) EHC – Edinburgh High Court CSC – Cupar Sheriff Court CSC w/jury – Cupar Sheriff Court with jury DSC – Dunfermline Sheriff Court DSC w/jury – Dunfermline Sheriff Court with jury BC – Burgh Court PC – Police Court MC – Magistrates Court Aggrav by pc – aggravated by previous convictions FH – Fife Herald FJ – Fifeshire Journal FA – Fifeshire Advertiser

BEEVER, JOHN: miner, aged 39 in 1853; he came to work at Forth Iron Works in Carnock parish in 1846, where he married, 10 Oct 1846, Mary McGregor (1823-1908), dau of Alexander McGregor, schoolmaster of Carnock, and Elizabeth Lawson, although he was still married (Kirkburton, parish of York, June 1 1835) to Mary Harrow, residing at Low Hentick, near Hepworth; he lived with his 2nd wife for some 12-18 months, and then deserted her after the birth of their child [Elizabeth Macgregor Beaver, born 19 April 1847] and went to Blackbraes, parish of Falkland; tried at PCC 26 April 1853 for bigamy; 7 years transportation (AD14/53/399; JC26/1853/30; FJ 28 April 1853); sentence commuted to impr, the FJ of 23 June 1853 & FA of 25 June 1853 reported his removal, by warrant of the Secretary of State, from Dunfermline Jail to the General Prison in Perth, and there to serve his sentence; licence for early release (No 5443) from Portsmouth Prison granted 29 April 1856 (PCOM3/50/5443); his marriage to Mary McGregor, or Macgregor, is recorded in the Carnock OPR in Oct 1846, but underneath the entry is written in another hand: “This marriage was declared illegal; Beever, having a wife alive at the time, was condemned at Perth Justiciary, 26 April 1853;” Mary McGregor (who had been born at Carnock on 13 Dec 1823, and baptised on 21 Dec 1823 by the Rev Alexander Thomson of Carnock) later married at Glasgow, 26 Dec 1861 (describing herself as a spinster, aged 35), Robert Cronin (aged 40), draper`s salesman/draper`s assistant from Carnock, son of John Cronin, currier, and Ann Clink; but she was also unsuccessful

36 with this marriage, Robert Cronin dying prematurely at 82 Crookston Street, Tradestoun, Glasgow, on 25 Nov 1866 aged 45; thereafter she remained a widow until her death at Mount Devon, Oakley Drive, Muirend, Cathcart, on 21 June 1908 aged 83

BROWN, EBENEZER: aged 28 in 1821, a native of Dysart (born c 1791); by trade a collier when he enlisted in the 79th Highlanders for 25 years` service on 29 May 1811, but served only 5 years and 71 days before his discharge on 7 August 1816, aged 25, with a pension (WO97/891/85); he was severely wounded in the left leg by a shell at Quatre Bras on 16 June 1815, which rendered him unfit for further action, and he was ordered to the depot on the Isle of Wight for his case to be determined; on the Waterloo Medal Roll as a private in Captain A McLean`s Co of Grenadiers, and also had an additional 2 years` service for Waterloo (his Waterloo Medal is currently held by the Highlanders Regimental Museum); as a Chelsea pensioner; he returned to Fife and worked in various collieries around Dunfermline, and latterly as a tenter in the Brucefield Spinning Co in Dunfermline; tried at PCC 16 April 1821 for the murder of William Henderson (aged 63), labourer, Nethertown, the husband of Ann Love (aged 58), but found guilty of culpable homicide and sentenced to 7 years transportation (AD14/21/29; JC11/62); on 18 May 1821 he was received on to the “Justitia” hulk, moored Woolwich, and from there was transferred to the Penitentiary Hulks, 1 June 1821; on 14 April 1824 he was again received on to the “Justitia,” and then was transferred to the “Ganymede” hulk; pardoned, 2 Dec 1824; see Fife Waterloo and Peninsular Veterans (Fife Family History Society Publications No , 2011)

BURTON, ROBERT (b 1815): land surveyor in Falkland, aged 35 in 1851. was born Falkland, 28 Nov 1815, and baptised 3 Dec, son of Robert Burton and Helen Armour, and married 5 Sep 1836 to Mary Wishart; in the FA of 7 June 1851 he was described as one “who has often figured” at CSC

On 18 Oct 1849 he was before CSC for travelling in a train without paying his fare, or at least with refusing to deliver his ticket and attempting to avoid payment. He was sentenced to a fine of £2, or 60 days impr. He put off payment for some time, and when the officers came to pound his effects, he stated to them that he had none, and paid the fine on their waiting on him again with a warrant for his apprehension. Half of the fine was handed over for the poor of Collessie parish (Fife Herald/Fifeshire Journal 20 Dec 1849)

He was in prison when he was tried in July 1851 on an Excise charge, having carried on business of an auctioneer at Kettle on 8 May last, without having taken out the necessary license, he was tried in his absence and fined £50 (FJ 3 July 1851; FA 5 July 1851)

In business with WILLIAM MONCUR, aged 30, merchant in Kettlebridge; couple bankrupt, July 1851; afterwards he was a book cavasser in Glasgow; they were originally due to appear at CSC w/jury 3 Sep 1851 (MS Libel in SC20/63/50, No 22; printed Libel in SC20/63/52; FJ 4 Sep 1851), but case handed over to the Circuit Court, and were tried at PCC 17 Oct 1851 for forgery, as also uttering forged bills of exchange, extorting money, and

37 falsehood, fraud and wilful imposition, and conspiracy to commit these crimes, which were committed in June 1851 (see FA 7 June 1851); Burton, 14 years transportation; Moncur, 7 years transportation; the FJ of 18 Dec 1851 & the FA of 20 Dec 1851 reported their transfer from the County Jail in Cupar to the General Prison in Perth, and the newspaper understood that they were to be shipped to London by sea, prior to transportation; Burton by “Dudbrook,” W Australia, 17 Nov 1852 (AD14/51/612; JC26/1851/168; FJ 23 Oct 1851, which has nearly 3 columns of evidence); Burton, description in 1852: married with 6 children, 6 ft in height, dark brown hair, light blue eyes, oval face, fresh complexion, proportionate build; Moncur imprisoned, awaiting transportation, and licence for early release (No 2409) from Portland Prison granted 12 Feb 1855 (PCOM3/24/2409); Burton: Ticket of Leave, 23 Dec 1854, and Conditional Pardon, 27 October 1857

CLARK, WILLIAM (b 1845): labourer, aged 18 in 1865, when he was residing with father at Balkaithley, in Denino parish, and in 1861 (Census) was a cattle feeder at Stravithy Farm (also Denino), aged 15, and residing Stravithy Farm Bothy; was born/baptised Leuchars, 26 Sep/15 Oct 1845, son of James Clark, labourer in Burnside, and Mary Leslie; he was tried at PCC 11 April 1865 for the rape of, or assault with intent to ravish, Robina Smith, or Trail, or Duncan (aged 28), a person of weak intellect, or imbecile, residing with Alexander Doctor, farm servant at Beley Cotton, also Denino; 21 years transportation; transferred from County Prison in Cupar to General Prison in Perth, by order of the Secretary of State, in May 1865 (see FJ 18 May 1865 & FA 20 May 1865); transported by “Corona,” W Australia, 13 Oct 1866, arriving W Australia, 22 Dec 1866 (AD14/65/225; FJ 13 April 1865; EFR 14 April 1865); Ticket of Leave, 2 Jan 1874, and allowed to remain in York; worked for himself as a labourer in 1874, 1875, and 1877-79

DAVIDSON, AGNES (b 1813): wife of David Anderson, papermaker at Woodside, Markinch (1842), and labourer, Mackie`s Mill, Markinch (1849) – the couple had married at Markinch on 21 Nov 1835 - she was afterwards in Gallatown (1851 and 1852), ages given as 36 in 1849, 41 in 1851 and 42 in 1852, and latterly employed by Thomas Wilson, farmer, Kirkland, parish of Ballingry; she was in Cupar Jail in 1851 and the Census gives her age as 38, born Gallatown, but she probably was the Agnes Davidson, born Kirkcaldy, 24 Aug 1813 and baptised 12 Sep, dau of James Davidson, labourer, and Betty Horn; she had a number of convictions for theft in CSC and PCC, the last of which led to transportation [1] CSC 10 Oct 1842; theft of 18 lbs of beef (SC20/63/26/2, No 76); [2] CSC 20 Aug 1845 [3] CSC w/jury 17 Nov 1845; theft from house in Holekettle, aggrav by pc for theft; 4 months, Cupar Jail (SC20/62/5, Pp 211-12; printed Libel in SC20/63/33, No 12; FJ 20 Nov 1845); [4] PCC 2 May 1849; theft of clothing from the house of David Barclay, labourer and tinsmith in Markinch; 12 months impr, General Prison of Perth (AD14/49/278; JC26/1849/59); [5] PCC 9 May 1851; theft of 2 half-crown pieces from house at Cash Feus, Strathmiglo, the property of Robert Ellice, weaver, aggrav by 4 pc; not proven (AD14/51/303; JC26/1851/102; also Libel, NAS); Davidson was in Cupar Jail at the time of the 1851 Census, probably awaiting this trial; described as charwoman, aged 38, born Gallatown [6] PCC 27 April 1852; theft of pillow slip and cap and 10s in money from bothy at farm

38 of Kirkland and house at Lochcraig, both Ballingry parish, aggrav by habit and repute and pc; 10 years transportation by “Duchess of Northumberland,” VDL, 25 Nov 1852 (AD14/52/276; JC26/1852/48; FJ 29 April 1852); arrived Tasmania, 21 April 1853; described as dairy-maid; disciplinary record: 10 April 1854, drunk and disorderly, admonished, and (apparently same date), drunk and neglect of duty, 4 months hard labour; 28 April 1855, 3 months hard labour for being drunk; Ticket of Leave, 6 April 1855; Conditional Pardon, 24 March 1857; she married William Mills at St Marks Chapel, Kangaroo Point, Tasmania, 17 May 1855

HENDERSON, ROBERT: labourer in Torryburn, where he was born in c 1791; he enlisted in the First Battalion, Royal Artillery, at Dunfermline on 25 Nov 1809 (the date of 1 Oct 1809 is also given), aged 18 years, as “a registered man,” and served as a gunner for 7 years and 7 months until his discharge at Woolwich on 30 April 1817 aged 25, in consequence of the reduction of the Regiment following Waterloo; he was then described as 5 feet 8 inches in height, black hair, hazel eyes, ruddy complexion (WO97/1235/93); he married in about 1828; in June and July 1836, when he was aged 46, he was employed by William Sands, joiner in Torryburn, in cutting timber (oak and larch wood) in the plantations at Oakley; a fellow worker was Isobel Ross (aged 18), an orphan, then residing with her uncle, Thomas Balfour (she was his wife`s niece), labourer at Shoreside near Crombie, and afterwards servant to Ann Flockhart or Syme, widow of William Syme; he was tried at EHC 10 Nov 1836 for the rape, or assault with attempt to ravish, of Isobel Ross on 14 July 1836, at or near the side of the public road, by the sea beach, leading from Torryburn to Crombie Point; not proven (AD14/36/426; JC26/1836/509; RHP141518, which is a plan of the sea beach between Torryburn and Crombie Point, where the alleged assault took place, extracted from the trial record)

Robert Henderson was later tried at DSC 3 Aug 1837 for an assault on Peter Edward, mariner, Crombie Point, and breach of the peace, 20 days or £2 (SC21/23/2); not to be confused with the Robert Henderson, native of Beath, who served in the Royal Artillery at roughly the same period

KENNEDY, DAVID LIDDLE: native of Stirlingshire; aged 18 in 1822, tailor, formerly of Edinburgh, but now in Dunfermline; with his sister-in-law, JANET DOUGLAS from Inverness, described as prisoner in the Tolbooth of Perth, formerly prisoner in the Tolbooth of Cupar, and JANET McCULLOCH, alias Douglas, the wife of Andrew Morrison, weaver, sometime of Westport, Dundee, but now in Aberdeen, tried at PCC 13 Sep 1822 for uttering forged notesof the Bank of Sir William Forbes & Co, Edinburgh; all, 7 years transportation; Kennedy by “Henry,” NSW, April 1823; and the two women by “Mary,” 3 June 1823, arriving NSW, 5 Oct 1823 (AD14/22/57; JC26/1822/135; JC11/65); Kennedy was imprisoned on the “Justitia” hulk, moored Woolwich, from 6 Nov 1822, before transportation

In Sep/Nov 1822, William Kennedy, a medical student, the husband of Janet Douglas and brother of David Liddle Kennedy, had petitioned His Majesty for clemency, pointing out that all 3 had not purchased or made the notes, but

39 merely circulated them. He also asked if he could accompany the convicts into exile (PRO Kew; Ref: HO17/6/29); the petition failed

David Liddle Kennedy – on Muster Roll, 1825; Certificate of Freedom, 20 April 1831; Description: height, 5’ 6;” fair/ruddy complexion; brown air; hazel eyes; several scars under left ear; small finger of right hand contracted; wore blue ring on 4th finger of left hand

KIRK, ALEXANDER (born Caithness, c 1790): aged 45 in 1836, journeyman tailor in Dundee, illegitimate son of Helen Ross (1755-1830) of Crail, and half- brother of Peter Hunter (1778-c1854), seaman in Crail and afterwards innkeeper in Largo.

Helen Ross was a remarkable character. After the birth of her first illegimate son, Peter Hunter, in 1778, she decided on the life of the wanderer, and seems to have earned her bread mostly by begging alone. In this, she was very successful, and amassed a considerable sum of money –George Gourlay gives the exaggerated figure of over £1000. She wandered all over Scotland, from Dundee in the east, to Lanark and Ayrshire in the the west. In Ayrshire, while travelling through Mauchline, she may have stayed at the Inn of George Gibson and his wife, Agnes, “Poosie Nancy,” which was a favourite haunt for travellers and the setting for Robert Burns` poem, “The Jolly Beggars;” she may have been there at the same time as Burns, but from Gourlay`s account she was far from jolly; she may have also ventured into England – according to Gourlay she was seen in Cheshire as “the wife of the boatswain who was [later] eaten by the cannibals of New Zealand,” in Newcastle, “leading a blind ballad singer through the streets,” and in Portsmouth, with the Scottish Regiment about to go to India

While she was in Caithness in 1790 she gave birth to a second illegitimate son, Alexander Kirk, the subject of the entry, probably named after the father. George Gourlay states that in Caithness, she “ was the companion of the old tar who got both his legs shot off in the Battle of the Nile.” Whether he was the father of Alexander Kirk has still to be determined.

What is known, is that in 1790, as she was travelling through the counties of Ross and Cromarty, she had £39 on her – a considerable sum of money in those days - which naturally aroused suspicion when she was stopped by the police and searched. They were naturally dubious that she had raised this money by begging alone, and were in the process of conducting her to prison when she fled, leaving the money behind. The £39 was later given to the Commissioners of Supply for Ross-shire, who used it to build “some necessary bridges” over a “dangerous water.” In Dec 1799, August 1806, and April 1828 Helen Ross petitioned the Commissioners of Supply for Ross-shire for the return of her money, through the Rev Andrew Bell of Crail and his son, John Bell, a lawyer in Edinburgh. The matter was eventually settled in 1829, when the Commissioners agreed to pay her £60 Gourlay also states that the Rev Andrew Bell successfully petitioned the Burgh of Linlithgow for the return of money wrongly taken from her, and also that she appeared before a court

40 in Ayr, where the magistrates decided that the money was hers, but ordered her back to Crail.

Although she was frugal with her money, when it came to the welfare of her sons, she was not miserly. She had Alexander Kirk apprenticed as a tailor under Thomas Henderson of Carnbee, “one of the best tailors of his day,” according to Gourlay. And to ensure that her illegitimate sons succeeded to her estate, she made three settlements in favour of her sons, and had these registered in various court books for preservation.

In 1806, when she was living at Waterlands in the parish of Carluke, Lanark, she appointed her sons, Peter Hunter and Alexander Kirk, as her sole heirs and executors in a Nomination of Executors, dated 19 July 1806 and recorded in the Register of Deeds in the Commissary Court books of Lanark.

On the 7 Nov 1827, when she was at Lawside, Dundee, she made a Trust Settlement on behalf of her two sons, in line with her declaration at Lanark, which was recorded in the Books of Council of Session on 10 Dec 1827. On the 1st Nov 1827 the two half-brothers had signed a Deed of Agreement (not recorded) resolving to share equally between them what was left to them by their mother.

Helen Ross`s last will was made at Crail in Jan 1830, a month before her death. Gourlay states that she had been ordered back to Crail from Linlithgow by the latter authorities in that month, so that her native parish should bear the expense of caring for one near death. She stayed with Peter Hunter, but rather than sleeping in a comfortable bed, she preferred to rest her worn-out and weather-beaten frame on a quantity of straw piled in a distant corner of the room (see FH 4 Feb 1830). By this time Alexander Kirk had been convicted in the Police Court of Dundee on the first of his several convictions for theft. This seems to have been the prime reason which caused Helen Ross to make a new will, although Gourlay states that she blamed Alexander Kirk for wasting her money, and gives the figure of £300. On the 27 Jan 1830, in a Latter Will and Testament, recorded in the Burgh Court Books of Crail on 9 March 1830 and in the Commissary Court Books of Fife on 12 April 1830, she left everything to Peter Hunter alone, and Gourlay gives the exaggerated figure of nearly £700. Helen Ross died on 26 Feb 1830, and the Inventory of her estate, recorded in the above Commissary Court Books of Fife, showed that she left only £260.

Alexander Kirk was obviously upset by the changed will, and in May 1830 he lodged a legal appeal, raising Summons of Count and Reckoning before the Lords of Council and Session on 13 May 1830, and Letters of Arrestment on 14 May 1830, both against Peter Hunter. Subsequently he accepted the sum of £50 from his half-brother in final settlement of the claim, in a discharge dated 24 June 1830 and recorded in the Books of Council and Session on 29 June.

Alexander Kirk had convictions for theft in the Police Court, Dundee, 12 March 1829, 7 & 18 Dec 1835, and 15 June 1836, before being tried at PCC 3 Oct

41 1836 for the theft of a pair of stockings and razor in Dundee, aggrav by habit and repute a thief and pc; 7 years transportation (AD14/36/90); he was received onto the “Justitia” hulk, moored Woolwich, on 25 Oct 1836, before being transported to NSW on the “James Pattison,” 10 July 1837 (RH4/160/4, p90); Alexander Kirk served his 7 years in New South Wales either on public works or assignments to local farmers. Ticket of Leave, 7 April 1843, allowed to remain in the district of Goulburn, altered to Windsor in a letter from Goulburn, dated 25 May 1843; Certificate of Freedom, 22 Nov 1843, when he was described as 5’ 6”, dark ruddy complexion, dark brown hair mixed with grey, dark brown eyes, lost the canine tooth on right side of lower jaw, blue scar left side of nmose, small scar on chin, mole on back of neck; the trail ends at Windsor.

Alexander Kirk was twice married; (1) Carnbee, 1810, Henrietta Miller. The couple had three children, all born Forfarshire (Angus) – Helen Ross Kirk (b 20 July 1814); Agnes Taylor Kirk (b 19 Jan 1817); and Duncan Taylor Kirk (b 11 Jan 1820). The two younger children were probably named after the Rev Anstruther Taylor of Carnbee. Of these children, only Helen Ross Kirk married, firstly, 28 Nov 1834, to Alexander Nicholson (d 1846), brassfounder in Dundee – 5 children – and secondly to Thomas Henderson, also a brassfounder, and the couple later moved to London. Agnes Taylor Kirk did not marry. Duncan Taylor Kirk (1820 – c 1844) was lost at sea on a stormy night when the ship went down with all hands just off Broughty Ferry, out from Dundee (2) Dundee, March 8 1828, Jean Fraser

See Thomas Hunter of Fife. A Canterbury New Zealand Shopkeeper, 1845- 1914 (1997) by Allan Hunter [Note: this Thomas Hunter was the grandson of the above Peter Hunter]; for Helen Ross see chapter, The Rich Beggar of Crail, in George Gourlay`s Our Old Neighbours; or Folklore of the East of Fife (1887), which appears to have been based on an article on Ross (by “a correspondent”) which had appeared in the Fife Herald of 4 Feb 1830

LANGLANDS, CATHERINE (b 1806): was born Kirkcaldy, 14 July 1806, dau of Alexander Langlands, labourer, and Hannah Nish, and was baptised 21st July, “in presence of the congregation;” she was residing Low Street of Pathhead in 1837, aged 28 and unmarried; had convictions in CSC and PCC, the last of which led to transportation [1] CSC 7 March 1836; theft; 40 days, Kirkcaldy Jail (Libel NAS, SC20/63/12, No 20; Fife Herald, 10 March 1836; also Fifeshire Journal) [2] CSC 16 May 1836; 4 different acts of theft; 40 days, Kirkcaldy Jail (Libel, NAS, SC20/63/12, No 26; Fife Herald, 19 May 1836; also Fifeshire Journal) [3] CSC 6 June 1837; theft from house at Tarvit Mill, parish of Ceres; 40 days (Libel, NAS, SC20/63/15, No 18) [4] PCC 26 Sep 1837; theft of salver, cup and tea-pot from the house in Craigie, Perth, occupied by Christian Malcolm or Pitkethly, widow, aggrav by habit and repute and pc; 7 years transportation by “Nautilus,” VDL, 25 April 1838 (AD14/37/160; JC26/1837/168); during the voyage was twice put on the sick list, described as a “prostitute, aged 28;” the first occasion was from 13-21 July 1838, suffering from catarrh; she was again put on the sick list on 27 Aug 1838, suffering from scurvy, and was discharged on landing on 6 Sep 1838 (from Medical Journal of the “Nautilus” convict ship, from Woolwich to Van

42 Dieman`s Land, April – September 1838, kept by J D Stewart surgeon – Ref: ADM101/56/1A/4-6); arrived Tasmania, 1 Sep 1838; her disciplinary record as a convict was not good; she was sentenced to various periods of hard labour for being drunk and disorderly and using abusive language, for being absent without leave, for neglect of duty, and for gross misconduct and indecency; Certificate of Freedom, Sep/Oct 1844; in 1841 she was employed by a Mr Pitt at the “Hunting Ground”

MORE, JAMES: labourer/weaver in Gallatown, aged 27 in 1849 and 31 in 1853, was born Dysart and married (Dysart, 15 June 1844) to Christian Robertson; had number of convictions for assault in CSC and PCC, the last of which led to transportation [1] CSC 23 Aug 1841; assault on Elizabeth Keddie, Gallatown; 21 days impr (Libel NAS, SC20/63/23, No 53; FH 26 Aug 1841) [2] prob the James More in Kinghorn tried at CSC Jan 1842 for theft; 40 days impr (FH 27 Jan 1842); [3] CSC w/jury 13 March 1843; assault on Henry Hazell, weaver in Kirkcaldy in Nether Street, Pathhead; 3 months, Cupar Jail (SC20/62/5, Pp 69-71; Fife Herald, 16 March 1843; also Fifeshire Journal, 23 March 1843) [4] CSC w/jury 12 Aug 1845; with David Westwater, labourer, Pathhead, assault on Robert Heigh, carter, Thistle Street, Kirkcaldy, on 21 June past, on the road between Dysart and St Clairtown; More, 4 months, Cupar Jail; Westwater, 2 months (SC20/62/5, Pp 196-200; printed Libel in SC20/63/33, No 8; FJ 14 Aug 1845) [5] CSC Dec 1849; breach of the peace and assault on officer of the law (Libel, NAS) [6] CSC w/jury 3 Jan 1850; assault on William Blyth, miner in Boreland (Dysart parish), also on police officer, and breach of the peace, aggrav by pc for assault; 12 months, General Prison of Perth (SC20/62/6, Pp 345-48; MS Libel in SC20/63/47, No 3; printed Libel in SC20/63/44; FJ 10 Jan 1850) [7] CSC w/jury 10 Nov 1852; assault on Robert Forsyth, flesher, Gallatown, James Keddie, miner, Gallatown, and his wife, Christian Robertson, or More; 4 months impr (SC20/62/7, Pp 155-58; also Fifeshire Journal, 1 Nov 1852) [8] PCC 30 Sep 1853; assault, by stabbing or cutting, to effusion of blood and great injury of person, on Alexander Simpson (23), iron-stone miner, Drumcarro, parish of Cameron, and his brother, William Simpson (28), iron-stone miner residing Weetfoot on farm of Greigston in parish of Cameron, aggrav by pc for assault; 16 years transportation by ‘Adelaide,’ W Australia, 16 April 1855, arriving 18 July 1855 (AD14/53/369; JC26/1853/97; FJ 6 Oct 1853); Description in 1855: mason, married with 4 children, 5` 8” in height, brown hair, grey eyes, long face, sallow complexion, middling stout build, bracelet with cross keys anchor, 3 rings right hand; Ticket of Leave, 25 Nov 1857; Conditional Pardon, 13 Nov 1860; Certificate of Freedom, 11 Oct 1869; in Champion`s Bay and Perth, WA; mason at Champion`s Bay, and worked for George Shenton at Northampton; bought Town Lots in 1865 and 1867; in the 1851 Census he and his family were residing in Gallatown with his father-in-law, Mitchell Robertson, carter, born Caithness; Christian Robertson, the wife of James More, was also born Dysart; the couple had 4 daughters: Margaret (born 25 July 1843), Mary (born 14 April 1846), Janet (born 4 Nov 1850), and Jemima (born 15 Sep 1852); at least 2 daughters – Margaret and Mary – had arrived in Western Australia by 1860

43 MORRISON, ALISON: aged 23 in 1836, wife of William Greig, plasterer/weaver/cabinetmaker in Cupar (Kirkgate; couple had married, Cupar, 16 May 1830, but separated shortly afterwards); had at least 3 convictions for theft, the last of which led to transportation [1] CSC 4 July 1834, theft from house in Bellfield; 3 weeks imp (Libel, NAS, SC20/63/10, No 20) [2] CSC 15 Dec 1834; theft, 40 days, Cupar Jail (Libel, NAS, SC20/63/10, No 31; also Fifeshire Journal, 20 Dec 1834) [3] PCC April 12 1836; theft of 2 shifts, the property of Ann Robertson or Johnstone, Schoolhill, Cupar, aggrav by 2 pc for theft and habit and repute a thief; 7 years transportation

On 20 April 1836, then a prisoner in Cupar Jail, she petitioned His Majesty for commutation of sentence to confinement in the Penitentiary at Millbank “for such period as to Your Majesty may seem fit” (PRO Kew; Ref: HO17/24/19). The petition was signed by 69 of the high and mighty of Cupar, and was forwarded to the Home Secretary, Lord John Russell, by Robert Honeyman, the Provost of Cupar. That her petition did not succeed can be seen in the fact that she was transported by the “Westmoreland” to VDL, 9 Aug 1836 (AD14/36/58; JC26/1836/4; Fifeshire Journal/Fife Herald, 14 April 1836); during the voyage was twice treated for costive bowels or costiveness (from Medical Journal of the “Westmoreland” from 21 June – 9 December 1836, kept by James Ellis, ship`s surgeon – Ref: ADM101/74/2/2); arrived Tasmania, 3 Dec 1836; various misconducts and misdemeanours while a prisoner led to periods of hard labour and being put on bread and water, such as: being found in a public house after hours; absent without leave; absconding all day without leave; drunk, and being absent all night without leave; found on board a vessel in company with an assigned servant; drunk, and leaving the Township [of Hobart] contrary to orders; Conditional Pardon, 2 April 1841; Certificate of Freedom, 30 Oct 1843; she married Mark Ewen at Bothwell, Tasmania, 24 June 1850; one son, William Ewen

MOYES, THOMAS (b 1795): journeyman weaver, Dunfermline, in Buffie`s Brae in 1837 and North Chapel Street in 1841, aged 41/45 in 1837/1841; a native of Dunfermline, born/baptised 21 Oct/8 Nov 1795, son of James Moyes, weaver at the Back of Dam, and Mary Strachan, who were married 25 Feb 1790; born and bred a weaver, he had convictions in PCC for assaulting wife, Elizabeth Reid, the second of which led to transportation [1] PCC 25 Sep 1837; aggrav assault on wife, Elizabeth Reid (aged 37), dau of Henry Reid, weaver and feuar, Pittencrieff Street, Dunfermline, and Rachel Dewar; the couple had been married upwards of 17 years (Dunfermline, 10 July 1819, when he was at Pilmuir), with 2 children (son and daughter); 9 months impr and to find caution to keep the peace for 2 years (AD14/37/145; JC26/1837/147) [2] PCC 18 April 1841; assault on wife, Elizabeth Reid, by striking her over the head with a spade; 7 years transportation (AD14/41/29; JC26/1841/66); imprisoned on the “Warrior” hulk, moored Chatham and Woolwich, from 21 June 1841, before being transported by the “Eden” to VDL, 7 March 1842; held 2nd Class Pass in 1846, and was free by 1849 (from Muster Rolls); probably remained in Australia after release; Elizabeth Reid died at Golfdrum, Dunfermline, on 9 May 1859 aged 60; she is described on the death certificate as “married,” which means Thomas Moyes was then still

44 alive; she was living on her own in Moodie Street, Dunfermline, in the Census of 1851, again described as “married”

PITHIE (or Spithy), JAMES (b 1835): ages given as 17 in 1850, 18 in1853 and 23 in 1858, and described as weaver in Golfdrum in 1850 and labourer in South Inglis Street, both Dunfermline, in 1858, was born Montrose, 30 Dec 1835, James McChristie Pithie, son of John Pithie, wright, and Helen Dummie; he had convictions for theft in various courts, which twice led to transportation [1] PC Dunfermline 4 Aug 1848 [2] CSC w/jury 12 Dec 1850; theft, by opening lockfast places, by breaking open the money drawer of Dundonald Colliery (Grieve & Nasmyth) and stealing its contents, amounting to 23s, aggrav by pc for theft; 9 months impr (SC20/62/7, Pp 32-33; MS Libel in SC20/63/49, No 49; FA 16 Nov 1850; FJ 12 Nov & 17 Dec 1850); was in Cupar Jail at time of 1851 Census, described as apprentice weaver, aged 16, born Montrose [3] PCC 26 April 1853; theft of shooting-coat and pair of trousers, and handkerchief from John Fisher, flaxdresser, lodging with William Sunter, sailor, Linktown of Abbotshall, aggrav by habite and repute and pc; 7 years transportation (AD14/53/394; JC26/1853/21; FJ 28 April 1853); the Fifeshire Journal of 2 June 1853 and the Fifeshire Advertiser of 4 June 1853 reported his removal from the County Prison in Cupar to the House of Correction at Wakefield (ie Wakefield Prison); in May 1858 he was a labourer at South Inglis Street, where he had resided for the past two years, when he was tried at PCC 6 May 1858 for the theft of a silver watch from the person of Ninian Nelson, West Grange, Culross, aggrav by habit and repute and pc; 10 years transportation by “Palmerston,” W Australia, Nov 1860, arriving 11 Feb 1861 (AD14/58/41; JC26/1858/47); description in 1860: tinsmith, married with 2 children, 5` 1½” in height, brown hair, grey eyes, long face, sallow complexion, middling stout build; Ticket of Leave, 29 April 1862; Conditional Pardon, 1 Dec 1865, allowed to remain in Champion Bay, Western Australia; was a shepherd, hut-keeper and labourer at Champion Bay

REID, JAMES: was born Fossoway, son of John Reid, weaver, who was in Old Inn Close (in 1847) and Queen Ann Street (in 1848), both Dunfermline; aged 16 in 1850 (and 16 in 1851, when he was lodging in house of Elizabeth Dow in Reform Street, Dunfermline), 18 in 1852 and 31 in 1866, he was residing with John Stevenson, weaver, Bardner`s Close, High Street, Dunfermline, in 1852, and lodging with Patrick Conolly, lodging house keeper in Bruce Street, Dunfermline, in 1866; in his declaration dated 7 Jan 1850 he stated that his father had died of cholera in the epidemic at the end of 1849, and having no employment and being left utterly destitute, he had to resort to stealing to support himself; this is not exactly correct, as his convictions indicate that he began his life of crime while his father was alive; he had convictions for theft in [1] PC Dunfermline 29 Jan 1846; 18 April 1846; 30 Dec 1846; 30 Jan 1847; 29 Jan 1848; 9 April 1849; 14 Juy 1849 [2] DSC 14 June 1847; theft of lead from house in Crossford, Dunfermline; 60 days impr; this was his 5th conviction for theft (SC21/23/7; FJ 17 June 1847) [3] DSC 29 Sep 1848; theft of cloth brush from house of Janet Ferguson or Peacock, Pittencrieff Street, Dunfermline, aggrav by pc; 60 days (SC21/23/9) [4] DSC w/jury 19 Feb 1850; theft of garden spade and grape from the cellar of David Hogg, manufacturer, New Row, garden reel from house at Hospital, iron coal

45 shovel from Robert Wilson, lapper, James Street, all Dunfermline, aggrav by habit and repute and pc; in Perth Prison in 1851 (Census), weaver, aged 18, born Dunfermline (SC21/23/11) [5] PCC 29 April 1852; theft of pair of scissors from house of above John Stevenson, aggrav by habit and repute and pc; 7 years transportion (AD14/52/281; JC26/1852/57); imprisoned, awaiting transportation; licence for early release (No 4229) from Portsmouth Prison on 7 Nov 1855 (PCOM3/39/4229), although in his statement in 1866 he stated that he was released from a convict prison ship in 1855 on ticket of leave; returned to Dunfermline, and from then until 1866 he was in constant employment as a labourer until he fell ill and was in Dunfermline Hospital; he was tried at [6] PCC 23 April 1866 for theft of flannel shirt from the shop of Barbara Neilson or Shearer, broker, Queen Ann Street, aggrav by his pc; 10 years transportion by “Hougoumont,” W Australia, Oct 1867, arriving 10 Jan 1868 (AD14/66/228; JC26/1866/28); Description in 1867: occupation nil, single, 5` 5” in height, light brown hair, grey eyes, square face, light complexion, healthy build; Ticket of Leave, 11 Sep 1871; Conditional Release, 1874; Certificate of Freedom, 2 May 1876, allowed to remain in the district of Albany; later a general servant at Albany, W Australia

ROSS, GEORGE: aged 40 in 1849, collier, Sawmill Coal-pit, near Lochgelly, husband of Elizaberth Calder or Callender (46), whom he had married at Leslie, 5 July 1829; committed for trial for incest in June 1849 (FJ 21 June 1849); tried at PCC 25 Sep 1849 for incest, 6-7 times carnal knowledge of dau, Janet Ross (18) over 2 year period; life transportation (AD14/49/268; JC26/1849/105; FJ 27 Sep 1849); the Fifeshire Journal of 13 Dec 1849 reported his removal, along with other transportees, from the County Prison in Cupar to Millbank Peninteniary in London, “The convicts will remain in Millbank until their ultimate destination be directed by the Secretary of State;” recorded children of George Ross and Elizabeth Callender or Calder were James Ross, born Leslie, 28 Nov 1829; and another three other sons, all born Auchterderran parish – George (b 16 April 1834); Alexander (b 25 May 1839) and Peter (b 26 March 1846)

SCOTT, NATHANIEL (or Nathan) [b 1822]: aged 19 in 1844, and between 17 and 18 years of age in 1840, was born Nathaniel Donaldson Scott, 5 Nov 1822, son of Robert Scott, weaver pensioner/soldier in Drumeldrie, and Elizabeth, or Betty Wood.

His father, Robert Scott (1786-1875) had been baptised at Monimial on 21 May 1786, the son of Arthur Scott and Agnes Brunton, he enlisted in the Army of Reserve on 10 Aug 1803 before transferring to the 42nd Regiment in March 1805. With the 42nd he was at Corunna (1809), where he was twice wounded, and was one of those beside Sir John Moore when he fell. He fought with his regiment in the Peninsula up to the storming of Badajoz (6 April 1812), where he received a severe wound to the left anke and foot, which caused him to fall from the top of an outside ladder inside the wall among the enemy. He always maintained that it was a stray bullet from one of his own regiment which hit him. The wound rendered him a cripple for life, and was the cause of his discharge as being unfit for futher service, and he was discharged on 23 Aug 1814, with the rank of Cpl and with a pension (WO97/581/95). Despite this

46 wound, he was still able to walk about “in his ususal way,” till within a few days of his death. He returned to Fife and settled in Newburn, where he was proclaimed/married 3/18 Feb to Elizabeth Wood. His latter years were spent with a neice in Williamsburgh, near Elie, where he died on 30 March 1875 (apoplexy, 3 days), aged 89. He does not appear to have been in receipt of the Military General Service Medal, 1793-1814. Obituary in East of Fife Record, 9 April 1875

Nathaniel Scott was the brother of Arthur Scott (aged 26 in 1844), shoemaker in Milton of Balgonie, and sister of Christina Scott (aged 22) in Colinsburgh.Arthur Scott was twice married (firstly to Ann Baxter at Markinch on 5 Sep 1846, she died Arbroath, 3 July 1875), and died in the Poor House, Arbroath, on 27 May 1881 aged 64.

Nathaniel Scott had convictions for theft in various courts, the last of which led to transportation [1] CSC 15 Feb 1836; theft of silver watch from the vessel, “Myrtle” of Glasgow, lying in Kirkcaldy Harbour; imprisoned (Libel, NAS, SC20/63/12, No 9; also Fife Herald/Fifeshire Journal 18 Feb 1836) [2] Haddington SC 20 Aug 1840 (under name of James Scott), [3] CSC w/jury 17 Nov 1840; 3 separate acts of theft in Dysart and Raith, by opening lockfast places, aggrav by pc for theft; 9 months, Kirkcaldy Jail (SC20/62/4, Pp 100- 01; printed Libel in SC20/63/21, No 17; Fife Herald, 19 Nov 1840; and Fifeshire Journal, 19 Nov 1840)

An account of these thefts can be found in the FJ of 8 Oct 1840. On Friday, the 18th of September, he called at an engineering establishment in Kirkcaldy with a message that an engineer should be sent to Dumbarnie quarry to make some repairs on an engine lately fitted up. Next morning, the engineer and Scott walked together to Dysart in order to take the steamboat to Largo, Scott assisting the engineer by carrying his tools. Just before the steamboat sailed, Scott gave the engineer the slip, and made off with one of his chisels. “It is needless to add that the workman, on arriving at Dumbarnie, found that so such message had been sent, and that Scott had succeeded in duping him and his master into giving him a bed and a supper. He farther learned that many acts of theft had been committed by Scott in that neighbourhood.” Next day, the Saturday, Scott made his appearance at Raith gardens, and, pretending that he had some information regarding the brother of the head gardener, succeeded in gaining access to the bothy there. He found the key to the foreman`s chest, from which he took a pocket-book containing #3. He then broke open, using the chisel he had stolen, a chest of one of the journeyman gardeners, from which he stole 15s, and a third, from which he took 12s. After this he took his departure. On Sabbath morning, every effort was made to find him, from Wemyss to Markinch, but without effect. On the Monday, a police constable was sent over to Edinburgh, but again with no result. Nothing was heard of him until the 27th of September, when he stole a bundle, containing some clothes belonging to a blacksmith from Kirkcaldy, at Newhaven pier. He was again not heard off until the 30th September, when he was detected by one of the workmen in the same Raith gardener bothy, attempting to break into some of the men`s chests, and was apprehended,

47 speedily handed over to the police, and lodged in the jail at Kirkcaldy (FJ 8 Oct 1840)

[4] PC Edinburgh 6 Oct 1841 (under name of Philip Scott); [5] PCC 30 April 1844; theft, by shipbreaking, from the “Union” of Kirkcaldy, and from the “Commodore” of Glasgow, lying at Leven; also of silver watch belonging to his father (which he afterwards sold to a man in Falkland), aggrav by pc; this was in Sep 1843; according to the Fifeshire Journal report, he had just been released from Perth Penitentiary; information of the thefts was sent to different police forces throughout Scotland, and he was apprehended in the High Street of Edinburgh and taken into custody; when arrested, he was wearing a new jacket, which was afterwards found to have been stolen from a ship in Leith Harbour on the previous Saturday (FJ 14 Sep 1843); 7 years transportation by “William Jardine,” VDL, 10 Aug 1844 (AD14/44/58; JC26/1844/32; FJ 2 May 1844); during the voyage was put on the sick list, 9 Nov 1844, suffering from rheumatism, but was discharged to duty next day (from Medical Journal of “William Jardine” convict ship, 10 July – 25 Nov 1844, kept by John Robertson, Surgeon and Superintendent – Ref: ADM101/74/9/5)

SHEDFORTH (or Shadden/Shedden), WILLIAM (b 1814): journeyman weaver, Buffie`s Brae, Dunfermline, ages given as 21 in 1838 and 22 in 1841, was born/baptised 16/21 Aug 1814, son of William Shadforth (died Pittencrieff Street, 9 Feb 1860 aged 77), weaver in Rumblingwell and Buffie`s Brae, and Jane, or Jean, Russell (who died Pittencrieff Street, 22 June 1860 aged 72, dau of William Russell, general labourer, and Elen Anderson), and brother of Robert Shadforth (born/baptised 25 April/8 May 1808, aged 33 in 1841, weaver, Nethertown Broad Street, Dunfermline, and married to Isabella McLean (who died North Chapel Street, 26 May 1863, aged 68, dau of Alexander McLean, labourer); he had convictions for assault in various courts, the last of which led to transportation [1] DSC 20 Sep 1836; with John Henderson, aged 19 in 1837, journeyman weaver to his father, William Henderson, in Woodhead Street, Dunfermline, asssault on Andrew Drummond, labourer, Primrose, and breach of the peace; 20 days and £2; John Henderson also to find caution to keep the peace for 6 months, under penalty of #10 or 14 days (SC21/23/2) [2] DSC 9 & 20 Dec 1836; with JAMES WILSON, weaver, Golfdrum, Dunfermline, assault on David Anderson, weaver, Pittencrieff Street, Dunfermline, and breach of the peace; Wilson, 20 days or £2; Shedforth, 25 days, and to find caution to keep the peace for 6 months under penalty of £10 or a further 10 days impr (SC21/23/2) [3] CSC w/jury 22 June 1838; with WILLIAM WELLWOOD, weaver, Baldridgeburn, Dunfermline, and JOHN DONALDSON, weaver, son of James Donaldson, labourer, Baldridgeburn, mobbing, rioting and malicious mischief, and preventing another weaver, John Bruce, from following his lawful employment; 2 months, Tolbooth of Inverkeithing (SC20/62/3, Pp 360- 62; also Libel; also Fifeshire Journal) [4] DSC w/jury 10 Dec 1838; with WILLIAM HENDERSON (18), weaver, residing with mother, Elizabeth Kinghorn or Henderson, Woodhead Street, Dunfermline, and ANDREW DOWNIE jnr (18), apprentice slater (to Henry McOwan, Woodhead Street), son of Anderw Downie snr, Golfdrum Street, with whom also resides JAMES

48 WILSON jnr (20), apprentice slater to said Henry McOwan, son of James Wilson snr, weaver, Golfdrum Street, and DAVID STEWART (17), likewise apprentice slater to Henry McOwan, son of William Stewart, weaver, Golfdrum Street; assault on John Black, Thomas Keeler, and William Robertson, all weavers, Pittencrieff Street, Dunfermline, and Thomas Robertson and Robert Thomson, both weavers, James Place, Dunfermline; all 4 months impr, Tolbooth of Dunfermline (SC21/23/1) [5] DSC 27 Jan 1840; assault on Andrew Mudie, feuar, Golfdrum; 40 days or #3, and to find caution to keep the peace for 6 months under penalty of £10 or 10 days (SC21/23/2) [6] PCC 21 Sep 1841; assault, by stabbing, on George Brown (aged 28), weaver, son of Elizabeth Morgan or Brown, widow, Woodhead Street, in Aug 1840, also on Ann Deas or Clark (43), widow, Woodhead Street, and also on brother, the above Robert Shedforth; he absconded in Aug 1840, but was apprehended in Saline by PC James McPherson on 5 Aug 1841, and committed for trial; the FH 13 May 1841 noted that: “He has been twice convicted by jury, and 3 times summarily, all for assaults, this making his 6th case. He is only 22 years of age;” 7 years transportation; imprisoned on the “Warrior” hulk, moored Chatahm and Woolwich, from 2 Nov 1841, before being transported by the “Dutchess of Northumerland” to VDL, 1 Oct 1842 (AD14/41/56; JC26/1841/109); Certificate of Freedom, 25 September 1848; another brother was John Shedforth, married to Barbara Robertson, who died in the Poorhouse, Dunfermline, 7 Jan 1883 aged 64; a sister was Mary Shedforth, married to James Cant, grocer, who died Woodhead Street, 15 March 1868 aged 58; and daughter of the above Robert Shedforth was Jane, married to William White, labourer, who died 17 March 1869 aged 31

SUTTIE, THOMAS: aged 37 in 1844, joiner, North Leith, but formerly in Scoonie, where he had married, 24 Feb 1838, Janet Richard from Edinburgh; he was the son of an innkeeper in Leven, and at one time was a grocer in the town, but was unsuccessful in business, and crossed over to the other side of the Forth; he kept a boat, and often came to the coast of Fife in the evening, on the pretence of fishing; with wife, Janet Richard (aged 33, born Edinburgh), and Alexander Johnston, ship steward, aged 33, residing High Street, Edinburgh, tried at EHC 17 June 1844 on 7 charges of theft by housebreaking from various properties mostly along the coast of Fife in Leven, Wemyss, Buckhaven, Leslie, Pathhead, and Dysart, and also reset; they were apprehended in Edinburgh in Nov 1843 on suspicion of breaking into the counting house at Durie Foundry; “On search being made at Suttie`s house in Newhaven, part of the stolen property was found, and the remainder found in Johnston`s. In Suttie`s house were discovered an immense number of of skeleton and other keys, besides a number of other housebreaking implements, and from 80 to 90 pawnbrokers` tickets. The greater part of the cloth lately cut out of the weavers` looms in Dysart and East Wemyss was also discovered, along with a number of shoes lately stolen from a shoemaker`s shop in Buckhaven” (FH FJ 9 Nov 1843); Thomas Suttie, 14 years transportation by “Sir Robert Peel,” VDL, 6 Sep 1844; Johnston, 7 years transportation; Richard (who was charged with reset only), 6 months imp (AD14/44/313; JC26/1844/420 & 421; FJ 20 June 1844) the report in the FJ 9 Nov 1843 added that another of the “band,” named Dalgleish had been apprehended in Edinburgh and lodged in Cupar Jail, while “there is still

49 another one, the brother of Suttie, who as yet has managed to keep out of the way;” Alexander Johnston, Certificate of Freedom, 9 July 1851; Suttie was part of a Probation Gang in 1846, and was at the Depot at Hobart in 1849 (from Muster Rolls)

TAINSH, CHARLES: aged 23 in 1851, weaver, Auchtermuchty, son of James Tainsh, journeyman mason, and Euphemia, or Euphem, Gourlay (born St Andrews) in Strathmiglo, who had married at Auchtermuchty, 7 June 1818; she was a widow by 1851, aged 59; with WILLIAM FINLAYSON (aged 25), a married weaver in Auchtermuchty, he was tried (behind closed doors) at PCC 18 Oct 1851 for rape, or assault with intent to ravish, Mary Elder (aged 25), who lived by herself in Auchtermuchty, having no father and mother; Tainsh, life transportation; Finlayson, 14 years transportation (AD14/51/607 and JC26/1851/169; FJ 23 Oct 1851); the FJ of 18 Dec 1851 & the FA of 20 Dec 1851 reported their removal from the County Jail in Cupar to the General Prison in Perth, and the newspaper understood that they were to be shipped to London by sea prior to transportation, but the name of their ship has not been found; Charles Tainsh had also fathered an illegitimate child with Margaret Ford in about 1846; this child, known as Charles Tainsh or Ford, died Auchtermuchty, 16 March 1856 aged 8; Euphemia Gourlay or Tainsh died 5 Silvergrove Street, Glasgow (where she was residing in 1871 Census, with daughter, Catherine, and son-in-law, William Rutherford) on 28 Oct 1872 aged 80, dau of John Gourlay, cotton weaver, and Catherine Nisbet; she also had another son, James Tainsh, a journeyman mason, married to Euphemia Tainsh, who died a pauper at Causewayhead, Logie, Co Perth, on 19 Jan 1868 aged 35, from pthisis some years; and a daughter, the above Catherine Tainsh, who married Glasgow, 22 Nov 1846, William Rutherford, slater in Glasgow, and died at 17 Hutton Drive, Govan Parish, on 11 Feb 1892 aged 79

TEMPLEMAN, EBENEZER (b 1818): aged 11 in 1829, born/baptised 2/20 Sep 1818, son of Robert Templeman, carter, Nethertown, and Grizel Carrins [Cairns], and therefore brother of the above Andrew Templeman snr, was born/baptised 27 Jan/7 Feb 1818; his father was in High Street, Dunfermline in 1820; with JAMES (WILSON) GRANT, aged 12, son of John Grant, weaver, High Street, Dunfermline, tried at PCC 15 April 1829 for theft, by housebreaking, from house called Holehouse at Gallowridgehill, parish of Dunfermline, stealing from a woman`s pocket 12s in silver, aggrav on the part of Templeman being habit and repute a thief; the Advocate-Depute did not seek a sentence for Grant and he was dismissed; Templeman 14 years transportation; originally received on to the “Justitia” hulk, moored Woolwich, on 4 June 1829, and from there was transferred, 16 Aug 1829, to the “Euryalus” hulk, moored Chatham; transported to NSW by the “Camden.” 21 Sep 1832 (AD14/29/150; JC26/1829/54; FH 23 April 1829); during the voyage was put on the sick list, 20 Sep 1832 suffering from ulcus, and was discharged on 30 Oct 1832, cured – from Medical Journal of the “Camden” convict ship from 11 Sep 1832 to 8 March 1833, kept by Joseph Seret, Surgeon and Superintendent (Ref: ADM101/15/7/1); Ticket of Leave, 12 March 1842, and allowed to remain in the district of Yass, NSW; Certificate of Freedom, 18 Sep 1844

KIRKCALDY BAPTISMS, 1662-1666

From Kirkcaldy Old Kirk (St Bryce) Kirk Session Minutes

National Records of Scotland

Ref CH2/636/25/1-19

[We are grateful to Bruce Bishop, current Treasurer of the Scottish Association of Family History Societies and its former Chairman, for passing on this list of Kirkcaldy baptisms. They were originally entered into one of the Church Loft Committee books, but were later transferred to the Kirk Session Minutes – Editor)

“A catalogue of children’s names baptized from Apryll 1662 till Apryll 1666 yers”

The Register of the Childrens names baptized within the Kirk of Kirkcaldie since the first day of Aprill Anno 1662

1662 April 2 Kathrene Miller lawll daughter to Rot Miller and Agnes Beans April 6 Hendrie Dury lawll son to James Dury and Elspet Stokes April 22 Williame Broune lawll son to James Broune & Margaret Younge April 22 Rot Meldrome lawll son to John Meldrom and Issobell Miller April 22 George Younge lawll son to Da: Young and Jonet Gib April 22 Agnes Boiswall lawll daughter to Hendry Boiswell and Helen Scot April 22 Christiom Ventins lawll daughter to James Ventins and Janet Boiswall April 27 Jonet ffmr lawll daughter to John ffmr & Margrt Wigtonne April 27 Jonet Williame lawll daughter to Pat William and Marion Crighton May 4 John Anderson lawll son to John Anderson & Helen Smith May 12 James Smith lawll son to James Smith and Kathren Smith May 15 Mathew Clarkson lawll son to Wm Clarkson and Issobell Patersone May … Issobell Dalrumpill lawll daughter to James Dalrumpill and Issobell Logan May 27 Mathew Curror lawll son to Thomas Curror & Bessie Lindsay Junij 15 David Anderson lawll sone to … Anderson & Effie Hunter Junij 15 James Ferguson lawll sone to John Ferguson and Agnes Law Junij 24 William Evin lawll son to Wm Evine & Jonet Fairley Junij 24 Issobell Hillock lawll daughter to Th… Hollok and Effie Meek July 1 James Coventry lawll son to George Coventry and Issobell Ballingall July … Jean Spence lawll daughter to Alexr Spence and Margaret Rob July … David Barclay lawll son to David Barclay and Rachaell Hutchone July 6 James Kilgour lawll son to Peter Kilgour and Janet Taylor July 9 David and Alison Hutchones lawll bairns and twins to David Hutchone and Alisone Whyt

51 July … Christiane Alexr lawll daughter to Jon Alexr and Issobell Man July 22 John Hutson lawll son to John Hutson and Helen Cathrel July 27 Margaret Miller lawll daughter to James Miller and Janet Dr… August 3 Elspet Thomsone lawll daughter to David Thomson & Issobell Craige August 9 Thomas Allan lawll son to Tomas Allan and Jonet Miller August 9 Archibald Balconquell lawll son to Andrew & Alisone Balconquell August … Issobell Boiswall lawll daughter to Alexr Boiswall & Elspet Hairkit August 26 Jonet Meldrome lawll daughter to David Meldrome and (blank) in Abbotshall parish August 29 Thomas Sommer lawll son to Thos Somer and (blank) August 31 John Palmer lawll son to John Palmer & Marorie Haynslie … … Margaret Peddy lawll daughter to Wm Pedy and (blank) Corthrell in Abbotshall parish September 14 David Law lawll son to Mr John Law & Magdalin … September … Mathew Peddy lawll son to Wm Peddy & Bethia Allan September… Margaret ffrasar lawll daughter to James ffrasar & Margrt Duncan October 1 Rot Chapmn lawll son to Rot Chapman and Jonet Whyt October 3 David Thomsone lawll son to James Thomson & … Miller October 8 Issobell Heagre lawll daughter to Mathew Heagre & Margrt Kenedy October … Jean Muir lawll daughter to Duncan Muir & Kathrene Nicoll October 12 Issobell Law lawll daughter to Alexr Law and Sophia Law October … David Kirk lawll sone to Andrew Kirk and Kathren Angans October 21 Kathrene Southerland lawll daughter to Jon Southerland & Margaret Stokes of Abbotshall parish October 26 Margaret Mitchalson lawll daughter to Jon Mitchalson & Issobell … October … John Miller lawll son to Jon Miller an Margaret Boss October … Jonet Crombie lawll daughter to Thomas Crombie and Issobell Bynnie October 28 Jon Stevinsone lawll sone to Jon Stevinone and Margaret Prat of Abbot[shall] parish October … Jean Johnston lawll daughter to James Johnstone & Issobell Mores November 2 William Kirkland lawll son to James Kirkland & (blank) Donaldson November … Kathren Bannity lawll daughter to Jon Bannity and Cathren Patty November 4 Jeane Whyt lawll daughter to John Whyt and Jeane Malvill November 9 Patrick Lawsone lawll son to Johne Lawson & Bessie Allane November … Jonet Miller lawll daughter to David Miller & Jonet Burt November 11 Jonet Gray lawll daughter to James Gray & Jean Arnot of Abbot[shall] parish November 16 Christiane Hepburne lawll daughter to David Hepburne and Christian Meirns of Abbot[shall] parish November 26 Williame Whyt lawll son to Williame Whyte & Margrt Ritchardson November … David McCawlay lawll son to Robert McCawlay & Issobell Doctor Abbot[shall] November … Jonet McGill lawll daughter to Thomas McGill & Margrt Buyrs November 29 Alexr Bell lawll sone to Alexr Bell and (blank) of Abbothall November … Barbra McKenzie lawll daughter to Alexr McKenzie & Issobell Ramsay December 2 Kathrene Herd lawll daughter to Wm Herd and Grissall Drysdaill December … Margaret Gib lawll daughter to James Gib & Issobell Haynshe

52 December … Hendrie Bennet lawll sone to Jams Bennet & Bessie Bruce of Abbot[shall] December 7 David Philpe lawll sone to Jon Philpe & Bessie Angouse December … Rot Meeke lawll sone to Rot Meek and Jonet Burd December 16 Christiane Wilsone lawll daughter to Jon Wilson and Christiane Herd December … Alisone Law lawll daughter to Jon Law and Alisone Rymer December 22 Jeane Cunynghame lawll daughter to Rot Cunyngham & Margt Bisco’all December … David Kirk lawll sone to Andrew Kirk & Jeane Mores December 23 Jon Arnot lawll sone to Wm Arnot and Issobell Martin of Kingorn parish December … Jon Ritchardsone lawll sone to John Ritchardsone & Kathrine Ro…tals of Kingorn parish

1663 January 4 Robert Whyt lawll son to Thomas Whyt & Issobell Whit January 11 Jonet Baxter lawll daughter to David Baxter & Christian Blythe January … Issobell Gibbon lawll daughter to Henry Gibbon & Issobell fflemine January 18 Anna Ros lawll daughter to Andrew Ros & Agnes Montgomerie January … Jonet Peddy lawll daughter to David Peddy & Jonet Turpy January … Jonet Andersone lawll daughter to Jon Andersone & (blank) Fym… January … David Gray lawll sone to Walter Gray and (blank) February 1 Helene Davidsone lawll daughter to Tho Davidsone & Issobell Atchison February 8 John Haddone lawll sone to Robert Haddon & Bessie Young February … David Davidsone lawll son to Matthew Davidson & Jean Kirkcaldie February … Margrt Chrystie lawll daughter to … Chrystie & (blank) Bavarage February … James Boiswall lawll sone to George Boiswall & Issobell Baxter February … Williame Fuird lawll sone to William Fuird yngr & Helen … February 17 Williame Law lawll sone to Williame Law & Anna …stonn February … Jon Kirk lawll sone to Thomas Kirk & Helen Peitersone of Abbot[shall] parish February 17 Jonet Chrystie lawll daughter to George Chrystie and Jonet Dry…urt of Abbot[shall] parish February … Jonet Moyse lawll daughter to James Moyse & Margrt Lamb Abot[shall] February … Christian Linkletter lawll daughter to Angous Linkletter & .(blank) Miller February … Jonet Gowans lawll daughter to Alexr Gowans & Marjory Tharpe of Kinghorn parish February 22 Andrew Hutchone lawll sone to George Hutchone & Jonet Slains February … Harie Younge lawll sone to Pat Young& Bessie Erskene February … Margaret Wilsone lawll daughter to James Wilsone & Issobell Hutton of Abbot[shall] parish March 3 Elizabeth Southerland lawll daughter to Alexr Southerland & Jonet Bonthorne March 8 John Tocherse lawll sone to James Tocherse & Marie Hutsone March … George Law lawll sone to Alexr Law & Martea Craufurd March … Patrick Angous lawll sone to Pat Angous & Lilias Talpe March … Alisone Smart lawll daughter to Wm Smart & Margrt Peate

53 March … Jon Miller lawll sone to Thomas Miller and Margaret Davidson of Abbotshall parishe March 24 Kathrene Maistertonne lawll daugtr to John Maistertonne and Helen Hay March 24 Alexr Young sone lawll to James Young and Issobell Gourlay March … Walter Mackie son lawll to David Mackie & Jean Lentrone March last Mathew Walker sone lawll to George Walker & Christian Meldrum Abot[shall] March … Rot Broune lawll sone to George Broune & Issobell Miller March … Effie Hamiltoune lawll daughter to Wm Hamiltoune & Crys[t]ian Hillocke March … Alisone Douglas lawll daughter to George Douglas and Margrt Dewar 1663 contd April 7 John Archibald son lawll to Thomas Archibald & Margrt Corther April … Kathrene Burt lawll daughter to Andrew Burt & Margaret Logane both of Abbotshall parish April … Anna Mitchalsone lawll daughter to John Mitchalsone & Margrt Alexr of Abbot[shall] April 14 Thomas Pittilocke lawll sone to Andrew Pittilocke & Jonet Baxter April … David Davidsone lawll sone to James Davidsone & Jonet ffirbe April … Jonet Kempe lawll daughter to Wm Kempe & Margaret Ourd April … Margaret Davidsone lawll daughter to John Davidson & Jean Ingles of Abbotshall parish April 22 Grizzall Corthere lawll daughter to Jon Corthear & Grizzall Ness April 22 Margaret Betsone lawfll daughter to James Betsone & (blank) Henderson April … Thomas Balfour lawll sone to Rot Balfour & Barbra Lamb April … David Bey lawll sone to Andrew Bey & Lilias Donaldsone April … John Chrystie lawll sone to Andrew Chrystie & Katherine Lindsay of Abbotshall par[ish] April 27 David Betsone lawll sone to Johne Betsone & Marjory Broune of Abbotshall p[arish] April … Agnes Law lawll daughter to John Law & Margrt Philps of Abbot[shall] May 17 Agnes Meldrome lawll daughter to James Meldrome & Marjorye Young May 19 David Gourlay lawll sone to Alexr Gourlay & Margrt ffairney May 27 Katherene Baxter lawll daughter to Wm Baxter & MargtThomson Abot[shall] May … Elizabethe Miller lawll daughter to Rot Miller & Elspet Young Junij 2 Eliazbeth Martine lawll daughter to Andrew Martine & (blank} Donaldson Junij … Bessie Goughrey lawll daughter to Jon Gouthreyn & Margt Gemlo Junij 7 Thomas Robertsone lawll sone to Thomas Robertsone and Agnes Umphray Junij 8 John Balfoure lawll sone to George Balfoure & Jonet Lathangre Junij 23 Jonet Kirk lawll daughter to John Kirk & Agnes Balfoure Junij … Effie Mitchelsone lawll daughter to John Mitchalsone and Mary Blythe Junij 22 Alexander Kellock lawll son to Robert Kellock & (blank) Hutchone Junij … Jon Herdman lawll sone to William Herdman & Christian Grige

54 July 7 John Miller lawll sone to Jon Miller & Mart Ross July … David Davidsone lawll sone to Alexr Davidsone & Jonet Gairden July … Effie Allane lawll daughter to Robert Alane & Elspet Smith July … David Davidsone lawll sone to John Davidsone & Margrt Grige July … David Hutchone lawll sone to David Hutchone July 14 Robert Philp lawll sone to David Philp & Bessie Mayn July 21 James Coventry lawll son to David Coventry & Nicola Symsone July 28 Jon Herd lawll sone to John Herd and Maria Whyt July … Mathew Ramsay lawll sone to Giles Ramsay & (blank) Oswald July … David Ramsay lawll sone to David Ramsay & Margrt Lilburne August 10 John Herd lawll sone to David Herd & Alison Morris Abot[shall] August … Archibald Seath lawll sone to David Seath & Jonet Davidsone Abortshall 1663 contd August … David ffuird lawll sone to Williame Fuird and Cathrene Malvill August 16 George Orrok lawll sone to John Orrok & Margaret Cristolphen. Ab[botshall] August … Bessie Duncane lawll daughter to Williame Duncane & Elspeth Bunthorne August 25 Davod Ramsay lawll sone to Thomas Ramsay & (blank) Ramsay August … Rot Nicoll lawll sone to Patrick Nicoll & Jean Grahame August … John Whyt lawll son to Jon Whyt & (blank) Mitchall Abot[shall] September 1 Christiane Chapman lawll daughter to Pat Chapman & Jonet Whyt September … Christiane Broune lawll daughter to James Broune & Christiane Wishart September … Christiane Peddy lawll daughter to (blank) Pedy & Kathren Cathrel September 6 Charles ffergusone lawll sone to Johne ffergusone & Agnes Law September … James Tod lawll sone to James Tod & Jonet Rathorne September … Margaret Broune lawll daughter to James Broune & Marjorie Mitchealsone September … Margaret Cheape lawll daughter to George Cheape & (blank) Prat September 13 Euphame Allane lawll daughter to Andrew & Janet Allans September 15 Alexr Milne lawll daughter to Tho Milne & Jonet Scott September … Sophie Velsh lawll daughter to James Velsh & Isobell Couper September … Andrew Miller lawll sone to David Miller & Effie Watson in Abot[shall] September 22 Issobell Whyt lawll daughter to James Whyt & (blank) Abbotshall September … Jonet Johnstoune lawll daughter to (blank) Johnstoune & Helene Osswald in Dysert parishe in respect of ye prst vacand ministere September … Jeane Lyone lawll daughter to Major John Lyon and Margrt Kennedy September … Harie Cumming lawll sone to Harie Cumming & Bessie fferguson September … Helen Herd lawll daughter to Thomas Herd & Margrt Hutchone September … David Ballendene lawll sone to Johne Ballinden & Kathren Patty September … Andrew Nicoll lawll sone to James Nicoll & Bessie Gray September … Margaret Douglas lawll daughter to George Douglas & Alison Kay of Abot[shall] October 4 Jon Balconq[e]ll lawll sone to Andrew Balconq[e]ll & Alison Balconquell October … Christiane Palmer lawll daughter to Jon Palmer & Margt Hemsley October … Andrew Heayre lawll sone to (blank) Heayre & Margrt Kennedy

55 October … Janet Shank lawll daughter to William Shank & Elspet Shank October … Jonet Donaldsone lawll daughter to Thomas Donaldson & Margt Miller October 6 Margaret and Alison Grubes lawll bairnes & twines to Archibald Grube & Alison Lowdon October … Jonet W[illia]msone lawll daughter to David W[illia]msone & Helen … October 13 James Bentins lawll sonee to James Bentins & [blank] Boiswall October … Thomas Rany lawll sone to Thomas Rany & Issobell Broune October … Kathren Meirns lawll daughter to Jon Meiris & [blank] Abot[shall] November 3 James Broune lawll sone to Thomas Broune and Agnes Ramsay November … Alexr Shedoway lawll sone to William Shedoway & Margrt Broune November … Marjorie Dron lawll daughter to Andrew Dron & Margrt Fo[r]bes November … Elizabeth Young bastard daughter to James Young & Jonet Drysdaill Abot[shall] 1663 contd November 10 Elizabeth Brigs lawll daughter to Jon Brigs & Elizabeth Dempersburne Abot[shall] November … Robert Bemish lawll sone to Robert Bemish & Helen Prat Abbotshall November … David Aysdaill lawll sone to Wm Aysdaill & Jean Man in Kighorne November … Jonet Meldrome lawll daughter to James Meldrome & Jonet Haye November … Jonet Archibald lawll daughter to Wm Archibald & Jonet Dryburgh Abot[shall] November … Kathrene Tyller lawll daughter to Donald Tyller & Jonet Archibald November 24 Margaret Broune lawll daughter to Wm Broune & Margrt Mellas November … Margrt Craufurd lawll daughter to Tho Craufurd & Alisone Meldrome November … David Colline lawll sone to Robert Colline & … Gourdne Abot[shall] November 29 Mathew Andersone lawll sone to Mathew Andersone & Elspet Durie December 1 George Andersone lawll sone to Mathew Andersone & Issobell Haulbine December … Elizabeth W[illia]msone lawll daughter to Thomas W[illia]msone & [blank] Gray Ab[botshall] December 8 James Eltonne lawll sone to Edward Eltonne & [blank] Ramsay December … Marjorie Andersone lawll daughter to Rot Andersone & [blank] Hendersone December … James Dick lawll sone to James Dick & Margrt Mures December … Elizabeth Hay lawll daughter to Alexr Hay & Margrt Lawsone December … Jon Adamsone lawll sone to John Adamson & Elizabeth Scott December … Margrt Chirry bastard daughter to James Chirry & Jonet Kynimonth December … Mathew Robertsone lawll sone to David Robertsone & Isobell Abd… December 15 Issobell Lie lawll daughter to William Lie & Margrt Gribe December 22 Margaret Gardner lawll daughter to Thomas Gardner and Isobell … in Abot[shall] December … Kathrene Boroman lawll daughter to Jon Boroman & Barbra Osburn in Abot[shall] December 29 Andrew and Kathren Gibbon lawll bairns and twins to James Gibon & Helen Gray Abot[shall]

56 1664 Januarij 3 Alisone and Margaret Symsones lawll bairns & twins to John Symsone & Alisone Wilsone Januarij 5 Robert Whyt lawll sone to John Whyt & Jeane Malvill Januarij … John Williamsone lawll sone to Da: Wiliamsone & Elspeth Lambe Januarij 8 Anna Cunyngham lawll daughter to Rbt Cunyngham & Mar[garet] …sull Januarij … Jean Cargill lawll daughter to Thomas Cargill & Margt Buyre Januarij 12 Thomas Herd lawll sone to John Herd & Grissell Drysdaill Januarij … Margaret Allane lawll daughter Thomas Allane & Jonet Miller Januarij … Margaret Harper lawll daughter to David Harper & Cathrene Marchant Januarij … Jon Wright lawll sone to Robert Wright & Helene Baxter January 19 Margaret Pa… lawll daughter to John Palmer & Margaret Wardlace January 20 Jon Andersone lawll sone to John Andersone & Chrystian Heburn January … Euphamie Hutchone lawll daughter to David Hutchone & Alison Whyt 1664 contd January … James Weir lawll sone to John Weir & Christian Turnbull January … Jonet ffair lawll daughter to David ffair & Jonet Logon January … Jonet Blaikie lawll daughter to Thomas Blaikie & (blank) Craw January 28 James Francham lawll sone to John Francham & Elspeth Adie February 2 Christiane Mitchalsone lawll daughter to John Mitchalsone and Issobell Arnott February … Jon Stevinsone lawll sone to Andrew Stevinsone & Cathren Scott February … Williame Symsone lawll sone to Peter & Margrt Symsone February 9 Andrew Huttons lawll sone to Andrew Hut… & Jonet Dalrympill February 14 Andrew Cunynghame lawll sone to Wm Cunynghame & Jonet Purss in Abot[shall] February 16 Christiane Andersone lawll daughter to John Anderson & Elspet Marsh February 21 Robert Miller lawll sone to George Miller & Agnes Hamilton February … Kathrene McGill lawll daughter to James McGill & Kathren Broun February … Simion Mores lawll sone to Jon Mores & Jonet Miller February … Jon Mackie lawll sone to David Maky & (blank) Moys February … Margaret Gairdner lawll daughter to George Gairdner & (blank) February … Charles Hope lawll sone to Adame Hope & Helene Drysdaill February last Wm W(illiam)sone lawll sone to Jon W(illiam)sone W(illiam)sone & Christiane Tupy February … Eupham Mores lawll daughter to Jon Mores & Isobell Mitchalson February … Margaret Pitcairne lawll daughter to David Pitcairne and Elspet Tod March 1 John Gairdner lawll sone (to) Alexr Gairdner and Kathren Stirke March 8 Andrew Rodger lawll sone to Andrew Rodger and Christian Blyth March … Elizabethe Broune lawll daughter to John Browne & Bridget Leslie March … Effie Hillock lawll daughter to Thomas Hillock and Effie Meeike March … Maria Turnbull lawll daughter to Jon Turnbull & Grissall Wilson March … John Sandirs lawll sone to David Sandirs & (blank) Abot(shall) March … Elizabeth Guidwillie lawll daughter to Wm Guidwillie and Elizab… (blank) March 13 Isobell Budge lawll daughter to Hew Budge and IssobellBlack March … James Carmichaell lawll sone to James Carmichaell & Agnes Grig Abot(shall)

57 March … Robert and Issobell Sluckars lawll bairns & twins to Adame Sluken and Agnes Hoagie March 22 James Broune lawll sone to George Broune and Elspeth Allane March 30 Elizabeth Coak lawll daughter to James Coak and Janet Huggone April 2 James Miller lawll sone to James Miller and Janet Dicke April … David Ni… lawll sone to Hendrie Ni… and Jonet Ramsay April 17 Hendrie Muiraham lawll sone to John Muiraham & Jonet Hutton April … Magdalene Andersone lawll daughter to George Andersone & Effie Hunter April … Kathrene Aikene lawll daughter to Thomas Aikene & Margaret Brunthorne Aprile 24 Thomas Boiswall lawll sone to Hendrie Boiswall and Agnes Bervie 1664 contd Aprile … Andrew Young lawll sone to John Younge and (blank) Aprile … John Orrok lawll sone to Robert Orrok & Marjory Andersone Aprile … Alisone Linkletter lawll daughter to Angous Linkletter and Beatrix Carstairs Aprile … Marjorie Mores lawll daughter to Alexr Mores & (blank) Rodge[rs] Aprile … Elizab Lie bastard daughter to Wm Lie Englishman & Bathia Allan Aprile 26 Margaret Patone lawll daughter to John Paton & Janrt Mitchaelson May 5 Robert Rammage lawll sone to David Ramage & (blank) May … Margaret Young lawll daughter to Wm Young jnr & Agnes Meeke May 7 Thomas Whyt lawll sone to Tho… Whyt and Issobell Whrt May .. Anna Dury lawll daughter to David Dury & Margrt Miller May 10 David ffergusone lawll sone to John ffergusone and Elspeth Hunter May … George Wricht lawll sone to George Wricht and Issobell Stirke May … Eupham Laynge lawll daughter to David Layng & Issobell Wilson Maij 16 Mathew Law lawll sone to John Law and Agnes Younge Maij last Maria Meek lawll daughter to Rot Meeck and (blank) Fuird Maij … Abrahame and John Auchmouties lawll bairns& twins to Wm Auchmouty & Jonet Broun Junij 7 John Ingils lawll sone to James Ingils and (blank) Hunter Junij 12 Maria Wilsone lawll daughter to David Wilson & Margaret Weymss Junij 14 James Mitchalsone lawll sone to James Mitchalsone & (blank) Dalrumple Junij 15 Rot Kirkand lawll sone to James Kirkland & Marie Donaldson Junij … Christian Barclay lawll daughter to David Barclay & Rachaell Hutchone Junij … John Crichtoune lawll sone to Walter Chrichtoune & Kathren Meldrome Junij … Kathrene Barclay lawll daughter to David Barclay & Margaret Grige Junij … Thomas Budge lawll daughter to Thomas Budge and (blank) Junij 18 Rachaell Blaire lawll daughter to John Blair & Agnes Wilson July 5 Patrick William lawll sone to Pat William and Marjor… Rathboune July … Elizabeth ffuird lawll daughter to John ffuird & Margrt Wigtoune July 5 Alisone Kadie lawll daughter to David Kadie & Jonet Tirpy July 20 Rachaell Spence lawll daughter to Thoms Spence & Christian Bean July 26 John Broune lawll sone to John Brown and (blank) Grige July … Elizabethe McGill lawll daughter to Mathew McGill & Isobell Hunter August 7 David Will lawll sone to John Will and Kathrene Broune

58 August 10 John Browne lawll sone to James Browne & Margrt Younge August 24 Robert Miller lawll sone to Robert Miller & Elizabeth Younge August … Margaret Muire lawll daughter to John Muire & and Mart Lindsay August last Agnes Coilyear lawll daughter to James Coilyeare & AgnesHoye August … (blank) Stewart lawll daughter to Williame Stewart & Jonet A… September 6 James Dalrumpill lawll daughter to James Dalrumpill & (blank) September … Jonet Kirk lawll daughter to Andrew Kirk & Kathren Angouse September … Alexander Craige lawll sone to Williame Craige & (blank) ffuird September 13 James Velshe lawll sone to James Velshe & Issobel Cowper September 20 David Spence lawll sone to Thomas Spence & Issobell Gray September … Williame Law lawll sone to David Law & Margaret Broune 1664 contd September … Issobell Ingils lawll daughter to Jon Ingils & Jonet Whytt September 27 Euphame Dougall lawll daughter to John Dougall & Jonet Rodger October 4 Walter Coventry lawll sone to George Coventry & Issobell Balling Abbot[shall] October … Margaret Bett lawll daughter to Jon Bet & … Broune October 9 David Miller, lawll sone to David Miller & Jonet Burt October 11 Rot Bennet lawll sone to Andrew Bennet & Marie Curror October 15 Euphame Thallane lawll daughter to Pat Thallane & Effie Mitch…son October 25 James Chambers lawll sone to … Chambers & (blank) Pigott October … Arthur Sellane lawll sone to Arthur Selane & (blank) October … Jonet Miller lawll daughter to Jon Miller post runner & Margrt Boyn November 1 John Stennie lawll sone to Henrie Stennie & Margrt Balfoure November 8 John Philpe lawll sone to Johne Philpe & Bessie Angous November 13 James McBethe lawll sone to James McBethe & Issobell … November … Robert Curror lawll sone to Andrew Curror & (blank) Prestoune

List compiled by Bruce B Bishop ([email protected])

59 SOME MORE FIFE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS

ANDERSON, GEORGE (d 1863): in early life he joined the Royal Navy, and fought in the Canadian Lakes during the American War of Independence, for which he was awarded a medal; on retiring from the Navy, he was appointed agent for the Union Bank in Kirkcaldy, where he was Provost for several years; on leaving Kirkcaldy he purchased the estate of Luscar, near Dunfermline, which he occupied until shortly before his death, when he disposed of it, and went to reside at Ferrybank in Cupar parish; here he died in Sep 1863 aged 78; he was buried in Kirkcaldy Churchyard (FA 5 Sep 1863); his 2nd son, Lieut-Colonel Anderson (1822-1869), was born at Liverpool in 1822, and educated partly in France and partly in Edinburgh; he joined the East India Co service in 1839, and took part in various actions in India; he was in command of the 28th Native Infantry, when he was taken ill in 1869, and although ordered home at once, he reached London in a condition which gave no hopes of recovery, and sank rapidly under a complication of diseases; he died in August 1869; he had married a daughter of George Prentice of Strathore, in Dysart parish (FA 7 Aug 1869)

BEVERIDGE, JOHN (d 1870): piper to the Gordon (92nd) Highlanders, died at Jullundur, East Indies, on 1 Aug 1870; he joined the 92nd about 10 years ago, and having an ear for music and a taste for the bagpipes he attained the position of 1st piper; while with his regiment in the East Indies he was laid down by sunstroke and fever, and after suffering for about 2 months died on 1 Aug 1870; he left behind him a young woman and a child to mourn his loss (FA 17 Sep 1870)

CARROLL, JAMES (d 1883): Sgt, 93rd Highlanders, died at Pathhead in July 1883; he served with his regiment in India and in the Crimea, where he was present at the Battles of Alma and Balaclava; he latterly retired with a pension to Pathhead where he died (FFP 21 July 1883)

CHRISTIE, Major-General JOHN (d 1869): a native of Fife, entered the Indian Army in 1822, and received his commission as a cornet in the 3rd Reg of Light Cavalry in January of the following year; he took part in various engagements, and was appointed Commandant of the 9th Bengal Irregular Cavalry in 1844, and served throughout the Punjaub campaign; in 1858 he was transferred to the newly-raised 1st European Regiment of Light Cavalry, with the rank of Captain in that corps, having previously obtained the brevet rank of colonel in Nmov 1854; he had the honour of being aide-de-camp to the Queen in 1860; in Feb 1861 he promoted to the rank of Major General, and joined the Bengal Staff Corps as a Lieut-Colonel in Sep 1866; the Government recognised his distingquished military services by creating him, in March 1867, a companion of the Order of the Bath, and by the grant of a good service pension; he died in Italy on 7 May 1869 (FA 22 May 1869)

DEAS, Surgeon Major JOHN (d 1862): of the 2nd Light Cavalry, native of Falkland, yst surviving brother of Lord Deas; educted High School of Edinburgh; had seen much service in India, Persia and Aden; died Neemuch, 9th Sep 1862 (FA 8 Nov 1862)

GARDENER, JAMES (1776-1875): he was born in the close of the year 1776, and in his youth served in the Royal Navy, and saw a great deal of service; he was by trade a joiner, and worked occasionally at his trade up nearly to his death, which occurred in Sep 1875, aged 99 years (FFP 11 Sep 1875)

HONEYMAN, JOHN (d 1853): he died Falkland, 31 July 1853 aged 76, and his obituary was carried by the FA of 6 Aug 1853. In his youth he was balloted for the Fife Militia, and rose to the rank of Corporal. He did his duty as sentinel at the Parish Church of Dysart, then in course of erection, and also at Fort George, Inverness, during the time that Feargus O’Connor`s father was detained there as a State prisoner. “Mr Honeyman was, from his youth up to the repeal of the Corn Laws, an ardent, consistent, and free spoken radical reformer, ever ready to advocate a peaceful and rational democracy. He was passionately fond of the newspaper, which was generally a radical organ, and like the society of village politicians, discussed the topics of the day with a candour and zeal seldom to be met with among democratic votaries.” The report added that Provost Deas [of Falkland], “who is much about the same age, is the only remaining relic belonging to the town who served in the militia along with him.” Left a widow, 3 sons, and 6 daughters

HUSBAND, PETER (1820-1868): was born Cupar, April 1820, son of James Husband in Bonnygate and Euphemia Reid; by trade a shoemaker, he enlisted in the Queen`s Own 7th Hussars at Westminster, County of Middlesex, on 4 Oct 1838 (WO97/1288/141), and rose to the rank of Troop Sgt-Major, served in Canada (Aug 1839-Nov 1842), and was in duty in various parts of the UK until the breaking out of the Indian Mutiny of 1857, where he served with his regiment for 5 years until March 1863; was present at the siege and capture of Lucknow, and also at many of the minor actions in connection with the suppression of the rebellion, in one of which he was severely wounded; discharged on 14 July 1863, his intended residence in his discharge papers was to be Cupar, but he was appointed Permanent Sergeant of the Warth Troop of the 1st West Yorkshire Yeomanry Cavalry; the rigours of the Indian climate and the hardship of the Indian campaign ruined his health, and was the cause of his premature death at Warth-upon-Dearne on 31 Jan 1868; he had been orginally promoted to Cpl on 2 July 1842 and then to Sgt on 1 April 1844, but had been twice tried by Courts Martial, the second time on 31 Oct 1846, when he was imprisoned and reduced to the ranks of private on 22 Dec 1846; he was thereafter promoted again to Cpl on 28 Feb 1851, to Sgt on 18 Jan 1854, and to Troop Sgt-Major on 25 Aug 1857 (FA 8 Feb 1868)

JOHNSTON, Dr JAMES BROWN (d 1853): in the early part of of his professional career, he was surgeon to the 79th Highlanders, but having purchased the goodwill of the business of Dr Brown for #500, he settled in Kirkcaldy in 1801 as his successor, and continued there for upwards of 40 years, when he retired to Edinburgh; he died March 1853 in his 78th year; he fathered 24 children (FA 12 March 1853)

61 KIDDIE, JAMES (d 1864): in June 1864 he wrote [from Sealkote, Punjab, India, 4th May 1864] to the Fifeshire Advertiser, renewing his newspaper subscription for the year, and also asking the editor, John Jeffers Wilson, to send on a good hunting-watch, “warranted to suit this country [India]. Let me know the cost, and I will send the necessary amount” (FA 18 June 1864). In the same letter, he gave some personal details: “I am well known in the Lang Toun, but my parents are dead. I was formerly a servant with Mr Andrew Lawson, Harbour-head. I enlisted there for the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders, and joined them in Stirling Castle in 1849, and was present at all their struggles since that date. I was severely wounded in the trenches before Sebastopol towards the close of the [Crimean] War. I received from the Emperor of the French the war-medal of that country. I also wear the Crimean medal, and three clasps; the Turkish medal; and Indian Mutiny medal, with 2 clasps. When he wrote the letter he was Colour-Sgt of the 93rd Highlanders. Strange to say that when the hunting-watch arrived in India, “the poor fellow sickened and died! Such is ‘life’ in India!” The FA carried his obituary on 5th Nov 1864 – died Sealkote, Punjab, India, Sgt James Kiddie, 93rd Sutherland Highlanders, aged 33 years; also his child, aged 2 years. No date of death is given in the obituary. “He leaves a widow – also a native of Kirkcaldy – to mourn his loss”

KING, Colour-Sgt JAMES (d 1862): native of Falkland, enlisted into the 72nd Regiment of Highlanders at Perth on 10 March 1852, and was sent from there to join the depot of his regiment at Guernsey, from which place they sailed in May of the same year to Fermoy in Ireland, where he was promoted to the rank of Corporal on the arrival of the 72nd in Limerick from America; in 1854 he joined them, along with the rest of the depot, preparatory for their embarkation for the Crimea, for which they embarked at Queenstown on board HM ship Neptune, 120 guns, and sailed for Malta, 14 December 1854; on the 14th Jan 1855 they embarked at Malta on board the Alma, and landed at Kertch on the 1st June same year; the Russians retiring, they re-embarked for Balaclava, where they arrived on the 14th June, to take part in the siege of Sebastopol, where he was promoted to Sgt; on peace being declared, the Regiment left the Crimea in June 1856, and arrived at Portsmouth on 22nd July. From this till 1857 they lay at Shorncliff and the Channel Islands, at which date they returned to Portsmouth to embark for India; arriving in India in the month of December 1857; he took part in several severe engagements along with his regiment in the Rajapootana campaign, and served through the rest of the mutiny in Central India, never having been off duty from sickness nor any other cause, receiving for this, in addition to the medals he already wore, the medal for the suppression of the mutiny and the clasp for Central India; he was promoted to Colour-Sgt in 1859; he died suddenly in Inda at the end of Dec 1862, having “fallen a victim to the virulence of a disease which, from the latest accounts, is dealing deadly blows among our European troops in India” (FJ 1 Jan 1863; FA 3 Jan 1863)

KNOX, Colour-Sgt ANDREW (d 1858): a native of Gallatown, he served with great credit in the 78th and 93rd Regiments; with the 93rd Highlanders he was Colour-Sgt at Alma and Balaklava, for which he wore the Crimean Medal; he was also decorated with the cross of the Legion of Honour; from the Crimea

62 the Regiment proceeded to India, and was declared missing at Lucknow between the 12th and 22 Nov 1857; it was later ascertained that he had left his own camp on 22nd November to visit some friends in the 78th Highlanders; on his return it appears that he missed his way, and fell into the hands of the Sepoys; a spy later reported that he had seen his dead body; he left a widow and an infant son, who was born after his departure for India; his brother, Andrew Knox, also served in the 93rd Regiment at the same time as his brother (FA 20 March 1858)

LEARMONTH, Quartermaster-Sgt: (d 1867): died in Cupar in Aug 1867; he had been ill for some months back, suffering from cancer of the throat, and for many weeks his life has been despared of; since the Fife Artillery Militia was embodied, he had held the post of Quartmaster-Sgt, previous to which he had been for 25 years a Sgt in the Royal Artillery; he served with credit in many parts of the world, and was always highly esteemed by the officers above and the men under him (FA 24 Aug 1867)

MACPHERSON, GENERAL ROBERT BARCLAY (d 1858): enlisted as ensign in the 88th Regiment (Connaught Rangers) on 3 June 1795, and shortly afterwards accompanied a part of his regiment to the West Indies, and was present at the taking of St Lucia; in 1799 he embarked with the 88th for the East Indies, and was there for 6 years; in 1806 the 88th went to South America, and at the storming of Buenos Ayres his name appears among the wounded; in 1809 he accompanied the 2nd Battalion of the 88th to the Peninsula, and was present at the defence of Cadiz; in March 1813 he succeeded to the command of the 1st Battalion, and commanded it at Vittoria and the Pyrenees. Under his command the 88th fought at Orthes and Toulouse, for which he was awarded the gold medal, with one bar for Vittoria and Orthes, and later the Military General Service Medal, with 3 clasps for the Pyrenees, Nivelle and Nive; the 1st Battalion went to Canada in 1814, and under his command it was a remarkable fact that during the time the Connaught Rangers were under his charge, not a single man deserted from the regiment, although desertions were quite common at the time; he closed in active service in 1815; in 1837 he attained the rank of Colonel, and that of Major-General on on 9 Nov 1846; on the 29th July 1852, scarcely 2 months before the death of the Duke of Wellington, he received from the great man the colonelcy of the 73rd Regiment; in June 1854 he attained the rank of Lieut- General, and on the 11 Feb 1857, on the death of his old friend, Sir John Wallace, he obtained at his own request the colonelcy of his old regiment, the 88th Regiment, the gallant Connaught Rangers; he was a great-grandson of Lord Lovat, although his home was t Viewfield Lodge, near Stirling, from 1819, he always regarded the Highlands as his home; at his death at the end of Dec 1858, at the advanced age of 84, his remains were removed to the Highlands, for interment in the burying-place of the Breakachy family at Kingussie, of which he was the last lineal descendant; his connection to Fife was that during the last 30 years of his life, he was an annual summer visitor to Kirkcaldy – “as the season came round he was to be seen quietly sauntering along our streets, or enjoying the sea breeze on our fine sands, and we know he always looked forward with pleasure to his sojourn in our town, and on his return to Stirling felt invigorated by its bracing air. The oldest

63 of our regular annual visitors who repaired to our town for summer quarters has now passed away” (FA 1 Jan 1859)

PRATT, Captain ROBERT TORRENS (d 1867): was a son of Major-General Sir T S Pratt, K.C.B., a nephew of the late Dr Thomas Chalmers of Anstruther, and a grandson of Captain Pratt, of the 1st Royal Veteran Battalion, who was long resident in Kirkcaldy; he served with the 69th Foot, and his commissions bear dates as follows: Ensign, 11 June 1852; Lieutenant, 9 June 1854; Captain, 24 August 1858; he mainly served in India, and was present at the siege and capture of Lucknow (1857); three times mentioned in dispatches; died Dublin, 2 Aug 1867 (FJ 22 Aug 1867; FA 24 Aug 1867)

TAYLOR, WALTER (d 1862): an old soldier of the Royal Artillery; he was in Malta when the Crimean War broke out, and with 80 others volunteered for war service, where he served in a 9-pounder field battery under Captain Barker; he was at Alma, Balaclava and Sebastopol, and received a medal, with clasp, for each. The Turkish medal was also bestowed upon him, and also received #5 for distinguished conduct in the field; discharged with good pension; he died in Nov 1862 aged 44 years, and was buried in Abbotshall Churchyard. “What is rather singular, the family to which he belonged had five sons, four of them choosing the military profession, which they followed out in such a way as made them exemplary men in their regiments” (FJ 27 Nov 1862; FA 29 Nov 1862)

WILSON, Lieut-Colonel (d 1841): of the Hon East India Co`s Service, which he joined in about 1778, and a native of St Andrews; on 10 Sep 1780 Lieutenant Wilson, as he then was, was severely wounded and taken prisoner, and with the rest of the wounded and prisoners was conducted to Seringapatan, where he remained for upwards of three and a half years, enjoying the hospitality of Hyder Ally`s dungeon; he was released on 21 March 1784; his relatives, believing that he was dead, had moured for him for nearly 4 months; at his death, it was believed that he was the last survivor of the British Officers to be imprisoned in Hyder Ally`s dungeon; he returned to Europe in 1803, and finally retired from the service in 1805; after returning from India, Colonel Wilson had resided constantly in his native city of St Andrews, where he died on 1 May 1841 in his 87th year; “Colonel Wilson has left behind him a sister at the venerable age of 91, doomed a second time to wear the weeds of mourning for the loss of a brother to whom her heart was bound by the strongest ties of affection” (FJ 13 May 1841)

64 FIFE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT, AGM 14 JUNE 2016

BY HUGH HOFFMAN

The society has enjoyed another active and innovative year.

We have organised eight evening talks, all well attended, on a wide range of topics and from a good mix of speakers. Most of the talks took place in Cupar on the second Tuesday evening of the month, but as an experiment one of the talks was combined with an afternoon visit to the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther – this proved very successful and we will look to offer something similar next year. Thanks to Dave Reid for arranging our programme of talks.

We have attended several Family History Fairs over the year. Our team on the society’s stall has included Frances Black, Arlene Little, Alison Murray, Andrew Campbell, Dave Reid and myself.

We have supported family history drop-in sessions run by Fife Libraries in Cupar and Methil.

We were joint organisers along with Kirkcaldy Civic Society of the sixth Gravestones Conference held in Kirkcaldy in November 2015

As a new venture we ran a six week course on Family History for Beginners. This attracted 21 participants and produced a welcome surplus of £960; and we will consider repeating the course in the future. Many thanks to Roddy Greig for setting up and running the course.

Sales of books and CDs during the year have amounted to just under £1500. We have added a number of new titles to our product list, including two new Fife FHS CDs, Collessie Churchyard and The Pittenweem Register.

Our editor Andrew Campbell has once again produced three issues of our journal and we continue to thank him for his efforts and continuing enthusiasm. Andrew is also our representative on the Scottish Association of Family History Societies (SAFHS), whose work we continue to support.

During the past year we offered members the option of receiving their journals electronically rather than in printed form. This greatly reduces the costs of production and distribution of the journal and in return our e-members enjoy a lower annual membership fee. Around half of our 500+ members have switched to electronic membership.

During the past year we launched a monthly e-newsletter which includes short items that promote forthcoming events, views and comments, etc. This is sent electronically to all members with email addresses and allows regular

65 contact to be made with members at minimal cost. Many thanks to Arlene Little for producing the newsletters.

We have formalised the research support which we can offer. Two hours of research time is available free to members - a charge is made for longer periods if necessary.Thanks to Roddy Greig & Arlene Little for this assistance

Alison Murray continues to ensure that the society achieves a high profile in social media (Facebook and Twitter) and in local press; while Frances Black oversees our website which gives news and information about our activities and also offers an online facility via Paypal to pay membership fees and purchase publications.

We have made three donations to support local groups involved in family or local history – this year’s recipients of £500 each were Scottish Fisheries Museum, Save Ancient Wemyss Caves Society, and the Wemyss School of Needlework. Dave Reid arranged for special giant presentation cheques to be produced and we were able to have the presentation ceremonies well covered by the local press!

Looking to the future, we have two exciting pieces of news to report / confirm: i) After long discussions, we have reached an agreement with Fife Libraries that a room will be available in Cupar Library for our use as a contact point, where visitors can drop in to meet us, where books and other materials will be available for consultation, and where a selection of our CDs and books will be available for purchase. We will advertise days and times during the week when we will be present for the public to call in. Our books etc. will be moved from Methil Library to Cupar in the next couple of weeks and the new Fife Family History Society room at Cupar Library will be up and running soon! ii) As you probably know, we will be running the 2016 Fife Family History and Local History Fair in Dunfermline on 8 October. We have speakers arranged and many stallholders have already booked spaces. Entry to the exhibition area is free, with a small charge of £15 to attend the talks. Tickets for the talks can now be purchased via our website using Paypal, or by cheque via committee members.

I would like to offer my thanks to all the members of our committee who have worked hard to ensure the smooth running of the society’s affairs. The current committee are all eligible to continue serving for the coming year and have expressed their willingness to continue in post. Thanks are due to:

Arlene Little Secretary Roddy Greig Treasurer and research Andrew Campbell Editor Frances Black Membership and website Dave Reid Speakers Alison Murray Social media, publicity and minutes Christine Roberts Committee member