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Family History This page is only as reliable as the information it receives. You are advised to check original sources wherever possible. PLEASE NOTE: Links from this website to thumbnail images, followed by * , indicate images that are held by SCRAN Updated 20 January 2010 |
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Rhona Gordon and Helen Laing |
Bill Williamson |
Tom Smith and Wendy McGroarty |
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| 2007 | ||||||||||||||
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On Saturday 14 April 2007, the West Lothian Family History Society visited Armadale Library for the first time with their Family History Roadshow. According to the Society's Tom Harkness, the event was well attended by many individuals and family groups who wanted to discover more about their ancestors. In the photos above and below, we see members of the Society and researchers busy on the Library's computers, consulting vital information online that will help to add 'twigs' and 'branches' to family trees. |
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| 2008 | ||||||||||||||
| Armadale Library experienced a busy time during Silver Surfers Week 19 - 24 May 2008. On Friday 23 May 'Silver Surfers' were invited to attend a free morning session to trace their family's roots on the Scotland's people website. Members of the West Lothian Family History Society were in attendance to help with researchers. On Saturday 24 May, Society members returned with their Family History Roadshow, which was well attended. Many visitors commented on how useful the sessions had been. Photos from the two days appear below. | ||||||||||||||
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The KERR Family of Armadale in 1900 at the back of Marchbank
Cottage, East Main Street, which was built with Muir bricks for Muir
Brickworks manager.
Robert (middle row left)
Davie (middle row second from left)
Abraham (middle of back row)
James (back row right)
Other members of the family: wife, Agnes; other
sons: Thomas, John, William and George; daughters: Jane, Agnes, Isabella,
Davie was born c1856 in Duddingston,
Midlothian, the son of Robert Kerr, bc1815 Dalmeny, a ploughman, and Jane, bc1813
Kirkliston.
When Davie was young,
the family (with other sons: James, John, Robert; and daughters: Janet, Ann
and Jean) stayed at North Mains, Inverleith.
Originally a ploughman, Davie Kerr worked as the manager of
Muir
Brickworks at East Main Street and, although he retired at 70, he was called
back to work for Etna Bricks.
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On this page:
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Researchers with Family Links to Armadale All new listings will have a non-clickable e-mail address unless otherwise instructed. (The @ does not copy and paste into Outlook) It's FREE to be listed here! Please e-mail Rosie |
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Armadale Gala Day 2010 Researchers may be interested in the centenary of Armadale Gala Day in 2010, because an historical publication, 100 Armadale Children's Galas - celebration, a commemorative booklet of photos, which has been launched by Queen of Hearts Molly McDonald. Molly is seen below with (L-R) Gala secretary Susan Rooney; principal sponsor Armadale station's Sandra Carter; and President Stuart Borrowman. The booklet of photos includes an image of every Queen back to 1911 and a list of every Champion, as well as many photos from past Galas. It is now on sale price £4 at Rings & Things and other outlets.
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TODD Debra Marion TODD She is seeking her father William (Billy) TODD, b 6 July, who grew up in Armadale, and other family members (a brother, perhaps two sisters). email:
dparkparker Posted 20 January 2010 |
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NOTMAN / WOTHERSPON / LUNDIE / DOWIE / WOOD / KERR / SOMERVILLE Kenneth FORRESTER from Musselburgh wrote to say: "I lived at the time in James Street. I was also in the Boys Brigade, Alex Notman was our captain. Other names were Walter Notman, James Wotherspon and another was Lundie (I can't remember his first name) and Tom and Colm Dowie. Yes, I knew Billy and Jimmy Wood very well. They were a good help to our 1st Armadale Company. I knew Davie Kerr and Robert Kerr as well. My friend Dougal Somerville who passed away a few months ago was also in the BBs. I sometimes come through Armadale because I had good and happy times there..." Posted 11 July 2009 |
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ARCHER / LAUDER / BOYD / DUNLOP / DOW / BROWN / COLQUHOUN / MUNRO / BAIRD / McINTYRE Jean HARDIE née McGILLIVRAY from Winnipeg wrote to say: Some time ago I made contact with George
ARCHER re his mother Chrissie BAIRD but we seem to have lost email
addresses. I have Jean's email address and can put you in touch. Rosie _____________________ Previous messages: "I continue to enjoy your website and I am particularly interested in
the renewing of the station and rail line to Edinburgh.
" I am Jean McGillivray and love to read over the
Armadale website but know very few people as we arrived at the
station in 1936 and left eight years later to go to Linlithgow. One name
I recognise is Charlie COLQUHOUN. We went to the first year at the Lindsay High
in 1939 and he used to pick up the papers at the station. School friends I
remember are Helen MUNRO, Chrissie BAIRD and Nancy McINTYRE who is in Toronto. I
now live in Winnipeg, Canada and have been here since 1951. I would be happy to
hear from anyone who remembers me." If you would like to contact Jean,
email: arjay208 Posting updated 9 April 2009 |
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OWENS / FOULTON / DENHOLM / SWARBECK Bob OWENS who left his Scottish home in 1974, and now stays in Melbourne, Australia, wrote to the website: "I was just browsing, and I thought I would look up Ogleface Quarry, this was started by my father Evan and his two brothers Bob and Richard, the latter married a local girl, Bella FOULTON of Blackridge. I believe the quarry failed owing to the depression 1926.
My dad, Evan, is third from the left, arms folded, uncle Bob is the
one enjoying the cup of tea, with his collar and tie no less. I think
the elderly gentleman standing second left is Cha DENHOLM from Woodend,
and the group may contain one Sandy SWARBECK. Give my regards to the Dale" posted 26 November 2009 |
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GIBSON / EZZI / HUNTER / THOMSON Help Needed! Do you remember The Keynotes of the 1960s? I would like to thank Joyce McLaren, daughter of Davy GIBSON, for supplying five photos, one of which is shown below. All the photos are shown on the Bands Index Page. If you can name any unidentified members of the bands shown in the photos, or if you have any other information / photos / memories of them, please Contact Rosie
Third from left Vince EZZI, fourth from left George HUNTER and second right Davy GIBSON, others are unknown, The band member second from the left could be Alex THOMSON. posted 26 November 2009 |
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Jim Nimmo of Australia I was born and raised in Avondale Crescent Armadale West Lothian. Currently living in Adelaide South Australia/Australia I note with interest photographs of Armadale school football teams. On one photo it included the name of Jim Nimmo This was not myself although I did play for the school and also for the county team. The year would have been approximately 1962 /63 ? [Update 11 November 2009: That was another Jim Nimmo - my thanks to those who contacted me! Rosie] Adelaide has become the home of many ex Armadale folks.
These are a few that come to mind. I left Scotland at the age of 17 years and have been back to Scotland on at least 4 occasions whilst my parents were alive. I would be interested to hear from any old school / football friends. My email address is jim.nimmo1@optusnet.com.au posted 7 November 2009 |
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Aylene Gardiner from Italy: I am searching for information on Robert SMITH (c1873 - 1934); Gladstone Terrace; miner & political agent, Provost of Armadale.
posted 2 October 2009 |
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Frankie 'Maxwell' Goebel from Florida: My Great Grandfather Robert MAXWELL was married to Janet McEWAN and they lived in Armadale during the early 1890's they lived at 117 West Main Street and he was a coal miner. His brother George MAXWELL also lived in Armadale (Bathgate) and was married to Mary McCORRIE. email: livinwell posted 14 September 2009 |
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CAMPBELL / SMITH Dianna Norton sends
greetings from North Ogden, Utah! posted 1 September 2009 |
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MARSHALL / AITKEN Graham Marshall is enquiring about two family groups. My father, William MARSHALL was born in Armadale in 1925 and the family lived at Church Place. He and his younger brother, John, attended school in the village and their father, William MARSHALL, born in Bathgate in 1892, was a foreman at the Atlas Steelworks. The family association with the village was, sadly, curtailed when William died in Armadale on 1 March 1933 and my grandmother moved back to Edinburgh where her family lived. Does anyone recognise any of the people in the photos? A law firm in Singapore was founded by a distant relative, a Torphichen AITKEN. He attended Bathgate Academy and they had a portrait of him, now apparently mislaid. The boy did well and his firm celebrates its 135th anniversary in November. The firm would love to have a copy of the portrait. Does anyone know where a copy might be found? email: worldlywanderer
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ALLAN / FLYNN / FRIEL / SNEDDON / GRAHAM / STEWART
You may remember that Tom ALLAN, formerly of High Academy Street, wrote to us as he wanted to make contact again with the friends he left behind when he left Armadale for Toronto in February 1957: Charles FLYNN, Robert FRIEL, Tommy SNEDDON, Tom GRAHAM, Mary STEWART. He sent us a 1950s photo (above) that had been treasured over the years, showing Charles Flynn on the left, Tom Allan, Tom Graham and Tom Sneddon. It's always good to hear of a happy ending when people post requests. We're delighted that Tom Allan and Tommy Sneddon were able to meet again after 50 years (2008). Tommy would like to thank the people that let him know about the posting on this website: "Thanks Mary and Allison." |
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ADAMS / BRYCE Alistair Adams is researching the ADAMS family. His great-grandfather, John Hunter ADAMS, was the twin of Mark ADAMS, born 1843 in Dalkeith. Francis Dickson ADAMS was Mark's son. Francis Dickson ADAMS and Jessie (Bryce) ADAMS were the parents of Mark ADAMS who lived in Dougans Square, Armadale and died in 1988. Are you a descendant? Do you have information to share? You can contact Alistair through his interesting website where he has added family and social history and photographs: Posted 25 May 2009 |
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McLEAN / MIDDLETON / LOVE / FRASER Armadale Gala Committee are
looking for relatives of the first Queen (1911), Janet Russell McLEAN who was
born in South Street in 1897. Her mother, Janet MIDDLETON, married John
McLEAN, but he died and she married James LOVE. Janet was sometimes known by
that name. email: stuartborrowman@btinternet.com Posted 18 May 2009 |
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HONEYMAN / BRYCE / COCKBURN Pam Chetland is interested in the HONEYMAN / Carron Ironworks connection. My g-g-g-grandmother was a Margaret HONEYMAN b abt 1770. I have her parents as William HONEYMAN and Helen BRYCE but this was based mainly on naming pattern as she died before death records came into being and have not found her on OPR deaths.
email: chetland.pam Posted 13 April 2009 |
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HARRIS Archie SHIEL is trying to contact his old army pal, John HARRIS (Whitby 1942), whose last known address was Wood Terrace, Armadale. He would be grateful for any information and can be contacted on 07824553716. |
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WALKER / STIRLING / MAXWELL Updated February 2009 email: kathryn1reeves Posted 27 February 2009 |
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BEVIN BOYS Can anyone help?
Information is sought about
Bevin Boys who
stayed in huts behind the Institute around where King How many Bevin Boys were there? How many stayed in Armadale? Can anyone supply more names? e-mail Rosie Posted 27 January 2009 |
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BEVERIDGE / KIDD Elizabeth Kidd Klapp wrote: ' I have recently found a photograph of my father, grandfather, and two of his supervisors. Their names are John FORSYTH1885-1925; W. C. FORSYTH 1925-1935. My grandfather's name is Allan John BEVERIDGE, he was a joiner and I believe he worked for the FORSYTH's. Also in the photo is my father, Norman J. BEVERIDGE. The photo was in precognition of my grandfather's fifty year service. I also believe this was the start of my father's apprenticeship as a joiner. The photo was taken by TOWNSON's of Bathgate. My grandfather and grandmother (Elizabeth Kidd) are buried in Armadale or Bathgate. The house was near a slaughterhouse, and I have been told the house is now some kind of shop. Thank you for any help you can give. email: Bobbettyjnr Posted 20 January 2009 |
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BELL Mark Bell is seeking information about James BELL (b1912 Whitburn), resident Hawthorn Cottage, Station Road, Armadale 17th June 1936. James was a motor driver, then baker's van driver or taxi driver up to 1936 when he disappears. Sometime around 1933 he received an injury to his face/eye and may have worked in a garage in Armadale. James was a reluctant witness in the 1936
trial of Robert MAXWELL & Roderick GILCHRIST for armed robbery in Slamannan,
December 1935. Previously arrested for the crime himself in connection with some
London criminals (Edward LUCY & Co), then operating in Scotland, James
decided
I believe James, after serving 1 month in Saughton for contempt, fled Scotland arriving in Devon in 1936. The case was reported in detail in The Scotsman & London Times newspapers and I even have the 1936 Saughton Prison Register. There was a petition organised to plead for mercy after MAXWELL was handed down a sentence of 8 years penal servitude. The committee included Provost W AITKEN and Councillor C BARRAS.
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TRAYNOR
Denis L. Slattery has sent in a photo of a billiards championship medal, dated 1933, belonging to either his grandfather, John TRAYNOR, or his uncle Jimmy TRAYNOR, (both of Woodend). He would like to discover which relative received it. email: pur2460die |
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McGOWAN /SHAW / WHITE / BALLANTYNE / MURRAY / HALLIDAY / WATSON October 2008 Margaret Bijl nee McPherson is searching for information about her great grandfather James McGOWAN. I do not know any of the family, but it would not be unreasonable if some descendants were still living in Armadale. I do not know when he moved to Armadale, but he was in Glasgow in the 1891 Census and there were 3 older children there, including my grandmother. The 1901 Census shows James McGOWAN aged abt 49. His occupation was Manager Public House. He lived at 87 South Street, Armadale. His wife was Catherine; children: Thomas, 19, Isabella, 16, Mary, 12 and Jemima, 6. James McGOWAN, publican of Bathville Stores, Armadale
died on 10 May 1934. The Bathville Stores comprised a public house, a dwelling
house and a shop. (His first wife died and the second died about 1936.) His will
said that his estate was to be divided between his children. However, this did
not happen and his son, Thomas, continued managing the business until he died
intestate on 5 May 1950, leaving widow, Elizabeth SHAW or McGOWAN. Two of James'
daughters then petitioned for the estate to be wound up. From that source I have
the learned that some of his descendants were still living in Armadale. Isabella McConnachie Rose McGOWAN or WHITE, Woodlands Cottages, Armadale Mary McGOWAN or BALLANTYNE , of Acadamy Street, Armadale
email: margbijl |
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POW / MARSHALL George Marshall is searching for information about his gt gt grandfather Thomas POW, one time Provost of Armadale. He would also like to know if William MARSHALL, also a Provost, was Thomas POW's son-in-law. email: akajoeking Posted September 2008 |
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EDWARDS / FIELDER / McFARLANE / SMITH / STEWART / REYNOLDS William T. Young is searching for information about his wife's family lines: Richard Nigel EDWARDS, born c1897, was the son of William James Nigel EDWARDS and Elizabeth nee FIELDER. The family lived at 65 Lower Bathville, Armadale. Richard EDWARDS married Mary McFARLANE on the 5th April 1921 Whitburn. He was 24 and she was 21. They had twin daughters, Margaret and Elizabeth, born 1 July 1925 in Goschen Place, Uphall, registered Broxburn. Their mother, Mary, died in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in 1928. It is believed the daughters were put up for adoption. Little is known about the father, Richard EDWARDS, apart from the fact that he served on HMS Bruce. Mary McFARLANE was the daughter of John McFARLANE and Elizabeth
nee STEWART, both of Bathville, Armadale, in 1897. Patrick McFARLANE, a
general Any information will be appreciated! email: williamyoung51 Posted August 2008 |
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SMITH August 2008 Diane McDonald: My grandfather, Forrester SMITH (born 1900 in Armadale) was a pianist in the Armadale area. He died in Kirkcaldy in 1979, but I believe he lived in the Armadale area for the majority of his life. I wonder whether there could be any local newspaper articles that mention him during his time as a musician. Any information would be greatly appreciated. email: drmcdonald2 Readers may have seen details about him on the Bands Index page: 'Forrester Smith aka Fossy, a pole erector (for electric power conveyance) for the United Collieries, was a fine pianist, who played at the Pavilion and Star. The orchestra accompanied visiting performers and comprised: piano, violin, cornet and drums. He was a founding member of a popular local dance band called The Charleston Band.' Twenty years before Forrester's birth, his father, Daniel, was a ironstone miner living at Mason's Land, Main Street Armadale, with his wife Emmalina and his son William. Ten years later the family was living at 38 Russell's Row and Daniel was a coalminer. When Forrester was one, his father and two of his brothers were coalminers. They lived at 16 Thomson's Land. Forrester's name appears on the Armadale Public School Roll of Honour As Diane has never seen a clear photo of her grandfather, we would love to help her. Rosie
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LOVE
Following the sad death of Jack LOVE of Armadale earlier this summer, his son, Sandy, told me that his father was born in Armadale in 1910 and that he lived the later years of his life in Ochilview Court. He was a mine surveyor with United Collieries, and then NCB, all his life and, also, he was part-time assistant registrar to Johnnie whose sister Clementina McNICOL married Alex LOVE. I would like to help Sandy research Robertson, Love & Co Ltd, which Sandy's great grandfather, James LOVE, established after moving his family to Armadale from Ayrshire. If you have any information that could help the research, please e-mail Rosie.
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JEFFREY / WILSON / ANDERSON / GIBB
Lorraine Storry Mockford of Nova Scotia, Canada, was scrolling through the Armadale History pages and felt a chill when she saw what she believed to be her ggg grandparents' headstone in the Kirkton Churchyard at Bathgate. She told us: My Grandmother, Grace Elizabeth WILSON was a teacher in Armadale before she came to Saskatchewan, Canada, as teacher, in the 1910s. The above couple would have been her maternal grandparents. She met and married my grandfather, William STORRY, in Bladworth Saskatchewan. I know from pictures and remaining family letters that she had cousins who remained in the Armadale / Bathgate area, including the children of Dr. ANDERSON. His wife, Grace Symington JEFFREY, was the sister of my G-Grandmother, Elizabeth. Grace Elizabeth WILSON's sister, Mary Arthur (Polly) WILSON, was a nurse who never married. She travelled as a nursing sister, and worked at Tippethill. Aunt Polly and their mother, Eliza, moved to Saskatchewan shortly after my father was born in 1918. Polly continued her nursing in Canada, working both as a midwife and at the TB San at various times. They are all buried in Bladworth, Sask. Dr. John ANDERSON came to Armadale in 1882 and married my
G-Grandmother's sister, Grace Symington JEFFREY, on 28 June 1887 in Armadale.
Children: William, 1888 (Armadale's 2nd Dr ANDERSON); Janet Rankine (Jenny),
1890; John Jeffrey, 1893. Jenny's birth record states she was born at Coltness
Cottage, West Main Street, Armadale. Jenny was also a medical
doctor, although we are unsure how long she practiced or where, before she
married and had a family. I'm looking for information about any family members with the names JEFFREY; WILSON; ANDERSON; GIBB. In particular, we would like to know what happened to Jenny ANDERSON. Did she marry? Did she have any children? email: lorraine_mockford Posted August 2008 --------------- [Here are a few tidbits of information relevant to families mentioned above, which may be of interest to researchers: In June 1844, John WILSON married Mary Briggs ARTHUR in
Bathgate. Six years later he was a grocer and meal dealer living with
wife, Mary Briggs ARTHUR, in South Street, Armadale. The History of Armadale Association's recently published book 'Armadale in Minutes', contains many references to the WILSON family, eg: 'John Wilson of Whitockbrae owned a house, shop and bakehouse and several other houses. Mathew Wilson, grocer, owned several houses and two shops.' (page 50) In 1858 Mr. WILSON bought the Crown Hotel and Stonerig Farm on the Polkemmet Estate. John CALDERHEAD became farm manager. In 1862 John WILSON sold the Crown Hotel and leased Whitockbrae Farm. Details about medical personnel; ANDERSON is one of many local surnames (of men who served during WW1) on Armadale Public School Roll of Honour; the WILSON surname appears throughout the National Relief Fund documentation Rosie] |
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MacLEASH / MORRISON / GALLAGHER Posted August 2008 Allan from Wales: Seeking information about relatives of his mother, Julia MacLEASH of Armadale (her mother was Katie MacLEASH), of his father, Allan MORRISON of Blackridge, and also about cousin John GALLAGHER. email: allaninnewport |
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MARSHALL / WILLIAMSON Posted August 2008 Maree from Matamata, New Zealand: William Williamson MARSHALL b 1915 / 1925 Armadale; mother's name WILLIAMSON. Descendants are totally in the dark about their Scottish roots and are trying to make contact. They are ever hopeful of someone recognising their relatives within the coalmining fraternity... email: tappets |
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O'BRIEN Posted August 2008 Perry: I have a friend at my church who grew up in Armadale and I told him I would try to find out what happened to his best friend John O'BRIEN. John would be in his late 70s or early 80s. My friend's name is Dave KNOX. email: perrycalisi |
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LEES / McFARLANE / BLAIR Posted July 2008 Jamie from Canada: Andrew
LEES and his wife Elizabeth McFARLANE had 15 children and lived in Armadale
Bathgate in the 1850s. After the couple moved to the Hamilton area due to
Andrew's work some of the older children email: jamielees |
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McPHILLIPS / GILLIES / KERR Posted June 2008 Gerry from Adelaide Australia:
I am attempting to develop a family tree and would appreciate any information
that might help me. My parents were Frances McPHILLIPS (nee GILLIES) and James
McPHILLIPS who lived in George Street. My father was the publican of the
Athletic Bar on South Street for many years, and my mother worked at the Bowls Club
for a time after my father’s death in 1974. My mother also died in 1994. My
father was born on 29 Oct 1919 and mother on 20 Jan 1929. They were married in
Bathgate on 4 Nov 1950.
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Sir William Honeyman, Lord Armadale, 1756 - 1825; Family Tree; David Partner's Notes on Family Tree; other Honeyman / Honyman families and their researchers can be found via the link
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WILLIAMSON / BOYD / HAMILTON Posted April 2008 Sharon from New Zealand: Searching for information about the WILLIAMSON family: William WILLIAMSON, son of Duncan and Mina (Wilhelmina) Williamson (nee BOYD) was born in Armadale in 1918. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1939, and his parents and siblings later followed. Duncan’s siblings George, Robert and Mary had already made the move to New Zealand, Archie, Peggie and Peter having emigrated to the USA. Duncan's parents were William and Mary Hamilton
WILLIAMSON. email: andrew.williamson |
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PATERSON Posted October 2007 Victoria from Australia: Searching for information about a PATERSON family which owned/ran a fish and chip shop in the Bathgate area in the 1950’s. Any information would be wonderful. email: victoriajayde
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FRIEL / McALPINE Posted October 2007; updated 17 November 2007 Agnes from Hull: I am trying to find out information about my late father and any of his relatives. My father, John, was born in Armadale in 1933, the son of Thomas FRIEL and Elisabeth McALPINE. Their other two children were Helen and Elisabeth. My father had two sisters: Helen McCALLUM nee Friel, whose children were George and Shirley, and Elisabeth LAMBIE nee FRIEL whose son Robbie is believed to live in Canada. My father was a keen footballer and spent some time in the RAF. He married my mother in 1954, but he died in 1972 when I was young, and so I do not have much information about, or any contact with, his family. I would love my own children to have more information about their grandfather's family.
email: mum.79
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BRADY / SWAN / VALLELY / HANLIN Posted July 2007 Lorraine From Canada: I am currently working on my father and mother's family tree's. My father was born and raised in Armadale and is a BRADY. His father was Edward BRADY and his mother Margaret SWAN. He and Mom came to Canada in 1957. Mom was from Bathgate - a VALLELY. I am wondering if anyone knows the connection of the HANLIN family to my grandfather Edward BRADY. We know he and his twin brother and younger sister were raised by the Hannah HANLIN and her husband. We also know Edward BRADY's parents were Andrew and Agnes BRADY (Brady was also her maiden name). Andrew & Agnes had elder children but we are not sure if they stayed with the HANLINs or not. And what happened to Andrew & Agnes? My Dad used to buy Thomas HANLIN's paper for him when he was a boy when Tom was writing his books. My Dad is also interested in the SWAN history as he remembers them owing land in Armadale and Hopetoun areas, including pub and movie house and farm land(s). Can anyone help us? Lorraine on behalf of Canadian Bradys:
email: liveslikelois George SWAN built an inn on west side of The Cross, called The Armadale Inn, which later became The Regal Bar. Rosie |
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BURNS / BISHOP / PATON / WEIR / MILLAR Posted June 2007 Elizabeth, illegitimate daughter of Robert BURNS and Elizabeth PATON, farm servant, was born 22 May 1785 Tarbolton, Ayrshire. She married John BISHOP, overseer at Polkemmet, son of Thomas BISHOP and Jane WEIR, on 11 January 1807 in Galston, Ayrshire. Elizabeth died on 8 January 1817 in Polkemmet, Whitburn and her daughter, Mary Lyon, aged two, died three months after her mother. John BISHOP was born 11 January 1782 Whitburn. After Elizabeth's death, he married Mary MILLAR. He died 20 June 1857 Whitburn. Details of Elizabeth's life; Burns's Address to an Illegitimate Child; |
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MARSHALL / PENMAN / STIRLING Posted May 2007 Lynn from England: My family in the Armadale area starts with William MARSHALL whose daughter, Jessie MARSHALL (later PENMAN by marriage) was my GGrandmother. William lived in Armadale until moving to New Monklands around 1900. William's son William was killed in the Stanrigg Disaster in 1918. William's parents, William MARSHALL and Isabella STIRLING, also lived and died in Armadale. I was born in England so do not know of any relatives, but would love to hear from anyone that may be out there.
email: Lynnpateman
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MACKAY Posted May 2007 Jeanne from New Brunswick, Canada: My father, David MACKAY (b.c1902 Armadale), came to Canada in the early 1900s when he was about ten years old. I know little of his life in Scotland, but he did tell me that he came from Armadale. I know that my grandfather, Robert MACKAY, worked in a brickyard and was a football player. After Robert came to Canada, he became foreman of a brickyard in a small town called Beamsville in southern Ontario, Canada. His wife, Alexina, and four of their children, joined him in Canada somewhere around 1912. The family then moved to Hamilton On. where my grandfather worked in a big steel mill until he died of a heart attack in 1943. My father had an older brother Mathew and a younger brother Robert. email: jeannebrooker Since receiving this e-mail, it has been established that Robert MACKAY was born c1875 in Bannock Burn, Stirlingshire. In 1901 he was staying at 107 South Street, Armadale with his wife Alexina who was born c1883. He was a Miners Checkweigher. |
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WEIR / ORR Posted March 2007 Bill Barr has sent these photos to me asking if anyone has any further information about the individuals featured. Confirmation or correction of identification of individuals would be appreciated. email: bill_barr
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VANDEPEEAR Help wanted! Were you evacuated to Armadale in 1939 or later? Did your family take in an evacuee? Do you have any memories of evacuees in Armadale? Does anyone remember an evacuee called James VANDEPEEAR who was sent to stay with an Armadale family in 1939? He has told me, "I was an evacuee from Edinburgh at Armadale. I did not stay there long, and can only remember a row of terrace cottages sloping down to a field or play ground, and I recall sliding down a bing on a shovel. I was barely 5 years old at the time, and what I do remember is very little. The row of cottages on a slope is fairly certain, and a swing park at the bottom of the hill. As to the names of the family I was with, I cannot remember them at all, except that they had three sons, at least, and I think I shared a bed with them." James Vandepeear's sister has written about the day she visited Armadale to collect James and to return with him to Edinburgh. Here are extracts from her account: "I was sent to bring him back. It was also the first time I had ever been allowed to travel anywhere on my own, so I was nervous.... I boarded an SMT bus, asked the conductor to tell me when we reached Armadale then sat down....... when I saw Armadale my first impression was 'grey', grey skies, houses, streets, even the people on the bus were grey and dour looking. However I got off the bus at the first bus-stop in Armadale, stayed on the left side of the road, passed by a rough hedge, there may have been a house behind it. I must have walked about 100 yards before turning left into a long sloping street lined with houses which were stone fronted with a window each side of the front doors painted either black or dark green. This was the first row of houses. I stayed on the left hand side, walked over half way down on a slabbed pavement until I saw Jim sitting on the doorstep, a rather strange doorstep, the house being on such a long slope meant that if you lived at the top you had a thin step - the lower down the slope the higher the step. The house Jim lived in had two and a half steps but they were not whitened with pipe-clay. The pavement was not wide but had small kerbstones. I remember how bleak it all looked, not a tree anywhere. There was another little boy with Jim, also an evacuee, they were not allowed to play in the house even though it was late summer and chilly. The adults in the house were, I believe, a single brother and sister in their late thirties." Other possible clues: the surname 'BEGBIE' and the numbers 5 and 15. If you have information, which could help James to identify the place where he stayed, please e-mail Rosie |
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SAMUEL / TENNENT / ROBERT / MERRY / PATERSON Posted February 2007 Dominic Toye: Could anyone tell the names of the coal mines which were operating around 1861. The reason I ask this question is that my gggranda Neil TOY worked as a miner then and lived in Bathgate with his mum and brother William who also was a miner. Their address was 36 Bathville Row. Where was it situated and does it exist today? I wonder if anyone can help me tracing my ggggran's family Ann SAMUEL. I have traced them back to abt 1717 and they seemed to have stayed in the one place for about a century which is Bathgate. Her mother's name was Margaret TENNENT born abt 1760 Bathgate: could any give me her parents' name? email: dt1708 Dominic has now been told: Margaret TENNENT:
Birth: 28 MAY 1761; Christening: 21 JUN 1761 Bathgate |
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MARSHALL / HAMILTON / BLADES Posted February 2007 Duncan Robertson: My great-grandfather, David HAMILTON, was secretary of The Goth for 17 years up until his death. The BLADES family of Armadale went on to produce one the country's most prominent law lords of the mid-20th century as well as a director of education who went on to receive the OBE. All from 'humble' Armadale mining stock!
e-mail:
duncangrayrobertson See more information about The Goth Edward BLADES born 6 March 1875 Armadale, died 1953 Edinburgh: lived in Academy Street, attended Armadale Public School where he became a pupil teacher before matriculating at Edinburgh University (1894). MA (Hons) in Mathematics and Natural Philosophy (1900); BSc (subjects of study included Mathematics, Astronomy and Geology) (1902); Diploma of Education at Higher Grade; Kelland Memorial Prize; Ramsay Memorial Prize; 6 medals. Elementary schoolteacher; junior Lecturer in Mathematics; assistant Lecturer in Science and Geography, Moray House Training College, Edinburgh; Lecturer in honours Geology at Heriott-Watt, Edinburgh; Head of Mathematics, George Watson's Ladies' College, Edinburgh. Executive Officer to West Lothian Education Authority, 1919 appointment; Director of Education, West Lothian Education Committee (1930 onwards); retired 1939; Honorary LL.D degree from Edinburgh for war work (1946); OBE for services to army education in Scotland (1948)Full biography |
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FRIEL Photo of Hugh Friel, b1899 Armadale; Photo taken c1922 of James and Mary Friel Posted January 2007 Chris from America: Researching the FRIEL family (a rather large family of 13 children) who lived in Armadale from the 1890s – possibly present.
email: cfriel
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PEDEN / McALPINE / McALLISTER / BELL Posted September 2006 Janet from America: Looking for info about John PEDEN's [b1882 Armadale d1959 Armadale] parents John PEDEN and Margaret McALPINE and her parents J. McALPINE and Margaret [Magnet] BELL [b abt 1826 d abt 1925]. Also looking for info about John PEDEN's
wife - Maria Margaret McAllister PEDEN's [b1880 High Gate, Broxburn,
West Lothian d 1972 Pontiac, MI, USA] parents Christopher
McALLISTER and Margaret Higgins Martin McALLISTER. I have Margaret McAllister and John Peden's
descendants for four generations and would be glad to share. |
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WILSON / METHVEN / CAMERON / GILLESPIE / RAMSAY / MOORE / MATHIESON / BLACK / HUMBLE / COBB Bruce from Australia: Research includes the WILSON families of Armadale and Bathgate. Individuals include: George WILSON b1814 Clackmannshire, d1876 (Mossend Cottage, Armadale), =Christina METHVEN; George WILSON b1844, 1873 Bathville Cottage =, Christina CAMERON; William WILSON b 1835 Dunfermline d 1914 Mossgiel Cottage, Armadale, 1857 Alloa=Helen GILLESPIE bc1838, d 1918 100 South Street, Armadale; William WILSON b1871 Bathgate, 1898 Armadale=Mary MATHIESON; Christina WILSON b1855 Carnock, 1876 Armadale=William RAMSAY; Adam Black Douglas WILSON b1885 Carnock, collier in Armadale, emigrated to Australia 1885, 1893=Jessie MOORE. Other Armadale-born individuals married BLACK, HUMBLE, CAMERON, COBB. For the full tree visit: http://www.wilshep.com/ email: wilshep mail: Bruce R. Wilson, 17, Scoresby Avenue, Shepparton 3630, Victoria, Australia |
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SIMPSON / McDONALD / FAIRLEY Betty from Hampshire: My maternal grandfather, James SIMPSON, b1867 Jack's Land, Armadale, married Ann McDONALD b1866 Whitburn Road, Bathgate, in 1893. They had 6 known children, all born in Armadale, between 1892 and 1904, and a son William, who definitely existed, probably the eldest, but I haven't yet managed to find his birth details. Their daughter, Margaret SIMPSON, was born in 1900 at The Cappers, Armadale. She married my father, John FAIRLEY, in Whitburn in 1922. I would be happy to hear from any other researchers. email: jonetty |
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CAMPBELL Louise from USA: Jane (Jeanna) Jenny CAMPBELL b 30 March 1864 Armadale, d 27 July 1944 Salt Lake City. For family tree see: www.nathanielspens.com Louise can be contacted on that site. |
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The COCHRANES of Barbauchlaw: Unfortunately the website with contact email does not work any more. Does anyone know of the replacement site? |
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MARSHALL / WADDELL Bernz from New Zealand: William MARSHALL b 1856 Carluke, married Jemina WADDELL 1862 - 1934) at Barbanshaw Mill. Some of their children were born in the Armadale area including Janet (Jessie) b1902 d1983, a domestic science teacher; Margaret (Peggy) bc1888; Robert bc1885; Thomas bc1886. William MARSHALL was a Master Baker in Bathgate and later a farmer at Barbauchlaw Farm where he and his wife died. email: BernzG |
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BEVERIDGE
Heather Beveridge from Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada:
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EDWARDS / ROBERTS / KERR / MARSHALL Henry EDWARDS b1827, d1875 Armadale, married, 1847 N Wales, Margaret ROBERTS b1827 Flintshire, d1891 43 East Main St, Armadale. Their son, Esau b1853 Bathgate, d1900, married 1873, Margaret KERR b1855, d1932. Son Henry b1889, d1943 at 5 Wardrop Crescent, Armadale, married 1895, Elizabeth MARSHALL b1895 d1974. |
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DYETT / CAMPBELL /BARNES /ARMSTRONG William DYETT b1840 Langriggend Kelvin Dock (d 1912 USA), son of William DYETT and Johanna CAMPBELL, married, 1858 Stirlingshire, Martha BARNES b1841, daughter of Mark BARNES and Ann ARMSTRONG. At least 5 of their children were born in Armadale: Alexander DYETT b 1865 Armadale, d 1917; Mark DYETT b1863 Bathville, d 1864; Joseph DYETT b 1865 Armadale, d 1947, = Catherine Bain SMITH; Martha DYETT b1867 Armadale, d 1951; John DYETT b1870 Armadale, d 1939. |
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HOOD / PENMAN / O'NEIL Margaret HOOD b1830 Newton married, c1852 Prestonpans, John PENMAN. They had at least 8 children including: Nicol b 11 Jan 1856 Bathville Row, and Janet Rankine b 2 Nov 1857 Armadale. Thomas HOOD b1833 Claybarns Newton married, in 1854 Bathgate, Janet ANTHONY. They had 11 children including Helen b 1864 Armadale. Peter HOOD b 13 July Prestonpans (d 1905 USA) married, 1855 Glasgow, Mary O'NEIL daughter of Andrew O'NEIL. They had 13 children including Andrew b 30 Oct 1856 Armadale (d 8 Nov 1856) and Elizabeth b 29 Nov 1857 Armadale (d 20 April 1884 USA) |
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WANLASS / NEILSON The WANLASS family lived in Newbattle in 1851. In 1861 they were living at 45 Bathville Row: James WANLASS, a coal miner, b1825 Musselburgh / Edinburgh, and his wife, Margaret NEILSON, b Tranent, had 7 children. In 1871 they were living in Armadale with their 3 children born in Armadale: Alexander, Joseph and Helen. In 1874 the family emigrated, travelling from Liverpool to New York. james WANLASS died in 1895. Website |
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NICOL / ARCHIBALD / MEECHAN / WELSH Hugh NICOL b1855 Airdrie, son of James NICOL and Elizabeth ARCHIBALD, married 31 December 1877 Armadale, Margaret MEECHAN b 1856 New Monkland, d 1899 Newbattle, daughter of William MEECHAN b1835 Antrim and Sarah Ann WELSH b 1835 Antrim. |
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MOLLISON / SMITH Margaret Silver Soutar MOLLISON b 15 February 1887 Armadale, d 4 May 1956 Brechin, daughter of James MOLLISON b1858 Montrose and Margaret Silver SMITH b 1856 Kincardine. |
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RUSSELL / KIRKHOPE / GIBB / NEILSON / DYER James RUSSELL son of Alexander and Annabella RUSSELL was b 1845 and, in 1870 Carluke, married Margaret DYER, daughter of John DYER and Mary KIRKHOPE. They had 8 children: Alexander, Mary, John, Annabella, James, Jane and two who were born in Armadale, Matthew b1887 and Robert b 1889. William RUSSELL was b 1875 in Armadale, son of Alexander RUSSELL and his wife, Maria GIBB, daughter of Archibald GIBB and Ann NEILSON. |
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LAW family of Netherhouses Farm, Armadale (known as Blackdubbs and occupied by the PRYCE family in 1851 census) Hugh LAW b Carnwath farmed Netherhouses from the late 1860s until his death in 1895. He was married to Susanna ROBB, daughter of James ROBB and Mary DONALD. Hugh and Susanna had a large family, some of whom were born at Netherhouses. |
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SIMPSON and CLEPHANE Christina SIMPSON b 28 March 1865 Cockpen, Midlothian, daughter of James SIMPSON and Janet MORRISON, married 2 April 1886 Armadale, Robert CLEPHANE b 29 Dec 1864 Cramond, d Edinburgh 12 May 1887. After Janet death, James SIMPSON married Margaret CLEPHANE (Robert's sister) and of their 6 children, one was born in Armadale: William bc1887. |
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BENNETT / KERR / LOUDEN / McCONNELL / NEIL (all births below in Armadale) BENNETT: James Alexander b 17 March 1886; Mary Loudon b 5 Dec 1908; KERR: Mary b 1875; LOUDEN: Agnes b 1898; Agnes b 13 July 1866; Annie Dowie b 2 Dec 1888; Flora b 19 Oct 1872; James b 13 May 1875; Jane Louden b 6 April 1870; Mary b 7 Nov 1906 at 62 East Main Street; MCCONNELL: Catharine b 1 April 1930; Neil Agnes b1880 |
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DOBIE/ WILLIAMSON / EASTON: Thomas DOBIE married Mary WILLIAMSON in Armadale 28 Nov 1873. He was a baker at North Street, Armadale in 1891 and at 8 East Main Street, Armadale in 1901. Mary was the daughter of William WILLIAMSON and Sarah EASTON. For more about the family visit the Fairbairn family of Stirlingshire's website |
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See the local history page for a sampler made by Jeanie Walker from Tippethill in 1882, when she was just twelve. It has a lovely example of a strawberry motif, a biblical quote and initials of family members. |
| Bathgate Cemetery | |
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| Kirkton Churchyard, Bathgate | |
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| Torphichen | Woodbank Cemetery, near Armadale |
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Gillon Memorial, (Inscription Downe, Gillon, Hamilton, Scott) |
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| Armadale Parish Church | |
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Above: Stained glass window in memory of William and Ann Forsyth Above: Stained glass window in memory of Barbara Smith Calderhead, gifted by her husband John Forsyth |
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| You may also be interested in Religious Groups and Buildings | |
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Family History
West Lothian Local History Library has much to offer the family historian Opening hours (no appointment needed): Monday - Thursday 9.00am - 5.00pm; Friday 9.00am - 4.00pm; First Saturday of month 9.30am - 1.00pm
Visitors welcome! Library HQ, Connolly House, Hopefield Road, Blackburn, West Lothian, EH47 7HZ
01506 776331 or email Sybil.Cavanagh
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Useful Publications |
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"Ye had a room and kitchen and ye hadnae many cupboards, and it was set-in
beds. And ma sister and I had a three-quarter bed alongside that wall,
see, and underneath was the gas meter. And we had rats in the house and ma
dad got Tam Milne's rat-trap - it was a cage - and it was put in where we
were sleeping, and we were terrified, terrified, because it didnae kill
the rat, it caught them..." |
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Births, deaths & marriages from 1837 in England & Wales (a growing database) |
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LDS Database
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Free Index to
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Ultimus Haeres |
| Recording Scottish Graveyards | ||||
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ASGRA: Association of Scottish Genealogists & Researchers in Archives |
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Scotgenealogy
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Scotland's People
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| Names, Terms and Tartans | West Lothian Place Names | Online Scottish Names Directory | Surname Distribution | Glossary of archaic terms |
| West Lothian Surname List | The Guild of One-Name Studies | Guide to Tartans | ||
| Archives and Libraries |
Libraries: local history and heritage West Lothian history at Blackburn Library HQ |
National Archives of Scotland | National Library of Scotland | Scottish Archive Network |
| National Archives Online Catalogue |
National Archives Online
Wills etc
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National
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West Lothian Museum Service: Reminiscence Boxes Loan Service Library HQ, Connolly House, Hopefield Road, Blackburn 01506 776321 |
Photo collection
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Scottish
handwriting Useful aids to reading documents |
Worldcat booksearch | ||
| Emigration and Evacuation | Did your Scottish ancestor emigrate? | Scottish Emigration Database | Ship and Passenger Lists | Ellis Island Records |
| West Lothian Scotland GenWeb Project | Family Records Links Pages | Evacuees to Armadale | ||
| Software |
Personal Ancestral File - Excellent free program for recording your family history etc |
Cyndi's genealogy software and computer list |
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Internet Guide: Scottish Family History |
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Armadale-specific Information Did you know....? The most popular surname in Armadale is BROWN. (1.5% of the town's population) |
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The 1915 Gretna Rail Disaster Names of Armadale dead include: James ANDERSEN; William Thomson BISSET, 54 South St; Hugh HART, 67 Lower Bathville. Names of Armadale injured include: J. McCONNELL, 85 East Main St; J. NEALLY / NEILLY, 20 Mount Pleasant; J. SMITH, Etna Cottages. Research details |
Armadale-related files in the National Archives of Scotland Catalogue Names include: BOYD, FORRESTER, HAY, HART, KING, LEISHMAN, McCORRY aka McCURRIE, MACDONALD, MARSHALL, MUNRO. William SNEDDEN with sisters and cousin, Armadale c1903 (Scran*) |
Bathville-related files in the
National Archives of Scotland Catalogue Names include: ANDERSON, BRODIE, BROWN, CALDER, CASSIDY, DAVIDSON, DONNELLY aka MARSHALL, FRIEL, McNAIR, McCLORY, McNEILL, POTTER, ROBB, RODGER, SHAW, SIMPSON, WILSON.
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Woodend-related files in the National Archives of Scotland Catalogue Names include: FORBES, WATSON, GRAHAM.
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Did you know...? The most popular forenames given to babies born in West Lothian in 2006 were: Jack*, Ryan and Sophie* (* also the popular names in Scotland). |
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NRF TRANSCRIPT: National Relief Fund, Armadale
Local Committee Minute Book, 1914 - 1916
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See the
and the pages for additional details about specific Armadalians |
Was your ancestor a miner in the Armadale area? |
Mining Engineers 1896-7 BORROWMAN, James, Armadale Station, Linlithgowshire. PARKER, William, Woodville Cottages, Armadale, Bathgate WATSON, John G., Ivy Bank, Armadale Station, Linlithgowshire. WILSON, Robert, Bathville Collieries, Armadale |
Memories of working in
Armadale-area collieries: 1842 Includes Hard Hill Colliery and Barbauchlaw Colliery testimonies:
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"We went to school in our bare feet. Mostly we went to school with our bare feet because we hadnae got anything else to put on. There was no such thing as going to school with shoes on - all the boys wore tacketty boots or clogs." Jack Mackinnon, Mair Tales Fae The 'Dale, 2, Schooldays and Holidays, Further Recollections of Childhood in Armadale |
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Demolition of derelict building on West Main Street, Tuesday 21st November, 2006, ready for a flatted development.
Denis Slattery has told us that, in the early 1900s, the building was a general store owned by the Geddes family. Annie Geddes married Peter Traynor and, eventually, they moved to Lochgelly where he was under-manager in the mine. |
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Armadale Wedding Rhyme Monday for health Tuesday for wealth Wednesday no luck at all Thursday for losses Friday for crosses Saturday the best day of all |
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