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On this page:
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Researchers with Family Links to Armadale
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Useful Family History Research Links
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Family History Software Links
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Quotations from publications produced
by The History of Armadale Association (My grateful thanks for their permission to include extracts)
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Assorted photographs which may be of
interest to family researchers
and Tom Gordon's
website
and Evacuees
to Armadale |
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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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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:
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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.
Janet married Walter FRASER, a steel moulder form Unity Terrace, in 1917
and may have had a child later the same year, also Janet.
Sadly, the first Armadale Gala Queen died at the age of 21 in 1918.
If you have information about Queen Janet, the Gala Committee would really
appreciate hearing from you.
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.
I am interested in the HONEYMAN link to Carron Ironworks as my Margaret HONEYMAN
married Alexander COCKBURN in 1793 who was the head bricklayer for Carron Iron
works so I have been led to believe and they were living in Carron Larbert
when she died approx 1810.
email: chetland.pam googlemail.com
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
Kathryn: I am looking for relatives of the
WALKER family who had links to Armadale.
I am searching in particular for relatives of Bessie and Alexander STIRLING, who
moved to Fife and also relatives of Rose Ann and Robert MAXWELL who lived
in West Lothian.
Bessie and Rose Ann's maiden surnames were WALKER. They were both born and grew
up in Armadale in 1914 and 1916.
They had a sister, Elizabeth, born in 1921 and died in 1951.
I am also looking for relatives of a Margaret (Meg) who's maiden name may also
have been WALKER.
I am ultimately searching for a James (surname unsure) born in 1950 in and
Monica (surname unsure) born in 1951, both were born in Armadale.
I would be grateful if anyone recognised these names to contact me please.
email: kathryn1reeveshotmail.com
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
Street is today. Billy and Jimmy WOOD from Torry in
Aberdeen have been remembered so far. Ron Dingwall has told us that
both Billy & Jimmy were keen B.B.s and gained the highest medal available to
boys. It was the 1st Armadale B.B. Company attached to the East Church.
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: Bobbettyjnraol.com
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
to give evidence against MAXWELL & GILCHRIST.
It is anyone's guess as to who was lying about what in the trial but BELL
testified, MAXWELL was convicted and GILCHRIST cleared.
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.
What I need is anything that can confirm or deny James' presence in Devon
from July 1936 onwards.
email: mrb202btinternet.com
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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: pur2460dietiscali.co.uk |
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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
Jemima McGOWAN or MURRAY died 28 March 1935, but her daughter was Jean B MURRAY
or HALLIDAY, 52 Hailstones Crescent, Armadale, and I think Jemima's
granddaughter, from a second daughter, was Catherine Taylor MURRAY or WATSON,
West Main St, Armadale.
I would be pleased to find out more of the family history as none of my father's
generation is alive. I have not found anyone who can tell me anything about the
family.
email: margbijlpl.net
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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: akajoekinggmail.com
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
labourer, and Bridget nee SMITH were John McFARLANE's parents. John STEWART, a
brickmaker, and Maria nee REYNOLDS were Elizabeth STEWART's parents.
Any information will be appreciated!
email: williamyoung51aol.com
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: drmcdonald2hotmail.com
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.
Janet Thomson RANKINE, wife of John Smart JEFFREY (on the gravestone), is
the granddaughter of
William SYMINGTON, the inventor of the world's first practical steam boat
Charlotte Dundas, by way of his eldest daughter Elizabeth SYMINGTON who
married John RANKINE. Elizabeth was the only one of his children to remain in
Scotland, the rest emigrating to Australia. This had always been in the
oral tradition of the family and is one of the pieces we are connecting.
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_mockfordyahoo.ca
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 children of the couple found so far include: Alexander Arthur b December
1846 Armadale;
Margaret b May 1848 Bathgate; Janet bc1850 Bathgate; Jessie bc1850 Armadale;
James b August 1851 Armadale; Adam b October 1854 Armadale; Mary Wilhelmina b
Jan 1857 Armadale; Helen b June 1860 Bathgate; John b March1845 Armadale, shopkeeper later grocer. John was married to Elizabeth JEFFREY bc1846
Slamannan, sister of William JEFFREY bc1856 Slammanan, unemployed gold
miner, later of Maryhill, Glasgow
In June 1867,
John WILSON married Eliza aka Elizabeth JEFFREY in Bathgate. Their children included:
Janet Rankin(e) b March 1868 Bathgate; Jessie b1868 Armadale;
Grace Elizabeth b1884 Armadale; John bc1880 Armadale; Mary Arthur b December
1873 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: allaninnewportyahoo.co.uk |
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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: tappetsclear.net.nz |
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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: perrycalisicomcast.net |
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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
stayed behind until the 1950s and maybe there are still some relatives there
today! I am currently searching for my families' resting places.
Here are the dates of those who lived and died in Armadale/Bathgate:
Janet LEES b. 16 Dec. 1857 Armadale. d. 3 Jan. 1858 Armadale/Bathgate. Died from
disease unknown. Record says Burial Broomknell Church Yard, Airdrie,
Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Jane LEES b. 29 Nov 1858 Armadale. d. 5 Jan 1859 Armadale/Bathgate. Died from
Undilated lungs very likely from birth. Record says Burial East Chapel Yard,
Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
William LEES b. 19 Apr 1862 Armadale. d. 3 Oct 1862 Armadale/Bathgate. Died of
Bronchitis for 10 days. Record does not state where buried.
Jane LEES wife of Robert BLAIR b. 18 Aug 1863 Armadale. d. 24 Oct 1948 Woodend,
Armadale, District of Blackridge.
Died from Senile Myocarditis (6 months). Informant Rober Blair grandson, of
Mossend, North Street, Armadale. Record does not state where buried.
Robert BLAIR, coal miner husband of Jane LEES b. 24 Apr 1862 Torpichen,
Linlithgowshire. d. 25 Mar 1917 Woodend,
Armadale, District of Blackridge, of Myocarditis and Syncope. Record does
not state where buried.
Robert BLAIR, grandson to Robert BLAIR and Jane LEES b. 12 May 1911 ? d. 2 Feb
1995 Armadale/Bathgate at home (East Main Street, Armadale). Widower of Margaret
Storrie McIndoe. Record does not state where buried. Informant Joseph McIndoe,
nephew of Barbauchlaw Mill, Armadale.
email: jamieleescogeco.ca |
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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.
I am interested in finding out any information about them, prior to 1950.
Also, I am interested in trying to find out any information about my father’s
parents. His father was Edward McPHILLIPS, also a publican, and mother was
Margaret McPHILLIPS (nee KERR). I would also appreciate any information at all
about Edward and Margaret.
email: gmcphillairnet.com.au
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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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Wembley
1946 Left: Wee Fat
Boabs's faither - Bobby HUME (Armadale / Blackridge)
Middle: Tam (Tosh)
French's faither - Tam FRENCH (Armadale / Blackridge)
Right: Big Yo Ho's
faither - Andrew LAMONT (Westcraigs / Armadale), sadly Andrew is no longer
with us
Taking the photograph was
number 4 in the party, Jake BLAIR, info required
From Bobby Hume,
Armadale Sons of Wallace |
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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.
William as well as his dad Duncan were members of Armadale Silver Band.
We are trying to research the family history to share with cousins in
California. Any assistance in tracing relations remaining in
Scotland would be appreciated, especially the Family Tree back beyond
Duncan and Duncan’s siblings who remained in Scotland.
email: andrew.williamson xtra.co.nz
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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: victoriajaydenetspace.net.au
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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.79hotmail.com
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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: liveslikeloisrogers.com
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: Lynnpatemanaol.com
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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: jeannebrookermsn.com
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_barrblueyonder.co.uk
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Annie and Maggie WEIR,
Barbaughlaw Farm, Armadale c1904 |
Adults from left:
John ORR, second
husband of Ann WEIR; Ann WEIR b1881, d 17/12/1944 at Kirkintilloch;
Margaret (Peggy) WEIR b1902, d1985 Quothquam, her sister, ?John VEITCH.
Children from left: Jean and Martha ORR |
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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: dt1708blueyonder.co.uk
Dominic has now been told: Margaret TENNENT:
Birth: 28 MAY 1761; Christening: 21 JUN 1761 Bathgate
Father: William, Mother: Jean ROBERT. William TENNENT married Jean
ROBERT on 25 JAN 1760 Bathgate
There are 2 WILLIAM TENANTs who may be this man, both born in Bathgate.
EITHER
William TENANT’s christening: 10 FEB 1735 Bathgate. Father: Walter
TENANT; Mother: Janet MERRY
OR
William TENANT’s christening: 05 JAN 1735 Bathgate. Father: John
TENANT; Mother: Margaret PATERSON who married 18 APR 1731 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:
duncangrayrobertsonbtinternet.com
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: cfriellynchandfriel.com
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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.
email: jlroumpzearthlink.net
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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: wilshepmcmedia.com.au
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: jonettyntlworld.com |
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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: BernzGgmail.com
http://golder.wellington.net.nz |
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BEVERIDGE
Heather Beveridge from Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada:
James BEVERIDGE 1837Carfin - 1890 Rotherglen ;
Joseph Todd BEVERIDGE 1869 Armadale, West Lothian - brothers and
sisters - Elizabeth, James Spowart, Mary, Joseph Todd, Jennet, Ann,
William, Margret, David, Nellie (Helen)
William Gillon BEVERIDGE 1905 Arbroath - 1972 Canada -
brothers and sisters - Bess, Joseph, Rachel (Ray), Margaret, James (only
Margaret stayed in Scotland)
Robert GILLON married Marion SIMPSON; James GILLON J.P. 1843 Carluke
– 1917 Armadale
brothers and sisters - James, Mary, William, Alexander, Elizabeth, Janet,
Agnes Love, Charles, Anne, Rachel; Margaret (Maggie) Esson GILLON 1876
Bathgate - died Canada
Margaret ESSON 1842 Carbusnethan – 1913; parents John ESSON &
Jessie SIMPSON
John TODD married Agnes MILLAR; Elizabeth (Betsy) Wright TODD 1840
Clackmannan - 1886 Armadale
email: hbeveridgepowergate.ca
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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.
Website |
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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)
Website |
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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.
Renshaw family
tree |
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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.
Details of the RUSSELL family |
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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.
Website |
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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 |
|
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. |
