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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
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See the POPULATION
and the DEVELOPMENT pages
for statistics and additional details about specific Armadalians
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Useful Sources for Local
History
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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,
so when you are typing out the address,
don't forget to insert an @ sign!)
It's FREE to be listed here! Please
e-mail
Rosie |
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BRYDEN
Joan Bryans from Vancouver: My
Grandfather was James Alexander Bryden who had the drapery shop in
West Main Street. I'm trying to find out how long the shop was there and also
the exact address.
I know they lived at 1 North St. in 1896 (when my father was
born) and that they then moved to 39 West Main Street. Was this above the shop?
If you can help, please email: j.bryans telus.net
Since Joan wrote, she has been told that James
Bryden, draper, was elected as an Armadale Commissioner in 1893, and there was a
Bryden family living in Bloomfield Place, Bathgate. Can anyone supply any
more information? Rosie
More information has arrived with photos.
Can anyone help with the missing names?
Joan wrote about the photo above:
"taken in Armadale... probably around 1905/6. The young boy at
the front is my Dad and the young girl may be his sister Effie, but who are the
rest? Anyone recognize anyone?"
and about the photo below:
"the attached photo of my grandfather's shop in Armadale.... the
picture was taken in about 1899 (I'm going by the age of the baby) and features,
left to right, my grandfather James Alexander Bryden, his son (my father) John
Bryden, his wife Maggie (nee Aiton) holding their daughter Effie. Who the woman
on the right is I don't know."
Posted January 2012 |
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SMITH / BISHOP / MILLER / McILROY / BURNS
Agnes MacDonald: Re: Elizabeth,
illegitimate daughter of the poet Robert Burns.
I have been told by a member of my family that a great aunt of
mine is related to the poet. She married my great uncle, Henry Smith on 3
Jan 1930 in Armadale, and on their marriage certificate it states that his wife
was Mary Bishop formerly Millar. Her parents were William Miller
and Elizabeth Stewart McIlroy. I have been unable to trace the
information which would confirm that Mary is in fact a relation of Robert Burns.
If you can help, please email: amacdxsinet.co.za
Robert Burns museum
Posted January 2012 |
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SMELLIE
Re Tom and Bill Smellie and the
Mallons
Ethel Mallon
Adele Cosgrove: 'I have inherited a collection of Post Cards belonging to my
grandmother and her sister Ethel. Until recently I only looked at the
picture and have just begun to read the messages. I have found it all
very interesting. To date I have found five Cards from Tom Smellie of
Armadale but know little more about him except the mention of Bill
going to London who I have assumed is his brother or best friend. The
dates on the Cards seem to be 1904 and 1905.
I would love to know if there is family still living in Armadale and
if they would like copies of these cards that I would be happy to
forward. It would be great to have a photograph of Tom and maybe some
history; maybe even something writing by my great aunt to Tom!'
If you would like to contact Adele, please
email
Rosie
Posted 6 December 2011 |
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MacDONALD / HARRIS / TORRIE / McINDOE / SMITH / WHITEFIELD /
THOMSON
Re Tommy HARRIS and the Nu Notes
'I am Agnes MacDonald (nee
Harris). I have been in
your great website - it is amazing - and came across the section re
the bands. I can fill you in a bit on the abovementioned band - the Nu
Notes. My Dad, Tommy Harris, was the leader of this band. He was the
trumpeter. I am not sure of the exact date he started up this group
but I think I am safe in saying early to mid 50's. The band played at
the Norbury in Union Road, Bathgate for some time and I think he also
played at the Palais in Jarvey Street, Bathgate at some time. Other
members of his band were: Jimmy Smith (from Bathgate) - saxophone,
Davie Bryce (from Bathgate) - drummer, Jenny McClure (Armadale) -
pianist/accordionist, and Frank Knox (Armadale) - saxophone. My father
filled in as vocalist.
The band played at Wee Sanny's in Armadale (run
by Sanny Gorman). This is where I met my husband, Malcolm MacDonald
who stayed in Barbauchlaw Avenue at the time - August 1954. We got
married in 1958 and lived in West Main Street, Armadale, and then in
Mayfield Drive, Armadale.
We moved to South Africa in 1981 with our son
and daughter. We are connected to the Torrie, McIndoe,
Smith,
Whitefield, Harris and Thomson families from Armadale.
I am sorry I have no pictures of the band.
Wishing you all a Merry Xmas and a Prosperous
and Healthy New Year.'
If you have any other information / photos / memories of the band,
or if you would like to contact Agnes MacDonald,
please
email
Rosie
Posted 5 December 2011 |
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BALLOCH / BULLOCH / RUSSELL / BAXTER / BROWN / HERD
Sally Harris: I have
been researching my family for over 30 years and have made several trips to
Scotland. Now, I would like to put this information together. What I have
not been able to find are old pictures of any Ballochs (Bullochs) of the area (Armadale
and Bathgate) who were my relatives.
Here are some of the family members I have information on.
Last Name, First, Life Span, Place of Death
Balloch Alexander 1859-1862 Scotland
Balloch James 1835-1899 Scotland
Balloch Alexander before 1835 Scotland
Balloch Matthew B 1861-1915 Manitoba, CA
Balloch Matthew 1890-1933 Scotland
Balloch James Russell 1886- Australia
Balloch Charles 1887-1978 Manitoba, CA
Balloch William 1892-1933 USA
Balloch Christina 1894-1997 USA
Balloch Alexander 1901-1977 USA
(Russell) Balloch Elizabeth Scott 1805-1851 Scotland
Russell Jean Brown 1776- Scotland
Russell Elizabeth 1905-1994 Scotland
(Russell) Balloch Janet Hailstones 1857-1927 Scotland
Baxter Christina 1838-1897 Scotland
Brown Jane 1864-1925 Manitoba, CA
Herd Janet 1884-1963 Scotland
If you can help, please email: SalHarrisaol.com
Posted September 2011
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PATON / BAILLIE / MITCHELL / MELVILLE / McNAIR / MARSHALL / HAY
Lyn Tilbury, Dunedin, New
Zealand: My great grandmother, Mary Mitchell Paton, nee Baillie,
died at 'Cathlaw', James St, Armadale, on 16 March 1953. I am trying to find her
final resting place. Her husband, James Paton died in Torphichen on 3rd
May 1889.
At one time, the couple ran the Burnside Inn in Torphichen (now
Torphichen Inn). On 8th November 1880, James Paton (24), Mary
Paton nee Mitchell Baillie (21), John Baillie Paton
Backside Cottage [ Mary's Mother ]: Elizabeth Melville Baillie (56), Jane
(26), William (14), Elizabeth Marshall, granddaughter
James and Mary's daughter, Eliza Melville McNair, also
died in James Street, Armadale, in 1953 at 'Benridge'. Her son in law, a Marshall,
was the informant of her death. She was the widow of William McNair,
a master builder.
My Dad, born 1911, came and stayed with Mary and worked over
there when he left school. I remember him saying that he worked as a hooker.
He was back home in time to go to the second war.
I believe that James and Mary's son married Janet Hay.
If you can help, please email: letxtra.co.nz |
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BROWN / BOYLE / MULARKIE / HERVEY
Karen Thomson nee
Brown: I am doing some research into my family
(Brown) who lived at 10 Engine Street, Bathgate, Armadale from the 1800s.
I have gathered quite a few details and was wondering whether there are any of
the family left in the area. Below are some names that I have researched for
your information:
George Brown (1882–1953) son of Thomas Brown and Jane Brown
(nee Boyle), husband of Helen Brown (nee Mularkie), lived
at 10 Engine Street, Bathgate. He was father of Nellie Brown, Thomas
George Brown (married to Agnes Hervey), Jane Brown born 1910 and Brown
born 1915.
My father Patrick Brown is the son of John Brown. We have no
information on Nellie, Jane and John Brown and would love to know if they are
still around or had some children.
Any information would be much appreciated.
If you can help, please email: karen.thomsonslingshot.co.nz
Posted August 2011
---------------- Additional data re Brown Family Tree
George Brown b1837, married Ann Reesan who later divorced and
married Mr McTeague – then known as Ann McTeague
Children:
1. Thomas Brown b1858
Thomas Brown b1858 married Jane Boyle b1858, died 1886 - 1890, on
18/11/1875 at St Margaret's Roman Catholic Church, Airdrie
Thomas Brown had 7 children in 2 marriages.
1. Mary Brown b1876 – No information
2. Jane Brown b1879 – No information
3. George Brown b1881
4. Neil Brown b1885 – 1920 married Rose Nagle and lived with
brother George at 10 Engine Street, Bathgate during the 1911 census aged 25.
Thomas Brown married Hannah McPhee/McFee b1867 on 1/01/1890 at the
Roman Catholic Church, Bathgate
Children:
1. Thomas Brown b1891– No information
2. John Brown b 1892 – No information
3. Peter Brown b 1897/8 – No information
Hannah Brown nee McPhee/McFee had an illegitimate daughter, Annie
McFee born 6 April 1886. She lived with Thomas Brown during
the 1901 Census at 15216 Durhamtown, Bathgate. Hannah Brown nee
McPhee/McFee died in 1898 presumably at the birth of Peter Brown her
youngest son.
George Brown b1881, d1953, married Helen Mularkie b1881 on
27/07/1905 at the Roman Catholic Church, Bathgate
Children:
1. Nellie Brown b1907 married George Prentice and lives in Canada
– 1 daughter, Barbara, 2 sons
2. Thomas George Brown b1908, d1938 – Carcinoma of Kidney, married Agnes
Harvey b1916, d1939 – suicide/drowned, had 1 son, Thomas Brown,
b1938
3. George Brown b1909, d1911 aged 2 – Whooping Cough Pneumonia
4. Jane Brown b1910, d1911 aged 9 months – Whooping Cough Convulsions
5. John Brown b1915 – emigrated to South Africa |
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KERR / GARDINER
David Broughton, Beverly,
Massachusetts, USA: I am 2nd great grandson of David Kerr (b1856) through
my mother who is a Kerr by birth.
I was fascinated to see the photographs as well as read the biographies on all
the Kerr Clan. If anyone has any more information on him or his family I
would be interested to know.
I'm also looking for information/photographs on his parents Robert Kerr/Jean
Gardiner.
If you can help, please email: davidbroughtonlive.com
Posted August 2011
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LAIRD / LAMBIE
James S.
Laird:
My grandfather William Laird I believe was born 7/08/1885. He married
Agnes Lambie at West Church in Armadale, Scotland 06/12/1908. I believe
he had at least one brother who travelled with him to the States and he may
have had a sister who ended up in New Zealand or Australia.
He travelled
to the States in 1913, with his dear wife following a short time after.
My
grandfather went on to have 10 children: 8 girls and 2 boys. My father Ivan
Laird had two sons, William and myself; his brother William had 1 adopted
daughter. I know nothing of probably his brother Robert who died in the mines
here in Indiana not long after making their way to the States, unsure if he
had any children. When I was growing up there was 1 Laird in the directories,
now I meet them in the streets and many more are listed in the directories. My
Detroit Tigers Catcher was a Laird, now Martin Laird the golfer!
I know my
grandfather sang often and he also played the horn. Seems to me he had
mentioned something about playing in a band in Scotland. His daughters and
sons all sang in the church choir.
He worked
until he was 75 as a boiler operator. He often talked of the terrible working
conditions in the mines but said anything is possible if he could end up
walking the beaches of sunny Florida in the early 1960s. He travelled around
the world at age 88 on his own. Surprisingly his last stop was in Scotland. He
said he walked to the middle of town where the boys would meet and noted that
not too many fellahs were walking about.
If you can help, please email:
jimlchartermi.net
William was born in Torphichen to William (b.
c1856 Airdrie) and Mary Laird, who moved to Woodend Rows and later to 6
Academy Street, Armadale, where in 1901 were also Agnes (17),
Robert (14), Isabella (11), Helen (10), Mary (8) and
Barbara (4) Laird. His father was also a William Laird (b. c1832 Uphall)
who married Isabella.
There are the Laird sisters, singers of
Academy Street, Armadale, who performed nationally and eventually
emigrated to America.
Posted 30 April 2011 |
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WARDLAW / TWEEDIE / BROWN
George Wardlaw Lawson: I am
interested in finding out anything about Peter Wardlaw and Janet Brown
married Armadale 1864 and their offspring: George, Margaret, Peter, John, Janet,
Agnes and Walter. Also George Wardlaw and Agnes Tweedie married
Armadale 1890 and their offspring: Rachel, Janet, Elizabeth, Agnes and Peter.
I would particularly like to hear from any descendants still in the area.
If you can help, please email: djgeorgekuteblueyonder.co.uk
Posted 20 December 2010 |
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MAXWELL / LECKIE / MALLACE
Christine D. Maxwell: I have
recently become interested in my father's history, and know that he was the son
of William and Isabella Maxwell.
They were married in 1909, at which time William lived on Park Terrace in
Armadale and Isabella Mallace Leckie lived on Hardhill Terrace. My
father was born in 1911 and may have attended the local school in Armadale.
William, his father, was a coal miner. My father, an only child, was also known
as William Maxwell.
Do the addresses above still exist? Are there any photos of school attendees
at the time or school records? I believe the family emigrated to Australia in
the early 1920s, and that William senior and Isabella may have died there.
If anyone has any information about the family I would love to hear from them.
My father always spoke of being from Glasgow, so I am wondering whether they
moved there from Armadale before going to Australia? Any information about
Isabella Leckie's family would be welcome as well as William Maxwell's.
If you can help, please email: cmaxwelltrentu.ca
Posted November 2010, Updated 7 December 2010 with surname correction |
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MURPHY
Aileen Sinclair wrote to ask
for help in tracing some information about her granddad (her father's father),
Edward Murphy, who died in a Woodend Pit accident. According to NAS
records, we were able to tell her that there was a Fatal Accident Enquiry about
his accident, when he was struck by a rake of empty hutches on No 2 Mine,
Woodend Colliery and that he died the same day, on 19 March 1964, at Bangour
Hospital.
Aileen told us that her father, who lived in Greig Crescent at
the time of his death, had a best friend called Eddie Welsh. She
asked us if there are any old pictures possibly of her grandfather and friends
as her father has none.
If you can help, please email: aileensinclairhotmail.co.uk
Posted 14 October 2010 |
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The GRAHAM family of Woodend Farm
We would like to thank John Graham and
Anne Murray for allowing us to post the first part of his life story on
the Armadale website. We have found it to be a fascinating story of the
social history of the area, and particularly Woodend, and we're sure that
readers will enjoy reading it also. If your family lived in the area, you may
find a reference to them! Contact details for John Graham are on the page:
The Early Years of John Graham |
WATSON / SNEDDON
Sue Chitty from Marseille, France:
I'm trying to find out about my father, whom I never met. I only knew his name
(which helped because he had three Christian names) and I knew his approximate
date of birth.
From his birth certificate, I find that he was born in
North Street, Armadale (then in the county of Linlithgow) on 10th December
1913. His name was Thomas Henry Ross Watson, and his parents were Samuel
Watson, listed as a coal miner, and Agnes Watson, née Sheddon (SNEDDON). They
were married on 26th February 1910.
My father left my mother before he knew I was on the way, although he was also
the father of my two older sisters. It leaves a huge gap in your life, and I
feel I've been looking all my life for that missing link.
email: psalm122v6_9yahoo.co.uk
Research following this email has revealed the following about
her grandmother's roots:
Peter Sneddon b 10 March 1810, bap
8 April, West Linton, Mid Lothian, an ironstone miner, married 1835 at West
Linton Elizabeth bc1812 Lasswade, Midlothian. Peter was possibly the son of
James Sneddon b1785, d1835, and Elizabeth Paterson b1778, d1851, and that he
was one of up to 11 children. His death is recorded as 1873 Armadale.
In 1851, they were living with
their children in an area called Rawyards (?New Monklands) in Lanarkshire and
Peter was a coal miner. Their children were: Janet, an agricultural
labourer, bc1833 Inveresk Midlothian; Betty, general servant, bc1835 New
Monkland, Lanarkshire; James, general servant b1839 Clackmannshire; Susan
bc1844 Old Monkland, Lanarkshire; Cathrine bc1848 Shotts, Lanarkshire; Peter
b1851 (one month old) New Monkland, Lanarkshire.
In 1861, Peter=Elizabeth were
living in Armadale in miners' cottages at 32 Polkemmet Row with two
sons: James b1839, an iron stone miner, and Peter, b1851, scholar.
In 1871, James b1839 was still a
miner, living at 4 Polkemmet Row with his wife Margaret b1844 Chapelhall,
Lanarkshire, and two children: Peter bc1866 Armadale and Mary N. b1869
Armadale.
In 1871, James's parents,
Peter=Elizabeth, were still in Armadale. Peter was still an ironstone miner.
They were living with son Peter, b1851, an ironstone miner, and grandson
Peter bc1866. (Perhaps this Peter is visiting...)
In 1881, Peter b1851, was living
on McDonalds Land at Main Street, Armadale with his wife Elizabeth bc1852
Newbattle, and their children Georgina bc1878 Bathgate and Peter bc1880
Bathgate.
In 1881, Peter bc1863-1866
Armadale was a coal miner living with his mother Elizabeth in the Armadale
area.
In 1891, Peter bc1866 was a coal
miner living at 70 West Main Street, Armadale, with his wife Agnes bc1863/4
and their children: Jeanie bc1886; Maggie bc1889, Agnes b1890 (9 months old).
In 1901, Peter Sneddon bc1866,
coal miner, was living at 4 North Street, Armadale, with his wife Agnes H
bc1863/4 Armadale and their children Jeanie, housekeeper, bc1886 Armadale;
Maggie bc1889 Armadale, scholar; Agnes b1890 Armadale, scholar; Mary
bc1893 Stirlingshire; Catherine bc1895 Stirlingshire; James A bc1897
Stirlingshire; Peter bc1900 Bathgate, plus a boarder called Alex Davidson, a
miner from Fifeshire.
I believe Agnes b1890 Armadale
married Samuel Watson in 1910.
Posted 6 June 2010 |
BEATSON / HARRIS / SMITH
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Above: Margaret's class in Primary 1 or 2. She was the
tallest girl in the middle row! The date is around 1941/42. |
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Left and above: Margaret and her brother, Bob, with their grandmother Jean
Beatson in the garden at Calder Crescent.
Below: Margaret's brother Bob (Bobby) and her cousin
Tommy at the gala in 1937. |
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Margaret Beatson Sloane
nee Smith
Both sides of my family, the BEATSON/HARRIS family and my
father's family (SMITH) had connections with Armadale and had lived there
since 1900 and 1868 respectively. My mother, Margaret BEATSON was visiting a
cousin Jim HARRIS in the mid 1920s when she met my father Robert SMITH,
called Bob or `Kilt`, born in Armadale 1899. He worked at the Atlas
Foundry and his father, William SMITH, was possibly a miner. They lived at
Gladstone Terrace or Place. My mother and father emigrated to Canada
but returned to Armadale in 1936. Sadly, my mother died shortly after that in
1937. I have a memory that she may be buried in Boghall Cemetery in
Bathgate. I lived at 57 Calder Crescent until 1942 with my maternal
grandmother, Jane ( Jean ) BEATSON. We moved to Dundee to live with my
mother`s family.
I have lots of memories of Armadale and have attached some
photographs which may be of interest.
Unfortunately I lost touch with much of my Armadale family so
would welcome any contact or news.
email: msloaneblueyonder.co.uk
Posted 8 May 2010
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Photos added 14 May 2010
LESLIE / WARK
I would like to thank Andy for allowing the
website to display his photos as well as the account written by John Leslie.
I think readers will agree that it is a fascinating and valuable document
because of the eighteenth century world of work that it reflects.
Rosie
Andy Brownlie
I have a copy of a transcription (done by my grandfather I
believe) of an account of the Tannoch LESLIE family written by a John LESLIE
born 1800. He was the son of John Hope LESLIE, and in his account, he describes
how his father was baptised at a time when old Lord Hopeton was there for the
shooting, and his lordship "begged his name".
John Leslie states in the account that his grandfather, and his greatgrandfather
before him, were tenants at Tannoch. The transcription names the grandparent as
Patrick LESLIE and Janet WARK, and states that the family consisted of four sons
and one daughter, the three other sons being George, Peter and James (who
mysteriously "all stopped at Grangemouth till they died").
Checking of the Torphichen OPRs, however, reveals that:
22 Aug 1771: To John Leslie and Janet Wark in Tannock, a son called Patrick.
Witnesses George Leslie and David THOMSON.
18 Jun 1773: To John Leslie and Janet Wark in Tannick, a son called George.
Witnesses George Leslie his brother and Robert BURNS.
29 July 1777: To John Leslie and Janet Wark in Tannick a son called James.
Witnesses James PENDER and Helen BAILLIE.
14 April 1779: To John Lesilie (sic) and Janet Wark a daughter called Elizabeth.
Witnesses John PENDER and David CROMBIE.
Points to ponder:
1. John Hope Leslie's birth does not appear to have been registered. Was that
because Lord Hopeton appeared at the baptism and made it legal by his presence?
There is certainly a gap in the years of the births (1775) which could have been
the year of his birth.
2. His father seems to have been John, and not Patrick. Was there a
transcription error from the original document perhaps? Was Patrick the great
grandfather's name perhaps? (There is no trace of the original, just the typed
transcript). It is clearly the same family, and the three brothers are the same
(allowing a Patrick for a Peter).
email: andy.brownlieblueyonder.co.uk
Posted 14 May 2010 |
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BEDLORMIE TOLL
Ken Thompson from the Lake
District:
"I used to live with my parents at Bedlormie Toll (between Blackridge
and Forrestfield) between 1950s and up until about 1963 and I worked for
Jim KIRKWOOD at the Baads farm. The house is now obviously demolished
and, of course, a new bridge is being built there due to the new rail link being
constructed.
Does anyone know the history of the house? I know it was owned by the JACKS of
Forrest Farm up by Cairneyhill Quarry, Forrestfield.
Grateful for any information."
email: kenmthompsonmsn.com
Posted 22 April 2010 |
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MARSHALL / McNAMEE
Alison KELLY
Allison, daughter of Robert MARSHALL
and Elizabeth Smart MARSHALL nee McNAMEE would like to make contact with
any relatives that are still living in Armadale.
email: allison.kellybtinternet.com
Posted February 2010 |
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PEDEN / GIBSON
Alan DOHERTY
Alan is interested in discovering more about
the Armadale members of his family tree, particularly Margaret PEDEN (nee
GIBSON) who married a Robert Thomas PEDEN, son of Alexander and Isabella PEDEN
who lived in West Main St, Armadale.
email: alan.dohertyblueyonder.co.uk
Posted 14 February 2010 |
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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:
dparkparkeraol.com
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.
If possible will you mail me George? I will be off line as of
November 29 till December 29.
posted 23 November 2009
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.
It appears as if the area will be well populated unlike the years I
lived there when the last house on the road up was DUNLOP's until
reaching Tam DOW the scrap merchant. LAUDER's post office and the
BOYDs in Cappers farm, as well as BOYD and BROWN in the Polkemmet
Cottages.
Thanks for keeping this site so up to date." Posted 3 July 2009
" 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: arjay208mts.net
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.
Dad told the story of coming home with two shillings and sixpence for
the week's wages; mum told him to keep it.
They were married New Year's Day 1919, and took up house at Quarry
Buildings, Blackridge, long gone, the corner of Bedlormie Drive and
Main Street.
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
|
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.
-
-
-
Danny POLLAND (now deceased) husband of
Cath. Danny was a baker at the Co-op
-
Ross HUTTON (now deceased)
-
-
-
The THOMPSON family - who owned the
garage on West Main Street and were stock car racers
-
-
-
-
Lizzie NIMMO (nee MAXWELL - husband of
George )
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.
|
|
Aylene Gardiner from Italy:
I am searching for information on Robert SMITH (c1873 - 1934);
Gladstone Terrace; miner & political agent, Provost of Armadale.
I think he may have been the father of my grandmother, Mary Calder SMITH, who
was the illegitimate daughter of Marion AITKEN, domestic servant, and Robert
SMITH, miner of Armadale. Mary was born born at 6am on 6 July 1888 at
Glenbrook, Currie.
I have his signature on the birth certificate and have been trying to find any
other information I can about him. A document signed by him would be a great
help and I was hoping that if he was Provost of Armadale then maybe there is a
signature somewhere? I believe Robert married Williamina MARTIN from
Whitburn and they had at least 4 children.
email: aylenegardinermac.com
posted 2 October 2009 |
|
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: livinwellcfl.rr.com
posted 14 September 2009 |
|
CAMPBELL / SMITH
Dianna Norton sends
greetings from North Ogden, Utah!
I am searching for relatives. My great-grandmother was born in Armadale,
Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland. Her name was Jeanne Campbell, born to
Thomas Campbell and Elizabeth Smith. Born in 1865. Are there any living
relatives in the area?
If you would like to be put in touch with Dianna,
e-mail
Rosie
posted 1 September 2009
|
|
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: worldlywandererhotmail.com
|
Above: William Marshall “and pals”
Right: William Marshall, possibly outside 6 Church Place. |
 |
|
Below: The Marshall family lived in a company house whose
last rent receipt for 6 Church Place is shown.
Right: Willie Marshall b1925, his brother John b1928, and two pals, Joe
and George. They lived around Church Place. Probably all their fathers
worked for the Atlas.
 |
 |
|
|
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." |
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:
|
|
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 |
|
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.pamgooglemail.com
Posted 13 April 2009 |
|
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. |
|
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 |
|
Updated 4 April 2010
A display from the Bevin Boy exhibition,
which toured West Lothian in 2007 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 Update posted 8 February 2009: I'm grateful to Marion Hossack for
telling me that John Struth, Eddie Murray and Peter
Horsbrough of Seafield trained the Bevin Boys at Balbardie Pit.
I understand the three went on to Moorcock Hall in Fife and that John
Struth was awarded a medal for his part in the pit rescue at the
Burngrange mining
disaster.
Bevin Boys Association;
The Wartime
Bevin Boys Project;
Bevin Boys Research Project;
Bevin Boys in
Wikipedia
See Bevin Boy info on
Armed Forces and World Wars |
|
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
|
|
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
|
|
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 |
|
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
|
|
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
|
|
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 |
|
SMITH
August 2008, email update October 2011
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: Dimcdonaldhotmail.co.uk
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
|
|
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]
|
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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
|
|
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
|
 |
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 |
|
|
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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 |
 |
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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 1837 Carfin - 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. |
