I'm 25% Scottish. Pretty well ever ancestor in my paternal grandfather's family is Scottish except for one 2x great-grandmother who was English. So I was excited to have an opportunity to join a Scottish genealogical research tour. I chose a tour based in Glasgow as I was hoping to break through a brick wall and learn more about my 3x great grandfather David Walker who emigrated from Glasgow in 1820. I was able to get some searching tips from the helpful people at the family history centres we visited but wasn't able to pin him down. But I did have success researching my Lanarkshire ancestors.
My ancestors came from the town of Strathaven (received a lesson, pronounced Straven!) in the parish of Avondale. They resided on a farm known as the Holms of Glengavel, which still exists today.
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| National Library of Scotland. Lanarkshire Ordinance Survey 1858 |
Like most Scots my family did not own their property - they rented the farm from the Duke of Hamilton, as noted in the 1858 Valuation Rolls
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| National Records of Scotland. 1858-59 Lanark County Valuation Rolls |
My family were the Craigs - my 3x great grandmother Mary Craig married Andrew Fleming on November 4th 1826
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| National Records of Scotland. Avendale Kirk Session Proclamation Register 1775-1854 |
My 2x great grandmother Mary Fleming was their their third child born on May 26th 1829.
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| National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Registers, Avondale |
In reviewing the Old Parish Registers on Scotland's People I was able to find her two older siblings. I was surprised to note that Mary and Andrew's first son John was born in 1823 before their marriage. John's birth entry tells the tale, he was their "natural son" (ie illegitimate):
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| National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Registers, Avondale |
I consulted the Avondale Kirk Session records for more details. Some background information - each congregation of the Church of Scotland had a Kirk Session which was a panel of elders that dealt with local issues of everyday life such as non-attendance at church. At the time it happened our ancestors were not doubt embarrassed to be called before the Kirk Session but it's exciting for a 21st Century researcher to find the entry.
In June 1823 Mary Craig appeared before the Kirk Session.
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| National Records of Scotland, Avendale Kirk Session Minutes 1779-1826 |
Anti-nuptial fornication was a major sin. She was "exhorted to lay her sin seriously to heart'. Andrew was called before the Kirk Session in July and admitted that the child was his, luckily for Mary. Both parties were "rebuked and absolved from the scandal". Andrew and Mary went on to marry so all turned out well. I can't help but wonder if this was the incentive for their subsequent emigration to Canada.
I couldn't find too much on the Fleming family but it appears that the Craig family were supportive of Mary. When her father John died in 1854 he left a substantial legacy for the time.
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| National Records of Scotland, Glasgow Sheriff Court Wills |
Her father made it clear in the will that Mary and her sisters were to receive their inheritance without their husbands' consent and that their husbands were not to seize the funds to cover their own debts. Very progressive for the time! I wonder if she ever received her money. Her £20 inheritance is worth £2,500 today. John Craig's estate in total was worth £1500 at the time or £190,000 today. Though not a landowner he was well off.
I found another interesting entry in the Kirk Session records involving John Craig's grandfather also named John (my 6x great grandfather). On 9th February 1735 he came before the Session to complain about Rachel Browning who had slandered his good name accusing him of pursuing her and offering baseness to him. Rachel was commanded to appear before the Session and respond:
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National Records of Scotland, Avendale Kirk Session Minutes, 1734-1757
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Rachel returned again to provide witnesses to her various attacks but they were found to be unreliable and she was rebuked for accusing John of inappropriate behaviour. She was adamant to the end that her accusations were well founded:
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| National Records of Scotland, Avondale Kirk Session Minutes, 1734-1757 |
I wonder what the truth was? Did they automatically believe John because he was a well respected man in the area? We'll never know. It is interesting to note that John's wife Agnes Campbell was indeed in child bed at the end of 1734 - she gave birth to my 5x great grandfather Robert Craig on Christmas Day 1734. Did she really hear Rachel's cries from the barn?
My trip was productive and I'm able to trace my Craig ancestors to the late 1600s. Hopefully I will be find more interesting Kirk Session records in the future. The Presbyterian Church truly was the centre of Scottish life in 18th and 19th Centuries and beyond. Here is the Strathaven Old Parish Church from a postcard I found on Ebay:
And to conclude, here is the Craig family crest:
The translation says it all: Live for God and You Shall Have Life.
