My Maternal Ancestry - Ramsays

The following is an account of my research into my maternal ancestry starting with my 5 x great grand-father, William Ramsay born 15 July 1767 in Torryburn, Fife, Scotland. It spans eight generations from him to me. You can start from the 18th Century Ramsays or, to quickly go to a specific generation of the Ramsays or event concerning them, click on the Q icon at the bottom left of the screen and follow the links from there. The ^ icon, bottom right, gets you back to the top of any page you are on. For instance, if you want to miss this whole introduction, because you have read it before or just want to dive into the facts, you can click on the Q icon at the bottom left of the screen now and get down to the detail that is of interest to you.

Introduction

My first interest in family history developed nearly forty years ago. With no information to go on beyond the births of myself and my siblings and a family tradition of not speaking about family matters, getting started wasn't easy. Initially I commissioned a researcher from the "Scots Ancestry Research Society" (SARS) to do some basic research into the families of my mother, Margaret Cunningham Ramsay (b. 1924), and my father, John McDonald Neil (b. 1918). This wasn't exactly a cheap option because researching family history is a very time consuming process - even for professionals. So, armed with some basic facts to get me going, from this point onwards my research was all my own and still continues.

On my mother's side of the family - the Ramsays - The SARS researcher's findings indicated that my mother was the daughter of Colin Ramsay (b. 1888) who was the son of Colin Ramsay (b. 1857), the son of Euphemia Cowper Ramsay (b. 1834), the daughter of William Ramsay (b. 1810). The SARS researcher had found a census return for the family of William Ramsay at the taking of the 1861 Census and that told me William's age so I was able to search for his birth, and therefore his parents, taking the genealogy back another generation.

With some help from fellow Ramsay researchers along the way, whom I cite when appropriate, my own research developed and I was then able to add a further generation to the family tree and, in the process, to build up a fairly good idea of the historical background to the Ramsays and their lives.

I start with William Ramsay who was born in Fife. Among the few researchers of this family there is a difference of opinion; a couple of sources say that William was born in Dunfermline in 1760 but they do not provide sources for this assertion and my own research has failed to find a possible candidate; it is my belief that he was born in Torryburn on 15 July 1767.

William Ramsay and Janet Thomson

Birth of William Ramsay 15 July 1767 in Torryburn, Fife

It is my belief that William Ramsay was born to James Ramsay and Jean Bennet in Torryburn parish on 15th July 1767

"Anno 1767 Torryburn
July 15th James Ramsay and Jean Bennet had a Son born Baptized 19th named William."
[source]

I do have a considerable amount of information on William's siblings and parentage but for the moment I go on to William's marriage. Even here, though there must be an element of questioning because he appears to have married at a relatively young age. If the birth I think I have for him matches the marriage, he would have been eighteen years and three months old and that is quite young for the period. I will return to this question later on.

Marriage of William Ramsay and Janet Thomson 19 May 1806 Dalgety, Fife

"Dunfermline Parish Register
15th October 1785
William Ramsay Coalhewer in Berrielaw and Janet Thomson both in this Parish gave in their names for proclamation in order to Marriage & being regularly Proclaimed and no objections made they were married."
[source]

Children of William Ramsay and Janet Thomson

William and Janet went on to have at least ten children and the details of their births and baptisms give us an idea of what William worked at and where they lived over the twenty-one years of Janet's child-bearing

James Ramsay b. 18 Oct 1786, Dunfermline

"Dunfermline Parish Register 1786
William Ramsay Coalhewer in Berrielaw and Janet Thomson his Wife had a son born 18th of Oct baptised 29th named James. Witnesses David Weir and Alexr Weir Coalhewers there.."
[source]

John Ramsay b. Apr 27 1788, Stabiebroom

"Dunfermline Parish Register 1788
"William Ramsay Coalhewer at Stabiebroom and his wife Janet Thomson had a son born 27th April baptized 4th May named John. Witnesses Alexr. Young and John Forbes Coalhewers there..""
[source]

William Ramsay b. 27 Feb 1790, Torryburn

"Torryburn Parish Register 1790
"Feby 27 Wm Ramsay & Janet Thomson had a son born Baptd March 7th named William""
[source]

Robert Ramsay b. 4 Apr 1792, Stobie broom

"Dunfermline Parish Register 1792
"William Ramsay Coalhewer Stobie broom and his Wife Janet Thomson had a Son born 4th April baptised 8th named Robert. Witnesses James Ramsay and Alexander Robertson Coalhewers there.""
[source]

Margaret Ramsay bap. 2 Nov 1794, Torryburn

"Torryburn Parish Register 1794
[Nov 8] Wm Ramsay & Janet Thomson had a Girl Born, Baptd 2nd Named Margaret""
[source]

Jean Ramsay b. 18 Jun 1797, Dalgety

"Dalgetty Parish Register 1797
Jean Ramsay Lawful Daughter to Willm Ramsay and Janet Thomson, was born 10th June 1797""
[source]

Jannet Ramsay b. 17 Mar 1800, Knowhead, Dalgety

"Dalgetty Parish Register 1800
Jannet lawful Daughter to William Ramsay and Jannet Thomson in Knowhead was born 17th and baptized 23rd March 1800 by Mr Scott""
[source]

Alexander Ramsay b. 1 Jan 1803 Fordel Coalhill, Dalgety

"Dalgetty Parish Register 1803
Alexander lawful son to William Ramsay and Janet Thomson in Fordel Coalhill was born Jany 1st & baptised Jany 9th Instant in the church."
[source]

Helen Ramsay b. 1804 in Dalgety

I could not find this birth on Scotland's People but there is an IGI Reference for it at 15,251, OPR 422/2

Thomas Ramsay b. 19 Mar 1807, Fordel Colliery, Dalgety

"Dalgetty Parish Register 1807
Thomas Lawful son to William Ramsay and Janet Thomson in Fordel Colliery was born 19th of March 1807 and baptised the ___ of said month."
[source]

CONTINUE WITH WHAT ELSE YOU KNOW ABOUT THE PARENTS, ADD A SUB-PAGE FOR ANY SIBLING OUTCOMES THAT (eg) BB RAMSAY MAY HAVE RECORDED

I originally searched the International Genealogical Index microfiches for the birth of a William Ramsay in 1810 and discovered a good match.

The IGI has changed a lot since then and the Scotland's People web site is now more likely to be used. "Scotland's People" is a partnership between the National Records of Scotland and Court of the Lord Lyon; it contains millions of digitised images and databases of statutory births, marriages and deaths, parish registers and census returns etc., many of them indexed. It turned up the same information, though. For a while this connection was a little tentative but, as will be seen later, at William death, this was the correct entry. I wanted to find out more about his parents and possible siblings so I looked into this.

John Ramsay and Janet Penman

I looked for the marriage of William's parents, John Ramsay and Janet Penman. Back in 1999, when I first searched for this event, there was no online viewing of images so, instead, I sent off to New Register House for a photocopy of the above marriage in the parish registers for Dalgety.

Marriage of John Ramsay and Jannet Penman

and this is what it looked like:

[source]

This entry reads :

Dalgety Church October 28th 1810
"Compeared also John Ramsay and Jannet Penman and likewise Thomas Muir and Jannet Hynd all acknowledging their irregular marriage the first by lines dated January 15th 1810 and the second by lines dated September 15th 1810 were rebuked & paid the fine"
[source]

Irregular marriages such as these were by no means uncommon and the Dalgety church records lists many of them. "Irregular" marriages were of three kinds; by exchange of promises before witnesses, by betrothal and consummation, or by cohabitation and repute. The fine levied was probably not punitive and was just the church's way of compensating itself for not getting the fees for the calling of banns in church in the first place. For more on irregular marriages see here

At the end of the parish register section that contained this entry and others, a note is added indicating that the entries were copied from the Kirk Session record books.

"The eighty eight entries contained in the preceding eleven pages are extracted from the Sessional Registers of Dalgety in the custody of the Session clerk in terms of the Acts 17 & 18 Decb … and 25 & 26 …….. W Pitt Dundas Registrar General”

Parents of John Ramsay and Janet Penman

I searched for the birth of a John Ramsay around 1790 in Fife and the most probable candidate fitted the bill very well. I found his baptism in the Dunfermline parish registers

Dunfermline Parish Register of Births 1788
"William Ramsay Coalhewer at Stabiebroom and his wife Janet Thomson had a son born 27th April baptized 4th May named John. Witnesses Alexr. Young and John Forbes Coalhewers there.."
[source]

I searched for quite a while for a place named Stabiebroom and only came up with two references, one to a Stobiebroom and another to a Stobie Broom, neither told me where it was but one referred to it as a "ferm toun". I eventually found it by searching the “Map of the Counties of Fife and Kinross Surveyed in the years 1826 and 1827 engraved by John Dower” which shows it as a small village, Stabiebroom, on the western outskirts of Dunfermline.

As will be seen later, I had reason to believe that Janet was born circa 1791 and perhaps in Dalgety parish. I looked for possible births and came across the following

I looked up the image of the register entry and found it. Unfortunately it was the last entry on the page and it is a bit rotted away. The last number of 1791 is missing but all the other entries on the page are for 1791. It is 230 something years old after all!

"Janet lawful daughter to Thos Penman & Euphan Russel was born July 14 179[1]."
[source]

Most of the entries on the page were about five lines long and often featured some information about the parents such as witnesses and residences. The following is an example on the same page

Bette Lawful Daughter to David Muir and Christen Liveston his spous in the Coll work of fordal was Boron the 20 day of Jully 1791 and Baptised the 29 of said month befor the witnesses William Berverech and Willam Muir & others

Hoping to find out similar additional information, I paid to view the image of the following page. Unfortunately it did not continue and a new entry followed. It seemed that in order to fit my entry on the page, he decided that the information about address and witnesses was not important!

Having found the likely parents of John Ramsay and Janet Penman, their births and marriage, in 1833, I went on to look for other children of this marriage to see what brothers and sisters our William may have had.

Children of John Ramsay and Janet Penman

Again, I originally looked up children born to these parents in the IGI but the Scotland's People index reflects the same information now.

[source]

I wanted to locate these entries in the Parish Registers. We already knew William's:

Birth of William Ramsay 10 December 1810

"William lawful son to John Ramsay and Janet Penman in the colliery was born 10 Dec 1810."
[source]

Birth of Thomas Ramsay 21st August 1812

"Thomas, lawful son to John Ramsay and Janet Penman was born 21st August 1812"
[source]

Birth of Euphemia Ramsay 1st May 1815

"Euphemia lawful daughter to John Ramsay and Janet Penman in the colliery was born 1st May 1815"
[source]

Birth of Janet Ramsay 21st August 1817

"Janet lawful daughter to John Ramsay and Janet Penman in the colliery was born 21st August 1817"
[source]

Birth of Archibald Ramsay 14th December 1822

"Archibald lawful son to John Ramsay and Janet Penman in the colliery was born 14th December 1822"
[source]

We did not get much extra information from the parish registers but it is always preferable to have consulted the actual registers - or at least digital images of them. We can summarise the children of James Ramsay and Janet Penman is as follows :

John Ramsay in The 1841 Census

I wondered if it was possible that John Ramsay and his wife, Janet, might still be around at the 1841 census - the first true census noting relationships between occupants of a residence and their ages, places of birth and occupations. He would have been aged around fifty-one years, so I looked for John Ramsays aged between 45 and 60 with a Janet in the household. For all of Scotland there were only four and for Fife there was only one and that was for a John Ramsay in Dalgetty who was aged 50 so born circa 1791. This looked quite promising so I looked at the census return which actually had two Ramsay families on the double-page spread, both living at Crossgates, Dalgety.

[source]

[source]

Unfortunately, neither of these entries seemed likely. From the information we have, John would be aged about 53 at the time of the 1841 Census and Janet about 50. Their children would be relatively old at William (31), Thomas (29), Euphemia (26), Janet (24) and Archibald (19). All of these could have branched out by the time of the census. Once again, this will have to await further research. I continued my search of the family after this by trying to locate the deaths of John and Janet.

Death of John Ramsay and Janet Ramsay nee Penman

I tried to find a recorded death for John Ramsay but could not find one. A search at "Scotland's People", throws up a good number of possibilities but none stands out as more probable than any of the others. So that that again is another question for future research.

A recent search I did on the "Ancestry" web found a reference to a Janet Penman family tree that recorded Janet Penman as dying on 19th January 1828. I did a search on "Scotland's People" web site for quite a broad period of time, looking for Janet Ramsay deaths and by far the most likely was one was for a Dunfermline death that mentioned "Penman" and "John Ramsay" under "Parents/Other Details".

I obtained a copy of the entry from the burial registers of the parish of Dunfermline, which was spread over two pages.

[source]

It records that Janet Penman was the wife of John Ramsay and she died aged 37 years on 19th January 1828. She was buried Dunfermline 22nd January 1828. She died of "child bed". This term, it seems, is another name given to puerperal fever, a type of postpartum infection, on which there is more here. I could find no other children born to Janet and John between the birth of Archibald in 1822 and her death in 1828.

If the burial register entry above is the correct one for our Janet, which I believe it is, then it seems likely to me that to me that, contrary to the suggestion in the "Penman family tree" mentioned above which says her mother was Margaret McDonald, Janet's parents were actually Thomas Penman and Euphan Russel. I have done an amount of analysis on this subject but it is not really pertinent to the main Ramsay line so I will not go into it here. This finding takes us back a generation on her Penman side but with John's death things aren't so clear and I would still like some futher evidence. It may have to go on the increasingly large "future research pile".

Summary

To summarise, John Ramsay's parents were, likely, William Ramsay and Janet Thomson; they married 15 Oct 1785. John married Janet Penman in Dalgety on 15th January 1810; she was the daughter of Thomas Penman and Euphan Russell. Their children were William (1810), Thomas (1812), Euphemia (1815), Janet (1817) and Archibald (1822), mainly born "in the Colliery" which we believe was Fordel colliery in the parish of Dalgety.

John Ramsay and Janet Penman "compeared acknowledging their irregular marriage... by lines dated...September 15th 1810 were rebuked & paid the fine" as recorded in the Dalgety parish registers. So what was Dalgety parish like and what would there lives have been like?

"The Statistical Account of Scotland 1791-1845" describes Dalgety Parish as

"situated in the country of Fife, and in the presbytery of Dunfermline. It is bounded by the parish of Aberdour on the East and North, by Inverkeithing on the West, and by a small part of the parish of Dunfermline on the North West: On the South, it is bounded by the Frith of Forth, along which it extends in a straight line about three miles". Similarly "Westwood's Directory for the counties of Fife & Kinross" published 1862 says of Dalgety parish, it "is bounded by Dunfermline, Beath, Aberdour and Inverkeithing. It is triangular in shape, being about 5 miles from north to south and 3 miles along the shores of the Forth. Coal abounds in the parish and there is an extensive colliery at Fordel, employing nearly half the Population...Most of the coal is shipped at St David's, a small harbour in the parish, and is conveyed hither from the pits by means of a small railway. The villages in the parish are St David's, Fordel, part of Crossgates and part of Hillend." Genuki.org adds "The parish includes part of Crossgates, Dalgety Bay, Fordel, part of Hillend, Mossgreen and St. Davids."

For more on the villages and towns where our Ramsays lived see here and for a consideration of what It means when it says that WIlliam and most of his siblings were born "in the colliery is considered on the same page here.

Some Fife geography

We have already encountered several Ramsay locations and we will see a lot more as we follow their history. The Ramsays mined in many villages and towns in the area around and to the east of Dunfermline in Fife. We aready know that William Ramsay's birth was registered in Torryburn parish and he married in Dunfermline parish. At his marriage he is said to be a coal hewer at Stabiebroom. The following map shows where these places are relative to each other [ note: I have added the location of Stabiebroom to this map myself as it is not actually shown on the source map ].

Later generations of Ramsays are to be found in other parishes and towns in Fife including Fordel, Dalgety, Crossgates, Halbeath, Lochgelly, Glencraig, Cardenden and Auchterderran - all of them pit towns or villages and many of them running along the main transport arteries, first the main roads and then later along the railway lines that became so important to the coal industry.

A move of a relatively short distance could mean that the vital events of their lives might be registered in different parishes, sometimes leading to the impression that they moved around a lot and were always upping sticks. The following map shows the long borders between the parish of Dalgety and the neighbouring parishes of Dunfermline, Beath, Aberdour and Inverkeithing that can make following our Ramsays a little tricky sometimes.

Colliers essentially followed the coal and as it ran out or went "under level" at one pit they would have to move to where the next good workings were. There was no shortage of pits in the Fife coal belt; between the middle of the nineteenth century and the closure of the last pit in 1988, over fifty collieries were in operation at various times. The coal seams ran right through the lower half of the county of Fife and and ran from south west to north east.

The following map shows where our Ramsays are recorded as living and working as they moved through the coal belt of Fife. These villages fell into two clusters, circled in black, in earlier years centred around Dalgety and Crossgates and later to the north east of that, around Auchterderran. The various villages our Ramsays lived in are highlighted in yellow. It should be borne in mind, though, that the furthest distance between these two clusters is eight miles - and in later years these were all very close to the main railway lines as this map from 1897 shows.

A schematic map from the Fife Pits web site shows many of the main coal workings around these areas and that web site contains more detailed maps of these.

So far I been unable to find this Ramsay family at the 1841 Census and beyond so I now move on to the next generation centered on William Ramsay born 10 December 1810 "in the colliery" in Dalgety Parish.

William Ramsay and Margaret Burt

Returning to John and Janet's first child, William, the original SARS discovery of a census return for him in 1861, aged 50, born in Dalgety allowed us to find his birth and that of his siblings, his parents marriage and his mother's death. What I wanted to do next was find who he married and who his children were.

Birth of William Ramsay 10 December 1810 "in the colliery", Dalgety

As seen above, William was his parents' first child.

"William lawful son to John Ramsay and Janet Penman in the colliery was born 10 Dec 1810."
[source]

When William was two years old, his brother, Thomas, was born; at five, Euphemia arrived; at seven, Janet and at twelve, Archibald completed the children - as far as I know. He was eighteen years old when his mother died, Thomas was 16, Euphemia 13, Janet 11 and Archibald 6. It is a matter for future research to consider whether, at around 60 years old, their father was too old to have remarried. It would also be interesting to follow the progress of William's siblings.

However, our main point of interest is William and our next aim was to try to find a marriage for him. I looked at the entries in the IGI looking for marriages of all William Ramsays in Dalgety parish from 1828 to 1834. I couldn't find an entry that matched but a wider search of other parishes proved to be more successful

The Marriage of William Ramsay and Margaret Burt 14 Sep 1833

I looked at the IGI index of births and came up with the following:

I wanted to have a look at the actual entry in the marriage registers for Dunfermline parish and this turned up:

This reads :

"William Ramsay Miner Crossgates and Margaret Burt residing at Townhill gave in their names for proclamation in order to marriage. Being three times proclaimed and no objections made their certificate to that effect was granted. 14th September 1833"
[source]

From the entry in the marriage register we see that William was living at Crossgates and Margaret at Townhill. Maps of the area for that general period show that Baldridgeburn, where Margaret Burt was born, is very close to Townhill and Townhill is only about three and a half miles from Crossgates. The following map shows Townhill and Crossgates and also highlights Fordell Colliery.

Both villages were predominantly mining villages, For more of Townhill see here and for more on Crossgates see here.

Margaret Burt's family

Margaret Burt's family was quite complicated to work out so I look in depth at her parents origins and Margaret's siblings here.

Children of William Ramsay and Margaret Burt

I have mentioned before that the Scots Ancestry Research Society had found a census return for William Ramsay in the returns for 1861. This gave us the names of some of his children.

We found most of the children listed in the census in the IGI indexes:

I originally looked up these entries in the IGI on microfiches (such was the technology of the day) but for the purposes of this reworking of the information I have searched the IGI at the Family Search Web Site Curiously, the three entries above were easily found but I could not find an entry for Christiana. Why this is the case I do not know but I re-checked it from the original IGI fiche I used and it was still there at page 15,232 :

Christina Burt Ramsay Christened 14 October 1849 in Dunfermline parish.; Parents William Ramsay and Margaret Burt

I later came across the actual parish register entry where I discovered that she was, in fact, born on 18 Sep 1849 and Chistened on 14 Oct 1849 (see below)

A search in the IGI for any other children to these two parents produced more children :

This made more sense and gave us a more complete idea of the children to this family, albeit there seems to be a gap between Agnes born 1839 and John born 1844.

I was looking up the birth of Euphemia and, ass luck would have it, the local vicar must have been having something of a "baptismal drive" as the register page I looked at contained three families each recording the births and baptisms of two or three children of different ages all together. The Ramsay entries read :

[source]

These entries read as follows :

Birth of Euphemia Couper Ramsay 17 Jan 1834

17th January 1834 was born at Crossgates Parish of Dunfermline Euphemia Couper daughter of William Ramsay Engineer and Margaret Burt his Spouse. Baptised 23rd February by the Reverend Thomas Wilson U.P. in presence of the Congregation.
[source]

Birth of Janet Ramsay 3rd February 1837

3rd February 1837 was born Janet daughter of William Ramsay Engineer at Crossgates Parish of Dunfermline and Margaret Burt his Spouse. Baptised 19th by the Reverend Thomas Wilson U.P. in presence of the Congregation
[source]

Birth of Agnes Ramsay 18th June 1839

18th June 1839 was born at Crossgates Parish of Dunfermline Agnes daughter of William Ramsay Engineer and Margaret Burt his Spouse. Baptised 7th July by the Reverend James Ferguson at Beath in presence of the Congregation.
[source]

Birth of Margaret Ramsay b abt 1841

We only see Margaret Ramsay at the 1851 Census return for her parents at Coal Hill. Kirkcaldy where she is aged 10 born Dunfermline but I have been unable to find any birth for this child. Nor have I found a likely marriage or death. By the 1861 census she would have been 20 so there is a possibility that she migrated but that is a bit tenuous. This is a real mystery.

We continued with the other children, starting with John :

Birth of John Ramsay 8th March 1844

8th March 1844 was born in Crossgates Parish of Dunfermline John son of William Ramsay Engineer and Margaret Burt his spouse Baptised 24th by the Reverend James Ferguson U.P.S. in presence of the Congregation.
[source]

It is of interest to note that the previous entry in the register was for the birth in Crossgates of an Andrew Ramsay to John Ramsay Farmer and Margaret Low.

Birth of Isabella Ramsay 18th August 1846

18th August 1846 was born at Crossgates Parish of Dunfermline Isabella daughter of William Ramsay Engineer and Margaret Burt his spouse Baptised 8th November by Reverend Thomas Wilson U.P. in presence of the Congregation.
[source]

Birth of Christina Burt Ramsay 8 September 1849

William Ramsay, Coalminer, Gardener's Land, and Margaret Burt his wife had a daughter on 18 September 1849. Baptised the 14th October and named Christina Burt . Witnessed Richard Beveridge and William McQueen residing there
[source]

To summarise, the children born to William and Margaret that I found in the parish registers were as follows;

For each entry between 1834 and 1846 the address given is Crossgates, parish of Dunfermline and William's occupation is given as Engineer. In 1849 the address given as Gardener's Land and the occupation is Coal Miner. All the children )except Margaret who remaisn a mystery) were baptised in the United Presbyterian Church. The first two children (Euphemia (1834) and Janet(1837) are baptised by "Reverend Thomas Wilson U.P. in presence of the Congregation" Agnes (1839), was baptised by the "Reverend James Ferguson at Beath in presence of the Congregation". The next child, Margaret (b c 1841) is not recorded as far as I know. John (1844) followed and was also baptised by Rev. Ferguson but by the birth of Isabella (1846) we are back to the "Reverend Thomas Wilson U.P. in presence of the Congregation" At Christina's baptism (1849) no minister is listed but it is witnessed by "Richard Beveridge and William McQueen residing there"

Having collected some basic information about the children, I turned next to the census returns to see if I could fill out a bit more. One particular query I had was why there was such a big gap between the births of Agnes and John - 1839-1844. Perhaps the answer would be in the census

The Family at the 1841-1861 Censuses

1841 Census William Ramsay and Margaret Burt at 72 Dunfermline Street, Crossgates

A search for William Ramsays with a Margaret living at the same address produced a few entries but the most likely was one for Dunfermline which I looked at :

[source]

The return for the Ramsay household at Crossgates, 72 Dunfermline Street, read :

From this we can see the three children born between 1834-1839. Oddly, Agnes is not given the "ditto" of the others but it clearly is the right Agnes. Also present is Christian Burt a female servant born circa 1839. Whether this is a relative, I do not know. The parish registers of the period mention a lot of common family names and many of these must have been closely related.

1851 Census William Ramsay at Coal Hill, Kirkcaldy

A search for the family at the taking of the census on Sunday 30 March 1851 produced this:

[source]

There are a few notable things that jump out from this census return. Firstly, the family seem to have moved from Gardener's Land, Dunfermline (where William and Margaret were living at the time of Christina Burt Ramsay's birth). He is now living in Kirkcaldy at a Coal Hill address. This was a little confusing as I could think of no obvious reason for them to have moved to Kirkcaldy. However, after some online discussion it was suggested that this might be Coal Wynd in Kirkcaldy. I looked for a map of the area and could not find one for the exact period, but a later OS 25 inch map showed the following:

[source]

Scrolling through the pages of the 1851 Census from our own Ramsay family, it can be seen that there are nearby streets named High Street, Kirk Wynd, Railway Station, Back Of Kirkaldy, Townsend Place, Mitchell Street, Coal Hill, Coal Wynd and Hill Place and some of these are clearly visible on the map so I think there can be no doubt that this is the correct location. It is possible that the Hill Place visible on this map could earlier have been Coal Hill.

William is described as an "engine keeper at coal work". His wife, Margaret, is not present and his daughter, Euphemia, is described as a House Keeper which perhaps suggests that Margaret is dead; I have found no other births to William and Mary after the birth of Christina Burt Ramsay in 1849 (she is called Christian in this census return). I have looked for a death record for her but have not managed to find one.

Janet (15) and Agnes (13) are both working as "Mill Spinners" at a flax mill. The map of Kirkcaldy above also shows a number of mills including a flax mill. According to the NLS web site Kirkcaldy had thirteen flax-mills in the mid nineteenth century.

We also find another child, Margaret Ramsay who is aged 10 . I speculated above about the possibility of a missing child that fitted in between Agnes b. 1839 and John b.1844. I have been unable to find a baptismal record for Margaret anywhere. John is still present, aged 7, and Susan is also present (this is presumable Isabella since the birth years are the same). It seems like the Christian Burt, who was a 12 year old female servant at the 1841 Census is no longer present.

1861 Census William Ramsay at Grainger Square, Auchterderran.

Ten years later we find the family again with further changes to the line-up. This census return was one of the earliest pieces of information collected for me intially by the Scots Ancestry Research Society and my own research prior to this event, as outlined above, stemmed from this census return.

The SARS report recorded:

[source]

I looked up the original return and found the following:

[source]

My transcription of this entry is as follows:

[source]

The following maps shows Grainger Square and the dominant workings of the Lochgelly Iron Works and associated pits and their various engine houses.

The Scottish Mines web site quotes from Fife Herald articles from 1871 when it notes

"When the employees of the Iron Company are so numerous as we have shown, and considering that they must all be residing in the immediate neighbourhood of the various mines, it was deemed highly imperative, many years ago, that houses should be built by the Company for their accommodation."

The accomodation that is Grainger Square can be seen clearly on this map and consisted of 32 single and 13 double houses.

Summary of the family on census day 1841 - 1861

What we see from comparing these three returns, each ten years apart, is that William is present throughout as the family moved from Dunfermline Street in Crossgates in the parish of Dunfermline (1841) to Coal Hill in the parish of Kirkcaldy (1851) and then Grainger Square, Auchterderran (1861) variously described as an engineer (1841), engine keeper at coal pit (1851) and engine driver at coal pit (1861). His wife, Margaret is present at the 1841 Census but not thereafter. His daughter Euphemia (born 17 Jan 1834) is present at all these census takings. From the age of 17 in 1851, she is the "house keeper" or "housemaid" of the family up until the 1871 Census. The next daughter, Janet (born 3 Feb 1837) is aged 4 at the 1841 census and Agnes, (born 18 Jun 1839) is aged 2. The household of 1841 is completed by the presence of a Christian Burt aged 12 and so probably born circa 1829. She is described as a female servant and is most likely related through William's wife whose maiden surname was Burt. I had a quick look to see if I could find her in the indexes to the parish registers of births but nothing much came up so this is a point to pick up some time in the future.

There are other children, too young to appear in the 1841 return , and they were Margaret (born circa 1841), John (born 8 Mar 1844), Isabella (born circa 1847) and Christian (born 18 Sep 1849).

By the time of the 1851 Census we find William and Euphemia still present in the household with Euphemia described as a "house keeper" which, taken together with the William being described as a "widower" suggests his wife, Margaret, had died and this must have been recently because the household contained a 1 year old daughter. I can only assume that she died between the date of birth of the last known child, Christian/Christina, in September 1849 and the taking of this census in March 1851 but I have not been able to locate a death registration for Margaret having looked between 1848 and 1854 [source] I even looked for deaths of Margaret Burts for the same period but with only one death and that after the census was taken so not very likely [source]. This remains a bit of a mystery to which we will have to return later. Also at the "Coal Hill" household in 1851 were the two daughters Janet and Agnes, now 15 and 13 and both described as "mill spinner flax mill"

By the 1861 Census, Janet, Agnes and Margaret are all gone; they would have been 25, 23 and twenty years old respectively so might well be married at this point. John is there still, aged 16, and he is descibed as a coal miner. There is also an Isabella who is aged 13 but no Susan. Isabella is said to be aged 13 and a scholar. It seems highly likely that Susan and Isabella are the same person; this might explain why I could not find the birth of a Susan but I could find that of Isabella (18 Aug 1846)

Christian is still in the family household but she is now Christiana. The one constant is Euphemia, now aged 27 and a "housemaid" Interestingly there is a grandson named Colin Ramsay, of which more later. It seems that William has not remarried even though he was only aged around thirty-nine when his wife would have died.

So this is how we find the Ramsay family between 1841 and 1861 but what of William at the 1871 Census ? A search of the indexes at "Scotland's People" for William Ramsays in Scotland aged 60 produced only one in Fife and that was in the "registration district of Auchterderran" :

[source]

This records a William Ramsay living on his own at Little Dean. William is a widower aged sixty and a coal miner who was born in Dalgety, Fife. The header page for this census return has the description of the area surveyed by the enumerator and it says :

"The southern part of the village of Lochgelly bounded on the north by John Addison Mr Watson Mr Landale David Anderson George Thornton Hugh Paton Alexander Brown Snr and David Adamsons properties which are included in this division. The Farm of Newton and houses at Little Dean Westertown Lochgelly Place and Park Keeper House in this division"

So, from this, it would seem that Little Dean is actually in Lochgelly and I did find a reference on the Fife Pits web site to Little Dean pit, Lochgelly. The Scottish Mines web site also mentions that

"Lochgelly parish is separated as a quoad sacra parish from Auchterderran. On the 30th of January 1856 Andrew Landale, the Manager of Lochgelly Iron Works appeared before Auchterderran Kirk Session asking that Lochgelly be given a minister. In July 1856 Rev. Andrew Wilson was ordained minister in Lochgelly's Chapel-at-Ease. By 1859 it was recorded that Lochgelly had built "a handsome church which had cost £1,100 and was now free of debt".

From this, I conclude that William was still in Auchterderran parish but that it became Lochgelly (quoad sacra) parish.

The Death of William Ramsay 2 Dec 1878

I now had, a reasonable amount of information on the "vital" events in William's life including his likely parents, his wife, children, some occupations and places of residence at the times of these events It was now important to verify this information and to add to our information by locating his death registration. Since he was alive in 1861, we knew we would find his death recorded in the civil registers of deaths. Accordingly we arranged to consult the index to these registers at a local LDS church. We searched the period from June 1861 to 1899 in the County of Fife and found the following death registration for him :

[source]

The Register of Deaths for the Parish of Auchterderran in the County of Fife recorded that

William Ramsay, Joiner at Colliery (Journeyman), Widower of Margaret Burt, died aged 67 on December 2, 1878 at 3 am at 17 Grainger Street, Lochgelly. He was the son of John Ramsay, Coalmaster, (Deceased) and Janet Ramsay MS Penman (Deceased). He died of Senile Decay (3 Months) and the death was certified by Jno. Niell. The informant was John Ramsay, Son, Capledrae Colliery, Auchterderran. The death was registered on December 4th 1878, Auchterderran parish.

Summary of Children of William Ramsay and Margaret Burt

Although my research is primarilly concerned with the descent via Euphemia Couper Ramsay, I have also researched Euphemia's siblings to some degree and the findings of that research can be seen here

Euphemia Couper Ramsay and ?

Birth of Euphemia Couper Ramsay 17 Jan 1834

As we saw earlier Euphemia was the first child born to William Ramsay and Margaret Burt

17th January 1834 was born at Crossgates Parish of Dunfermline Euphemia Couper daughter of William Ramsay Engineer and Margaret Burt his Spouse. Baptised 23rd February by the Reverend Thomas Wilson U.P. in presence of the Congregation.
[source]

We have seen from the births of Euphemia's siblings that between 1834 and 1846 the family lived at Crossgates, Dunfermline. When Christina was born in 1849 they were at Gardeners Land, Dunfermline but by the 1851 census the family had moved to Kirkcaldy and were living at Coal Hill. Euphemia, aged 17, was described as a “House Keeper” Her father was an Engine Keeper at Coal Work and her sisters, Janet, 15 years, and Agnes, 13 years old, were Flax Mill Spinners. The other children were Margaret (10), John (7), Susan (Isabella 4) and Christian (Christina 2) so she had quite a household to manage in the obvious absence of her mother who must have died between the birth of Christina in 1849 and this census in 1851. The next we hear of Euphemia is at the birth of Colin Ramsay.

Birth of Colin Ramsay b. 19 Apr 1857

[source]

Colin Ramsay born 19 April 1857 at 2pm at Glencraig Cottages, Auchterderran. (Illegitimate) Son of Euphemia Cowper Ramsay (present) Registered 1 May 1857 at Auchterderran.

I have not been able to determine the father of Euphemia's son, Colin, despite doing a fair bit of searching around the mystery. With that pending, I continue with Euphemia's history.

At the 1861 Census, Euphemia was living at Grainger Square, Auchterderran with her father, aged 50, an engine driver at a coal pit. (see above) It seems that her mother was dead at that point and she is now the housekeeper of the family. Her siblings in the household are John, a 16 year old unmarried miner and two sisters, Isabella aged 13 and Christina aged 11. Isabella is at school. Also in the household is her son, Colin, who is now aged three.

Two and a half months later, she married at the age of 32.

Euphemia Couper Ramsay and William Beck

Marriage of Euphemia Couper Ramsay and William Beck 28 Jun 1861

[source]

On 28th June 1861 at Grainger Square, Parish of Auchterderran. After Banns according to the Forms of the Church of Scotland. [were married]
William Beck, Bachelor, aged 32, Engine Keeper at Colliery, Usual Address Templeland, Ballingry, son of John Beck (Crofter) and Joan Beck M.S. Henderson
AND
Euphemia Couper Ramsay, Spinster, aged 27, Usual address Grainger Square, Auchterderran. Daughter of William Ramsay (Engineer, Journeyman) and Margaret Ramsay M.S. Burt (Deceased).
Witnesses Henry Penman and John Beck. Registered 29 Jun 1861

William Beck's Family

The Becks and Rasmays lived quite close to each other and we can imagine that the lives of both families intertwined in many way. For that reason I have delved into the history of William Becks parents and something of the histories of his brothers and sisters. More on that can be read here.

Children of Euphemia Couper Ramsay and William Beck

The children we know that Euphemia Couper Ramsay and WIlliam Beck had were:

The details of each birth are recorded below.

Margaret Beck b 20 Jan 1862 Grainger Square Lochgelly, Auchterderran

1862 Births in the Parish of Auchterderran in the County of Fife
Margaret Beck [born] Twentieth January 1862 8h A.M. Grainger square, Lochgelly. [dau of] William Beck, Engine keeper [and] Euphemia Beck, M.S. Ramsay [married] 1861 Jun 28th Auchterderran. [Informant] William Beck Father. [Registered] 25 January 1862 Auchterderran

[source]

Female Beck b 24 May 1863 Grainger Square Lochgelly, Auchterderran

1863 Births in the Parish of Auchterderran in the County of Fife
—— Beck [born] Twenty fourth May 1863 4h A.M. Grainger square, Lochgelly. [dau of] William Beck, Engine keeper [and] Euphemia Beck, M.S. Ramsay [married] 1861 Jun 28th Grainger square, Auchterderran. [Informant] William Beck Father. [Registered] 25 May 1863 Auchterderran.

[source]

Joan Beck b 25 Apr 1864 (1st twin) 3:55am Grainger Square Lochgelly, Auchterderran

1864 Births in the Parish of Auchterderran in the County of Fife
Joan Beck 1st Twin [born] Twenty-Fifth April 1864 at 3h. 55m A.M. Grainger square, Lochgelly, Parish of Auchterderran. [daughter of] William Beck Engine keeper [and] Euphemia Couper Beck, M.S. Ramsay [married] 1861 Jun 28th Auchterderran. [Informant] William Beck Father. [Registered] 12 May 1864 at Auchterderran

[source]

Euphemia Beck b 25 Apr 1864 (2nd twin) 6:45am Grainger Square Lochgelly, Auchterderran.

1864 Births in the Parish of Auchterderran in the County of Fife
Euphemia Beck 2nd Twin [born] Twenty-Fifth April 1864 at 6h. 45m A.M. Grainger square, Lochgelly, Parish of Auchterderran. [daughter of] William Beck Engine keeper [and] Euphemia Couper Beck, M.S. Ramsay [married] 1861 Jun 28th Auchterderran. [Informant] William Beck Father. [Registered] 12 May 1864 at Auchterderran.

[source]

Christina Beck b 3 Sep 1866 Grainger Square Lochgelly, Auchterderran

1866 Births in the Parish of Auchterderran in the County of Fife
Christina Beck [born] Third September 1866 at 1h. A.M. Grainger square, Lochgelly, Parish of Auchterderran. [daughter of] William Beck Engine keeper [and] Euphemia Beck, M.S. Ramsay [married] 1861 Jun 28th Auchterderran. [Informant] William Beck Father. [Registered] 18 September 1866 at Auchterderran.

[source]

John Beck b 31 Dec 1868 Templeland, Ballingry.

1868 Births in the Parish of Ballingry in the County of Fife
John Beck [born] 31 December 1868 12h 15m A.M. Templeland, Ballingry. [son of] William Beck Engine Keeper [and] Euphemia Couper Beck, M.S. Ramsay [married] 1861 Jun 28th Auchterderran. [Informant] William Beck Father Present. [Registered] January 19th at Ballingry.

[source]

William Ramsay Beck b 28 Mar 1872 Templeland, Ballingry.

1872 Births in the Parish of Ballingry in the County of Fife
William Ramsay Beck [born] Twenty Ninth March 1872 3h A.M. Templeland, Ballingry. [son of] William Beck Engine Keeper [and] Euphemia Beck, M.S. Ramsay [married] 1861 Jun 28th Auchterderran. [Informant] William Beck Father Not Present. [Registered] April 17th at Ballingry.

[source]

Janet Beck b 14 Jan 1876 Templeland, Ballingry.

1876 Births in the Parish of Ballingry in the County of Fife
Janet Beck [born] Fourteenth January 1876 9h 20m P.M. Templeland, Ballingry. [daughter of] William Beck Engineman [and] Euphemia Cowper Beck, M.S. Ramsay [married] 1861 Jun 28th Auchterderran. [Informant] William Beck Father. [Registered] 1st February at Ballingry.

[source]

We see from this list of children that between 1862 - 1866 the family of Euphemia and William Beck are living at Grainger Square. Grainger Square was a part of Lochgelly village in the parish of Auchterderran. This is where we found Euphemia and her father at the 1861 Census along with Euphemia's brother, John, a 16 year old coal miner, and her sisters, Isabella (13) and Christiana (11). Also in the household then was Euphemia's son, Colin - aged 3. The whole family had moved from “Coal Hill”, Kirkcaldy at some point between the 1851 and 1861 Censuses.

As for William Beck, he had been born in Dryfesdale, Dumfries. The Beck family had moved from Dryfesdale in Dumfries to Ballingry in Fife sometime between 1829 - 1832. We know that Christina Beck, William's sister had been born in Ballingry in 1832. Ballingry is just over 2 miles from Lochgelly. We know that by the 1841 Census, The Becks were living at Templeland, Ballingry. I have described Templeland on the page specifically about the history of the Beck Family but, in short, according to the OS survey of the time, Templeland was “a small dwelling house and offices with a small croft attached the property of Mr Henderson Glencraig, tenant Mr Beck”. The Beck family in its various line-ups are seen throughout the censuses of 1841 through to 1871. By then William’s father, John, had died but his mother was still alive and living at Templelands. That same year we find Euphemia and William also living at Templeland with Euphemias son, Colin, and the first five children that Euphemia and William Beck had together

Following the family through the censuses will give us a broader picture of the family.

William and Euphemia at the Censuses 1871 - 1911

1871 Census - William and Euphemia at Templeland, Ballingry

[source]

The census return above actually shows two households living at Templeland; The first if the family of William and Euphemia and the second is the household of William's mother, Jean Beck. William's father had died at Templeland the previous year and his mother was now the head of that household. With her in her household her daughter, Marion, and her son, John; neither of these children ever married and they lived with their mother until she died at Templeland in August of 1881. Also in Joan Beck's household is the 9 year old Christopher Penman - grandson. He was the son of Christina Beck, William Beck's sister and she had died a couple of weeks after giving birth to Christopher. He was actually Christopher Beck Penman at his birth registration. Christina Beck died 29 September 1861

As for William and Euphemnia, they have a sizeable family after nearly ten years of marriage. In addition to Euphemia's son, Colin, who is now a 13 year old Coal miner, there is also Margaret Beck (born 1862), the twins, Joan and Euphemia (born 1864), Christina (born 1866) and John (born 1868). They children who are aged between 6 and 9 are scholars; Christina and John are to young for school at 4 and 2 years old. William is an engine driver at a colliery.

By the time of the next census, although Joan Beck with her children Marion and John are still at Templeland, William and Euphemia have moved.

1881 Census - William and Euphemia at 36 Pittencrieff Street

This census return shows that the family have moved from Templeland, Ballingry to 36 Pittencreiff Street, Dunfermline. This was situated a little north west of Dunfermline Abbey and quite close to where Euphemia's mother Margaret Ramsay or Burt was born at Baldridgeburn in 1809. Margaret's father, Peter Burt, was a weaver there.

At this census William Beck is described as a colliery engine keeper. Euphemia's son Colin, is not present in the household any more and this is because he has set up home himself after marrying my maternal great-grandmother, Mary Hunter Ross, which he did four months prior to the 1881 Census on the 31st of December, 1880.

William And Euphemia's daughters,Margaret (19), Joan (19), Euphemia (19) and Christina (14) are all linen weavers and the two youngest children, John (12) and the newer addition to the family, Janet (5) are both scholars. What we do not see is William Ramsay Beck who was born 9 March 1872. He would have been aged 9 so why is he not here. I delve into this in more detail the section of this site that deals with histories of WIlliam and Euphemia's children.

By the time of the next census, in 1891, the family have moved again, but only about a mile away; they are to be found at that census at 72 Albany Street, Dunfermline.

1891 Census - William and Euphemia at Albany Street, Dunfermline

[source]

In this census return, we can see a much smaller family unit. As I we observed earlier, Colin had married and had his own household. Margaret (29) and Euphemia (26) and John (22) are no longer with the family but JOan (26), Christina (24) and Janet (15) are still with their parents. Joan is a factory worker and Christina is a linen weaver. Their father, William is now a 61 year old colliery store keeper. I'm not sure what the place in Dumfriesshire he is supposed to come from in this return butw we know from all other sources it was Dryfesdale.

Ten years later, at the 1901 Census, some of the Beck family are still living at Albany Street - at number 72.

1901 Census - Euphemia at 72 Albany Street, Dunfermline

[source]

We can see from this census return that William Beck is no longer with the family and his wife, Euphemia is now a 67 year old widow. With her she has three daughters, the twins, Joan and Euphemia (36) and Christina (34) All the daughters are still unmarried. Joan is a "tier in a linen factory" and Euphemia is a yarn winder in a linen factory. No occupation is given for Christina

1911 Census - Euphemia at 72 Albany Street, Dunfermline

[source]

In this census return only Euphemia, now aged, 77 and Christina, now aged 44, are left in the household. Euphemia died the following year.

Death of William Beck 1 Jun 1897

[source]

1897 Deaths in the District of Dunfermline in the County of Fife
William Beck, Colliery Shopkeeper, married to Euphemia Couper Ramsay [died] June First 1897 1h 50m P.M. 72 Albany Street, Dunfemline, married aged 67 years [son of] John Beck, Crofter (Decd) [and] Joan Beck MS Henderson (Decd). Vascular disease of Heart as cert. by J Nairne Lee M.B. [Informant] Colin Ramsay, Step Son Hill of Beath. Registered 1 June at Dunfermline. James Wall, Registrar.

I also found a probate for William

[source]

BECK, Willian, Colliery Engineman, 72 Albany Street, Dunfermline, died 1 June 1897, at Dunfermline, testate. Confirmation granted at Cupar, 11 Aug, to Euphemia Ramsay or Beck, his widow, John Beck, Joiner, Kelty, his nephew, and Robert Leitch, Clerk, Townhill, Dunfermline, Executors nominated in Will or Deed, dated 9 August 1894, and recorded with another writ in Court Books of Commissariot of Fife, 23 Jul 1897. Value of Estate, £603, 1s. 1d.

Death of Euphemia Couper Beck or Ramsay 21 Aug 1912

[source]

1897 Deaths in the District of Dunfermline in the County of Fife
William Beck, Colliery Shopkeeper, married to Euphemia Couper Ramsay [died] June First 1897 1h 50m P.M. 72 Albany Street, Dunfemline, married aged 67 years [son of] John Beck, Crofter (Decd) [and] Joan Beck MS Henderson (Decd). Vascular disease of Heart as cert. by J Nairne Lee M.B. [Informant] Colin Ramsay, Step Son Hill of Beath. Registered 1 June at Dunfermline. James Wall, Registrar.

Here we find that her first son, Colin (my maternal great-grandfather), is the informant. I could not find a probate record for Euphemia but I feel there must be one somewhere.

Summary of Euphemia's Life

I am descended from Euphemia Couper Ramsay's son, Colin Ramsay, and I turn to him next but for more on her other children, Colin's siblings, see here

Euphemia Cowper Ramsay, my maternal great-grandmother who's birthday I share, was the first child born to William Ramsay and Margaret Burt. She was born 17 Jan 1834 at Crossgates, Dunfermline. Her father was variously an engine keeper, engine driver, coal miner and pit joiner. We have seen from the births of Euphemia's siblings that between 1834 when Euphemia was born and 1846 when her sister, Isabella, was born, the family lived at Crossgates, Dunfermline.

When Christina was born in 1849 they were at Gardener's Land, Dunfermline but by the 1851 census the family had moved to Kirkcaldy and were living at Coal Hill, Kirkcaldy. Euphemia, aged 17, was described as a “House Keeper” Her father was an Engine Keeper at Coal Work and her sisters, Janet, 15 years, and Agnes, 13 years old, were Flax Mill Spinners. The other children were Margaret (10), John (7), Susan or Isabella (4) and Christian (Christina 2) so she had quite a household to manage in the obvious absence of her mother who must have died between the birth of Christina in 1849 and this census in 1851.

In March of 1851 she was at Coal Hill, Kirkcaldy, aged 17 and the house keeper for her widowed father and his six other children who ranged from 1 year old to 15 years old.

We know that by 1857, the family were at Glencraig Cottages, Auchterderran because that is where she gave birth, illegitimately, to her son Colin Ramsay who was born 19 April 1857. I have not found out who the father was but I have some ideas for future research.By the time of the 1861 Census she was living at Grainger Square, Auchterderran.

Later that year (8 June 1861) she married William Beck at Grainger Square, Auchterderran. The couple lived there until at least 1886 and had their children Margaret (1862), Euphemia and Joan (1864) and Christina (1866) there.

By 1871 she was at Templeland, Ballingry where William's parents had farmed for at least the previous 30 years, although William and his family originally hailed from Dryfesdale, Dumfriesshire. While they lived there they had more children, John (1868), William Ramsay (1872) and Janet (1876)

By the 1881 Census, the family were living at 36, Pittencrieff Street, Dunfermline, near to where her mother, Margaret Burt, had been born in 1809 - Baldridge Burn. By 1891 the family are living at Albany Street, Dunfermline - not far from where they were ten years prior to this census. Euphemia was aged 47. Two of her children were still scholars but four of her daughters were linen weavers ranging in age from 14 to 19.

William Beck died at 72 Albany Street, Dunfermline on 1 June 1897 at the age of 67. He was described as a colliery shopkeeper. He died of vascular disease of the heart. In his will, he left £603 1s 1d to his widow, Euphemia Ramsay or Beck.

At the 1911 Census, Euphemia is still at 72 Albany Street. She lives solely with her 44-year-old unmarried daughter, Christina. Euphemia died at this address sixteen months later. She died on 21 August 1912 aged 78 years of “senile decay” The informant was “Colin Ramsay, Son” He was 55 years old himself at this point and it is to him and his life that I now turn.

Colin Ramsay and Mary Hunter Ross m. 31 Dec 1880

We saw earlier, the circumstances of the birth of Colin Ramsay . 19 Apr 1857. I repeat the same here as an introduction to the rest of his life as we know it.

Colin Ramsay's Youth

[source]

Colin Ramsay born 19 April 1857 at 2pm at Glencraig Cottages, Auchterderran. (Illegitimate) Son of Euphemia Cowper Ramsay (present) Registered 1 May 1857 at Auchterderran.

I have not been able to determine the father of Euphemia's son, Colin, despite doing a fair bit of searching around the mystery. The first Census we see Colin at is 1860 when he is just 3 years old

Colin Ramsay at the 1861 Census for Grainger Square, Auchterderran

[source]

[source]

At the 1861 Census, Euphemia, Colin's mother, was living at Grainger Square, Auchterderran with her father, aged 50, an engine driver at a coal pit and a widower. Her mother, Margaret, is deceased and she is now the housekeeper of the family. Her siblings in the household are John, a 16 year old unmarried miner and two sisters, Isabella aged 13 and Christina aged 11. Isabella is at school. Also in the household is her son, Colin, who is now aged three.

A couple of months after this Census was taken, Euphemia married William Beck (see above) and they started a family providing Colin with a number of step-siblings. This situation is shown at the next census in 1871. At that census, WIlliam, Colin's grandfather, is living on his own at Little Dean and Colin is with his mother and his new Beck family

Colin Ramsay at the 1871 Census Return Templeland, Ballingry, Fife, Scotland

Colin Ramsay is already a coal miner at the age of thirteen. He is not seen with the Beck family after that because by the time of the 1881 Census he is married.

Marriage of Colin Ramsay and Mary Hunter Ross Dec 1880

[source]

1881 Marriages in the Parish of Beath in the County of Fife
[On the] Thirty First [day of] December 1880 [at] The Manse Beath after Banns according to the Forms of the Church of Scotlandb
Colin Ramsay, Stone Miner (Bachelor) [aged] 23 [usual residence] Hill of Beath, Beath [son of] Euphemia Ramsay
[married]
Mary Ross (Spinster) [aged] 21 [usual residence] Halbeath, Dunfermline [daughter of] James Ross Coal Miner [and] Janet Ross M.S. Fowler.
Signed John Sinclair Minister of Beath. Signed James Guthrie Witness Janet Ross Witness. [Registered] 3 January 1881.

Family of Mary Hunter Ross

Mary Hunter Ross's father was James Ross and he was born 28 Nov 1829 in Leslie, Fife. Her her mother was Janet Fowler b 1832 Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire. They married 6 Dec 1853 in Auchterderran.For more about James Ross and JAnet Fowler and their children, Mary Hunter Ross's siblings here.

Children of Colin Ramsay and Mary Hunter Ross

Janet Fowler Ramsay b. 23 Jun 1881 at Halbeath, Dunfermline

1881 Births in the District of Dunfermline in the County of Fife
Janet Fowler Ramsay [born] June 23rd 1881 9h 45m AM Halbeath, Dunfermline [daughter of] Colin Ramsay, Coal Miner [and] Mary Hunter Ramsay M.S. Ross [married] 1880 December 31 Beath
[informant] Colin Ramsay Father. Registered 12 Jul 1881 at Dunfermline

[source]

William Beck Ramsay b. 23 Jan 1884 at Halbeath, Dunfermline

1884 Births in the District of Dunfermline in the County of Fife
William Beck (or Bett) Ramsay [born] January 23rd 1884 8h 30m am Halbeath, Dunfermline [son of] Colin Ramsay, Coal Miner [and] Mary Ramsay M.S. Ross [married] 1880 December 31st Beath
[informant] Colin Ramsay Father. Registered 8th February 1884 at Dunfermline

[source]

James Ross Ramsay b. 24 Apr 1886 at Halbeath, Dunfermline

1886 Births in the District of Dunfermline in the County of Fife
Janes Ross Ramsay [born] April 24th 1886 11h 40m pm Halbeath, Dunfermline [son of] Colin Ramsay, Coal Miner [and] Mary Ramsay M.S. Ross [married] 1880 December 31st Beath
[informant] Colin Ramsay Father. Registered 11th May 1886 at Dunfermline

[source]

Colin Ramsay b. 6 Apr 1888 at Halbeath, Dunfermline

1886 Births in the District of Dunfermline in the County of Fife
Janes Ross Ramsay [born] April 24th 1886 11h 40m pm Halbeath, Dunfermline [son of] Colin Ramsay, Coal Miner [and] Mary Ramsay M.S. Ross [married] 1880 December 31st Beath
[informant] Colin Ramsay Father. Registered 11th May 1886 at Dunfermline

[source]

George Ramsay b. 15 Jul 1890 at Hill of Beath, Beath

1890 Births in the Parish of Beath in the County of Fife
George Ramsay [born] 15th July 1890 7h 30m am Hill of Beath, Beath [son of] Colin Ramsay, Coal Miner [and] Mary Ramsay M.S. Ross [married] 1880 December 31st Beath
[informant] Colin Ramsay Father. Registered 30 July 1890 at Oakfield

[source]

Euphemia Ramsay b. 21 Feb 1893 at 158 Hill of Beath, Beath

1893 Births in the Parish of Beath in the County of Fife
Euphemia Ramsay [born] 21st February 1893 12h 30m am 158 Hill of Beath, Beath [daughter of] Colin Ramsay, Coal Miner [and] Mary Ramsay M.S. Ross [married] 1880 December 31st Beath
[informant] Colin Ramsay Father. Registered March 10th at Cowdenbeath.

[source]

Mary Ramsay b. 23 Jun 1897 180 Hill of Beath, Beath

1897 Births in the Parish of Beath in the County of Fife
Mary Ramsay [born] Twenty Third June 1897 6h 30m am 180 Hill of Beath, Beath [daughter of] Colin Ramsay, Coal Miner [and] Mary Ramsay M.S. Ross [married] 1880 December 31st Beath
[informant] Colin Ramsay Father. Registered July 9th at Cowdenbeath.

[source]

Samuel Ramsay b. 7th Feb 1900 at Cooperative Buildings, Hill of Beath, Beath

1900 Births in the Parish of Beath in the County of Fife
Samuel Ramsay [born] February Seventh 1900 8h 15m am [at] Cooperative Buildings, Hill of Beath, Beath [son of] Colin Ramsay, Coal Miner [and] Mary Ramsay M.S. Ross [married] 1880 December 31st Beath
[informant] Colin Ramsay Father. Registered February 23rd at Cowdenbeath.

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We can see from these individual births some of the locations that Colin and Mary Ramsay and their family were to be found at. WHen they married, Mary Hunter Ross was living at Hill of Beath and that is where they continued to live after marriage. All the births from Janet in 1881 until Colin in 1888 are recorded as taking place in Halbeath. From George in 1890 until Samuel in 1900 the births are recorded as being in Hill of Beath, albeit at three different addresses in Hill of Beath. As well as the birth registrations we also have two (at the moment) census returns to help us fill out the lives of this family.

Colin Ramsay and Mary Hunter Ross at the Censuses 1891-1921

1881 Census - 40 Hill of Beath, Beath

At the 1881 Census we find Colin and Mary living on their own. He is described as a Stone Miner. They had been married less than 4 months.

1891 Census - No 62 Pond Row (?), Hill of Beath

Ten years later the couple have five children.

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Here we find a growing family. I have already detailed all the children's births above so I will not repeat myself. What we see is that Colin is 33 years old now and still a coal miner. Three of the children are at school; Janet (9), William (7) and James (4). Colin (3) and George (8 months old) are too young for school. There is some confusion about the exact address. FindMyPast says they live at Pond Row but the actual census page just has "No 62" so it is not entirely clear if this is 62 Pond Row.

1901 Census - Cooperative Buildings, Hill of Beath

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At this census we find all the children born to Colin and Mary with the youngest, Samuel aged just one year. Colin Ramsay senior is a "coal miner hewer" while two of his sons, William (17) and Colin (13) are "coal miner drawer" James (14) is an apprentice tailor (if my memory serves me well, my mother may have told me that this occupation was as a result of an injury to his leg/foot that may explain why he wasn't a miner as one might expect). Janet (18) is a domestic servant and Geroge (10) and Euphemia (8) are scholars. Mary (3) and Samuel (1) are too young for school. Theri mother, Mary, is aged 41.

There is quite a gap in my knowledge of how Colin and Mary left Fife and moved across the water to Musselburgh but that is where they are to be found ten years later when the next census was taken.

1911 Census - 65 Eskside North, Musselburgh

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All the children except ther two oldest are at the next census in 1911. The two that are missing are Janet (29), who married in Hill of Beath on 14 Jul 1905, and William (27) who married in Musselburgh 1909. From this we can likely conclude that the family moved from Hill of Beath between the marriages of these two children - that is between 1905 - 1909.

At this census return the family living at 65 Eskside West in Musselburgh, Midlothian. Colin senior is still a hewer at a coal mine. His son, Colin (22), is also a miner at a coal mine but George (20) is now a bricklayer. James (24) has served his apprenticeship and is a tailor. Euphemia (18) is a dressmaker and Mary (13) and Samuel (11) are at school.

1921 Census - 65 Eskside North, Musselburgh, Midlothian

Colin and Mary Ramsay's household has changed somewhat since the 1911 Census. James has now left the household; he married Isabella Martin Simpson 22 Feb 1918. Colin has also left; he married Sophia Anderson in 1916 whilst on active service. so that left George (nearly 31), Euphemia (28), Mary (23) and Samuel (21).

The 1921 Census provides us with additional information on places of work so we learn that Colin and his son, Samuel are both miners at the Summerlee Coal Company (which I believe was in or around Prestongrange area). Euphemia no longer works as a dressmaker but instead, like her mother, does “home duties”. George is still a bricklayer working at Dalkeith and Mary is a draper's assistant at “the Beehive” in Portobello. All the children still at home are single.

Colin and Mary Golden Wedding Anniversary

The family continued to live at 65 Eskside, Musselburgh. Their daughter, Mary, married in 1923 and gave her home address as 65 Eskside. On the 31 December 1930 they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and this was recorded in the Musselburgh News on Friday 9th January 1931.

Musselburgh News on Friday 9 January 1931
Births, Marraiges, and Deaths
GOLDEN WEDDING
RAMSAY-Ross-At Beath Manse, Fifeshire, on
31st December 1880, by the late Reverend John
Sinclair, Colin Ramsay to Mary Ross.
Present address- 65 Eskside North, Musselburgh.

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Death of Colin Ramsay

Colin Ramsay died on 19th June 1932 at 65 Eskside, Musselburgh

Deaths in the District of Inveresk in the County of Midlothian
Colin Ramsay, Coalminer (Hewer) Married to Mary Ross [died] 19 Jun 1932 at 2:30 AM at 65 Eskside, Musselburgh.
Male 75 Years. [son of] Euphemia Cowper Ramsay (deceased).
Senile decay Bronchitis 1 year 6 months as Cert by J.H. Horsburgh. M.B [etc]
Informant: James Ramsay, Son, Present 53 Bridge Street, Musselburgh.
Registered 20th June 1932 at Musselburgh.

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Colin Ramsay was buried at St. Michael's Cemetery, Inveresk, Musselburgh. He left a will and this went to probate.

RAMSAY, Colin, Miner, retired, 65 Eskside, Musselburgh, died 19 June 1932 at Musselburgh, testate. Confirmation Edinburgh , 14 October, to Mary Ross or Ramsay, 65 Eskside, Musselburgh, Executor. Will dated 2 July 1914 recorded Edinburgh 13 October 1932. Value of Estate £208:11:10.

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Death of Mary Hunter Ramsay or Ross

1952 DEATHS in the District of Inveresk in the County of Midlothian
Mary Hunter Ramsay Widow of Colin Ramsay Coalminer [died] Fourth May 1952 7h 50m p.m. 66 Eskside West, Musselburgh [age] 92 years [daughter of] James Ross Coalminer (deceased) [and] Janet Ross M.S. Fowler (deceased)
Arterio-Sclerosis 10 years. Myocarditis 10 years Hear Failure
As Cert by D McSwan M.B. ChB.
[informant] James Ramsay Son 53 Bridge Street, Musselburgh
Registered 5 May 1952 at Musselburgh.

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I'm not sure why this records her place of death as 66 Eskside West rather than 65 Eskside. Colin Ramsay, his wife, Mary Hunter Ross and their children, George and Euphemia are all memorialised on a gravestone which was probably erected at the death of Colin Ramsay in 1932 and Mary's name would have been added in 1952. In darker print are the additions made for George in 1956 and Euphemia in 1987. I think it is fair to assume that George and Euphemia are included on this memorial because they did not marry.

Monumental Inscription on gravestone in St. Michael's Graveyard in Inveresk, Musselburgh Sacred to the memory of COLIN RAMSAY , beloved husband of MARY ROSS died 19 Jane 1932 aged 75 years. Also the above Mary ROSS died 4th May 1952 aged 92 years. Also their son GEORGE who died 7 October 1956 Aged 66 years. EUPEHMIA RAMSAY died 6 Jul 1987 aged 84 years.

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The addition of the name of George could only have been added by Colin, Mary or Euphemia since they were the only siblings still alive. When Euphemia's name is added, however, she is the last child so someone else must have had that name added. Ii is not obvious to me who that would be. In any case, Euphemia's death marked the end of an era and it is to her brother, Colin that I turn to now. He was my maternal grandfather

Colin Ramsay and Sophia Anderson m. 3 Nov 1916

Colin Ramsay's Youth

As we have seen, Colin Ramsay was born 6 April 1888 in Halbeath, Fife

1888 BIRTHS in the District of Dunfermline in the County of Fife
Colin Ramsay [born] April Sixth 1888 1h 30m am. Halbeath, Dunfermline
[son of] Colin Ramsay Coal Miner [and] Mary Ramsay M.S. Ross
[married] 1880 December 31st Beath [signed] Colin Ramsay Father
[registered] April 24th 1888 at Dunfermline

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Colin's next appearance is at the 1891 Census when he is 3 years old. The family live at 62 Pond Row, Beath although there is some abiguity that can only be sorted out at some expense to roam around adjacent houses in the census. The household already contain several children. Janet (9), William (7) and James (4) are all at school but at just 3 years old Colin (3) and his younger brother, George (8 months old), are too young for school.

By the time of the 1901 Census, Colin is a 13 year old coal miner - hewer, like his big brother William who is now aged 17. The oldest child, Janet, is a 19 year old domestic servant. James (14), his other older brother, is an apprentice tailor, something of a break for the family but due to a physical problen that prevented him joining the seemingly inevitable ranks of the miners. Of the growing number of younger siblings that Colin has there are Geroge (10 and Euphemia (8) both at school and two other siblings too young for school; Mary (3) and Samuel (1). Colins father, Colin, is now 43 years old and a coal miner - hewer.

By the 1911 Census, the family have moved from Fife to Musselburgh and are to be found at 65 Eskside North. Some of the children have moved out and married. Janet Fowler Ramsay married James John Robertson 14 Jul 1905 and William Beck Ramsay had married Georgina Gillies Imrie on 23 April 1909.

This left Colin's older brother, Jmes, as the senior child of the family; now aged 24 and a trained tailor. Colin is aged 22 and a Coal Miner. His younger siblings are George (20) a Bricklayer, Euphemia (18) a Dressmaker and, still at school, Mary (13) and Samuel (11)

Colin Ramsay during WWI

World War 1 saw Britain raise one of the largest volunteer armies in the world. Two million men (Kitchener's Army) volunteered before conscription was instituted in January 1916. We find from Colin's marriage in 1916 that he is a Coal Miner and Lance-Corporal . At the outbreak of the war, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders had two regular (1st and 2nd), two militia (3rd and 4th) and five territorial battalions (5th - 9th), with several more raised for Kitchener's Army. 10 battalions served in France and Flanders while four were dispatched to southern Europe. As I understand it, the 3rd battalion served in the UK throughout the war and was a Labour Corp. Colin's pension card shows his home address as 65 Eskside, Musselburgh

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This shows Colin Ramsay's service number as 630780. Two further numbers follow, 3256, 1596, I am not sure that these last two refer to. I have read that the standardisation of regimental numbers was a later development and that, originally, each regiment used its own numbering system. Colin is listed as a Lance Corporal in a Labour Corp. A Form S.B. 36 shows more information about him

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This gives his date of discharge as 28 November 1918 and lists disabilities as "Otitis Media Shell Shock". Otitis Media was a common problem in the trenches on which topic this site is informative and, of course, shell shock is a very well know condition that soldiers in the Great War suffered from. What is not so clear is why he would have these conditions if he served in the UK. A contrasting piece of information I came across at the web site of the 3rd Battalion mentions a 3rd Battalion soldier who was subsequently drafted into the 1st Battalion and served at the Western Front and was involved in the 2nd Battle of Ypres. This needs a bit more digging into.

In any case, Colin was awarded an interim payment on 19th November 1919 and then on 29 December 1919 was awared a war pension. "30% then 20%" or "12/- & 3/- for 2 wks then 8/- & 2/-" Unfortunately, I have note been able to find out much more about Colin Ramsay's service in WW1. The reason for the second, smaller, amount of his pension - 3/- reducing to 2/- was for a dependant child but this is getting a little ahead of things so I now return to Colin's marriage.

Colin Ramsay married Sophia Anderson in 1916. For more on Sophia's parents and siblings see here

Sophia Anderson

Sophia Anderson was the daughter of Robert Anderson and Margaret Cunningham. I know a bit about both these families. For a lot more on the Andersons see here and for more on the Cunninghams see here .

Sophia was the middle of nine children that Robert Ramsay and Margaret Cunningham had. She was born in 1891.

Birth of Sophia Anderson 3 September 1891 at Prestonpans

1891 BIRTHS in the Parish of Prestonpans in the County of Haddington
Sophia Anderson [born] September Thirteenth 1891 7h 0m a.m. [at] Preston, Prestonpans
[daughter of] Robert Anderson Markey Gardener [and] Margaret Anderson MS Cunningham
[married] 1882 November 17th Edinburgh
[informant] Robert Anderson Father
Registered September 17th at Prestonpans.

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Sophia Anderson in 1901 Census - Preston, Prestonpans, Haddingtonshire

At the 1901 Census Sophia is a 9 year old scholar, Margaret, her oldest sister, (17) is no longer at home - probably a domestic servant. Of the other children who are still at home, her older brother, John (16), is a Market Gardener like his father. Her older sister Agnes (14) is a Field Worker and her other older sister, Christina, is a scholar as Sophia is. Apart from Sophia there are other new additions to the family since the previous census in 1891, Jemima (7) and Helen (5) both scholars but there are also younger children not at school yet; Lilias (3) and Eleanor (1). They also have a boarder.

When the next Census comes around, Sophia has already left home. I found her as a domestic servant in Musselburgh.

Sophia Anderson in 1911 Census - 22 New Street, Musselburgh

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By the time of the 1911 Census, Sophia Anderson has left home and is working as a domestic servant, aged 19 born in Musselburgh, Midlothian (actually she was born in Prestonpans). She lives in the household of three sisters at 20 New Street Musselburgh. Mary Cuthbertson is the head of the household and she is aged 58; she has a private income. Also in the house are her two sisters, Lydia Cuthbertson who is a schoolmistress aged 48 and Sara Cuthbertson aged 44. They are all single and all were born Renfrew, Renfrewshire. The house still exists and has Forth Villa written in the window above the door. It is located close to the junction of Mountjoy Terrace opposite Fisherrow Park - between the River Esk and the Firth of Forth. This is of interest because when she marries Colin Ramsay in 1916 she gives her usual residence as Forth Villas

Marriage of Colin Ramsay and Sophia Anderson 3 Nov 1916

1916 MARRIAGES in the Parish of Prestonpans in the County of Haddington
On the third November at Preston, Prestonpans After Banns According to the Forms of the United Free Church of Scotland
Colin Ramsay Coal Miner (Lance-Corporal 3rd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) Bachelor [aged] 28 [usual residence] Kinross [son of] Colin Ramsay Coal Miner [and] Mary Ramsay MS Ross
[married]
Sophia Anderson, Domestic Servant (Spinster) [usual residence] Forth Villa Musselburgh [daughter of] Robert Anderson, Market Gardener [and] Margaret Anderson M.S. Cunningham
Signed Alex. Westwater Minister of the United Church
[witness] George Ramsay [witness] Gemima Anderson
Registered November 4th 1916

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The marriage takes place at Preston, Prestonpans. Preston was a village on the East Lothian coast - now a small part of the centre of Prestonpans. It is to the east of Prestongrange, and the southwest of Cockenzie and Port Seton. Colin's usual residence is given as Kinross. The witnesses were Colin's brother, George Ramsay and Jemima Anderson, Sophia's younger sister.

Sophia Anderson's Family

Earlier links connected to more about Sophia's Anderson ancestors and more about Sophia's Cunningham ancestors but I was also interested in what happened to her brothers and sisters and more about Sophia's siblings can be found here.

Children of Colin Ramsay and Sophia Anderson

TO BE CONTINUED

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