The Siblings of Euphemia Couper Ramsay b 1834

Although Euphemia Couper Ramsay's story is the main interest in this genealogy, it is worth looking at what happened to her siblings. We have seen that Euphemia was the first of the children and seem to have stayed with her father the longest being recorded at the 1861 census as a 27 year old housemaid - presumable of their own house. This section is about how her siblings got on in the world. Click on a sibling to learn more about them.

Children of William Ramsay and Margaret Burt

Name	Born	Place
Euphemia Couper	17 Jan 1834	Crossgates, Dunfermline
Janet	3 Feb 1837	Crossgates, Dunfermline
Agnes	18 June 1839	Crossgates, Dunfermline
Margaret	c 1841	Dunfermline
John	8 Mar 1844	Crossgates, Dunfermline
Isabella	18 Aug 1846	Crossgates, Dunfermline
Christina Burt	8 Sep 1849	Gardener's Land, Dunfermline

Janet Ramsay born 3 Feb 1834 at Crossgates, Dunfermline

Some of these children I just have not been able to find out much about. The first case is Janet. In 1841 Janet was present with the family, aged 4, at the house at 72 Dunfermline Street, Crossgates. She was with the family ten years later after their move to Kirkcaldy when the family were living at Coal Hill, Kirkcaldy - the 1851 Census says she is a 15 year old Mill Spinner at a Flax Mill. I have been unable to find any further references to her. She does not appear with the family again. I searched for a marriage for her. One to James Birrell 23 Mar 1858 was worth a look but it wasn't her. Any other marriages are after the 1861 census so look unlikely. I couldn't find a death for her either, I could look at the possibility of migration but this one is pending for the moment.

Agnes Ramsay born 18 Jun 1839 at Crossgates, Dunfermline.

Agnes we know a lot more about. In 1841 Agnes was present with the family, aged 2, at the house at 72 Dunfermline Street, Crossgates. She was with the family ten years later after their move to Kirkcaldy when the family were living at Coal Hill, Kirkcaldy - the 1851 Census says she is a 13 year old Mill Spinner at a Flax Mill. She does not appear in later census returns with the family because a few months before the 1861 Census was taken she married.

Marriage of Agnes Ramsay and Thomas Fowler 14 Jan 1861

[source]

This records that

on the 14th of January at Lochgelly Mains, Auchterderran, after Banns according to the Church of Scotland, [were married] Thomas Fowler, Bachelor, Coal Miner, aged 23, Usual Residence Halbeath, Dunfermline. Son of Samuel Fowler, Labourer at the Iron-works AND Mary Fowler M.S. Hunter. AND Agness Ramsay, Spinster, Mill-worker, aged 21, Usual Residence Dunfermline. Daughter of William Ramsay, Engineer AND Margaret Ramsay M.S. Burt (Deceased) Minister And(rew) Wilson Min(iste)r at Lochgelly. Witnesses David Patterson and Alexander Walls. Registered 16 Jan 1861.

We find them a couple of months later living in Halbeath.

1861 Census - Thomas and Agnes Fowler at Halbeath, Dunfermline

Ten years later, at the 1861 Census for Moor Houses, Auchterderran, the family has grown quite a lot and are now living at 64 Moor Houses, Auchterderran

1871 Census - Thomas and Agnes Fowler at 64 Moor Houses, Auchterderran

By 1881 the family are living at 27 High Street, Beath, Fife, Scotland

1881 Census - Thomas and Agnes Fowler at 27 High Street, Beath

At the 1891 Census the family are living at High Street, Beath but no number is given.

1891 Census - Thomas Fowler at High Street, Beath

Summary

In 1861 the family are living at Halbeath, Dunfermline (no household named). In 1871 they are at 64 Moor Houses, Auchterderran. In 1881 they are at 27 High Street, Beath and in 1891 they are still on High Street, Beath (no number given. Thomas Fowler is always a Coal Miner as are most of his children - or at least they work in a coal mine. It seems that by 1891 Agnes is dead. Their children (including David Hunter Fowler who is not mentioned in the census returns and presumably died young) were :

Name	Born
Samuel Fowler	1862
Margaret Fowler	1864
William Ramsay Fowler	1865
Mary Hunter Fowler	1868
Thomas Fowler	1870
David Hunter Fowler	1871
John Ramsay Fowler	1874
Lawrence Fowler	1877
Robert Fowler	1878
Agnes Fowler	1881

Margaret Ramsay born c1841, Dunfermline.

I do not know anything about Margaret. She may have died between the 1851 census when she was aged 10 and the next one where she is not present. She would have been aged 20 so could be in domestic service somewhere else or married. I checked a few possibilities out but nothing emerged.

John Ramsay born 8 Mar 1844 at Crossgates, Dunfermline.

John Ramsay was born 8 Mar 1844 at Crossgates, Dunfermline. We see him at his parents' household at Coal Hill, Kirkcaldy when he is aged 7. He is the only son in a household of five daughters. By the next census in 1861 the family have moved to Grainger Square in Auchterderran where he is said to be 16 years old and a coal miner - perhaps at the same pit that his father is an engine driver. a few years later he married Eliza Cunningham.

Marriage of John Ramsay and Eliza Cunningham 31 Dec 1867

[source]

On the 31st day of December 1867 at Crossgates, Dunfermline after Banns according to the forms of the U.P. Church John Ramsay, aged 23, Bachelor, Colliery Engineman. Usual residence: Hill of Beath, Beath. Son of William Ramsay, Engineman and Euphemia Ramsay M.S. Burt
MARRIED
Eliza Cunningham Burt, aged 23, Spinster, (Outdoor Worker ?). Usual residence: Netherbeath, Dunfermline. Daughter of John Cunningham Coal Miner and Catherine Cunningham M.S. Storrar. Witnesses Thomas Cunningham and Laurance Anderson. Revd Wilson Registered.

1871 Census John and Eliza Ramsay at 48 Back Row, Wemyss.

We see the couple now have a son, just born and they have a lodger who, like John, is a colliery engine keeper.

At the 1881 Census, the family has moved to 18 High Street, Beath. His siter, Agnes lived at number 27 High Street, Beath on the same census day.

1881 Census John and Eliza Ramsay at 18 High Street, Beath.

1891 Census John and Eliza Ramsay Lochore Village, Ballingry.

1901 Census John and Eliza Ramsay at 23 Lindsay Place, Beath.

Death of John Ramsay

[source]

John Ramsay, Colliery Engineer, Married to Eliza Cunningham, died 11 December 1915 at Swanlea Cottage, Kelty, aged 71, the son of William Ramsay, Colliery Engineer (deceased) and Margaret Ramsay M.S. Burt (deceased. Cerebral Haemorrahage 15 days Hemiplegia as Cert. by D. F. Sanjana (?) M.D. Informant John Ramsay, son, Alma Bank Upper Oakfield, Kelty. Registered 11th December 1915 at Kelty. Robert Thomson registrar.

Summary

John Ramsay was born 24 March 1844 at Crossgates, DUnfermline. He was with the family at the Coal Hill household at the 1851 census and again at the Grainger Square household in 1861 when he was a 16 year old Coal Miner. He married Eliza Cunningham on 31 December 1867 at which time he a Colliery Engineman living at Hill of Beath.

At the 1871 Census we find him and his family at 48 Back Row, Wemyss and he is said to be a Colliery Engine Keeper. He was the witness at his father, William's, death on 2 Dec 1878 where he is described as "John Ramsay, son, Capledrae Colliery Auchterderran". By 1881 he is living at 18 High Street, Beath - where his sister Agnes (now Fowler) also lived. He is described as a Pit Joiner. In 1891 he is a Pump Engineer and lives at Lochore Village, Ballingry. In 1901 he is a Colliery Engineer living at 3 Lindsay Place, Beath. He died 11 December 1915 at Swanlea Cottage, Kelty, aged 71 of a Ccrebral haemorrahage. His son, James was the informant.

John and Eliza's children were :

Children of John Ramsay and Eliza Cunningham

Name	Born	Place
Catherine Ramsay	1868	Dunfermline
William Ramsay	1870	Dunfermline
Margaret Ramsay	1873	Beath
Grace Cunningham Ramsay	1875	Ballingry
John Cunningham Ramsay	c 1878	Beath
James Ramsay	c 1880	Beath
Andrew Ramsay	c 1883	Auchterderran
Archibald Ramsay	c 1891	Ballingry

I could not find a death for either Eliza. I did find a reference to Grace Cunningham Ramsay dying in 1876 in "Dunfermline Burgh" aged 2.

Isabella Ramsay born 8 Aug 1846 at Crossgates, Dunfermline

Isabella Ramsay was born 18 August 1846 at Crossagates, Dunfermline. She is only there a few years before the family move the household in Coal Hill, Kirkcaldy. In that census return she is called Susan and is 4 years old. At the following census in 1861 the family has moved to Grainger Square, Auchterderran. She is now a 13 year old scholar and lives with her widower father, Willliam. Her olders sister, Euphemia, is Housemaid and we can assume that she runs the house. Isabella a younger sister, Christina, aged 11, and there is also another child in the houe; the 3 year old Colin Ramsay, illegitimate son of Euphemia. A few years later she married Samuel Fowler, the brother of her sister, Agnes's husband Thomas Fowler. Thomas was born 1837 and Samuel eight years later in 1845 - in registered in Edinburgh. There is more about the whole Fowler family elsewhere on this site.

Marriage of Isabella Ramsay and Samuel Fowler 26 Jan 1866

[source]

This records that

On the 26th day of January at Lochgelly, Parish of Auchterderran. After Banns according to the forms of the Established Church of Scotland Samuel Fowler, Bachelor, aged 20, Coal Miner. Usual Residence Launcherhead (see note after), parish of Auchterderran. Son of Samuel Fowler, Labourer at the Iron-works and Mary Fowler M.S. Hunter.
AND
Isabella Ramsay, Spinster, aged 20, Field Labourer. Usual Residence Glencraig Cottages, Parish of Auchterderran. Daughter of William Ramsay Engineer (Journeyman) and Margaret Ramsay M.S. Burt (Deceased). Witnesses John Ramsay and Christian Gibb. Registered 27 Jan 1866 at Auchterderran.

I think that there is a good chance that the John Ramsay that was the witness was her brother, John. I looked up the Scottish Mining web site and found the following information regarding their place of residence:

“Lochgelly - A large proportion of the houses are very old. Others are badly rent, owing to underground workings. Many of the houses have no scullery or wash-house. Many have no coalhouse, coals having to be kept under the bed. While water-closets are provided, they are in many cases in the proportion of one to four families. A number of old houses at Launcherhead, near the Station, belonging to the Earl of Minto and owned by the Lochgelly Iron and Coal Company, Limited, are damp, and should be demolished. [Evidence presented to Royal Commission, 13th October 1913 by Michael Lee]”

1871 Census Samuel and Isabella Fowler "The Glen", Dunfermline.

1881 Census Samuel and Isabella Fowler "The Glen", Dunfermline.

1891 Census Samuel and Isabella Fowler "The Glen", Dunfermline.

1901 Census Samuel Fowler Pratus Row, Dunfermline.

Summary

Samuel and Isabella's children were :

Children of Samuel Fowler and Isabella Ramsay

Name	Born	Place
Samuel Fowler	1866	Lochgelly
Margaret Fowler	1868	Lochgelly
Mary Fowler	1870	Halbeath
Isabella Fowler	1872	Halbeath
William Fowler	1874	Halbeath
Robert Fowler	1876	Halbeath
Janet Fowler	1880	Halbeath
Euphemia Couper Ramsay Fowler *	1882	Halbeath
John Fowler	1884	Halbeath
Thomas Fowler	1887	Halbeath
James Ross Fowler *	1891	Halbeath

This includes Euphemia Couper Ramsay Fowler who was born and died in 1822 and James Ross Fowler who may also have died in childhood. Of the other children I know the following:

Their first child, Samuel, only seems to appear in the 1872 Census but not thereafter.

Margaret, is with the family for the 1871, 1881 and 1891 census returns where, when she is old enough, she is a weaver. She married David Melville 8th June 1894 at Halbeath. He must have died pre 1901 bacause we find her back with the family at the 1901 Census as a widow. Also in the household is her son, James Melville, aged 7. I could not find any other children to this couple

Mary born 1870 is 0 years old in the 1871 Census and 10 in the 1881 Census but we do not see her again. It is most likely that she married Peter Deas 17 Jul 1890.

Isabella born 1872 is with the family at the 1881 and 1891 censuses and she may have married David Lawson in 1894

William born 1874 was with the family at the 1881, 1891 an 1901 censuses. In the 1901 Census he is aged 26, unmarried and is coal miner.

Robert born 1876. He was with the family at the 1881 and 1891 censuses In 1891 he is a 14 year old coal miner and probably married before the next census.

Janet b 1880. She is with the family at the 1891 and 1901 censuses. At the 1901 Census she is a 21 year old, unmarried, farm servant

Euphemia Couper Ramsay born 1882. We know that she only lived for 7 months. SHe died of pneumonia which she had for 6 days

John born 1884 is with the family at the 1891 and 1901 censuses. At the 1901 Census he is 17 years old

Thomas born 1887 is with the family at the 1891 and 1901 censuses. At the 1901 Census he is a 14 years old coal miner

James Ross born 1891. James died 17 Sep 1891 at Halbeath so he had as short a life as his sister Euphemia.

At the 1901 Census as well as James Melville, who was Margaret's son (her husband, David Melville dead at this point), there was another child, Bella Fowler aged 1. She obviously wasn't Samuel's daughter so perhaps she was a Grand-daughter of his and a child of one of the boys

There is a lot to tease out with these families given the time

Christina Burt Ramsay born 8 Sep 1849 at Gardeners Land, Dunfermline.

Christina Burt Ramsay was born at Gardeners Land, Dunfermline on 18 September 1849 and was baptised 14 October 1849. Christina (or Christian) was aged 1 at the taking of the 1851 Census and she was the youngest of the six children in that household at Coal Hill, Kirkcaldy. In fact, she was the last of the children that William and Margaret Burt had. At the 1861 Census of Grainger Square, Auchterderran, she is there again as an 11 year old. We do not see her at the next census because on 4 June 1869, aged 18, she married Lawrence Anderson.

Marriage of Christina Burt Ramsay and Lawrence Anderson 4 June 1869 at Lochgelly Manse

[source]

“on the Fourth day of June At Lochgelly Manse After Banns according to the Forms of the Established Church of Scotland.
Lawrence Anderson, Coal Miner, Bachelor, aged 22, Usual Residence Lochgelly, Parish of Auchterderran. Son of Thomas Anderson, Coal Miner and Janet Anderson M.S. Young.
AND
Christina Ramsay, Spinster, aged 19, Usual Residence Lochgelly, Parish of Auchterderran. Daughter of William Ramsay, Pit-Wright and Margaret Ramsay M.S. Burt (Dec)
Signed Thomas Dewar, Minr Lochgelly Parish. Witnesses Andrew Anderson and Robert Hunter. Registered 7 June 1869 at Auchterderran. Willm B. Low Registrar.

1871 Census Lawrence and Christina Anderson at 6 Moor Houses, Auchterderran, Fife, Scotland

I could not find Christina or her husband and child again. It is very possible that they migrated to Australia. I came across this gravestone online at Ancestry.com

[source]

My Dearly Beloved Husband Lawrence Anderson born Fifeshire, Scotland May (?) 1847 Died May 1st 1912 aged 65 years. Sadly Missed.
His Beloved Wife Christina Anderson Died 17 March 1936 aged 86 years.

These dates work very well for our couple. The stone is in Cessnock, Cessnock City, New South Wales, Australia. I had a brief look at this and Lawrence's family but that is reasearch for another time.

Summary

We do not know much about Christina Burt Ramsay. We know that she was born on 18 September 1849 at Gardeners Land, Dunfermline and was baptised 14 October 1849. She was aged 1 at the taking of the 1851 in the household at Coal Hill, Kirkcaldy. She is with the family at the 1861 Census when the family lived at Grainger Square, Auchterderran (she is 11). The next we hear of her is at her marriage to Lawrence Anderson on 4 June 1869, She is just 18. We know of one child,Thomas, born about 1870 and we know that because teh couple and their first child are living at 6 Moor Houses, Auchterderran at teh taking of the 1871 Census. I could not find them after that but I have a suspicion that they may have migrated to Australia where I might have found a commemorative stone in Cessnock City, New South Wales