More on William Ramsay's wife, Margaret Burt

The Parents of Margaret Burt

I mention elsewhere that I have so far been unable to find the death of William Ramsay's wife, Margaret Burt. This presents us with a bit of a problem because we would hope that her death registration would give us the names of her parents. If we can't find that then we have to be a bit more indirect.

I knew from the 1841 census return for the Dunfermline Street home of Margaret and her husband William, that she had been born around 1810-11. I looked in the IGI indexes for births of a Margaret Burt between 1800 - 1820 in Fife. There were only a few but one jumped out immediately..

[source]

The fact that William Ramsay's first daughter was named Euphemia Couper seems like strong circumstantial evidence that these were the correct parents. The traditional way of naming children in Scotland, whilst not a cast-iron rule, was often used and this might suggest that the first daughter than William and Margaret might have been named after Margaret's mother. Unfortunately, William and Margaret only had one son so I could not infer a possible forename for Margaret's father. Be that as it may, I speculated that In this case I would be looking for a husband named ???? Burt and a wife named Euphemia. I believe that here we have an example of the first daughter having both the forename and maiden surname of the mother's mother. This is not, of course, a guarantee that we have the right parents but I wanted to flesh this idea out a bit more so I looked at the register entry for Margaret :

[source]

"Peter Burt weaver at Baldridgeburn and Euphan Cowper his wife had a daughter born 13th of October (1809) baptised 29th named Margaret. Witnesses Henry Henderson David Hart weavers there"

It does not mention the church in the online image at Scotland's People but it is worth noting that the I.G.I. entry says that the christening took place at Queen Ann St. Burgher Associate, Dunfermline.

In fact, of the eight children that Peter Burt and Euphan Coupar had, five are recorded as being baptised in both the Church of Scotland and at "Queen Anne Street Burgher Associate" church; Margaret (1809), John (1811), Isobella (1813) and Euphans (1815) and Jane (1829) are all baptised in both churches. This may have been in order to make sure that births were properly recorded. Dissenting ministers were not always allowed to perform certain church rites unless they had first been performed in the mainstream Church of Scotland. For more on the burgher schism in the non-conformist church see here

The Ordnance Survey of 1853-55 still lists places associated with Baldridgeburn. It has and entry for Baldridgeburn Street which says

"A tolerably long street extending from Rutherford's Mill to Rumblingwell Toll Bar, all along the south side of the street are houses and a few at the end on the North side varying from one to two stories in height and are occupied by Damask weavers. This place was formerly known as {..} district, but since it assumed the form of a street, Mr Kilgour and the Provost would recommend street to be added to distinguish it from an adjacent stream of the same name"

The next page adds more about Baldridge Factory:

Baldridge Factory (Disused) [Situation] About 2 chains E [East] of Coal Road. New and extensive buildings used until lately for the purpose of manufacturing Damask and Diaper cloths. The machinery in the building was worked by steam.
[Fife and Kinross-shire OS Name Books 1853-55 Volume 118 page 4]

[source]

Peter Burt is said to be a weaver at the birth of his daughter, Margaret, and it is interesting to note that this street houses a number of damask weavers and nearby is a mill for manufacturing Damask and Diaper Cloths.

Baldridgeburn can be seen in the following map about two miles north west of Dunfermline and from Townhill which is north east of Dunfermline town.

[source]

I searched for a marriage for Peter Burt and Euphan Cowper and found the following in the register of banns and marriages:

"14th Jany 1809
Peter Burt Weaver at Baldridge burn and Euphan Cowper both in this parish gave in their Names for proclamation in Order to marriage and being three times proclaimed and No Objections made they were married 23 Jany 1809”

[source]

I knew that their first child, Margaret, was born nine months after their marriage, on 13 October 1809, but I now wanted to find about about their other children.

All known children of Peter Burt and Euphan Couper

Much earlier, I had searched the International Genealogical Index database (I.G.I. - now the "Family Search" genealogy web site) and had come across more detail about the precise place of baptism that does not currently seem possible and I later used this as the basis for a more modern search in the "Scotland's People"site looking for the actual baptismal register entries. I found a number of children born after Margaret; some of them were registered at the Queen Street Burgher Associate Church, Dunfermline as well as the Church of Scotland - as mentioned above - and others I only have a Church of Scotland register entry for. For some, I had an I.G.I reference for. It is a bit of a complicated story so I have included all information about each child that I have found.

Margaret Burt born 13 Oct baptised 29th Oct Dunfermline 1809

Church of Scotland Register

"Peter Burt weaver at Baldridgeburn and Euphan Cowper his wife had a daughter born 13th of October (1809) baptised 29th named Margaret. Witnesses Henry Henderson David Hart weavers there"

[source]

Dunfermline Associate Church Registers

“Peter Burt Weaver Dunfr & Euphan Coupar his wife had a Daughter born 13th Oct Baptized 29th (1809) named Margaret. Witnesses Alex Coupar & John Wilson Weavers there.”

[source]

International Genealogical index

[source]

John Burt born 31 May 1811 Dunfermline

Church of Scotland Register

“Peter Burt Weaver at Baldridge burn and Euphan Cowper his Wife had a Son born 31 May baptized and named John. Witnesses Robt. Smith and John Wilson”

[source]

Dunfermline Associate Church Registers

[source]

“Peter Burt Weaver Dunfr & Euphans Coupar his wife had a Son born 30th May Baptized 9th June named John. Witnesses John Wilson & William Williamson Weavers there.”

International Genealogical index

Isabella Ormiston Burt, 11 Jun 1813

Church of Scotland Register

“Peter Burt Weaver at Baldridge and Euphan Cowper his Wife had a Daughter born 11th June baptized and named Isabella Ormiston. Witnesses Robert Smith and John Wilson there.”

Dunfermline Associate Church Registers

“Peter Burt Weaver Baldridge burn & Euphan Coupar his wife had a Daughter born 11 June Baptised 4th July named Isobella Ormiston. Witnesses John Wilson & George Sutherland Weavers there”

[source]

International Genealogical index

[source]

Euphans Burt baptised 9 Jul 1815

Church of Scotland Register

not found

Dunfermline Associate Church Registers

Peter Burt Weaver Baldridgeburn & Euphan Coupar his wife had a Daughter born 17th June & baptized the 9th July named Euphans Witnesses George Sutherland & John Wilson Weavers there”

[source]

International Genealogical index

[source]

Mary Burt baptised 3 Oct 1820

Church of Scotland Register

“Peter Burt Weaver Dunfermline and Euphemia Cooper his Wife had a daughter born the 3rd Baptised and named Mary. Witnesses John and Alexander Anderson”

[source]

It is worth noting here that Euphans Cowper or Couper is recorded here as Euphemia Cooper.

Dunfermline Associate Church Registers

not found

International Genealogical index

This was found but only contains an abbreviated version of the information above recorded in the established church baptismal registers for Dunfermline It can be found here.

Jane Spowart Burt baptised 14 June 1829

Church of Scotland Register

“Peter Burt Labourer and Euphemia Cooper his Wife had a Daughter born on the 14th June 1829, Baptised and named Janet Spowart. Witnesses David Wilson and Adam Adamson”

[source]

Dunfermline Associate Church Registers

"Peter Burt clerk Townhill & Euphemia Cooper his wife had a daughter born 4th June & baptized 22nd June named Janet Spowart Witnesses John Allan & Adam Adamson Collier & labourer there."

[source]

This was found but only contains an abbreviated version of the information above recorded in the established church baptismal registers for Dunfermline It can be found here.

Looking at these children, I have always been a bit concerned about the children after Euphan's birth in 1815. There is such a big gap between the birth of Euphans, Mary and Jane that I have wondered whether there were actually two families of different Peter Burts, one with a wife named Euphans Cowper/Coupar and another with a wife named Euphemia Cooper. I looked at the web site, mentioned above [link here], that showed some of these children and others and I followed some of the links to census returns for them that the poster of that tree (and others) had made. It was obvious to me that some of them were clearly wrong so, to try to sort all these children out, I looked for census returns for them myself. I found the following:

1841 Census Return for Appin Crescent, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland

We find a number of things about the family. Peter's occupation is now “Linen W J” instead of "Weaver" - perhaps an abbreviation for "weaver / journeyman". Euphan, his wife, is here recorded as Euphemia. The ages of the members of the household are not quite what we would expect but it should be remembered that occupants over the age of 15 were rounded down to the nearest 5 years in this census. Only the occupation of the householder is given so most of the children would be working but their occupations are not listed. Regarding the family as we know them already, Margaret (b 1809 aged 32), John (b 1811 so aged 30) and Euphans (b 1815 so aged 26) are not present; we know that Margaret is married to William Ramsay and John and Euphans are probably also married (if still alive). Esibella (presumably Isabella Ormiston Burt) is present in the household recorded as aged 25 years old (rounded down from 28) as is Mary recorded as aged 20 (rounded down from 21).

So far, so good, but a couple of interesting facts are also present. There is a Janet Burt aged 12 so born in 1928 as Janet Spowart (see above) was. Is this the same person? We also find two children we did not know of; Elisabeth born circa 1826 and James born circa 1831. Both these children fit nicely around each side of the birth of Jane Spowart Burt in 1929 - Elisabeth before and James after. If this is the same family then births are 1809, 1811, 1813, 1815, 1820, 1826, 1831 - spanning twenty two years. The evidence increases here for all these children having the same parents. Are they in the right place? It seems so.

At this census return we find the family living at Appin Crescent, Dunfermline. From the enumerator's description of his area covered (and the 1951 census as well) we can locate this place. The nearest map I have in time is the the 1853 OS Fife sheet 35 (which includes Beath Dunfermline Inverkeithing). This includes the Edinburgh Perth & Dundee Railway line which was built after the 1841 and before the 1851 censuses. I have highlighted Appin Crescent but also Gardener's Land which we will encounter later. Appin Crescent is about a mile and a half from Baldridge.

I looked for the family at the next census, in 1851, and found them at 6 South Inglis Street, Dunfermline. It is clear from the enumerators description of his area that this is only a very short move for the family from their previous house (if it is a move rather than a renaming)

Description of Enumeration District 12 from the Enumerator's Book 1851 Census
”That part of the ancient royalty bounded by and included within a line commencing at the top of Shaddows Wynd and proceeding northwards along South and North Inglis Street to the Boundary of the Ancient Royalty at the Water Run thence Eastward along that boundary by the (run) to the Townhill road thence still eastward through Downieville Crescent where it is intersected by the Edinburgh Perth & Dundee Railway keeping the south side of said Railway to the Crossgates Road at the east end of Appin Terrace thence westward by Appin Terrace Martyr's Place and James Street to the top of Shaddows Wynd but excluding the ground and houses within the aforesaid (line ?) belonged to or are held of the Proprietor of Pittencrieff” now the property of the Edinburgh Perth & Dundee Railway Company. Thus including the East side of South and North Inglis Streets, South Division of Downieville Crescent, Appin Terrace, Martyr’s Place, and the Baptist Chapel and the two houses to the east thereof on the North side of James Street”

1851 Census Return for 6 South Inglis Street, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland

The family is spread over two pages of the census here and here

Interestingly, in this census return, we see Peter is an agricultural labourer (he was a labourer at the birth of daughter Janet Spowart Burt in 1829 but not at the 1841 census when he was a Linen W[eaver] J[ourneyman]). We also see Peter's wife is named Eupham again - she was called Euphemia at the 1841 census. Isabella (Ormiston) is not present and, if alive, would be aged 38. The only children still at home are Elizabeth, aged 25 and a house servant, and Janet, aged 22 and a dressmaker. James is not present and he would have been aged 20.

It seems, then, that this might all be the same family and we need to add Elizabeth (born c 1826) and James (born c 1831)

I had a look to see if Peter or Euphemia were still alive at the 1871 Census and I found them living in the same street, possibly even in the same house

1861 Census Return for South Inglis Street, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland

Here we find Peter and Euphemia, aged 76 and 73 years old respectively and they live with their thirty-six year old unmarried daughter, Elizabeth. Peter is described as a Damask weaver and Elizabeth is a linen factory worker

Death of Euphemia Cooper Burt

I found an obituary for Euphemia in the Dunfermline "Saturday Press" for 31st December 1864:

It simply says,"DEATHS - BURT - At South Inglis Street, on the 24th inst., Euphemia Cooper, relict of the late Mr Peter Burt, aged 77 years." I did try to find a death notice for Peter Burt but I had no luck. I could not find entries in the death registers for either Peter or Euphemia.

Summary of family of Peter Burt and Euphan Cowper

Peter Burt married Euphan Cowper 23 January 1809 In Dunfermline parish. They both lived in the village of Baldridge burn. He was described as a weaver and most probably a Damask weaver as “all along the south side of the street [Baldridge Street] are houses and a few at the end on the North side varying from one to two stories in height and are occupied by Damask weavers.” Nearby was Baldridge Factory “used until lately for the purpose of manufacturing Damask and Diaper cloths [damask table linens]. The machinery in the building was worked by steam.” Baldridge was a village with good numbers of weavers and colliers as well as agricultural labourers.

We know of the history of this couple largely from the parish baptismal records. It seems that they were, at least for a while, non-conformists and the first four of their children (between 1809 - 1815) were baptised at the Burgher Associate Church at Queen Street, Dunfermline as well as being recorded in the established church. During that early period the baptismal registers show them as living in Baldridgeburn and Peter is a weaver throughout this period. Interestingly, in the established church registers his wife is usually called Cowper and in the non-conformist ones she is a Coupar. By the time of Mary's birth in 1820 she is being recorded as Euphemia Cooper. We only know of Elizabeth (b c 1826) and James (b c 1831) from the census records. The children arrived as follows:

These births and baptisms are the only documentation we have for Peter and Euphan from their marriage onwards. The 1841 Census found them and their younger children living at Appin Crescent, Dunfermline about a mile and a half from Baldridge Burn. Peter is now a Linen weaver journeyman (I think). Margaret is already married to William Ramsay and John and Euphans may also be married. Isabella is still in the household as are the children born after 1820 - Mary, Elizabeth. Janet and James. We only know of Mary and James from this census return.

Ten years later, at the 1851 census, the family have moved a short distance but live in the same area at 6 South Inglis Street. Peter is now said to be an "agricultural labourer" (at the birth of Janet in 1829 he was also a "labourer"). The only children left are Elizabeth, a 25 year old unmarried "house servant" and Janet, an 22 year old unmarried "dressmaker"

Ten more years later, at the 1861 census, Peter and Euphemia (as she is named now) are still at South Inglis Street, Dunfermline. He is a 76 year old "Damask Weaver"; his wife is aged 73. The only child with them now is Elizabeth, an unmarried 36 year old "Linen factory worker"

I did not find the family at the 1871 census because Euphemia Cooper died 24th December 1864, aged 77 years. It is said that she is the "relict of Mr Peter Burt" but I could not find their deaths in the parish registers. Peter must have died between 1861 and 1864. I have seen an index entry that suggests that Elizabeth could have married shortly after but I have not researched this.