Family of Robert Anderson and Margaret Cunningham - Sophia and her Siblings

Marriage of Robert Anderson and Margaret Cunningham 17 Nov 1882

Robert Anderson married Margaret Cunningham 17 November 1882 at 21 Broughton Street, Edinburgh. He was the son of John Anderson (a carter) and Agnes Shearman. Margaret was the daughter of James Cunningham, a fisherman, and Margaret Cunninghm MS Ritchie.

1882 MARRIAGES in the District of St Andrew in the Burgh of Edinburgh
Seventeenth November 1882 at No 21 Broughton Street, Edinburgh
After Banns according to the Forms of the Church of Scotland
Robert Anderson Gardener Bachelor [aged] 20 [usual residence] Prestonpans [son of] John Anderson Carter and Agnes Anderson MS Shearman Deceased
[married]
Margaret Cunningham Domestic Servant Spinster [aged] 20 [usual residence] 21 Broughton Street, Edinburgh [daughter of] James Cunningham Fisherman and Margaret Cunningham M.S. Ritchie
Signed Davd ???? Minister of Gaelic Church (?)
[witness] John Nisbet [witness] Alexander Smith
Registered November 21st at Edinburgh

[source]

There are a number of things of interest about this registration including the place of marriage. Number 21 Broughton Street (if that is the address - it is not clear) still stands and is quite an imposing building. The minister who married them was a “Minister of Gaelic Church”. Some research suggests that this is most likely referring to St Oran's Church. There is some information here about this Church It was the first Gaelic-speaking congregation. St Oran's was Church of Scotland which, at the Disruption of 1843, saw most of its ministers move to the Free Church creating the Gaelic Free Church. It moved from older premises in 1875 into the former Catholic Apostolic Church in Broughton Street.

An additional curiosity if the witnesses who are not of the surnames you would expect.

The indexes of births show that Robert and Margaret's children started with Margaret Ritchie Anderson born 1883. John Anderson followed in 1855, Agnes Shearman Anderson in 1877 and Christina Cunningham Anderson in 1890.

The Andersons at the Censuses 1891- 1911

1891 Census - Preston, Prestonpans.

[source]

At this census we find Robert Anderson living in Preston, Prestonpans. He is a 29 year old gardener. He lives with his wife, Margaret, aged 30 and and the four children mentioned above. All but Christina are scholars.

1901 Census - Preston, Prestonpans.

[source]

I am not sure if we find the family at the same place as the previous census or not. I am operating under the working assumption that the house had gardens and some farmland and that this is where the Anderson's worked. They presumably had a cottage on the estate somewhere. Anyway, we see the first four children of the 1891 Census are still present except for Margaret who would have been 17. From the previous census we have John (16) a market gardener, Agnes (14) a field worker and Christina (11) is at school. There are several new children listed here and they are to be found in the birth indexes; Sophia (9) and born 13 Sep 1891, Jemima (7) and Helen (5) are all Scholars while the younger ones, Lilias (3) and Eleanor (1) are too young for school. There is also a boarder.

1911 Census - Preston, Prestonpans.

[source]

At the 1911 Census we find the family at what is still the same address - in fact they may have lived in the same house for at least 30 years. Robert is now a Farm grieve [a manager on a farm overseeing the work of other workers] aged 49.His eldest son, John (26) is now a Coal Miner - hewer. Agnes (24), Christina (22), Sophia (19) and Jemima (17) are all away from home now leaving only the last three girls, Helen (15) who probably helps her mother with the household, Lilias (13) and Eleanor (11). The last two are scholars.

It is worth noting that at the top of this page is part of an entry (it is missing the head of house) The wife is Roy Anderson (sic), aged 36. She has been married 8 years (so married 1903) She has had five children, two of which are still alive. These are Robert aged 2 and John aged 8 months. Mother and children were all born Prestonpans, Haddingtonshire. The most likely candidate here is John Thomas Anderson who married Roy Cunningham in 1902 in Prestonpans. I do not know if this is some relation but it would seem likely.

Under that there is another entry for 1 Preston Square and this is the household of Janet Anderson, widow, aged 58 who lives on private means and was born Edinburgh, Leith. She lives with one son, Robert, aged 16 and he is a coal miner -drawer born Prestonpans, Haddingtonshire.

1921 Census - Preston, Prestonpans.

[source]

This census shows that Robert Anderson (59y 6mo) and his wife, Margaret (MS Cunningham 60y 5mo) are still living at the cottage Preston at Prestonpans. All their children are grown up but here we find that their daughter, Christina is living with her parents with a family. As we will see below, she married William Waters Hood in 1912. We see the first four of their children (another was born in 1925). The enumerator has decided not to list them as a discreet family but rather as lodgers of her parents. Robert Anderson is said to still be a farm grieve but we now find that that he works for the farmer William Wright. William Waters Hood is a joiner for Edinburgh Corporation and two of his children, William (7y 3mo) and Robert A. (5y 10mo) are scholars but John (3y 6mo) and James (3mo) are too young for school.

Margaret did not make it to the next census; she died eight years after the 1921 Census

Death of Margaret Anderson or Cunningham 23 Mar 1929

1929 DEATHS in the Parish of Prestonpans in the County of East Lothian
Margaret Anderson (Married to Robert Anderson Farm grieve) [died] March Twenty-third 1929 [at] 3h 50m a.m. [at] 2 Preston Park, Prestonpans [aged] 67 years
[daughter of] James Cunningham Fisherman (deceased) [and] Margaret Cunningham M.S. Ritchie (deceased)
Cerebral Haemorrhage As Cert by G. C. McEwan M.B. CH.B.
[witness] Robert Andrews Widower Present.
Registered March 23rd 1929 at Prestonpans

[source]

This records that Margaret died of a cerebral haemorrhage in the middle of the night, aged 67 years.

Margaret Anderson or Cunningham died 23 March 1929; 8 months later, Robert Anderson remarried to a woman 30 years his junior.

Robert Anderson and Alice Burgoyne

Marriage of Robert Anderson to Alice Burgoyne 16 Nov 1929

1929 MARRIAGES in the DISTRICT of ST GILES in the City of Edinburgh
Sixteenth November at 321 High Street Edinburgh BY DECLARATION IN THE PRESENCE OF Robert Thomson, 4 Bank Street, Edinburgh and Joseph O'Brien, 20 Bank Street, Edinburgh
Robert Anderson Farm Servant Widower [aged]66 [usual residence] Preston Park, Prestonpans [son of] John Anderson Farm Servant (deceased) [and] Agnes Anderson MS Shearman (deceased)
[and]
Alice Burgoyne Domestic Servant Spinster [aged] 36 [usual residence] Cross Cottages, Prestonpans [daughter of] Charles Burgoyne Fisherman and Marion Burgoyne M.S. Burgess
Warrant of Sheriff-Substitute of the Lothians and Peebles dated 16th November 1929
Registered November 18th 1929 at Edinburgh

[source]

Children of Robert Anderson and Alice Burgoyne

Robert Anderson b 1930 Prestonpans

You might think that at 66, Robert's breeding days were over but my mother (Margaret Cunningham Ramsay) said that her grandfather, Robert Anderson, had 12 daughters and 1 son (Although she could only remember John, Sophia, Christina, Margaret, Lily, Jemima and Nellie, she was sure there were more. According to my mother, not only did he have this prodigious family but, after his wife, Margaret Cunningham, died, he re-married to a woman younger than Sophia (his daughter and my mother's mother) and he had a further child when he was aged 80. This child (Robert Anderson) was born after my mother (who was born in 1924 and so, despite being younger than my mother, he was her uncle - this amused my mother and she remembered it well for this reason. My mother said that many people thought the child was not his but she was convinced it was. After Robert died, his second wife remarried.

I found 8 girls and 1 boy from his marriage to Margaret Cunningham but not the other 4 girls. I looked for births to an Anderson and with a mother's MS as Burgoyne and came across the boy, Robert, born 1930 at Prestonpans but the query also produced two Anderson girls; Margaret (1935) and Julia Duncan (1937) both registered in George Square district Edinburgh. I would have had to send off for a certificate to see the details so I didn't do that. It did make me wonder if these could be added to John Anderson's collection of daughters. The suggestion that he fathered a child when he was 80 is somewhat disproved by the fact that he was 79 when he died in 1941. If these two girls were his he would have fathered his last child in 1937 making him 75 at the time. Whatever the truth is, it is a good story.

Death of Robert Anderson 18 May 1941

1941 DEATHS in the District of George Square in the City of Edinburgh
Robert Anderson Farm grieve Retired Married to (1) Margaret Cunningham (2) Alice Burgoyne [died] May 18th 1941 5h 50m AM [at] Royal Infirmary Edinburgh [usual residence] 116 Polwarth Terrace Prestonpans [aged] 79 years [son of] John Anderson Farmer (deceased) [and] Agnes Anderson M.S. Shearman (deceased)
Carcinoma of Prostrate 5 months Uraemia As Cert by J.B. Binns (????)
[witness] Christina C Hood Daughter 455 Calder Road Edinburgh
Registered May 20th 1941 at Edinburgh

[source]

Alice Burgoyne rarried a few years later, as my mother said, to someone slightly closer more her own age. She married the 58 year old Alexander Flockhart when she was 51.

Marriage of Alice Burgoyne to Alexander Flockhart 24 April 1945

1945 MARRIAGES in the District of St. Giles in the City of Edinburgh
Twenty fourth April 1945 After Publication in the offices of the Registrar for the District of St. Giles, Edinburgh and in the presence of said registrar in accordance with the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1939
Alexander Flockhart Wagon Trimmer Widower [aged] 58 [usual residence] 114 Polwarth Terrace, Prestonpans [son of] Alexander Flockhart Fisherman (deceased) [and] Isabella FLockhart M.S. Adams (deceased)
[and]
Alice Burgoyne or Anderson Widow [aged] 51 [usual residence] 116 Polwarth Terrace, Prestonpans [daughter of] Charles Burgoyne Fisherman (deceased) [and] Marion Burgoyne M.S. Burgess.
Signed L.S. Purves Registrar
[witness] Marion McKenzie, 6 Grange Grove, Prestonpans
[witness] Margaret G. J. Wood 95 High Street, Prestonpans.
Registered April 24th 1945 at Edinburgh.

[source]

Alice was still living at the home she shared with Robert Anderson until his death in 1941 at 116 Polwarth Terrace, Prestonpans. So it seems that four years after the death of her first husband, Robert, she married the widower next door

Children of Robert Anderson and Margaret Cunningham - Sophia's Siblings

All of this show us something of the outline of Sophia's mother and father but I wanted to find out more about Sophia's siblings. For some this was easier than for others; but this summarises my research to date. Click on a name to go straight to information on that person - or just continue reading.

Children of Robert Anderson and Margaret Cunningham

Name	Born	Place
Margaret Ritchie Anderson	10 Apr 1883	Prestonpans
John Anderson	23 Jan 1885	Prestonpans
Agnes Shearman Anderson	7 Feb 1887	Prestonpans
Christina Cunningham Anderson	8 Mar 1890	Prestonpans
Sophia Anderson	13 Sep 1891	Prestonpans
Jemima Cunningham Anderson	4 Feb 1894	Prestonpans
Helen Anderson	4 Feb 1896	Prestonpans
Lillias Thompson Anderson	22 Oct 1897	Prestonpans
Eleanor Macdonald Anderson	6 Dec 1899	Prestonpans

Margaret Ritchie Anderson b. 10 Apr 1883, Prestonpans

I came across a suggestion online of a marriage in Dirleton 19 Dec 1924 to David Young but I looked it up and it wasn't right. They are the wrong parents. I am a bit stuck on this child, even though I spent a long time searching for her.

[back to list of children]

John Anderson b. 23 Jan 1885, Prestonpans

I looked for a John Anderson of the correct age in the 1921 Census and found a family with a wife called Janet living in Prestonpans. I knew from my mother that he married a Jenny so wasn't sure if this was the right person. I looked at the entry. This gave me an approximate date of marriage but I could not find any marriage of John Anderson to a Janet. However, I noted the children in the census - Janet Ogg and Margaret both born in Prestonpans. I winged it a bit and looked for their births and found them. Margaret was said to have been born at Orchard Cottage, Prestonpans. This interested me because I had been looking at the war records of John's sister, Christina's, husband who gave a home address at the end of the war as Orchard Cottage, Prestonpans. This seemed to be more than a coincidence. So why could I not find a marriage. The birth registration of Margaret said that they had married 2nd April 1917 at Glasgow. So I looked up just John's name with the year and Glasgow as filters and came across the marriage of “Jenny” Cunningham and John Anderson in 1917 at Cathcart, Lanarkshire. I looked at this and it confirmed that the marriage, the births and the census were all the correct John Anderson.

John Anderson at the Censuses 1881 - 1911

ohn who was born 23 Jan 1885 at Prestonpans, first appears at the 1891 Census a 6 year old. The family live at Preston, Prestonpans, Haddingtonshire. His father, Robert Anderson , is a 29 year old gardener. He lives with his wife, Margaret (ms Cunningham) who is 30 years old. They have three other children, Margaret (7), Agnes (4) and Christina (1) Christina is too young but the other 3 children are all scholars.

At the 1901 Census, they are probably at the same house. Margaret (17) is no longer at home - probably a domestic servant. John (16) is a Market Gardener like his father and Agnes (14) is a Field Worker. Christina (11) is a scholar as are the new additions to the family, Sophia (9) and Helen (5). There are younger children not at school yet; Lilias (3) and Eleanor (1). They also have a boarder.

At the 1911 Census John is the oldest remaining child. He is aged 26 and, in a change of work, is now a Coal Miner. the family still seem to be at the same house but Agnes is not there (she married John Libberton in 1909); Christina (now about 21) is not there. When she married the following year, the registration said that she was a Domestic Servant usual address Preston, Prestonpans. I am not sure how that worked out; Sophia (now about 19) has also gone - I will return to her in the main narrative; Jemima (now about 17) is also gone. That just left the younger girls, Helen (15) who probably helps her mother run the house, and Lilias (13) and Eleanor (11) both at school.

John Anderson Military Service WWI

John's marriage registration says that he is a Corporal in the Machine Gun Company of the Scots Guards. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find any documentation regarding his service despite looking at all the usual online sources.

John Anderson Marriage to Jenny Cunningham 2 Apr 1917

MARRIAGES in the Parish of Cathcart in the County of Lanark
Second April 1917 at Mount Florida United Free Church after Publication according to the Forms of the United Free Church
John Anderson, Gardener (Corporal Machine Gun Coy Scots Guards) (Bachelor) [aged] 32 [usual address] Preston, Prestonpans [son of] Robert Anderson, Gardener [and] Margaret Anderson M.S. Cunningham
[and]
Jenny Cunningham, Housekeeper (Spinster) [aged] 31 [usual address] 108 Mount Annan Drive, Glasgow [daughter of] George Ritchie Cunningham, Fisherman [and] Janet Cunningham M.S. Marshall
Signed William Ogg
[witness] James Cunningham
[witness] Lilias Anderson
Registered 3 Apr 1917 at Glasgow

[source]

Here we see that the the registration is signed by William Ogg in the place where you would expect the minister to record his name but no description id given, In fact, a William M.A. Hogg was a minister of the United Free Church “Born at Ardersier, Inverness-shire, 1860. Studied at the University, Aberdeen, and New College, Edinburgh. Ordained at Cockenzie, 1888. In the Free Church, he served in Cockenzie, East Lothian.”

Why he was at this marriage is a bit of a mystery but for the significance of his name, see John's children.

Jenny Cunningham's Family

There is something funny about the way the register for the marriage of John Anderson and Jenny Cuningham has been filled in when it comes to the names of Jenny's parents. The registrar writes her father's name as George Ritchie Cunningham and her mother's as Janet Ritchie M.S. Marshall. He has then scrubbed out the Ritchie and put Cunningham in its place. Cunningham would be the correct thing to do but why did he put the Ritchie in there in the first place. If you look at the likely marriage of her parents it says George Cunningham (Fisherman) and Janet M. Ritchie (Field Worker). His father is George Ramsay and his mother is Margaret Marr. Janet's mother is Janet Ritchie (married to John Thomson fisherman). So, to me it looks like Jenny's mother may have been Janet M(arshall ?) Ritchie. It is all a bit confusing.

Marriage of Jenny Cunningham's Parents

1886 MARRIAGES in the Parish of Prestonpans in the County of Haddington
Thirty first December 1885 at Prestonpans After Banns according to the Forms of the Church of Scotland
George Cunningham, Fisherman (Bachelor) [aged] 19 [usual residence] Prestonpans [son of] George Cunningham fisherman [and] Margaret Cunningham M.S. Marr
[and]
Janet M. Ritchie, Field Worker (Spinster) [aged] 20 [usual residence] Prestonpans [daughter of] Janet Ritchie (married to John Thomas, fisherman)
Signed J Struther LL Minister of Prestonpans
[witness] Richard Marr
[witness] Georgina Ritchie
Registered (?) January 1886 at Prestonpans

[source]

George and Janet Cunningham (or Marshall) in the Censuses 1891-1901

1891 Census - High Street, Prestonpans, Haddingtonshire

[source]

George and Janet married 31 Dec 1885 and at the 1891 Census so, five years later, we find them with two children; Janet (5) and Margaret (3). It should be noted in passing that there are other Cunningham fishermen in our family history. At the same census, Robert Anderson's wife, Margaret Cunningham had a father, James Cunningham, who was a fisherman. These are probably related in some way but I can't see how at the moment.

1901 Census - High Street, Prestonpans, Haddingtonshire

[source]

Here we find the family ten years on but we do not see Janet who would now be 15. Margaret is still there and a number of other children have been added; John (9), Agnes (6), James (4) and George (0). All but the last are scholars. So, what happened to Janet? Well, I did find a Janet Cunningham born 1886 as a housemaid in the home of a soap manufacturer, Walter R Munro. Mr Munro lived in what is surely a very untypical household of himself, two brothers (one a master mariner, the other a secretary of a political association), a sister, an aunt, and a cousin who is described as housekeeper and she is no doubt in charge of the staff which is a Cook domestic and a housemaid domestic -i.e. Janet. The census return can be found here.

There were too many possible Janet Cunninghams aged 25 at the 1911 Census for me to pay to look at all of them. The one in Tranent I did look at was not the right one so I have to move on to what I do know which is the marriage of Jenny (Janet) in 1917.

Children of John Anderson and Jenny Anderson or Cunningham

I had a suggestion in my notes, which may have come from my mother, that this couple had two children, Jenny and Nancy. I am not too sure how true that was but I initially found the birth of two children to John Anderson and his wife Jenny.

Birth of Janet Williamina Ogg Marshall Anderson 10 Jan 1918 at Preston, Prestonpans

BIRTHS in the Parish of Prestonpans in the County of Haddington
Janet Williamina Ogg Marshall Anderson [born] January tenth 8h 0m PM [at] 1918 at Preston, Prestonpans
[daughter of] John Anderson, Marker Gardener (Corporal, Scots Guards) [and] Janet Ritchie Anderson MS Cunningham [married] 1917 April 2nd Glasgow. [informant] John Anderson, Father.
Registered January 14th At Prestonpans

[source]

This is a bit of a mouthful for a name but William Ogg was the minister at John and Janet’s marriage. She also carries Marshall as another middle name which is Jenny’s mother's maiden surname.

{footnote: I found a marriage of a Janet W O M Anderson to a George Gordon Taylor in 1939 (my mother thought she married a Taylor)}

Birth of Margaret Cunningham Anderson 11 February 1919 at Preston, Prestonpans

BIRTHS in the Parish of Prestonpans in the County of Haddington
Margaret Cunningham Anderson [born] February Eleventh 6h 15m P.M. 1919 [at] at Orchard Cottage, Prestonpans
[daughter of] John Anderson, Ploughman [and] Janet Ritchie Anderson MS Cunningham [married] 1917 April 2nd Glasgow.
[informant] John Anderson, Father.
Registered February 12th 1919at Prestonpans

[source]

I did look for births of a Nancy Anderson but couldn't find a likely candidate, In fact I couldn't find any other likely children to this couple - perhaps Margaret was known as Nancy; it is usually a familiar name for Anne's but who knows.

John and Jenny Anderson at the 1921 Census East Loan, Prestonpans Landward, Haddingtonshire

[source]

Here we find the two children that we have birth registrations for. Both of them are too young for school. With the war over, John is back to work on the land but he is now an agricultural engine driver. His employer is on the previous page but I did not pay to look at that.

Death of John Anderson 30 January 1952

v

Death of Janet Ritchie Cunningham 1 Sep 1954

1954 DEATHS in the District of St. Andrew in the City of Edinburgh
Janet Ritchie Anderson, Widow of John Anderson, Market Gardener [died] September first 1954 4h 5m AM [at] Western General Hospital, Edinburgh,
usual residence Lornelea, Main St, Longniddry [aged] 68 years
[dau of] George Ritchie Cunningham, Fisherman (deceased) [and] Janet Cunningham MS Marshall (deceased)
Mesenteric thrombosis as cert by Sheila Mercer WB ChB
[informant] Janet Taylor Daughter Lornelea, Main St, Longniddry.
Registered September 2nd at Edinburgh.

[source]

[back to list of children]

Agnes Shearman Anderson b. 7 Feb 1887, Prestonpans

Agnes Shearman Anderson at the Censuses

Agnes, who was born 7 Feb at Prestonpans, first appears at the 1891 Census as a 4 year old scholar. Her father, Robert Anderson , is a 29 year old gardener. He lives with his wife, Margaret (ms Cunningham) who is 30 years old. They have three other children, all scholars, and they are Margaret (7), John (6) and Agnes, herself, (4) and Christina (1) rounds the family off.

At the 1901 Census, they are probably at the same house. Margaret (17) is no longer at home - probably a domestic servant. John (16) is a Market Gardener like his father and Agnes (14) is a Field Worker. Christina (11) is a scholar as are the new additions to the family, Sophia (9) and Helen (5). There are younger children not at school yet; Lilias (3) and Eleanor (1). They also have a boarder Agnes is not at home at the 1911 Census because she married in 1909

Marriage of Agnes Shearman Anderson and John Libberton 23 Sep 1909

1909 MARRIAGES in the Parish of Prestonpans in the County of Haddington
Twenty-fourth September 1909 at Preston, Prestonpans after Banns According to the Forms of the United Free Church of Scotland
John Libberton Coal Miner (Bachelor [age] 22 [usual residence] Birkbank Terrace, Ormiston. [son of] James Libberton Engineman [and] Elizabeth Libberton M.S. Wise
[and]
Agnes Shearman Anderson, Domestic Servant [aged] 22 [usual residence] Preston, Prestonpans [daughter of] Robert Anderson Gardener [and] Margaret Anderson M.S. Cunningham
Signed John R Philip Minister of the United Free Church of Scotland Prestonpans
[witness] Christina Anderson [witness] James Libberton
Registered September 27th 1909 at Prestonpans

[source]

John and Agnes at the Censuses 1911-1921

John and Agnes Libberton or Anderson at the 1911 Census 5 Waverley Place, Tranent.

John and Agnes Libberton or Anderson at the 1911 Census 5 Waverley Place, Tranent

Name	Rel	Cond	Sex	Age	EYB	Occupation	Place of Birth
John Libberton	Head	M	M	24	1887	Coal Miner - Hewer	Edinburgh, Pathhead
Agnes Libberton	Wife	M	F	24	1887		Haddington, Prestonpans

[source]

Here we see that John is still a Coal Miner. They have no children yet and this is explicitly stated when Agnes says she has been married one year and has given birth to no children. We also find them at the 1921 Census

John and Agnes Libberton or Anderson at the 1921 Census 155 Church Street, Tranent.

[source]

At this census, John has become a Winding Engineman working for the Edinburgh Collieries Company. Agnes is employed in Home Duties. They have a daughter, Elizabeth (Elizabeth Wise according to reg) aged 8 years and 11 mo. She was born 1912. The also have a much younger son, James, only 3 months old.

There were more Libbertons on this page. At the top of the page is the last entry from the previous page (for 202 Church Street, Tranent, and that is for a 2 year old James Libberton, son, born East Lothian, Tranent. I looked up the previous entry and it was the household of Neil Libberton (26) born Ormiston, East Lothian and a Mine Fireman. Also there was his wife, Helen (MS Chambers - they married 1918 in Inveresk) aged 26. Also, on the following page, James, their son b 1919 in Tranent, East Lothian. This is the family of the brother of John Libberton. In the middle of the page is the household of their parents. John’s parents live nearby and are listed on the same page as he and his family are. James Libberton and Elizabeth Libberton (MS Wise) live at 198 Church Street, Tranent. James Libberton aged 62 born Cranston, Midlothian is an Enginekeeper working for the Edinburgh Collieries Company (as does his son) . His wife, Elizabeth is aged 57 and she was born Ormiston, East Lothian. She is employed in Home Duties. This led me on to look for the marriage of their parents

Parents of John Libberton - James Libberton and Elizabeth Wise

John Libberton's parents were James Libberton and Elizabeth Wise. They married at Cranston in 1886

1886 MARRIAGES in the Parish of Cranston in the County of Edinburgh
Twenty sixth November at Cranston Manse, Parish of Cranston After Banns according to the Forms of the Church of Scotland
James Libberton Engine Driver, Bachelor [aged] 28 [usual residence] Pathhead, Parish of Crichton [son of] John Libberton General Labourer [and] Agnes Libberton M.S. Crosbie
[and]
Elizabeth Wise Spinster [aged] 22 [usual residence] Preston, Parish of Cranston [daughter of] Robert Wise Coalminer [and] Isabella Wise M.S. Sutherland
Signed George G Smith Minister of Cranston
[witness] Linus Gordon [witness] Janet Wise

[source]

Children of John and Agnes Shearman Libberton or Anderson

As far as I can tell, the couple had three children; Elizabeth Wise Libberton b 7 Jul 1912 in Tranent; Margaret Anderson Libberton b 25 Jun 1915 in Tranent and James Libberton b 29 Mar 1921 in Tranent.

Death of John Libberton 4 Jun 1933

DEATHS in the District of Haymarket in the City of Edinburgh
John Libberton Builder’s Foreman (Retired) married to Agnes Shearman Anderson [died] January Sixth 1959 11h 00m pm [at] 64 Sighthill Loan, Edinburgh [aged] 72 years [son of] James Libberton Colliery Engine Driver (deceased) [and] Elizabeth Libberton M.S. Wise (deceased)
Chronic Bronchitis, Coronary Thrombosis, Cardiovascular degeneration as Cert by Charles Logan M.B.
[witness] E. W. Fotheringham Daughter Present.
Registered January 7th 1959

[source]

Death of John Libberton 4 Jun 1933

DEATHS in the District of Haymarket in the City of Edinburgh
John Libberton Builder's Foreman (Retired) married to Agnes Shearman Anderson [died] January Sixth 1959 11h 00m pm [at] 64 Sighthill Loan, Edinburgh [aged] 72 years [son of] James Libberton Colliery Engine Driver (deceased) [and] Elizabeth Libberton M.S. Wise (deceased)
Chronic Bronchitis, Coronary Thrombosis, Cardiovascular degeneration as Cert by Charles Logan M.B.
[witness] E. W. Fotheringham Daughter Present.
Registered January 7th 1959

[source]

Death of Agnes Shearman Anderson

Agnes died 1977 in Morningside aged 90. She is recorded in Scotland's People under Anderson not Libberton. There is no online image to view and I did not order the certificate

[back to list of children]

Christina Cunningham Anderson b. 8 Mar 1890, Prestonpans

Christina Cunningham Anderson at the Censuses 1891-1911

Christina who was born 8 Mar 1890 at Prestonpans, first appears at the 1891 Census a 1 year old. The family live at Preston, Prestonpans, Haddingtonshire. Her father, Robert Anderson , is a 29 year old gardener. He lives with his wife, Margaret (ms Cunningham) who is 30 years old. They have three other children, all scholars, and they are Margaret (7), John (6) Agnes (4) and Christina rounds the family off.

At the 1901 Census, they are probably at the same house. Margaret (17) is no longer at home - probably a domestic servant. John (16) is a Market Gardener like his father and Agnes (14) is a Field Worker. Christina, herself, (11) is a scholar as are the new additions to the family, Sophia (9) and Helen (5). There are younger children not at school yet; Lilias (3) and Eleanor (1). They also have a boarder

At the 1911 Census the family still seem to be at the same house but Christina is not there. When she married the following year, the registration said that she was a Domestic Servant usual address Preston, Prestonpans. I am not sure how that worked out.

Marriage of Christina Cunningham Anderson to William Waters Wood 16 Aug 1912

1912 MARRIAGES in the Parish of Prestonpans in the County of Haddington
Sixteenth August 1912 at Preston, Prestonpans. after Banns According to the Forms of the United Free Church of Scotland
William W Wood Joiner Bachelor [aged] 24 [usual residence] 11 Newington Place, Edinburgh [son of] John Wood Coal Miner (Deceased) and Christina Hood M.S. Dunn (Deceased)
[and]
Christina C Anderson Domestic Servant Spinster [aged] 22 [usual residence] Preston, Prestonpans [daughter of] Robert Anderson Gardener [and] Margaret Anderson M.S. Cunningham Signed John R Philip Minister of the United Free Church of Scotland Prestonpans
[witness] Thomas Hood [witness] Sophia Anderson
Registered 19 August 1912 at Prestonpans

[source]

William Walter Wood's Family in the Censuses

1871 Census - 12 Tweed Street, West Calder, Midlothian

[source]

Here we find John Hood and his family. He is a 23 year old Shale Miner born Inveresk, Midlothian. His wife, Christina, is 21 years old and is from Tranent. They have two children, John (2) and George (0) both born West Calder, Midlothian. The also have a shale miner as a boarder.

1881 Census - Woodend Village, Torphichen, Linlithgowshire, West Lothian

[source]

Here we see the family ten years on and John is an Ironstone Miner. His son John is not recorded (I found a death of a John Hood in West Calder in 1872 when he was aged 4 so this is a likely candidate.) George is now 10 and a scholar. There are two new children in the family; Elizabeth (8) who was born 1873 in West Calder and is a scholar and Margaret (0) born 1881 at Torpichen, Linlithgowshire. There are two lodgers.

1891 Census - Craig End (S), Muiravonside, Stirlingshire.

[source]

At this census, we find that John is aged 44 and his wife, Christina, is aged 41. Their son, George, (now about 20) and their daughter, Elizabeth (now about 18) have left the household. Margaret (10) is still there and there are new children; Christina (8) born 1883 and Thomas (5) born 1885 - both in Torpichen, Linlithgowshire. There is another child - “our” William (2) , born 1888 in Stirlingshire (Muiravonside actually).

1901 Census - 8 Rennies Land, Prestonpans, Haddingtonshire

[source]

This census shows us that John Hood has died (an online source suggests that he died 12 Nov 1897 at Muiravonside. At this census the family have moves from Stirlingshire to Prestonpans. Margaret (now about 20) has left home but Christina is still there, aged 18 and a domestic servant general. So is Thomas (15) a Shoemaker’s Apprentice. William (12) is a scholar) and there is a new daughter, Jane (6) born 1894 in Linlithgowshire.

1911 Census - 161 High Street, Prestonpans, Haddingtonshire

[source]

Christina records her middle name of “Dunn”, which is her maiden name. Her daughter, Jane, also has this middle name. William has the middle name “Watters” . Christina is now aged 60. Christina (now about 28) has left the household but Thomas is still there, aged 25 and a Bootmaker on his own account working from home. William is a joiner aged 22 and Jane is now 16.

I did not follow the family into the 1921 Census because I knew it was unlikely to be together and because William was certainly elsewhere since he married shortly after this census.

William Waters Hood during the War

I actually found the military records of William Walter (sic) Hood of 161 High Street Prestonpans. A recruitment medical history form has him as examined on 13th of November 1915 London Road, Edinburgh. His declared age is 27 years and 4 months and he is a Joiner. He is five foot six and a half inches, Weight 172 lbs Chest 41 inches, range of expansion three and a half inches. His physical development is recorded as “very good” He was enlisted 13 November 1915 and joined the 553rd (Aberdeen) Works Company of the Royal Engineers regiment. His regimental number was 477097 and he was a sapper. He enlisted for four years or the period of the war and his actual service commenced on 23 May 1916. His Regimental Conduct Sheet was only blotted a couple of times (1) a day late coming back from a weekend pass 14-8-1916 ; this cost him 2 days pay. (2) 23 Jan 1919 where is said to have been absent from a Piquet - he was found in the Mess Room and this also cost him 2 days pay. A record in the bundle for him that has a service table has “Montrose 4.8.17”

There is a form W3961z that shows he was demobilized 28 Jun 1920 with an allowance payable to his mother at Millview Comber, Co Down, Ireland. I think that this is a stray document as I have another in the same bundle that specifically says that he was transferred to the reserves 26.9.1919 and there is a handwritten address 161 High Street, Prestonpans, Scotland on it. Another shows this same address and indicates a claim for an injury sustained whilst on service. The disability is Synovitis (the medical term for inflammation of the synovial membrane. This membrane lines joints that possess cavities, known as synovial joints.). In another page dealing with this injury he says that his last employer was Mr G Davidson, 6 Abbeymount, Abbeyhill, Edinburgh. He was examined 4th February 1919 and his signature is on the document. It seems that he injured his left knew when he slipped in the snow during training. The examining doctor found no fluid on the knee and generally it gave him pain in cold and wet weather !!

Another document relating to his disability says that he served in England from 23-5-1916 to 3-8-1917 and then in Scotland from 3-8-1917 to February 1919 as a Sapper, Field Coy & Works Coy. This further says that his “Synovitis knee was the result if an accident in Dec 1916 while on military service. His National Health Approved Society is given as “Amalgamated Society of Carpenters & Joiners (Leith 277 [?])

Another document (UK, WWI Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923) dated 17 Jan 1921 gives an address of Orchard Cottage, Preston, Prestonpans, E Lothian

Christina Hood during the War

Christina was known as Tina. My mother, Margaret Cunningham Ramsay, was evacuated during the war and she stayed with her Auntie Tina (was this in Edinburgh?).

William W and Christina Wood 1921 Census - House, Preston, Prestonpans

[source]

This census shows that William and Christina Hood are living with Christina's parents at the cottage that her parents had lived at for many years - Preston at Prestonpans. All their children are grown up but Robert Anderson (59y 6mo) and his wife, Margaret (MS Cunningham 60y 5mo) have now taken in their daughter, Christina and her husband, William Waters Hood, and their children. Christina had married William Waters Hood in 1912. We see the first four of their children (another was born in 1925). The enumerator has decided not to list them as a discreet family but rather as lodgers of her parents. Robert Anderson is said to still be a farm grieve but we now find that that he works for the farmer William Wright. William Waters Hood is a joiner for Edinburgh Corporation and two of his children, William (7y 3mo) and Robert A. (5y 10mo) are scholars but John (3y 6mo) and James (3mo) are too young for school.

Children of William Waters and Christina Hood or Anderson

I found likely children for William and Christina

William Hood b 24 Mar 1914 Edinburgh (Canongate)

Robert Anderson Hood b 19 Aug 1915 Edinburgh (Canongate)

John Hood b 27 Dec 1918 Prestonpans

James Anderson Hood 26 Nov 1920 Prestonpans

George Hood b 29 Oct 1925 Edinburgh

Agnes Catherine Hood b 1925 Edinburgh

My mother knew the William Hood (b 1915) as Bill Hood

Death of William Waters Hood

possibly 18 Nov 1946 • Edinburgh, Scotland. Burial 20 Nov 1946

Death of Christina Cunningham Wood or Anderson 17 Feb 1958

DEATHS in the District of George Square in the City of Edinburgh
Christina Cunningham Hood, widow of William Waters Hood, Joiner. [died] February Seventeenth 1958 8h 0m pm [at] Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh [usual residence] 455 Calder Road, Edinburgh [aged] 67 years [daughter of] Robert Anderson, Marketman (deceased) [and] Margaret Anderson MS Cunningham (deceased)
Congestive cardiac failure as cert by G McKenzie M.B.
[informant] G Hood, Son 455 Calder Road, Edinburgh
Registered February 10th 1958 at Edinburgh

[source]

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Sophia Anderson b. 13 Sep 1891, Prestonpans

Sophia Anderson is part of the direct line of my maternal ancestry and her story is part of the main genealogy here.

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Jemima Cunningham Anderson b. 4 Feb 1894, Prestonpans

Jemima Cunningham Anderson in the Censuses 1901-1911

Jemima, who was born 4 February 1894 at Prestonpans, first appears in the census returns in 1901 where she is a 7 year old scholar. At the 1901 Census, the family are living at Preston, Prestonpans. Her father is a Market Gardener. Of her siblings, her eldest sister, Margaret (17), is no longer at home - possibly a domestic servant. Her brother, John (16), is a Market Gardener like his father and Agnes (14) is a Field Worker. Christina (11) and Sophia (9) are also scholars and Jemima has three sisters younger than her; Helen (5), also a scholar. and Lilias (3) and Eleanor (1), both too young to be at schools. They also have a boarder

Jemima Cunningham Anderson in the 1911 Census - 36 Gillespie Crescent, Edinburgh

[source]

I found Jemima at the 1911 Census as a general servant (domestic) in the household of Elizabeth L Miller, a 73 year old retired teacher from Edinburgh. She lived at 36 Gillespie Crescent which Google Maps shows as a rather splendid four-storey terraced house. Elizabeth lives with her sister, Janet Anne Millar, who is 73 years of age and also a retired teacher. The two of them live with Jemima as their 17 year old general servant in a household with 5 rooms with one window or more.

Jemima Cunningham Anderson in the 1921 Census - 10 Hope Dean, Inveresk, Musselburgh.

[source]

I found Jemima at the 1921 Census as the only general servant in a household at 10 Hope Dean, Inveresk, Musselburgh. The head of house is Jane McGill, n 86 year old widow from Glasgow. Their house has 12 rooms and 8 people are listed there - albeit one is a visitor. The others are two daughters (41 and 37) who are recorded as working at home duties and there are four grandchildren, two boys and two girls, ranging in age from 19 to 25. The two grandsons are medical students and one of the grand-daughters is a science student. So, quite a distinguished household. Although some of the ladies do house duties, Jemima C Anderson, aged 27 years and 4 months, born Prestonpans, Haddington, is the only servant.

A Red Herring Paternity Decree

Whilst looking for some life events for Jemima, I came across a teasing hint on the FindMyPast web site here suggesting a possible paternity suit by a Jemima Anderson. I looked at this seriously and ordered images of the original Sheriff Court records from Scottish Indexes. I had thought that it could be the right Jemima but when I saw that there were two children involved and that the other child was born even earlier it seemed less likely. "Our” Jemima was born 1894 and would only have been 11 years old at the birth of the first child so that seems most unlikely. Perhaps we will come across another Jemima Anderson in due course. It only cost me £5 to get the images so I wasn't too bothered. The judgment of the Sheriff Court at Haddington was:.

Anderson & Duncan At Haddington on the 1st and the 26th both days of May 1913 in an action in the Sheriff Court of the Sheriffdom of The Lothians and Peebles in Haddington at the instance of Jemima Anderson, Outworker, Niddrie Grounds, Craigmiller, Midlothian Pursuer against William Duncan, Blacksmith, Victoria Place, Tranent Defender The Sheriff decerned the Defender to pay to the Pursuer First the sums aftermentioned in respect he was the father of an illegitimate male child of which the Pursuer was delivered on 6th November 1905 vizt, Seven pounds per annum for six years as aliment for said child, payable said aliment quarterly in advance & beginning as from 6th January 1913, with interest thereon from the respective dates of payment Second the sums aftermentioned in respect he was the father of an illegitimate male child of which the Pursuer was delivered on 26th October 1907 viz Two pounds two shillings for inlying charges and Seven pounds per annum for fourteen years, as aliment for said child, payable said aliment quarterly in advance and beginning from said 26th October 1907, with interest thereon from the respective dates of payment under deduction of Three pounds paid to account and Third Fifteen pounds seventeen shillings and tenpence of expenses. And the Sheriff Grants Warrant etc. Extracted 10th June 1913

It seems like there was an earlier male child born 6th November 1905 and another born 26th October 1907. The judgment is made in 1913 and orders back payments to be made from the respective births of the children.

Jemima proved to be very elusive and I found out very little more about her, only relocating her at her death in Bridge of Earn.

Death of Jemima Cunningham Anderson 29 Sep 1952 at Bridge of Earn, Perthshire

1952 DEATHS in the District of Dunbarney and Dron in the County of Perth
Jemima Cunningham Anderson Single [died] September Twenty-ninth 7h 50m P.M. [at] The Hospital Bridge of Earn Usual residence Spitalfied, Murthly, Perthshire [aged] 58 yrs [daughter of] Robert Anderson, Gardener (deceased) [and] Margaret Anderson M.S. Cunningham (deceased)
(a) Atherosclerosis
(b) Cerebral Thrombosis
(c) Terminal Hypostatic Pneumonia
as certified by J.M. Langlands MB ChB
[witness] Agnes Libberton, Sister 64 Sighthill Loan, Ediburgh 11
Registered September 30th at Bridge of Earn

[source]

It would seen from this that Jemima never married and had no children but it is worth noting that the witness was her sister, Agnes Libberton. At this point, Agnes was a widow - her husband died in 1933 - and she lived to be 90; thus outliving her older sister by 32 years.

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Helen Anderson b. 4 Feb 1896, Prestonpans

Helen Anderson at the Censuses 1901-1911

Helen Anderson, who was born 4 Feb 1896, first appears in the censuses with the 1901 Census. Her parents, Robert and Margaret Anderson are probably at the same house they were at at the taking of the 1891 Census - Preston, Prestonpans. From that census, Margaret (17) is no longer at home - probably a domestic servant. John (16) is a Market Gardener like his father and Agnes (14) is a Field Worker. Christina (11), Sophia (9), Jemima (7) and Helen (5), herself, are all scholars.. There are younger children not at school yet; Lilias (3) and Eleanor (1). They also have a boarder

At the 1911 Census the family still seem to be at the same house but some of the children have gone. John (26) is till there but is now a coal miner, Christina is not there - when she married the following year, the registration said that she was a Domestic Servant usual address Preston, Prestonpans. I am not sure how that worked out. Sophia is no longer at home, At this census she is working as a domestic servant at 20 New Street, Musselburgh (Forth Villa), working for the three Cuthbertson sisters that live there. Jemima (17) has also left home and is also a domestic servant. She lives with the Cuthbertson family at 36 Gillespie Crescent, Edinburgh. Helen, herself, is still at home and she is 15 years old. She is not given an occupation so perhaps she helps her mother at home. The two youngest children are still at home and are scholars - Lilias (13) and Eleanor (11)

So far, I have been unable to find out more about Helen Anderson.

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Lillias Thompson Anderson b. 22 Oct 1897 , Prestonpans

I had a bit of a struggle with Lilias despite what you would think was an easy name to track down. I found a reference to a Lilias Thomson Anderson (born 1897) in the 1921 Census for Bromley, Kent. The hints did not mention any other names and it looked like she may have been in service. (”Lilias Thomson (sic), Raymond Denham, Jean Stuart and 2 others are on this record”)

This rather suggested that she might have moved to England and this would certainly explain the lack of information of Scotland's People. (I could not find a marriage for her on Scotland's People nor any entry in the 1921 Census).So I searched on Ancestry among the public member's tree and came across a tree which suggested that she married a George Cole in April 1924 at Bromley, Kent. This also had various links to records. The vital records were index entries only, so not very conclusive. I looked at the 1939 Register and there was a George Cole living with Lilias Cole

George and Lilias Cole in the 1939 Register

[source]

George Cole is 61 (born 1 Jan 1878) and he is a Timekeeper Road Paving Works. Lilias T Cole is 41 (?) but her birth date is given as 26 Oct 1898. (I have it as 22 Oct 1897 and there is a Scotland’s People index entry for that year) which presents a bit of a problem. They are living at 37 Ivy Walk, Dagenham, Essex. She is a housewife.

The date of birth is frustrating. I do not have the registration certificate of her birth but the index says 1897 not 1898. I looked up some electoral registers to see if I could find her and found a Lilias Thomson Cole here

This is much more convincing because it gives her full middle name correctly. She is recorded as entitled to vote in Romford, Essex in 1931 and she lives at 31 Ivy Walk, Dagenham. George Cole also lives there. This means that the George and Lilias Thompson Cole of the 1939 register and this couple are the same. She is recorded as entitled to vote in the Fanshaw Ward (Spurling) in the electoral register for Dagenham and Redbridge in 1964 and 1965 which can seen here. She still lives at Ivy Walk but has moved to number 37. There is no indication that George is there.

Death of George Cole 19 Oct 1952

I found a probate record for George.

COLE George of 37 Ivy Walk Dagenham Essex died 19 Oct 1951 at King George’s Hospital, Ilford, Essex. Administration London 22 December to Lilias Thomson Cole widow and George Cole bank clerk Effects £6767 10s 1d

The entry on Ancestry mentioned above also quotes a death for Lilias in Q1 of 1965 when she is aged 67 which is about right for our Lilias. There is also a probate entry.

Death of Lilias Thomson Cole or Anderson 25 January 1965

COLE Lilias Thomson of 37 Ivy Walk Dagenham, Essex died 25 January 1965 at Warley Hospital, Brentwood Essex. Probate London 1 Mar to George Cole bank accountant £1496.

[source]

This online source, mentioned above, also quotes an index entry for a marriage Q2 1924 at Bromley Kent to George Cole. There is also a reference to the birth of a son, George Cole 16 April 1925 Limehouse, Middlesex. At her death, her son, George, would have been aged 40 and is perhaps the “bank accountant” mentioned in her probate. Her husband, George, is said to have died 19 Oct 1951 at Dagenham, Essex. The record above says that George's parents were Henry Samuel Cook and Margaret Spotswood. The boy, George, married Gwendolene M Page is Romford, Essex, in Sep 1951)

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Eleanor Macdonald Anderson b. 6 Dec 1899, Prestonpans

Eleanor Macdonald Anderson at the Censuses 1901-1911

At the 1901 Census, when the family were living at Preston, Prestonpans, Eleanor was just 1 year old and she lived with her parents, Robert, 39 and a market gardener's labourer, and Margaret, his wife. She also lived with her brother, John, (16) a market gardener's labourer, and her six older sisters, Agnes (14) a field labourer, Christina (11), Sophia (9), Jemima (7) and Helen (5), all scholars. Older than her by a couple of years, Lilias (3) was too young for school. This rounded of the family with one boarder making up the full compliment of the household of eleven people.

At the 1911 Census we find the family at what is still the same address - in fact they may have lived in the same house for at least 30 years. Robert is now a Farm grieve [a manager on a farm overseeing the work of other workers] aged 49.His eldest son, John (26) is now a Coal Miner - hewer. Agnes (24), Christina (22), Sophia (19) and Jemima (17) are all away from home now leaving only the last three girls, Helen (15) who probably helps her mother with the household. Lilias (13) and Eleanor, herself (11) are both scholars.

At the 1921 Census we find that Eleanor's parents are still living at the same address but all of their children have grown up and their house is now full of the family of their daughter Christina Anderson and her husband, William W Hood. Eleanor is not present because she had died the previous year.

Death of Eleanor Macdonald Anderson 5 Jan 1920

1920 DEATHS in the district of George Square in the City of Edinburgh
Eleanor MacDonald Anderson, Domestic Servant, Single [died] January Fifth 1920 3h 20m am Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh [usual address] 2 Bridge Street, Musselburgh, [aged] 20 years [daughter of] Robert Anderson Gardener [and] Margaret Anderson MS Cunningham
Encephalitis Lethargica as cert by R.L. Stewart M.B.
[informant] John Anderson, brother, 2 Cross Cottages, Prestonpans
Registered January 6th 1920

[source]

Here we find that Eleanor has been employed as a domestic servant, probably at 2 Bridge Street, which would have been a fair sized house.

According to Wikipedia, “Encephalitis lethargica is an atypical form of encephalitis. Also known as "sleeping sickness" or "sleepy sickness" (distinct from tsetse fly-transmitted sleeping sickness). The disease attacks the brain, leaving some victims in a statue-like condition, speechless and motionless. Between 1915 and 1926, an epidemic of encephalitis lethargica spread around the world. It is estimated that more than one million people contracted the disease during the epidemic, which directly caused more than 500,000 deaths. Most of those who survived never returned to their pre-morbid vigour.”

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