Hi
First I should explain who I am. My name is Royston Smith, retired and in my 65th year with a great passion for family history. I live in Caerphilly, South Wales with my wife Jennifer whom I married in 1966. My father Robert Smith was born in Gorebridge, Midlothian and luckily his family remained in the same locality so I have been able to trace generations in the Stobsmill area and on the Harvieston Estate, Gorebridge I am a direct descendent of Alexander Smith and Isabel Chisholm having researched my family line back through generations of Smiths to the marriage of Alexander Smith & Isabel Chisholm in 1773. Alexander Smith of Borthwick parish and Isabel Chisholm of Heriot parish made their proclamation to marriage on the 15th and 16th May, 1773 in both parishes.
Alexander Smith, a servant to Thomas and George Cranstoun who were farmers of Heriot by Crookston. The Cranstoun’s bought the Harvieston estate and on relocating, thought so much of Alexander brought him to Harvieston [family oral history]. Via the Old Parish Records I have successfully traced the baptisms of Alexander & Isabel’s six children and via National Records have details of all other generations descending down to me.
On researching Isabel Chisholm I found that there were very few Chisolms in Heriot parish – An Isobel Chisholm [the only one I found] was christened in Heriot on October 1, 1761, to John Chisholm and Jean Cleugh, who had married on 17.6.1749. I have not yet proved that this is the Isobel that married Alexander in 1773 but I do believe this is a very good possible. If this Isobel was baptised as a baby, she would have been just 12 years of age when she married Alexander but this is not uncommon for the period.
There is one source yet to be explored for details on Alexander & Isabel and that is the papers of Thomas and George Cranstoun held at the National Archives of Scotland which unfortunately is on hold until I am next in Scotland.
I am curious as to your connection to Isabel Chisholm and wondered if you would be so kind as to write me with your details. If I can help further please get in touch.