Broomfield Family in Lauder, Greenlaw area

[MLBroomfield]

Hi, Mona here from Kansas. I recently traveled to Lauder, Scotland to research my family tree. I would love any information on the Broomfield family. They were factors of Thirlestane Castle for over 60 years. Also, how does Broomfields in Greenlaw connect to Lauder. I would like to say thank you in advance.

[Sunlaws]

Hi Mona

While looking through the Lauder entries in Rutherfurd's Southern Counties Register (an 1866 Directory) yesterday for another Rootschatter, I couldn't help noticing the name of your ancestor Thomas BROOMFIELD, who was a very busy man!

In the list of residents he is named as a solicitor, with another mention in the Courts section that summonses are issued in his office. In the Public Offices section, he is named as the Burgh Voters' Assessor, the Heritors' Clerk, the Income Tax Assessor for the Western District of Berwickshire, the Justice of the Peace Clerk, the Lands Valuation Assessor for the Burgh of Lauder and the Western District of Berwickshire, the Inspector of the Poor for the Burgh and Parish and Collector of the Poor Rates, the Procurator Fiscal for the Burgh and the Collector and Sub-Distributor of Stamps and Taxes. He is also the Secretary and Treasurer of Lauderdale Agricultural Society, Secretary and Treasurer for the Gas Company, Secretary and Treasurer for the Water Company, Treasurer of the Curling Club,Secretary and Treasurer of the Berwickshire Rifle Volunteers, Agent for the City of Glasgow Bank, Agent for Scottish Provincial Insurance and Hon. Secretary of the Royal Association for the Promotion of Fine Arts. Phew!
Regards,
Lesley

[MLBroomfield]

Thank you that great information. I know that his stone in the Lauder church yard also states "writer". His son Thomas is the one who came to America as he did not want to go into the "family business". What great information to add to the story as these little bits of info start to unfold!

[Sunlaws]

Hi

Just in case of confusion, 'writer' in Scottish terms doesn't mean an author. It's short for 'Writer to the Signet' (often abbreviated WS), and basically means the same as 'solicitor'.

Lesley

[MLBroomfield]

Thank you for that information. I had no idea so that also changes my views on a few things.
Sincerely, Mona

[Sunlaws]

Hi

I've just found several references to your BROOMFIELDs in a book 'Lauder and Lauderdale' by A. Thomson (1902). Thomas is mentioned (with a photograph), as is his son George L Broomfield, Thomas' father David Broomfield and also a William Broomfield.

Do you have these references? (Just asking, before I do a lot of needless typing!)

Regards,
Lesley

[MLBroomfield]

Lesley,
             I do own the book. I was able to get ahold of it in Scotland several weeks ago. I must admit that I have not had the opportunity to read it yet. I know there are references in the book but I had no idea there are pictures. I can hardly wait to get home from work to look at them. Thank you so much for all the replies.
Sincerely, Mona

[Sunlaws]

One more sighting of Thomas Broomfield: the centenary index of the journals of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club notes Thomas' admission to the Club in 1869, and also that of his son G.L. Broomfield in 1889.

Regards,
Lesley

[MLBroomfield]

Thank you Lesley, I will add this information to the story list I am building on each family member.
Kind regards, Mona