George Craik or Creak, Tweedmouth

[Pennines]

I never knew that - thank you. You have all sorts of information tucked away in your head!

[terianne]

Not really - I had an ancestor who's wife was called Nicholas so I got curious

Also my Craiks  come from the Swinton, Whitsome area

[terianne]

Don't know if this relevant but I found the following

1881 Ld census - Wilton - 3 Wellington Place

Nicholas Craik 40 head - iron founder (journeyman) born England
Thomas Craik 9 son born Hawick
Jane Craik 34 wife born England
Jessie A Craik 4 daug born England
Mary L Craik 1month daug born Hawick

[Pennines]

Hi Terianne,

That's an interesting find. It looks like he is the son of a Richard Craik born about 1799 ish. Richard was also a Stonemason - like the Nicol/Nicholas b abt 1798.

Looking at the names of Richard's children - they almost mirror the names of Nicholas's children -- including an Archibald! On the face of it - Richard Craik may have been the brother of the Nicholas born 1798, son of George Craik and Margaret Johnstone.

I hadn't found a baptism for a Richard - but I did purchase a book of Memorial Inscriptions for the Church where George and Margaret were buried. There were other children buried with them - again whose baptisms I hadn't found.

The mother of the Nicholas you found was born Scotland - so I wonder if they had moved to her home town OR - could that location be linked to George Craik the father.... worth exploring.

Many thanks indeed for this information.

[terianne]

Are you aware of the traditional Scottish & Borders naming patterns

Generally the pattern is the first son & second daug named after father's parents and the second son & first daug named after mother's parent then the names of the next generation back then the parents - also middle names are generally maternal surnames

Also when odd names appear check out the names of the local bigwig or minister

[Pennines]

Yes -- much like Ireland. I had looked for a George born in Scotland with a father Nicholas -- but without success. Maybe Nicholas wasn't the first born son - as finding the childrens baptisms seems to have been hit and miss at that time in that border location.

(It would be boring if it went smoothly!)

[terianne]

I had a look for George in the Borders and found one which might fit

George Craik/Creak born 28 dec 1770 Ladykirk parents William Craik/Creak and Margaret Wightman

Ladykirk is across the swing bridge from Norham around 10-12 miles from Berwick / Tweedmouth

Also found a stone in Ladykirk /(upsetling) -

Thomas Creak son of William Creak, wright in upsetling 7.3.1790 21yrs , spouse Margaret Wightman 22.4.1794 67yrs

[Pennines]

Hi Terianne -- I am probably being really thick here -- but is 'upsetting' a place?

According to George Craik's Memorial Inscription he died on November 17th 1832 aged 60 years - giving him a birth year c, 1772. Although 60 years is a nice round figure, so might not have been his actual age at death - just an assumption by the informant!

His wife Margaret Johnstone was buried in the same grave - died Dec 28th 1851 aged 77 (hence a birth year of approx 1774). According to 1851 census she was born in Wooler?

I do thank you for going to all this trouble with this Craik 'brick wall'. I am not sure though that we will ever really know where he was born.

Many thanks once again for your help.

[terianne]

Upsetling is an old name / part of ladykirk