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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Lanarkshire => Topic started by: samalexander on Sunday 14 March 21 18:54 GMT (UK)
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Looking for help locating Blackridge (also called Blackrigg) a farm in New Monkland Parish. A newspaper article for the death notice of Jane "Jean" Shanks in 1860, states it as being in Clarkston but the only location I can find in New Monkland is Blackrigg, immediately west of Wattston.
I'm wondering if it could maybe be the one near Wattston, however the proprietor looks to have been Dr. William Clark (1855) and then William Towers Clark (1865) who I believe were both proprietors in Clarkston, so the Clarkston location for Blackrigg/ridge would make more sense... Jean's death record only states it as "Blackrigg" no mention of Wattston or Clarkston unfortunately.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!
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It's unusual to find two different places in the same parish with the same name, so I'm inclined to think that it has to be the one at Wattston, but it does seem odd that it would be said to be in or near Clarkston.
The Ordnance Survey Name Book for New Monkland lists just one
Blackrig or Blackrigg
Neil Holmwood
James Monteith
James Birnie Occupier
Two dwelling houses so called the property of Mr James Begg occupied by John Birnie & others.
I notice from the 1851 census that Jean Shanks, 40, was housekeeper to William Clark at Moffat House. William Clark died in 1859, and he bequeathed Wester Moffat to his cousin William Towers, who took the name Clark and became Towers-Clark. I have yet to discover exactly how William Clark and William Towers were related, but Wester Moffat was in the Clark family in the early 17th century and probably before that. (I think that Mary Clark, my 5th-great-grandmother, was a daughter of Andrew Clark of Wester Moffat, hence my interest in these Clarks.)
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It's unusual to find two different places in the same parish with the same name, so I'm inclined to think that it has to be the one at Wattston, but it does seem odd that it would be said to be in or near Clarkston.
The Ordnance Survey Name Book for New Monkland lists just one
Blackrig or Blackrigg
Neil Holmwood
James Monteith
James Birnie Occupier
Two dwelling houses so called the property of Mr James Begg occupied by John Birnie & others.
I notice from the 1851 census that Jean Shanks, 40, was housekeeper to William Clark at Moffat House. William Clark died in 1859, and he bequeathed Wester Moffat to his cousin William Towers, who took the name Clark and became Towers-Clark. I have yet to discover exactly how William Clark and William Towers were related, but Wester Moffat was in the Clark family in the early 17th century and probably before that. (I think that Mary Clark, my 5th-great-grandmother, was a daughter of Andrew Clark of Wester Moffat, hence my interest in these Clarks.)
Thank you, on Jean's death record she is recorded as a domestic servant so I presume that may refer to her service at Wester Moffat House. I noticed that by 1930, the valuation rolls suggest that Blackrigg was now occupied by Thomas Chalmers and it states "Land Part Blackrigg Wester Moffat" so I'm thinking it must be a location near the Clark's house.
Also, I read somewhere that William Towers Clark was originally William Towers and when the property was left to him by William Clark, he stated that he should add Clark to his name to inherit the property. Whether this is true or not, I'm not entirely sure.
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Also, I read somewhere that William Towers Clark was originally William Towers and when the property was left to him by William Clark, he stated that he should add Clark to his name to inherit the property. Whether this is true or not, I'm not entirely sure.
I believe that to be the case.
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My ancestor, Alexander Chalmers, was farmer at Blackrig(g) aka Blackridge Farm in the 1800s from at least the 1851 census to - as his Will says - right up until his death in 1895. His farm was, and still is, just south of the Roughrigg Reservoir, off Craigens Road. You can find it in the Map links I'm attaching.
But, looking at nearby maps, just up the road in the village of Blackridge, there seems to be another farm called Blackridge too which adjoins the village of Blackridge.
In the Directory of Scotland Counties 1878, page 62, David Shanks's entry appears as "Blackrigg Farm: Aidrie (5), farmer" The entry before his is my grandfather Chalmers and his address is "Blackridge: Salsburgh, Holytown (4 & 1/2), Lanarkshire.
To confuse matters, Blackrigg Farm, the one south of the reservoir, is 4.5 miles Holytown and about 5 miles from Aidrie - meaning it's possibly the same farm being listed under two names.
In British Newspapers Archive, in 1898, in Lithlingowshire Gazette, there's a David Shanks "potato salesman, Blackridge Farm Airdrie." He was fined for riding a bicycle in a reckless manner.
Presumably you are interested in the Shanks family?
MAP SHOWING BLACKRIG/BLACKRIDGE FARM 1859
https://maps.nls.uk/view/228779023
MAP WITH GRIDS - zoom in on grids and click to reveal old maps you can explore (pops up on left)
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/find/#zoom=14.8&lat=55.85122&lon=-3.91536&layers=102&b=1&z=0&point=55.84733,-3.89966&i=228779023
MAP SHOWING BLACKRIDGE AND BLACKRIDGE FARM 1856
https://maps.nls.uk/view/228779179
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I noticed that by 1930, the valuation rolls suggest that Blackrigg was now occupied by Thomas Chalmers and it states "Land Part Blackrigg Wester Moffat"
Alexander Chalmers , 1821-c1895, had children (one of which I descend from) but birth registrations for his children aren't yet found. He had a bunch of young kids living with him in 1871 census, an 8 year old called Thomas. Perhaps the above Thomas is that kid (aged in his 70s), or is a descendant somehow.
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I think the answer is to be found in the 1881 census. I have a set of the CD-ROM transcriptions which allow searching by place name.
I don't attach any importance at all to variations in spelling of place names. Whether it was spelled Blackrig, Blackrigg or Blackridge means nothing.
One Blackrigg is in the parish of New Monkland, Enumeration District 5. In the same ED are Riggend, Stand, Wattston, Meadowside, Berryhill, Drumgray, Drumshangie, Rigghead and others. All of these places are on this map https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15.0&lat=55.90796&lon=-3.96447&layers=5&b=1
Alexander Chalmers is at a Blackridge in the parish of Shotts, Enumeration District 2. In the same ED are Salsburgh, Bogfoot, Burnhouse, Bothwellshields, Tordees, Langside, Drumbowie, Mountcow, Duntilland and others. All of these are on this map https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=14.8&lat=55.85017&lon=-3.90370&layers=5&b=1
I can't do quite the same for any other census, but in 1861 David Shanks, farmer, aged 31, is at Blackriggs, Edinburgh Road, New Monkland (transcription). In 1871 he is at Blackridge, New Monkland and in 1881 at Edinburgh Road, Clarkston, New Monkland.
Until the M8 was built, the main road between Glasgow and Edinburgh went through Salsburgh. See https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=14.8&lat=55.84413&lon=-3.89691&layers=164&b=1
However the road from Airdrie to Edinburgh went through Clarkston and past Easter and Wester Moffat. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=14.8&lat=55.87514&lon=-3.93187&layers=164&b=1
Alexander Chalmers is listed at Blackrigg, Shotts, in 1851, 1861, and 1891; at Blackrigg Farm, Shotts, in 1871; and at Blackridge Farm, Shotts in 1881.
The 1885 valuation roll confirms that David Shanks was the tenant and James Towers Clark the proprietor of Blackrigg Farm in New Monkland. It also lists Alexander Chalmers as tenant and David Carrick Robert Carrick Buchanan as proprietor of Blackridge Farm in Shotts.
So it does seem that there must have been three Blackridge/Blackriggs, two in New Monkland and one in Shotts. The one near Wattston and Riggend in New Monkland can be dismissed as it's fairly clear from the census that neither the Shanks' Blackridge/Blackrigg nor the Chalmers' Blackridge/Blackrigg was in that area. Also, by the time of the second edition of the six-inch Ordnance Survey map its name had been changed to Rise-and-Run. There is no longer any trace of it.
The Chalmers' Blackridge/Blackrigg is clearly the one near Salsburgh, and in the parish of Shotts. It is still on the modern maps. See https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NS8163
The Shanks' one, however, is harder to pin down. It must be close to the road from Airdrie and on the New Monkland bank of the North Calder Water, and it must be quite small because in 1881 David Shanks was farming only 30 acres.
Does that help?
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Alexander Chalmers is listed at Blackrigg, Shotts, in 1851, 1861, and 1891; at Blackrigg Farm, Shotts, in 1871; and at Blackridge Farm, Shotts in 1881.
Thank you Forforian, you confirm for me that Alexander was on Blackrigg all his life. And it helps me to know that Alexander Chalmers is in all the cenuses for his live period.
However, on Scotlands People I can only find the 1851 and the 1871 census. (I have spent a small fortune on wrong searches!) Are you able to tell me where, and details if possible, you found the indexes to the 1861 census in particular? I am keen to see if Alexander and Ann Jack's children are listed there.
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They are all in the indexes at Scotland's People.
1851: Shotts, ED10, page 18. Alexander, 30; Ann, 26; Robert, 4; Katern, 3 (name from FreeCEN but indexed on SP as Adam!), Janet, 1.
1861: Shotts, ED7, Page 1 (indexed as Chalmere). Alexander, 39; Ann, 36; Robert, 14; Catherine, 13; Janet, 11; Ann, 8; James, 6; Alexander, 3; William and Margaret, under 1 year.
1871: Shotts, ED6 Page 1. Alexander, 50, Ann, 47; Catherine, 27; James, 15; Maggie, 10; William, 10; Thomas, 8; Marion, 5; Mary, 3.
1881: Shotts, Middle District, ED2 Page 21. Alexander, 60; Ann, 57; William, 20; Marion, 16; Mary, 13.
1891: Shotts, Middle District, ED3 Page 15. Alexander, 70; Ann, 67; Alexander, 33; Thomas, 28; Mary, 23.
1901: Shotts, Middle District, ED1, Page 16. Ann J, 77; Robert, 54; Janet Paterson, 40; Annie, 7; Alexander, 5: Janet, 2; James, under 1 year. The FindMyPast transcription actually lists Ann in the household of her daughter Mary Mungall, and Robert and family in a different farm.
1911: Shotts, Middle District, ED1 Pages 7 and 8. Ann Jack, 87; Janet, 50; Annie, 17; Alexander, 15; Janet, 12; James, 8. I have not looked at the original to see if this is all one household.
I searched for Ch*m* in Lanarkshire, Shotts, and sorted them by descending order of age. Then found Alexander in each one until 1891, and Ann after that, and noted names and ages of everyone on the same and (1901) on the following page.
However I got the farm name from transcriptions at FreeCEN (1851), FindMyPast (1861, 1871, 1891) and the LDS CD-ROM (1881)
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I noticed that by 1930, the valuation rolls suggest that Blackrigg was now occupied by Thomas Chalmers and it states "Land Part Blackrigg Wester Moffat"
Alexander Chalmers , 1821-c1895, had children (one of which I descend from) but birth registrations for his children aren't yet found. He had a bunch of young kids living with him in 1871 census, an 8 year old called Thomas. Perhaps the above Thomas is that kid (aged in his 70s), or is a descendant somehow.
What was the name of his wife?
What are names and years of birth for his children?
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Family of Alexander Chalmers and Ann Jack, married 6 July 1846
Robert, born 1846/1847, died 1910
Catherine, 1847/1848, died 1931 in Baldernock
Janet, 1849/1850, died 1876
Ann, 1852/1853, died 1928 in New Monkland
James Jack, 20 April 1855, died 1892 in New Monkland
Alexander, 13 December 1857, died 1893
Margaret and William (twins) 14 May 1860
Thomas 19 June 1862
Marion, 9 September 1864, died 1930 in Denny and Dunipace
Mary, 28 October 1867, died 1937 in Shettleston
all in the parish of Shotts unless otherwise indicated
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Thank you Forfarian, especially for the time you've put in, and the details you've uncovered are extremely helpful in pinpointing this family. The census details you've transcribed are great for working out who's who. I've since purchased Ann (nee JACK) Chalmers death certificate and it's lead me to the next generation which I didn't have before.
As to Blackridge Farm (the Shotts one) I found a death snippet in BNA and it seems Thomas Chalmers, born 1862, was not at the farm but at his daughter's place when he died in 1947. He'd been "30 years a sup..." - at which point the snippet ran out! Next time I subscribe to BNA I will check to see what he got up to in his lifetime.
So - thank you!
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Where did Thomas die and what was his occupation?
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Is this him in 1930?
CHALMERS
THOMAS
Tenant
FARM COWBRAE BY AIRDRIE
NEW MONKLAND
1930
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Where did Thomas die and what was his occupation?
Sancti, I do not know much about Thomas Chalmers, mainly that he was the son of my X grandfather Alexander Chalmers and was born 1862. (from Scotlands People indexes) Have you looked on censuses for him?
Alexander left a will, which I have, but it only mentions the trustee names in his will (Robert his eldest son, Ann Jack his widow and William his brother) and also my great grandmother Catherine gained a mention because he gave her 50 pounds when she married, so that was to come out any inheritance. There was only 171 pounds to disperse; they were tenant farmers, probably of dairy.
As to the address and occupation, you could look up the article on British News Archive (you pay to read the whole article). This is the snippet you can see for free:
Fifeshire Advertiser - Sat 8 March 1947 "...A well known townsman, Mr Thomas Chalmers, died at the residence of his daughter Mrs Beveridge, 1 Rossend Path, on Tuseday night. Mr Chalmers had been indifferent health for some time. For 30 Years he was employed sup..." There were two Thomas Chalmers dying in 1947 in Fife, so this may not be the right one. You would be looking for an 84 year old Thomas dying in 1947. You would need to verify that Thomas Chalmers DID marry: there were quite a few singles in the Chalmers family.
CHALMERS THOMAS Tenant FARM COWBRAE BY AIRDRIE NEW MONKLAND 1930
If there was a Thomas at Blackridge in 1930 and this Thomas at Airdie, you'd think two separate farmers. But who knows.
The Thomas Chalmers from Alexander's family possibly inherited the tenancy at Blackridge Farm. Alexander died in 1895. Censuses 1901-1921 might inform you about that. The 1939 register might help pinpoint the man/men at a later time.
I say all this assuming that you have an interest in this Thomas Chalmers? I am not so interested myself. His sister is my direct ancestor.
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I don't think the newspaper report is related to the Thomas Chalmers at New Monkland
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Thomas Chalmers, retired farmer, widower of (1st) Margaret Fleming (2nd) Jane Paterson, died 10 May 1947, 16 Forge Road, Moffat Mills, New Monkland, aged 84. Parents Alexander Chalmers, farmer, and Ann Jack, both deceased. CoD chronic bronchitis, cardiovascular degereneration. Informant Robert Chalmers, son.
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Thanks Forfarian for the confirmation