RootsChat.Com
Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Selkirkshire => Topic started by: Echovalley on Friday 08 June 12 04:11 BST (UK)
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I have just received a copy of the probate re William Brown and although he was a resident of the Island of Skye, he died 'at Galashiels in or about........day of December 1860'. He was born in ?Selkirk, c 1809 so he could have been visiting relatives and/or droving sheep to that area though in December you would wonder about any long distance travel.
In the past I have not been able to find a gravestone in Skye and I am now wondering whether he would have been buried in the Galashiel area.
His wife was a Margaret Davidson, b 1808, Dumfriess and their son Christopher, my gr grandfather came to NZ in 1873.
Has anyone seen a gravestone re this man from Skye?
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Have you found his death record, Lindemann? Death records from around that time often give place of burial.
What were his parent's names, do you know?
Barbara
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remember not every death has a gravestone - depends on the familys ability to afford one or willingness to do so - try checking the lair books in Skye
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Thanks for the emails. I have looked for a death on Scotlandspeople, all areas and cannot find an entry for his death. William's parents were Thomas Brown b c 1781, Ettrick, who m 12th May 1804 a Margaret Thomson b c 1776 at Roberton, down as Selkirk and Ross.
Nearly ten years I asked a researcher, from the Museum of the Isles, Skye, about the Brown family and she couldn't find a death for our William Brown in Skye. There was a William Brown listed but she knew that he wasn't connected to our family. Thanks again, all comments most appreciated.
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Lindemann, there is a James Brown dying in Gala in 1857 son of Thomas Brown and Margaret Thomson. His son Henry signed the cetificate and James died of TB. James was a valet and married but the wife is not given. Obviously not William but did wonder if William was known as James or had a middle name James?
Barbara
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Hi Barbara,
I have just three sons' names listed for this family with parents Thomas and Margaret, nee Thomson. A James b Selkirk,20th Jun 1807, our William b Stow, Midlothian, c 22nd May 1809 and Robert b Galashiels Selkirk on 8th March 1811.
I would think that the James you mentioned was his elder brother, thank you for that information.
I had put in my first post that our William was born ? Selkirk but in the 1851 census he is down as born in Stow, Midlothian and from looking on a road map that is not far away from Selkirk/Galshiels so the family chat that he was born near Galashiels could be right, just a different county. Thank you
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Have Gala library got back to you?
Barbara
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No, not yet, still hopeful.
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If they are open Sat morning, could go look for you?
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What a lovely offer, thank you
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Hi Lindemann
Not much in the papers, just a notice of death.
Border Advertiser Fri, Dec 28 1860
At Crosslee on the 21st inst W Brown, Shepherd Isle of Skye aged 57 years
That is all I am afraid and no mention of it being a sudden death, others in the same paper said suddently on the ??st inst. And no mention of his body being found, I searched all of December and January in case any inquest was mentioned - nothing.
Barbara
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Oh and crosslee is in the Bowland area just outside Galashiels heading for Stow and the temperature that week was -25!
Barbara
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Hi Barbara,
Thank you very much for the information. The area Crosslee is interesting because in the 1841 and 1851 census his parents were living at Crossle Coat House, Stow. I could not find Thomas and Margaret Brown in the 1861 census so I presumed that they had died though I cannot find their deaths in Scotlandspeople.
In the 1841 census from Findmypast only the Brown occupants are listed but in the Ancestry version they also include a Alexander Kedie, George Scott, Margaret Scott and daughter plus an older man William Scott. Anyway, I guess a graveyard near Crosslee might be William's resting place. He had several hundred pounds in the bank and another hundred in sheep and cattle so the family might have provided a tombstone especially if there are other family members in the same place.
Anyway, thank you very much, and for adding the temperature, goodness me I didnt realise that the temperature could be so low in that area.
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can't believe the paper got that right, actually. Think James' parents were both deceased on his death so they would be dead by William's.
Barbara