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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Dumfriesshire => Topic started by: soapy1 on Friday 05 April 13 19:38 BST (UK)
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I'm just back from a couple of days at Dumfries/Annan areas. I finally got to the graveyard at the back of the townhall, but couldn't find the headstone I was looking for. I went to the Museum too. and bought a booklet about the graveyard and according to it , the one I'm looking for hasn't been used as paving
Does anyone know if there is a plan of the lairs and who to contact?
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Remember that these inscriptions were taken almost 50 years ago. many stones have weathered, fallen, etc and perhaps no longer there.
Ian
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Hi Ian,
I wasn't aware that the booklet was so old, however I thought that there should be a lair plan as they have for my local graveyard. The graves there are from around 1700. I found some relatiions graves because of it. I was really wondering who to contact. I asked at the Town Hall, but they didn't know
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Hi
Dumfries and Galloway council adopted the graveyards in 1929. They did inherit some lair plans but not many. this graveyard was closed to burials many years ago.
You could try asking the Council at the Harthill depot in Lockerbie. Details should be on the Council website www.dumgal.gov.uk
I remember once trying to find a plot and the council sent a man out with a long rod to poke holes!
Ian
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thanks Ian, I'll give them a try
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Hi,
Was reading your post regarding looking for headstones.
There is also the Annan Old Parish Church graveyard. I have the Memorial Inscriptions book for this, if you would like me to look up a name for you.
cupcake
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Hi Cupcake,
I didn't get any help re the old graveyard at the back of the town hall.
I know the inscription details...I was really wanting to know it's location in the graveyard itself. I couldn't see it, but as you know, it could have fallen down or weathered by now.
I even see that there's a path made from headstones too.
Thanks anyway, Elspeth
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Hi Elspeth,
Not a problem. I do also have the Annan (Town Hall) Old Burial Ground Memorial Inscriptions. I realise you have the inscription details but, each inscription in the book, has a reference number, which may or, may not help you locate where the headstone was.
Kind regards
cupcake
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Hi,
I just wanted to make sure you are aware that the Old Parish Church Graveyard is not the one at the back of the town hall. The Old Parish Church graveyard is the one on Church Street. Did you check in both? What is the title of the book that you have?
Ian is right though Gilchrist did the transcriptions years ago and some have been lost since.
Emma
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Emma,
The books I have I got from the D&G Family History Society. They are:
ANNAN (Town Hall) Old Burial Ground Memorial Inscriptions
ANNAN Old Parish Church Graveyard Memorial Inscriptions.
I have never been in the one at the Town Hall.
Just thought I would mention I have not been able to find my GGG Grandparents burial place as I believe there are no death records for Annan before 1855. Have tried the layer records but they don't start till 1872.
Perhaps you can help me with this: MY GGG Grandparents son, died in 1857 and on his death entry it says he was buried in the Old Churchyard, Annan - would that be the one in Church Street. Would love to know where at least one of my ancestors were buried :-\.
cupcake
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Hi cupcake,
I believe the Annan cemetery wasn't on the go until the 1860s so I would imagine the reference to the "Old Churchyard, Annan" in 1857 would mean the Town Hall one.
Gilchrist's books are very good, they have been republished by the family history society quite recently. If your ancestor is not in them you will probably not find the grave. Sorry to say.
Emma
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Emma,
Thank you for the information. Doubt very much I will ever know where my Annan ancestors were buried. I don't know when my GGG Grandparents died as I believe there are death records before 1855.
From their son's death entry in 1857, they were deceased. My GGG Grandfather was a blacksmith in Annan. Will just have to accept I'll not find any information on them.
Will try and have a look at the Gilchrist's books sometime.
cupcake
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Hello Cupcake
Nervy question but ... would the names Grierson or Crosbie be in your Annan M I's?
The families were all around the area .. and every graveyard of that time is worth a try.
Thanks
Dorothy
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Hello Dorothy,
ANNAN Old Parish Church Graveyard MI's:
There are four Crosbies in this churchyard
Christina Forrest (nee Ewart) 2nd wife of Theo 83yrs 1904
Janet (nee Little) 1st wife of Theodore 41yrs 1859
John Little Crosbie son of Theodore 4yrs 1852
Theodore Crosbie 71yrs 1895
I can give you the Inscription for this - Theodore was a teacher in Annan Academy.
Only one Grierson
Elizabeth wife of Wilson Johnstone 36yrs 1819
There is also an inscription for this one, too.
ANNAN (Town Hall) Old Burial Ground MI's
Just the one Crosbie buried here:
Elizabeth wife of Robert Wishart 34yrs 1810
There is also an Inscription for the above.
There are no Griersons.
cupcake
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Cupcake
Thanks so much . No direct line evident but maybe a little sideways!! Oh well that's the nature of the game.
Dorothy
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That's a shame there are no direct line. If you would like the inscriptions just let me know.
I know what you mean, I have ancestors I can't find and, doesn't look as if I will.
cupcake
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I am still trying to find my GGG Grandparents burial place, in Annan. Not having their death entries doesn't help as there are no death records for Annan before 1855.
However, I was told that bodies from the old cemetery were dug up at the time they were building the Town Hall, and buried elsewhere. Was also told to ask at the local council regarding this, and may have information.
Could they have been buried in Brydekirk cemetery? Anything is worth a try.
cupcake
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I'm just back from a couple of days at Dumfries/Annan areas. I finally got to the graveyard at the back of the townhall, but couldn't find the headstone I was looking for. I went to the Museum too. and bought a booklet about the graveyard and according to it , the one I'm looking for hasn't been used as paving
Does anyone know if there is a plan of the lairs and who to contact?
Hi soapy1
What I can tell you about that old graveyard in Annan is during the construction of the town hall there was a sandstone retaining wall along the side of where the new building was being constructed. Crombie the builders undercut the wall and it collapsed leaving several graves to spill into the building site. This may be the reason you can't find the grave you are looking for, I know this for a fact because I worked as a labourer for them on that site when it happened.
William
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I'm just back from a couple of days at Dumfries/Annan areas. I finally got to the graveyard at the back of the townhall, but couldn't find the headstone I was looking for. I went to the Museum too. and bought a booklet about the graveyard and according to it , the one I'm looking for hasn't been used as paving
Does anyone know if there is a plan of the lairs and who to contact?
I was at Annan Town Hall yesterday as I am still trying to find my GGG Grandparents burial place.
They suggested I phoned Lockerbie Council ( 01576 203113) I did, and they only have burial records from 1859.
Good luck
cupcake
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Hi soapy1
What I can tell you about that old graveyard in Annan is during the construction of the town hall there was a sandstone retaining wall along the side of where the new building was being constructed. Crombie the builders undercut the wall and it collapsed leaving several graves to spill into the building site. This may be the reason you can't find the grave you are looking for, I know this for a fact because I worked as a labourer for them on that site when it happened.
William
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Thanks William.
I enquired about this when I visited the Annan Town Hall, as I thought there should be records of these graves and, being buried elsewhere. They suggested I phoned Lockerbie - they couldn't help me.
cupcake
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when the Town Hall extension was being built(70's?), the old West retaining wall of the cemetery collapsed, taking with it a number of headstones (amongst other things!) ...some of these were destroyed...the others which survived were laid as a path. Might be why you can't locate the memorial.
Pete.