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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Topic started by: chinakay on Wednesday 06 May 15 00:11 BST (UK)
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Hi all, I have a Janet Soutar b 1829 to James Soutar and Meek Mitchell, IGI. James was actually married to Mary Mitchell, although I can't find a formal marriage. Is this a nickname for Mary?
Odd one :)
Cheers,
China
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No, not according to my Dictionary of First Names.
There are Dutch forms of Mary - Mieke and Miep though it's a bit of a stretch to think these would have been used in Scotland. :-\
I wonder if Meek was just a nickname, or perhaps a misinterpretation of a nickname? People used to come up with all sorts of illogically weird and wonderful pet names.
Have you had a look at the original images on Scotland's People?
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"Meek" and "Mary" .... perhaps a poor transcription, or perhaps the lass preferred to be known as Mary :)
Cheers, JM
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Maybe a pet name descriptive of her personality. :)
I would try to look at the original PR if you haven't already done so China.
Have you asked for assistance to find the marriage of James and Mary? Of course they may never have married, it may have been an irregular marriage, or records may not have survived. Unsure how much searching you have already done. ;)
That surname looks like a candidate for misinterpretation too.
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Looking at the 1841 census for Scotland, there are a number of people with Meek as a first/middle name. Most of them born in Ireland.
Did your Meek appear on any Scottish censuses which show a place of birth?
Might Meek/Mary be Irish and maybe she and James married in Ireland? :-\
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Hi gang...no, I haven't seen the original PR image and I don't think it's worth 5 credits because she's a remarriage and at the rate I'm going through credits....I'm singlehandedly boosting the Scottish GNP by about 5% :P :P ;D
Ruskie, she's from Dunning, Perthshire. It looks like my gggrandmother was just a couple of years old when her mother died so she may have been raised by Mary. Come to think of it, I can't find a death for her mother, so it just occurred to me that this may have been a flaky situation. I wonder if the birth mother just absconded and dad took up with another woman. Goodness knows, it often happened. Food for thought. Another scandal in the family? ;D
The family got around quite a bit and the original wife's last child was born in Crieff and Mary's first was born in Glasgow. They all show up in Dundee at some point. Dad was a shoemaker.
I'll look into this a bit more tomorrow. Thanks much, gang :D
Cheers,
China
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Um, no clues there then. Though a lot of Irish people did end up in Glasgow. :-\
Maybe wait till there is an offer of free credits on SP and take advantage of that to check the image.
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It's just a case of a second name being used as a Christian name, Meek (Meik old spelling) is common in West Lothian, Edinburgh etc' Irish Meek's commoner in the west. My own relations were bootmakers of that name from Linlithgow.
Skoosh.
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I've met some Skoosh. Well, when I say met, I couldn't see them but the marker told me they were thereabouts ;)
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Meek as a surname has been common in Gloucestershire for centuries. Just a thought, biblical christian names, Meek as in 'the meek will inherit the World' or some such phrase.
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I'm with Skoosh on this one, a Surname used as a Christian name. Several examples in my own Scottish ancestry.
See where you're coming from though Regorian. If you can have a Faith, Hope or Charity, then why not a Meek.
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If you hear of any with a few bob Seoras, I'd be delighted to meet them. ;D
Skoosh.
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Skoosh pal, I think most o mine were as skint as yours. ;D
I have found a couple wi some cash but it had long gone before I could get my hands on it. ;)
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@ Regorian, it is indeed, miners in the Forest of Dean I believe. The earliest in Scotland are in the 14th century. Supposedly from the Old Norse Mjukr.
Skoosh.
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@ Regorian, it is indeed, miners in the Forest of Dean I believe. The earliest in Scotland are in the 14th century. Supposedly from the Old Norse Mjukr.
Skoosh.
Yes, my family were in FoD in the 19th Century........miners, mainly iron.
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Joe Meek, record producer most famous for 'Telstar' was Gloucestershire born.
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Joe Meek, record producer most famous for 'Telstar' was Gloucestershire born.
Forest-of-Dean.net is full of them.
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Regorian, I think some of them moved to pits in Wales. Coincidentally a tribe of Meek's in Whitburn were also ironstone miners.
Skoosh.
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In which case Skoosh, the Meeks really did inherit the earth ;D
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Seoras......there's a Meek (surname) on South Uist site & I knew of a George Meek (now deceased)
Anne Marie
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ammack, I fancy the S.Uist Meek might be the Gaelic Prof' Donald Meek, Tiree, originally off the Whitburn Meeks.
http://meekwrite.blogspot.co.uk/
Skoosh.
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I fancy the S.Uist Meek might be the Gaelic Prof' Donald Meek, Tiree, originally off the Whitburn Meeks.
Skoosh,
I would assume too ?
Annie
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He's a bit of a national treasure Annie, always meant to contact him but no email No.
Skoosh.
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I know you said you weren't super interested in the original image from SP, but I had 6 credits close to running out that I have no use for at the moment, so I downloaded the OPR. Definitely looks like Meek to me, so doubtful it's a transcription error. Digitally, anyway. Could have been misheard etc
Hope it helps some anyway, or at least a tad interesting.
(the file is too large, so i've included just an edited version for here. if you want the original let me know and i can either email it to you or upload it somewhere and send you the link.)
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Wow, writing is lovely and neat and clear. Meek without a doubt.
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H, it was certainly a Perthshire name, before the Reformation they were tenants of the Abbey of Cupar and landowners afterwords. Meik of Ledcarsie's descendants were civil engineers, built the stonework of the Forth Bridge & founded Halcrows the engineering company.
This Meek of yours was possibly named after a grannie or the local minister or doctor?
Skoosh.
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Hiraethu, thank you so much! Very kind of you! Certainly looks like Meek, and the Ancestry transcription reads the same.
I have found a marriage of James Soutar and a May Mitchell in 1825, which is likely them. May, Mary, Meek? Mary and May, those are interchangeable, but the Meek angle is interesting.
And the BIG BONUS....I have just found who HAS to be James in the 1861 census. He is the right age, and he's a shoemaker which is right....and where he's living? In Dundee, in Tindal's Wynd, same street as his widowed daughter. Bingo :-)
Cheers,
China
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Well....just noticed this isn't James Soutar. It's James Soutar Pittendrich. Apparently none of the transcribers noticed either....?
No wonder I haven't been able to find Janet. Hiraethu, you have much more than solved a mystery for me! Back to the drawing board, but I'm in a much better position than before :-)
Cheers,
China
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built the stonework of the Forth Bridge & founded Halcrows the engineering company.
What odd turns this insignificant thread is taking....I have a link to the Halcrow firm in another branch. That branch and this one will eventually join up to produce my dad :-)
Cheers,
China
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China, I think Halcrow was an Orcadian that the Meik's took onto the books and ended up with the firm. I remember crossing the Blackwater dam above Kinlochleven and finding the Meik name on the construction tablet.
They still kept the old spelling, the Scots ei was Anglified to ee after the Union. It still survives in names like Dalgleish, Veitch etc' & in placenames, Leith, Innerleithen etc'. I suppose they couldn't have the Meik inheriting the earth. ;D
Skoosh.
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One of my Stein lot did the same thing Skoosh, started spelling it Steen.
Linlithgow bunch, shoemakers, along with your Meeks I believe.
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China, I think the Pittendri(e)ch is probably where James was living rather than part of his name. It was a small village/Estate/Farm ....(Kinloch) home of a Sir James Balfour. I certainly know nearly all of mine are written like that eg William Hastie Butterdean and his wife etc etc. Butterdean was the farm where he worked.
Terry
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That's interesting, Terry...there is a family name Pittendr* (lots of variations) but not exactly in Lethendy. They're all over Perthshire though. I'll look into this more later, thanks for the suggestion.
Skoosh, my Halcrow was a ship captain who was a witness at my gggrandfather's wedding in Liverpool in 1836, and he married a Nova Scotia girl in 1844. So not really my "line" I guess, but a huge clue as to where my bunch came from :)
Cheers,
China
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Hi I'm new to the site and enjoying reading some of the stories.
Nice to see a discussion regarding the Meek surname. I've noted some other posts but thought i would start here if it's ok to resurrect an old thread.
I've just started looking in to my family tree and seem to find myself in the Whitburn / Fauldhouse / West Lothian areas.
Does anyone else have connections with the name?
I've attached my first (still needs scrutinised and discussed with older family members) draft family tree so far. The George Meek at 1841 to 1914 needs to have his marriage certificates checked! The problem with Ancestry.com seems to be it is very easy to go off on the wrong track and not get back.
Regards
A
(http://)
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the Ancestry transcription reads the same
Goodness, that's a turn-up for the books. Most unusual :)
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Well....just noticed this isn't James Soutar. It's James Soutar Pittendrich. Apparently none of the transcribers noticed either....?
Can you be sure that Pittendrich is not where they lived? It's not an unusual name for a farm, and there is one in the parish of Lethendy, which is where this baptism was recorded.
See http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15&lat=56.5595&lon=-3.3897&layers=5 - look below the letter D of 'LETHENDY'.
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The problem with Ancestry.com seems to be it is very easy to go off on the wrong track and not get back.
Oh, yes, you are spot on. Never believe anything you find in any online tree - use it as a basis for research, and aim to confirm everything by hunting out original documents.
See http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=714261.0
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I agree with terry h & Forfarian but will go as far as to say Pittendreich is much more likely to be a place or farm name for where James came from/lived especially as the Soutar surname/shoemaker occupation tally.
Josey
ADDED: Also wondered if 'Meik' [in some cases - probably not this one] could be a shortened version of 'Meikle' as a distinguishing nickname?
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@ Josey. I've never come across a Meik/Meikle connection apart from one marriage. Meikison & Meik are connected though.
Skoosh.
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Andrew, greetings cousin ;D I've sent you a PM.
Skoosh.
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Meik of Ledcarsie's descendants were civil engineers, built the stonework of the Forth Bridge & founded Halcrows the engineering company.
I've been looking at John Waddell (1828-1888), who was another of the contractors involved in building the Forth Bridge. He's one of Waddells of Gain in New Monkland, a son of George Waddell of Gain (1801-1868), who was born in Bathgate. I think his father John Waddell (1762-1847) was one of the Waddells of Leadloch and Holehouseburn in Whitburn.
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@ Ff, there was also a Waddell, Controller of Customs, Bo'ness who was married to a Meek.
Regards,
Skoosh.
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@ Ff, there was also a Waddell, Controller of Customs, Bo'ness who was married to a Meek.
I have some notes about Janet Meek (1803-1892), born and died Whitburn, daughter of Robert Meek and Jean Stark, who married in 1826 Alexander Waddell (1802-1863), born and died Whitburn, son of George Waddell and Agnes Nisbet. He was a farmer so obviously not the one you meant.
Also Isabella Lockhart Meek, daughter of John Meek of Campfield and Agnes Muirhead, married in 1805 to George Waddell of Rashiehill. Her sister Janet was married to George Miller of Frankfield. She also had a brother George Meek of Campfield. Isabella survived her parents and all her siblings and was served heir to both her parents and to George and Janet. Was this the Waddell you were referring to?
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@ Ff, I would need to check my notes on that Waddell.
George Meek of Campfield was a surgeon & founder of the Falkirk Bank, he and his sisters were off the Meek's of Fortissat, Shotts. That family had interests in the West Indies sugar trade as indeed had George Miller of Frankfield, his estate in Glasgow being named for Frankfield in Jamaica, Glasgow's economy at the time being dependant on sugar & slavery.
Robert Meek & Jean Stark is interesting.
Skoosh.
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@ Ff, I would need to check my notes on that Waddell.
I will look forward to hearing what you find.
George Meek of Campfield was a surgeon & founder of the Falkirk Bank, he and his sisters were off the Meek's of Fortissat, Shotts. That family had interests in the West Indies sugar trade as indeed had George Miller of Frankfield, his estate in Glasgow being named for Frankfield in Jamaica, Glasgow's economy at the time being dependant on sugar & slavery.
Hmmmm.
I have just been looking at the family of William Lockhart Gray (1836-1917), son of Andrew Gray and Janet McAllister, who was born at Frankfield in Glasgow, and married in 1861 Janet Waddell (1843-1919), daughter of John Waddell and Janet Cleland. They emigrated to New Zealand in 1862, had a family of 13, and died there. Noting William's middle name, I wonder if there is any connection between George Miller and Andrew Gray or Janet McAllister?
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The Lockhart link looks likely Ff, so has come off the Fortissat Meek's who left the old lodge at Shotts and moved to a property in Hamilton named Cadzow Bank where one of them was the provost. Frankfield House also had a farm attached and the estate comprised several others, the Miller's modestly named Millerston after themselves, the house, now a tumble of stones, was burned down between the wars? There were Gray's who were ironfounders in Gartcosh & those of Carntyne were coal-owners.
Found Isabella Meik's death age 79, May 12th, 1854, Rothesay, relict of George Waddell of Rashiehill, Comptroller of Customs at Grangemouth.
Skoosh.
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Thanks, Skoosh! Now all I need to do is find out who were the parents of George Waddell of Rashiehill .... as you were. His parents were John Waddell b 1741 and Mary Coubrough b 1755. Sorted!
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Well...another odd turn :) I think I'll just leave you to this one, although it might be better to start a new thread. Welcome to Rootschat, Andrew :)
Cheers,
China
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Ff, another stray, Whitburn kirkyard stone, Alexander Waddell, d. 29 June 1863 & wife Janet Meek, d. 18 March 1892 & family.
Anent George Meek of Campfield, I mixed him up with his father John who was the surgeon in Falkirk for 40 years.
Skoosh.
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Ff, another stray, Whitburn kirkyard stone, Alexander Waddell, d. 29 June 1863 & wife Janet Meek, d. 18 March 1892 & family.
Yes, that's the famer mentioned already further up this thread.
Anent George Meek of Campfield, I mixed him up with his father John who was the surgeon in Falkirk for 40 years.
Ah. Noted, thank you.
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Ff, this is from "Antiquarian Notes on Falkirk" by James Love 1906.
George Meek of Campfield. the Meek's have been in Falkirk since around 1750, they came originally from Fortissat in Lanark which they purchased in 1664 from the Duke of Hamilton and the present proprietor (1906) is J.Croil Meek, the ninth in succession. The first proprietor was William Meek who was succeeded by his eldest son John who married Janet Miller of Watersough, he in turn was succeeded by his eldest son. His fourth & youngest son was John Meek b.4 Jan 1738 who qualified as a surgeon and settled in Falkirk in 1756. In 1757 he married on June 30, Agnes Muirhead, dau' of John Muirhead of Burnside & Elizabeth Miller of Stirling, dau' of John Miller, merchant. Mr Meek practiced in Falkirk for forty years and was known & respected & "Uniformly upright in his dealings, posessing mild & pleasing manners." He died in 1802 and was buried in Falkirk kirkyard in the tomb of his wife's grandfather Patrick Muirhead of Rashiehill, which land be had in a sasine of Sir Charles Preston of Valleyfield, 1793.
Mrs Meek died on Sep' 9 1816 and was buried in the same tomb, she was born in 1738. Mr Meek was founder of the Falkirk Banking Company and in addition to the large profits he made, he inherited from his mother the estate of Watersough. His wife being an only daughter was the heir of her grandfather Patrick Muirhead in Mungall. John Meek & his wife purchased land in Grahamston and lived at No 66 High Street which they called Campfield House, where he died. The house which was later rebuilt had fine interiors. His wife's family house Burnside still stands & shows on a lintel JM-EM 1752, (John Muirhead & Elisabeth Miller). The house was plundered by the Jacobites in 1746 during the occupation of Falkirk and amongst articles stolen was a silver jug which had belonged to Mrs Muirhead's mother Sybil Graham 1648-1748, a niece of Graham of Claverhouse.
John Meek & his wife had two sons & five daughters. John the eldest b.1759 a merchant in Glasgow, died early Dec'2 1784. Elizabeth b.July 5 1760 , married in 1779 Michael Andrews son of John Andrews of Comber, Ireland, their descendants include Rt Hon William Drennan Andrews, judge in the High Court, Dublin. Janet b. Aug 10 1762 & died 1816. George b.1764. Marion b.1766 d.1818, married John Corbett who was a surgeon in Falkirk, they had eleven children & their daughted Janet Miller Corbett married her cousin George Miller of Frankfield. John Corbett was also buried in the tomb of Patrick Muirhead in Falkirk kirkyard. Marion Meek b.1769, died young. Ann Meek b.1770, married in 1791, John Miller of Frankfield, formerly a merchant in Jamaica, their descendants still live in the west of Scotland. Isabella Lockhart Meek b.April 1775 married 1805, George Waddell controller of customs at Grangemouth.
George the surviving son was educated at Falkirk Grammar School inder James Meek, possibly an uncle, he graduated MA at Glasgow University in 1797 and inherited his fathers estate on his geath in 1802. He married Oct 10 1819 Janet, fourth child of John Heuch & Helen Stark. John Heuch was laird of Gartcows, Falkirk. After the wedding the couple left for London then carried on to Rome where they contracted malaria, they were laid up in the Hotel Tri Mori in Bologna where they both died along with a newborn child, theur Italian courrier had robbed them but a priest wrote to Mrs Waddell saying they received a decent burial. Mrs Waddel sent money to pay for a tombstone.
In 1854 Mrs Waddell & some relatives visited the grave on a trip to Bologna and found a simple wooden cross under the name Campfield. This & the priest keeping the money is mentioned by Rev Henry Belfrage DD, Falkirk without naming the Meek's, Nov'27 1820.
George entered Falkirk Masonic Lodge, Dec'27 1802 and was Master in 1806-7 & 8.
Bests,
Skoosh.
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Thank you, Skoosh, that is a most interesting account, especially in relation to George Waddell, who is the one related to me.
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Fantastic article. Thanks very much Skoosh.
Great to see some of the Meek history. I need to try and clarify where my line goes.
Cheers
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Mr Meek, start with "Scotlands People" I think.
Skoosh.
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<snip>
George Meek of Campfield was a surgeon & founder of the Falkirk Bank, he and his sisters were off the Meek's of Fortissat, Shotts. <snip>
I'm related to that Meek line. (I'm fairly closely DNA related to Russell Meek, who has a strong paper trail to the Fortissat Meeks.) I'm stuck on William Meek (b 1795 or 6; probably from Lanarkshire, east of Glasgow), so I can't (yet) trace back to find my connection with Russell's tree.
Always interested in Fortissat Meek information.
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Fantastic article. Thanks very much Skoosh.
Great to see some of the Meek history. I need to try and clarify where my line goes.
Cheers
Mr. Meek, You should check out meekdna.com, its a website that has combined all ydna testing for those with meek surnames. Since a descendant of the Fortissat Meek family (Russel) is in the database, you can find out for sure if you're related to them. Even though my last name is with the 's' (Meeks), and I can't trace my line back to Europe, I know I'm related to the Fortissat Meek family.
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A rumour that I have seen is that the name comes from Old Norse, mjkr or mykr, meaning soft, gentle, and now related to muck & mucky. The name is relatively common along the East of Great Britain, an area which historically traded with Europe and the Baltic- where the Vikings first arrived.