RootsChat.Com

Hello Moonbiarab
I can't believe I haven't been here for so long!!!!!!!  Uncross you fingers Prue - all is well!  I would certainly be interested in John Mackie's line if it is the same one who was married to Jane Morrison! 

Mairi

Hi - just wandered in here again and realised I should have given you some more information on David Laing 1774 - too busy thinking about all the Laing gardeners.  In fact I had a query recently from someone whose ancestor was a William Laing who was a gardener in Co Antrim NI - so these gardeners spread out a bit

Anyway David Laing was born at Hillcairnie, Kilmany on 20/03/1774.  Also FFHS has an interesting article on the Loyal Tay Fencibles and shows David serving with them when he was 19 from 5th Jan 1795 to 31st Oct 1796.  Interesting there is also a Thomas Kinnear (Kilmany) aged 14 and a James Paton (Falkland) aged 17.  All eventually related perhaps?  Have a look - very interesting!
Regards
Anne

Hi Mairi

Thank you for replying.  I think I said I was Robert Laing's grandaughter when, of course, I am his great grandaughter!  He died in 1944 before I was born but was always taken by my parents for and annual pilgrimage to Weem to see where he lived and worked and where my mother spent most of her childhood.  We haven't been to Killichassie House since JK Rowling bought it but before then we visited the grounds, the gardeners cottage, and the steading where Robert retired to.  for your interest. his grandfather, David who was married to Janet Paton was in the Tay Fencibles. ...."It was a regiment of foot, and spent sometime in Ireland until December 1801, when it marched from Ballymena to Belfast, via Antrim, proceeding thereafter to Portpatrick, thence to Stranraer, Wigtown and Port William, and spent sometime in Glasgow and Stirling." (Quoted from the Lyal Tay Fencibles on the Fife FHF site).  Haven't come across any connection re John Laing and Mary Monro but if I do I will certainly let your know.  I know for sure that the couple had a daughter Kathryn who married Andrew Reikie in Falkland( - another Andrew?) but haven't found any more of their family yet although I am sure there must be more (Andrew Reikie registered Jean Paton's death)

I have heard of Pitcairlie House between Abernethy and Newburgh. Will try to dig deeper soon .

The attached picture is Robert Laing at Weem.

Regards
Anne

Wow, Pam - that was quick!
I think it is the same family somehow but unsure of the street name.  My mother and aunt both remember the family but don't know where they all ended up.  There son, William was my grandfather and his birth certificate of 1899 which states the parent's address as 11 Crinton? Place, Aberdeen and that is too similarwith yours, I think to be anything else.  I'll try and check it.  I don't know if his wife was born in England but I know her father, William married Margaret Maitland and lived in Aberdeen.  (I've heard stories of a tripe shop in George Street, Aberdeen that always had cats in the window!).  Other children seem to fit in as well.  I have a copy of a photograph of William and Margaret with all their children taken when the youngest would have been about 6.

William married Isabella Rennie in 1999 and was an railway engine driver. Maggie married a Colin McIntosh from Aberdeen in 1916 when she was 20 and was witnessed by Bella.  But that is all the info I have and have nothing on the yoounger children  - it will be really interesting to find out what happened to them all.
Many thanks
Anne