sunlaws, do you know where?

[Sunlaws]

Hi Pam

The Heritage Hub in Hawick has transcribed and put online a diary of Robert's relative Hannah Charlotte Douglas, step-daughter (or was she the daughter?- see the diary!) of William Scott-Kerr. The diary dates from the late 1850s and considerable parts of it were written at Sunlaws. There are only occasional mentions of servants, but the lifestyle of the family probably didn't change substantially by the time your g-g-grandmother worked there. See:

http://www.voyageofthevampire.org.uk/mysister

Regards,

Lesley

[Robert_S-K]

Hi Leslie,

Just thought you may be interested to know that Hannah-Charlotte Scott Douglas (1834-1921) was the youngest child of Sir John James Douglas and Hannah Charlotte Scott of Belford. Her father died when she was very young.

Before marrying she lived chiefly at Sunlaws the home of her step-father William Scott-Kerr. She married Edward Octavious Douglas though I don't know when.

regards, Robert

[Sunlaws]

Thank you, Robert.

William Scott-Kerr had spoken to Charlotte when she was 15 and implied that she was in fact not his step-daughter, but his daughter. When in 1856, aged 21, Charlotte is contemplating giving up her share of the Douglas inheritance to her older sisters (presumably because she feels she is not entitled to it), William Scott-Kerr retracts his earlier statement, saying that it was just gossip.
Charlotte doesn't know what to believe. She says: " I began the year believing myself to be a
K(err), spent part in doubt, and ended it a D(ouglas). I hope the latter is right."

Charlotte married her cousin Edward Octavius Douglas on 3rd November 1859, and they lived at Killiechassie, Dunkeld (now owned by J.K. Rowling)

Regards,

Lesley

[Robert_S-K]

Thanks for the info Leslie. I have been updating the family tree and found that I didn't have that detail.

Did you read the history of Sunlaws that I sent Pam?
regards, R

[Sunlaws]

Robert-

I have sent you a personal message.

Lesley

[cockney rebel]

Hi there,

sorry to somewhat hijack this thread,but it looks like somebody following it  might be more than capable of answering my question.

My ancestor was born at Sunlaws in 1781...but I can't decipher the word following it.
Perhaps someone with local knowledge or even an old map can help me here ?

many thanks
rebel

[Sunlaws]

Hi Rebel

The word is 'Miln' Scots/archaic word for mill.

The ruins of Sunlaws Mill are still standing.

Regards,

Lesley

[cockney rebel]

Hello Lesley

Mill was what I was hoping for..it fits in perfectly with the life of my ancestor,..the word Miln simply didn't occur to me and although I identified the capital "M" the rest looked like scribble !

Thankyou so much for your interpretation and help

Rebel

[Sunlaws]

Hi rebel

There is a modern photo of Sunlaws Mill at:

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/104332

Regards,

Lesley