REA/RAE/RAY in Roxburghshire, 17th Century

[Gary Rea]

I am searching for data on REA/RAE/RAY families living in Yetholm, Ashkirk and Jedburgh parishes in Roxburghshire during the 1600s. Have already found birth data, need more detail, please. Thanks.

Gary

[Andi R]

I have a Janet Rea who was born circa 1800 ish who married a John Burns in the Roxburghshire (Lillesleaf, Hobkirk area) any realation

Andrew

[Gary Rea]

I would imagine so, Andrew, if your Rea line stayed in Roxburgshire a few centuries. There was an Adam Rea living in Airth Parish in 1666-1687 and there was a Rea family in Jedburgh Parish, as well, around the same time.

However, I'm not interested in connecting them with any Reas who were still living in Scotland as late as 1800. My quest is to find out where my Rea line emmigrated to Northern Ireland from in the early 1600s. BY 1800, my line had been in Pennsylvania for 26 years, from County Down, Northern Ireland.

So, I'm sure your Janet Rea is related to some Reas who might have been in Roxburgh since the 17th century, but I don't know if they're mine, as I'm searching several lowland counties at once, looking for the origin of my line. Roxburgh is only one of several places they may have come from. Thanks.

Gary Rea

[Shazzam]

My 6th great grandparents were James Lun (c: 1701 Cavers) & Helen Rae (c: 1711 Hawick).  Helen's parents were John Rae & Helen Furgrie (m: 1706 Hawick).  Do the names happen to link in with your research?   

[Gary Rea]

Sorry, Shazzam, but my Reas left Scotland for Northern Ireland in the early 1600s. By 1701 they had lived in County Down for at least a couple of generations. I don't even know where in Scotland they came from, just that's it's probably one of the lowland counties.

Gary

[hawickborn]

Hi, Just cruising and noticed "Rae".
My grt,grt,grt grandfather John Burns married a Janet Rae. She was born in Wilton 04/01/1812 , Child #4 of Thomas Rae and Christian Murray.
Janet had  a brother Walter (#9) and Christian was born in Yarrow Selkirkshire.
Is that of any help to you?
Cheers Sandra

[Gary Rea]

Thanks, Sandra, but my ancestors had left Northern Ireland 38 years before then and had left Scotland perhaps three generations earlier, still. Though I'm sure there were members of my line who stayed behind and whose descendants might even still be living there, I have no way of knowing who they are, at this point. But, thanks, anyway.   

Gary

[Andi R]

Sandra

It is useful to me though I have sent you a private message, I think we could be related

Andrew

[Christopher]

Sorry, Shazzam, but my Reas left Scotland for Northern Ireland in the early 1600s. By 1701 they had lived in County Down for at least a couple of generations. I don't even know where in Scotland they came from, just that's it's probably one of the lowland counties.

Gary

Hi Gary,

Your early ancestors seem to have been a family of Spalpeens and Tattie Hokers which could explain why they appear in so many Scottish counties. Dr Anne O'Dowd's book "History and Folklore of the Irish Migratory Agricultural Worker in Ireland and Britain", published in Dublin in 1991, explains a lot about these seasonal workers.  www.brad.ac.uk/acad/diaspora/reviews/spalpeens.shtml

Christopher