John Brownlee (Brunlees) c.1788-1854

[Sunlaws]

There seem to be quite a lot of Robert Brownlees (+variants) in Lanarkshire. May be worth remembering that George Baillie was George Baillie of Jerviswood (in Lanarkshire) and Mellerstain, and servants often travelled to estates with family connections.

Regards,
Lesley

[Brunlees]

Hi Gadget,

I think we had always presumed the 1841 to be aged 51 to tie in better.  Also the notice of his death in the Kelso Chronicle in 1854 ages his as 66, tying back to 1788. 

Hi Lesley,

That's very interesting about the servant tax.  John went on to become the gardener for a Mr Innes, at Broomlands in Kelso, the agent for the Duke of Roxburghe.  He also won numerous prizes and judged in different Horticultural shows.  Possibly there is a sibling also called Robert that would fit too.  It would make sense that a 'gardening' parent with links to the upper crust of society would of benefited John, in obtaining the job that he did. 

Can I ask what the records showing the Robert are called, and if they are publically available at all?

[Gadget]

Noticed the Lanarkshire ones - nothing so far that links. I think Jerviswood is in Lanark parish. Also Tyninnghame, East Lothian is worth looking at.

[Sunlaws]

The servant tax is to be found under 'Historical Tax Rolls' at

https://scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/

Regards,
Lesley

[Gadget]

This is the entry, Lesley

https://scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/digital-volumes/historical-tax-rolls/male-servant-tax-rolls-1777-1798/male-servant-tax-rolls-volume-03-1778-9-counties/30

[DonM]

Lesley,

You might want to check the LDS film for John's birth.  I have found Kelso records on the film but do not appear on SP.

Also you seemed to have missed Anne bapt 18 Feb 1820 and Jane was 03 Mar 1818.

Don

[Brunlees]

Found the record on Scotland's Places thank you! 

I had mixed Anne and Jane/Jean up as I typed them on here! My mistake!

The Robert is definitely a new avenue for us to look down as I don't we had the link of professions/employment before.

[Bethan Moreslowe]

https://www.scottishindexes.com/61transcript.aspx?houseid=73602080
The Isabella Brown here (living at Mellerstain Mill) is Isabella Brownlees b1789 to Alexander Brownlees and Jean Forsyth.

She was a first cousin of the John Burnlees born to George Brownlees and Margaret Marshall. That John married Helen Haldane and died 1856 in Edinburgh. So whilst that's not your John, perhaps the Mellerstain link indicates a connection between the families.

There is a tree on Ancestry.co.uk called the Brownlees of Greenlaw (Descendants of George Brownlees and Margaret Marshall). Perhaps your John's father is somehow related to the George at the top of the tree. Contact the owner if you can extend the tree.

There are also a few Brownlies Brounlies in the index of this book.
https://archive.org/details/householdbookofl00bailrich/page/146

[Skoosh]

Found a reference to a Brownlee in relation to Whitburn school, Baillie of Polkemmet was the laird & connected to the Jerviswood Baillies!

Skoosh.