Thursday 14 March 2013

Stevenson Family of Clackmannan

In Clackmannan Churchyard beside the gate
on the eastern perimeter wall
 is a rather plain wall mounted tablet in memory of
William & Helen Stevenson (nee Grindlay)
and their son Thomas.


The inscription reads:

Sacred to the memory of
Mr. WILLIAM STEVENSON who died 27th July 1839 aged 74 years
HELEN GRINDLAY his spouse died 8th November 1844 aged 63
THOMAS their fourth son died 29th November 1833 aged 24


The Stevenson stone can be seen in the above photo against the wall.


Clackmannan Church

William Stevenson and Helen Grindlay
were married at Falkirk on March 22nd 1801.

The image below (from Falkirk Parish Registers)
shows that Helen was of ‘this’ Parish, meaning Falkirk
and that William was of the Parish of Cumbernauld.


By searching for the birth of further children, it appears that the couple
had 7 children, but the fact that Thomas was listed on the gravestone as their
fourth son, indicates that there was possibly a male child born between
1806 – 1811 who’s birth had never been registered or perhaps had been
stillborn or died very early in infancy,

The children found are as follows:

William Stevenson, born 27th January 1802,
Christened 4th February 1802, Cumbernauld
Helen Stevenson, born 24th August 1803,
Christened 31st August 1803, Cumbernauld
Charles Stevenson, born 5th April 1805, Cumbernauld
Thomas Stevenson, born 16th December 1811,
Christened 6th January 1812, Cumbernauld
George Stevenson, born 17th July 1814,
Christened 14th August 1814, Cumbernauld
Robert Stevenson, born 13th January 1817,
Christened 3rd February 1817, Cumbernauld
Mary Stevenson, born (unknown),
Christened 22nd December 1819, Clackmannan

The births of the children show that the family were likely to have
lived at Cumbernauld and moved to Clackmannan around 1818,
between the births of Robert and Mary.
Various online sources state that William Stevenson was an
Innkeeper at Cumbernauld,
but rather than trying to delve further back,
the 1841 Census seemed a good place to start.

 Helen Stevenson (nee Grindlay) aged 55 can be found in the 1841 Census
at ‘Park’ Clackmannan.
Her occupation is listed as Independent, i.e. living on her own means.
There are no relationships given on this Census,
but also living at ‘Park’ is a 20 year old Robert Stevenson, farmer.
This is most likely to have been her son and his age would
have been closer to 24. Helen would have been nearer to 60.
(Ages were rounded down to the nearest 5)

Two months after his mother’s death, Robert married Jane Maria Blair.
Their banns were called and the marriage took place at
Clackmannan, 13th January 1845.


As can be seen in the above image, Jane was from the Parish of Drymen

She was the daughter of John Blair, Minister, Drymen and Jane Blair
(John Blair was educated at Glasgow University
and ordained in September 1816)

Robert and his growing family were at Park Farm House
on the following Census Returns:

1851
Robert Stevenson, Head, age 34, born c1817, Cumbernauld
Occupation: Farmer of 170 Acres employing 10 labourers
Jane Maria Stevenson, wife, age 28, born c1823, Girvan, Ayrshire
Jane Maria Stevenson, daughter, age 5, born c1846, Clackmannan
William Stevenson, son, age 4, born c1847, Clackmannan
Helen Anne Stevenson, daughter, age 2, born c1849, Clackmannan
John Blair Stevenson, son, age 8 months, born c1850, Clackmannan

1861
Robert Stevenson, Head, age 44, born c1817, Cumbernauld
Occupation: Farmer of 220 Acres employing 6 men, 1 boy and 4 women
Jane Maria Stevenson, wife, age 39, born c1822, Girvan, Ayrshire
Jane Maria Stevenson, daughter, age 15, born c1846, Clackmannan
William Stevenson, son, age 14, Scholar, born c1847, Clackmannan
Helen Anne Stevenson, daughter, age 12, Scholar, born c1849, Clackmannan
John Blair Stevenson, son, age 9, Scholar, born c1852, Clackmannan
Jemima Stevenson, daughter, age 7, Scholar, born c1854, Clackmannan
Mary A. Stevenson, daughter, age 4, Scholar, born c1856, Clackmannan
Ellison Ann Stevenson, daughter, age 2, born c1859, Clackmannan


O.S. Map, 6 inch 1st edition, 1843 – 1882. Perthshire, Sheet CXL.
Survey date: 1861-63, Publication date: 1866
(Possible Park Farm)


1871 Census, at 11 Forth Place, Stilring
Robert Stevenson, Head, age 50, born c1817, Cumbernauld
Occupation: Timber & Coal Merchant
Jemima A. Stevenson, daughter, age 17, Scholar, born c1854, Clackmannan
Mary A. Stevenson, daughter, age 14, Scholar, born c1857, Clackmannan
Ellison Ann Stevenson, daughter, age 12, Scholar, born c1859, Clackmannan


Forth Place, Stirling.


Entry in Stirling Trade Directory.

1881, at Nibley, Gloucestershire, England
Robert Stevenson, Head, age 63, born Scotland
Occupation: Farmer of 215 acres
Jane M. Stevenson, wife, age 57, born Scotland
Mary A. Stevenson, daughter, age 23, Scholar, born Scotland
Alexander Buchanan, Boarder, Single, age 53, Annuitant, born Edinburgh
(Archibald Buchanan is listed as ‘Imbecile from Birth’)

Daughter Ellison Ann (age 22) and son John Blair Stevenson (age 29)
were found in 1881 as visitors with the Christie Family
at 11 Abercromby Place, Stirling.
John’s occupation is listed as Timber Merchant & Farmer of 20 acres.
(Ellison’s relationship to William Christie, Head of the Household is listed as cousin.)



11 Abecromby Place, Stirling.

Robert died between 1881 and 1891 as in 1891 Jane is listed as widow.

1891 Census, at Melrose House, Fownhope, Herefordrshire, England
Jane M Stevenson, Head, Widow, age 68, born Ayrshire, Scotland
Occupation: Living on her own means
Ellison A. Stevenson, daughter, age 31,
Living on her own means, born Clackmannan
Mary A. Stevenson, daughter, age 23,
Living on her own means, born Clackmannan
Alexander Buchanan, Boarder, Single, age 63,
Living on his own means, born Edinburgh

1901 Cansus, at Melrose House, Fownhope, Herefordrshire, England
Jane M Stevenson, Head, Widow, age 77, born Scotland
Occupation: Living on her own means
Ellison A. Stevenson, daughter, age 38,
Living on her own means, born Scotland
Alexander Buchanan, Boarder, Single, age 75,
Living on his own means, born Scotland

England & Wales FreeBMD lists the death of Jane Maria Stevenson, age 86.
Registered in Hereford in the January, February & March Quarter, 1909

Note that from (at least) 1881 to 1901, the family seem to have had a permanent
boarder living with them – Alexander Buchanan.

No further information has been saught on
Robert & Jane Maria’s children, but it appears their son
William became Minister of Bothkenner Church, Stirlingshire.

He can be found enumerated at the Established Church Manse,
Bothkennar in the 1851, 1861, 1871 and 1881 Census Returns
and is said to be buried in the Churchyard adjoining the Church
although no existing/legible gravestone can be found.


Bothkennar Church and Churchyard.


www.memento-mori.co.uk




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