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 27^th July 1839 aged 74 years

HELEN GRINDLAY his spouse died 8^th November 1844 aged 63

THOMAS their fourth son died 29^th 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 22^nd 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 27^th January 1802,

Christened 4^th February 1802, Cumbernauld

Helen Stevenson, born 24^th August 1803,

Christened 31^st August 1803, Cumbernauld

Charles Stevenson, born 5^th April 1805, Cumbernauld

Thomas Stevenson, born 16^th December 1811,

Christened 6^th January 1812, Cumbernauld

George Stevenson, born 17^th July 1814,

Christened 14^th August 1814, Cumbernauld

Robert Stevenson, born 13^th January 1817,

Christened 3^rd February 1817, Cumbernauld

Mary Stevenson, born (unknown),

Christened 22^nd 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, 13^th 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 1^st 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