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

New locations in Bathgate,West Lothian

Kirkton Churchyard (or 'Old' Churchyard)

High Churchyard (or 'New' Churchyard)

Bathgate (Paulville) Cemetery

www.memento-mori.co.uk

Four children who died at Troon, May 1873 ……

Or so the inscription on a stone in Glasgow’s Western Necropolis says.

Was this a drowning? A disease epidemic?

By sourcing their death certificates, it was discovered that tragically, each of them contracted Diptheria and all died within a period of 19 days

They were the children of John Wingate, a Calico Printer in Glasgow and
Jean Langlands his wife.

In loving memory of JOHN WINGATE,

Born 8^th July 1820, died 21^st November 1891

Also four children who died at Troon, May 1873

And buried at the Cathedral, Glasgow

NORMAN, aged 3 years

NELLY FLEMING aged 5½ years

WATSON aged 19 months

And RALPH aged 4 years

His wife JEAN FLEMING LANGLANDS,

Born 3^rd November 1828, died 25^th March 1899

Their son ARTHUR WINGATE

Born 7^th September 1862, died 4^th November 1910

The stone is in Section XX, (Lair No.unknown)

Norman Wingate, age 2 years, died of Diptheria, 28^th April 1873

Nelly Fleming Wingate, age 5 years, died of Diptheria, 4^th May 1873

Watson Wingate, age 1 year, died of Diptheria, 14^th May 1873

Ralph Wingate, age 4 years, died of Diptheria, 16^th May 1873

The address listed for Norman and Nelly is ‘South Beach’, Troon’

The address listed for Watson and Ralph is ‘Sea Bank’, Troon

Perhaps the family were on holiday or they had taken the children to the
sea-side in the feint hope that cleaner-air would air their recovery.

After scouring the burial grounds at Glasgow Cathedral, no memorial for

these children has been found, but there is a possibility that they were interred

in the lair of their Grandparents John Wingate and Jean Smith.

John Wingate Senior, can be found from the 1841 & 1851 Census

where his occupation is that of ‘Clothier’

In 1841, John (Senior), his wife Jean Smith are living at Govan Villa, Govan

With sons Alexander age 20, John, age 20, James age 15, Walter age 5

and Robert age 3 and their one daughter Mary, age 9

By 1851 only John Junior, age 30 and daughter Mary, age 19
were still with their parents, living at Cessnock Park, Govan.

John Senior died 2^nd May 1852 aged 64

The Wingate Lair is located on Wall C, Lair No. 163

(This indicates that the location is on the first ‘internal’ wall and faces west,

towards the rear of Glasgow Royal Infirmary building)

In memory of JOHN WINGATE died 2^nd May 1852 aged 64

JEAN SMITH his wife died 27^th December 1874 aged 81

And their children JEAN, ANDREW & HELEN who died in infancy

ALEXANDER died 1859 aged 41

ROBERT died 1876 aged 39

JAMES died 4^th October 1888 aged 66

MARGARET his wife died 2^nd February 1894 aged 72

Jean Wingate (nee Smith), widow of John Senior can be found in the 1861 Census

age 67 living at 17 India Street, Glasgow with her two sons,

John Junior, age 40 and Walter age 25

On previous Census Returns, John Junior’s occupation had gone from ‘Clerk’ in 1841

to ‘Clothier’ in 1851 & 1861, so perhaps he had followed in his father’s footsteps.

John Wingate married Jean Fleming Langlands on 9th January 1862

in Glasgow’s Blythswood District.

Their first child, Arthur Wingate, was born in Glasgow

on 7^th September 1862 and his sister Janet Watson Wingate was also

born in Glasgow eighteen months later, on 20^th March 1865.

Their third child Jeannie J came along in 1867 but she was born in

Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire.

On the 1871 Census, the family are found living at ‘The Knowe’ Villa,

Millken Park in Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire

where John is now involved in the Calico Trade.

John Wingate, Head of Household, age 50, born c1821, Glasgow

Occupation: Partner in Warehouse/Calico Printer

Jeannie Fleming Wingate, Wife, age 40, born c1831, Ireland

Arthur Wingate, Son, age 8, born c1862, Glasgow

Janet W. Wingate, Daughter, age 6 born c1865, Glasgow

Jeanie J. Wingate, Daughter, age 4, born c1867, Kilbarchan

Nelly H. Wingate, Daughter, age 3, born c1868, Kilbarchan

Ralph Wingate, Son, age 2, born c1869, Kilbarchan

Norman Wingate, Son, age 10 months, born 1870, Kilbarchan

The deaths of their 4 children may have instigated a move back to Glasgow.

The 1881 Census shows the family living at 6 Kelvin Drive, Glasgow:

John Wingate, Head of Household, age 60, born c1821, Glasgow

Occupation: Printed Calico Merchant

Jeannie Fleming Wingate, Wife, age 51, born c1830, Londonderry, Ireland

Arthur Wingate, Son, age 18, born c1862, Glasgow

Janet W. Wingate, Daughter, age 16, born c1865, Glasgow

Jeanie J. Wingate, Daughter, age 14, born c1867, Kilbarchan

John Wingate born 8^th July 1820, died 21^st November 1891, age 71

His wife Jean Fleming Wingate (nee Langlands)

Born 3^rd November 1862, died 25^th March 1899, age 70

The following newspaper articles may refer to the above Wingate Family

And if so, tell their own story.

Edinburgh & London Gazette

Arthur Wingate, the eldest son of John Wingate and Jean Fleming Langlands

Can be found in the 1901 Census now married with his own family

and carrying on the family tradition/occupation as ‘Calico Printer’

Living at 10 Prince’s Gardens, Partick, Glasgow

Arthur Wingate, Head of Household, age 38

Annie L. Wingate, Wife, age 33

Daughters Ruth M. Wingate, age 6 Lois M. Wingate, age 3

And Son John L. Wingate age 1

www.memento-mori.co.uk