The Crawford family

My grandmother – Mary Locke Crawford

My Dad was born 17th January 1936 in Hamilton, Lanarkshire to Mary Locke Crawford and William Murray. Mary married William Murray on 7th September 1928 at the Manse in Union Street, Hamilton. Mary and William had two children prior to their marriage – William and James.  William Crawford Murray was born in 1926 and James Murray was born in 1927/8.

My grandmother Mary Locke Crawford was born on 25th July 1900 at 10 Craig Row, Auchentibber, near Blantyre – the “illegitimate” daughter of Margaret Muir Crawford.

We have reason to believe that Thomas Locke may have been the father of Mary. Thomas was a neighbour of Margaret’s sister Agnes and may have met through her sister. We know that David McMillan never recognised Mary as his daughter.

More information on how we came to this theory is listed here :

Mary’s mother married David Brown McMillan when Mary was almost 6 months old. Margaret and David McMillan had two sons – Robert (b 1903) and David (b1904) but both died in infancy.  In the 1911 Census David and Margaret have an adopted child – Duncan (b1909) and they have a baby son, David Brown McMillan born 2nd March 1911 at Merryton Rows. They would go on to have another two daughters – Margaret Muir Crawford McMillan (b 2/12/1913)and Jane Brown McMillan (b 1920).

The McMillan family lived in the village hamlet of Auchentibber where David McMillan was employed as a coal miner.  The family then moved to Ferniegair near Hamilton.

My great grandmother – Margaret Muir Crawford

Margaret Muir Crawford was born on 26th April 1881 in Wilsontown, near Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland.  Margaret was the 7th child of Robert Crawford and his wife Margaret Muir.  Margaret had 6 older siblings (3 brothers and 3 sisters) and 3 younger siblings (1 sister and 2 brothers). Having 10 children between 1869 and 1887 must have been difficult for her parents Robert Crawford and Margaret Muir.  Margaret would live in Carnwath until the family moved to Hamilton.

In the 1881 Census the Crawford family are living in Carnwath and Margaret’s father is a Railway Porter.  Margaret is not showing on this census record as she was born shortly after the census was taken.

In the 1891 Census the Crawford family are living at 15 Gateside Street, Hamilton and Robert is still occupied as a Railway Porter. The family most likely moved to Hamilton for work.  The family of 2 adults and 9 children – total of 11 are living in this home.  Oldest son Robert was not living with the family at the time of this census.

By 1901 Margaret is living with her new husband in Auchentibber.

My 2nd great grandfather – Robert Crawford

Robert Crawford was born on 4th April 1843 and baptised on 30th April in Carnwath, Lanarkshire. Robert was the son of Agnes Crawford and James French of Lampits.

On his marriage certificate of 21st June 1867 at Carnwath his parents are listed as “Respected father” James French, farmer of Lampits Farm and Agnes Robb, formerly Crawford.  Agnes Crawford would not marry James French.

Lampits Farm : We looked at the census records for Lampits Farm which is near Carstairs Juntion near Carnwath.  The French family were farming there and can be found on the census records up to 1861. From 1871 they are then found in Cramond, Midlothian.

1841 : John French and his wife Jane Herbert are living at the farm according to the Census. Living with them are children – James (b1829), Julia, Thomas and John. James was 13 years old according to this census. If Robert Crawford was born in 1843 this would have made James between 15-16 years old at the time his son was born and birth registered.

1851 : According to the 1851 Census records for Lampits Farm – the head of the household is James French living with him is his sister Julia and the rest are servants or staff working at the farm. John French had died in 1845 and his wife died in 1850 leaving the children to work on the farm.

1861 : They are still living at Lampits Farm in 1861. We know James French married Karen Christina Holm in Copenhagen in 1868 according to son James Albert Leonard Holm French birth certificate. Their son was born on 21st April 1869 at Carnwath. The family are still living at Lampits then. They have another child, also named John, on 29th March 1871 at Cramond, Midlothian.  Did this 1st son die in infancy?

1871 : By the 1871 Census James French and his sister Julia are living at The Cottage, Cramond, Midlothian (near Davidson Mains). James is listed as a retired farmer. They are living at The Cottage with their son J A H French. Living with them is sister Julia.

We know the French family moved away from Carnwath some time between April 1869 and March 1871.

My 3rd great grandmother – Agnes Crawford

Agnes Crawford was born in Pettinain, Lanarkshire in 1815. She was the daughter or Robert Crawford and his wife Janet Thomson.  Robert and Janet had 5 children of which Agnes was the 2nd born. She had an older brother Mungo and younger siblings, James, Margaret and Janet. The family lived in and around Carnwath. Her father Robert was a Tailor.

Agnes had her son Robert when she was about 27 years old. She went on to marry Alexander Robb on 2nd June 1854 in Carnwath. They had one child named Mungo Robb who was born 1857 in Carnwath.

In the 1861 census Agnes is living with her husband Alex, son, Mungo also living with them are her father Robert (72) address is listed as Cat H Burnhouse.  On earlier census records this address is near Lampits Farm.

Key timeline – Agnes lost her father in 1868 when she was 52, her husband Alex died in March 1899 (aged 74) and Agnes living until the grand old age of 91 years – she died on 16th December 1906 in Carnwath.  Her son Mungo would register her death. Mungo was 49 years old when his mother died.

Mungo was still living with his mother according to the 1901 census. He married Agnes Aitken Brown (daughter of Thomas Brown and Elizabeth Afleck) on 14th January 1904 in West Linton, Peebleshire. Mungo died on 15th November 1931 at Royal Infirmary Edinburgh. He was 74 years old. His death was registered by cousin Wm Brown. Most likely a relative of his wife.

My 4th great grandfather – Robert Crawford

Robert Crawford was born 3rd May 1791 in Carnwath, Lanarkshire. He was the son of Mungo Crawford and his wife Margaret Kelly/Kellow. Robert married Janet Thomson in Carnwath. Janet was the daughter of David Thomson and Agnes Bennet).

Robert would marry Janet around 1812/13. They had 5 children – Mungo, Agnes, James Margaret and Janet. Oldest child Mungo was born 31st May 1813 in Pettinain. They would lose most of their children by 1831. Their daughter Janet died in 1823.  We know sons Mungo and James both died in 1831 and their deaths are registered on the same page of the church register. We know Agnes lived until 1906.  Margaret would marry James Crawford (no relation).

Robert was the oldest of the Crawford children. He had 2 sisters and a brother. He had a sister Agnes who was born in 1793 and brother James born 1794. There was also a child named Agnes born to Mungo and his wife in 1799. We can only assume that their 1st child had died and they also named their 2nd daughter Agnes.

1841 – Robert aged 50 (Tailor) is living at Carnwath with Janet and their daughter Margaret age 15.

1851 – Robert aged 60 (Tailor) is living at U P Chapel Essa Michell Church with Janet and their grandson Robert aged 7.

Wife Janet died on 16th January 1855 at Carnwath.  In 1861 he is living with daughter Agnes and family.  Robert Crawford died on 17th April 1868 at Carnwath. He was 76 years old. His son in law Alexander Robb registered his death.

My 5th great grandfather – Mungo Crawford

Mungo Crawford was born on 19th June 1764 at Carnwath. He was the son of Robert Crawford and Jean/Jane Lockhart. Mungo had the following siblings – Thomas (b 18/11/1765) and George (b 25/4/1772).

Mungo married Margaret Kelly about 1762/3 in Carnwath.  Margaret’s parents are unknown.

My 6th great grandfather = Robert Crawford

Robert Crawford was born 6th February 1733 at Carnwath. He was the son of Robert Crafoord and Marion Dimmock.  Robert had 5 siblings – Agnes, William, Helen, Thomas and Jean.  All children were born between 1727 and 1740 in Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Robert would marry Jean/Jane Lockhart around 1760. Their 1st child was born 25 October 1762 in Carnwath.  Jane was born on 15th February 1733 in Carnwath – she was the daughter of Mungo Lockhart and Margaret Scott.

My 7th great grandfather – Robert Crawford / Crafoord

Robert Crawford would have been born about 1700-1710.  Since all of his children were born in Carnwath we can assume this is where Robert lived.  Robert married Marion Dimmock. They had 6 children including Robert – Agnes, William, Helen, Robert, Thomas and Jean.

We do not know the parents of either Robert Crawford of Marion Dimmock.

Recently found and still to be verified…… Marion Dimmock born 15th April 1714 and baptised 2nd May 1714 at Carnwath, daughter of John Dimmock and Janet Girdwood.

Carnwath

Carnwath is at the heart of Scotland’s central belt and is reputed to be the town furthest away from the sea anywhere in Scotland.  Carnwath is a village on the Southern edge of the Pentland Hills in Lanarkshire. A conservation area set in rural countryside. Visit the town to see the spectacle of the oldest foot race in Scotland – the Red Hose Race!

Carnwath is an unusual place with a distinctive and attractive character. The village itself comprises a single street, set in open moorland. Little remains of the castle, but the impressive motte on which it was built can still be seen at Carnwath Golf Club, founded in 1907 at the west end of the village.

Carnwath also hosts the oldest foot race in Scotland – and probably Europe – The Red Hose Race, dating back to March 13th 1508!  It has seen many changes over almost 500 years but the running of The Red Hose is still a strong tradition in Carnwath. Just incase you are wondering, hose was the Scots word for stockings or long socks,  and each year a foot race is run at Carnwath and the local Laird must provide a pair of red stockings as the prize.

On the main street you will find traditional stores and craft shops, including a jewellers, but as the shops don’t have modern frontages it feels like you’re taking a step back in time.  If you fancy a bite to eat stop in at the Robertson Arms Hotel or the Wee Bush Inn. Until a recent fire, the Wee Bush was the only pub in Scotland to have a thatched roof. For insurance reasons it has unfortunately had to be replaced with slates. The Inn’s other claim to fame is that actor Oliver Reed was a regular visitor. Although Carnwath is predominately agricultural the village also provides an excellent base for commuters, being so close to both Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Carnwath is only a short drive from the historic town and royal burgh of Lanark. Lanark is home to the world-famous New Lanark World Heritage Site and Castlebank Park, which has a childrens play area, and is a great day out for the whole family.

History of Carnwath

On the opposite side of the main road from the golf club and motte is Carnwath Parish Church. At first sight this looks like a fairly standard 1800s church with spire. But a stroll round the west side reveals a surprise, an almost separate tiny chapel, of a very much earlier date. This is actually St Mary’s Aisle, a surviving part of the collegiate church founded here in 1425 by Thomas, First Lord Somerville and incorporating a church established in 1386.

St Mary’s Aisle is the only remaining part of the Collegiate Church built in Carnwath in 1386. It stands at the west entrance to Carnwath alongside the parish church and is recognised as a Category A listed building. St Mary’s Aisle is the mausoleum of the Lockhart family and previously of the Earls of Carnwath and the Lords Somerville.The Clan Lamont were driven from their homeland to settle in Carnwath. They later became Covenanters.

In 1630, the Carnwath estate, owned by the Earl of Mar was purchased by Sir Robert Dalzell, later to become Lord Dalzell. In 1639, his son, the 2nd Lord Dalzell and also named Robert, was further elevated to become the Earl of Carnwath. The title was forfeit in 1716 when the 5th Earl, Robert Dalzell became attainted due to his support of the Jacobite cause but the titles were restored in 1826.

Writer, spy and politician, George Lockhart, inherited the Carnwath estates from his father, George Lockhart of the Lockharts of Lee, who had purchased them in 1681.

The Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (1882–1885) said of the village: “Long a dingy and disagreeable place, it has been greatly improved”.  There is a Gothic church that dates from 1798, directly abutting the former tiny church of 1424.  In 1845 the area became a civil parish.

Carnwath railway station, originally part of the Caledonian Railway, later the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and finally the Scottish Region of British Railways, was closed in the Beeching Axe in the 1960s. Gazetteer remarks that: “the minor poet, James Graeme (1749-72)” was a resident of the locality.

Carnwath Church :  The closure of Carnwath Church has prompted me to write a brief history of the Church. The church which was recently closed was built by the architect David Bryce in 1864-7.    It was designed to seat over 1000 people;  the roof was modelled on that of the old Scottish Parliament.  It is this roof which is giving cause for concern and it is the restoration cost that probably prompted closure.

The history of the church of St Mary’s Carnwath goes back to the late twelfth century with the arrival of the Sommerville family in the parish.  The motte on the golf course was constructed by them at this time.  It has been suggested that the church was constructed around a stone tower;  there are precedents for this but this has still to be proved by archaeological investigation.

The church of St Mary’s originally belonged to the Bishop of Glasgow according to a charter issued by the papacy in 1165 confirming the ownership on Bishop Ingram.   However the builder was the second William de Sommerville before 1165.   Apparently Carnwath at this stage was in the parish of Libberton, but by 1186 Carnwath becomes a separate parish in its own right.  Field walking discoveries in the glebe field show that there were inhabitants at this time in Carnwath.  The evidence is some plain white gritty early Medieval pottery. Although the church was originally granted to the Bishopric of Glasgow there was some dispute about this.   However a decision confirming the ownership to Glasgow was confirmed.

There is some information about the clergy prior to the erection of St Mary’s Aisle.  St Mary’s Aisle is incidentally the only surviving part of the Medieval Church. The earliest recorded clergyman was lord Robert Tindal about 1225.   he was connected with Glasgow Cathedral and probably an absentee landlord. In 1319 we hear of Edward II granting the prebend of Carnwath to William of Herlaston.   Apparently pennies of this period were discovered by detectorists in the glebe field.   Unfortunately the location of them is unknown.

As the Scots reasserted themselves Robert Cambrun, treasurer of Glasgow Cathedral was given the Prebend of Carnwath in 1325.   A prebend was an absentee cleric to collect money from the church lands forming the prebendary.    A prebendary was a collection of parishes and the prebend was given a house near the cathedral and had a special seat in the Cathedral.    The only prebend’s house to survive is Provand’s Lordship in Glasgow.

The prebend would appoint a local cleric on a small sum of money to run the parish church.  We do not have the names of these clergymen. Robert Cambrun was succeeded by Robert of Strathern by 1330.  In 1349 John of Caithness held the prebendary.   This was a significant year and one wonders whether John of Caithness succumbed to the Black Death.  By 1362 John de Peebles was in charge and he had control over the church for a short while to the time of Henry of Mangavilla who died in 1371. He was succeed by Wiliam Etale who in turn was followed by Walter Trail who was appointed by the Pope to be treasurer of Glasgow Cathedral.  After the time of David Falconer , St Mary’s became a collegiate church in 1424. Thomas de Somerville set up the foundation which may have been done in the time of Thomas Trail , a relative of Walter Trail.

From 1424 the Somervilles played more part in the management of St Mary’s Carnwath. It is at this stage more is heard of Carnwath. Hugh Kennedy who was a relative of James I of Scotland , was recorded as holding the Prebendery of Carnwath. The history of St Mary’s becomes much more interesting during the time of vicar William Wishart who had to be removed for two reasons – failure to supply the Eucharist to the parishioners and allowing a suicide William Adam to be buried in the church. A new vicar Richard Brown replaced him. In 1462 reference is made to a chaplain at Couthally Castle who was probably the vicar as well. His name was Thomas Telfer. Meanwhile the post of Prebend went to a local man George Carmichael in 1474 ; he accompanied a diplomatic mission to establish good relations between England and Scotland in 1484.

In 1496 Sir Thomas Bartilmew became the vicar though he did not stay very long in Carnwath before obtaining a preferment to Linlithgow. By the turn of the sixteenth century , Sir William Wilkinson , vicar of Carnwath was bound over to keep the peacealong with several other clergymen as a result of a dispute with George Hay and Sir Alexander Romanos. For the first time in 1516 , the prebendary Andrew Sibbald of Carnwath has an M.A . Was this an M.A from the University of Glasgow ?

In 1554 Sir John Cunningham ,vicar of Carnwath was referred to as witnessing a charter to the Abbey of Paisley. He was probably the vicar pensioner at the Reformation who reported that his benefice was worth £16. Half of this came from the prebendary and half from the glebe lands that were rented out to the Sommervilles. At the Reformation Sir Duncan Aitken reported that the stipend for the aisle of St Mary’s was twenty four merks. The last prebendary Thomas Livingston, rector of Carnwath, states that the parsonage and vicarage revenues were £200 Scots.

 

 

 

MCMILLAN / CRAWFORD / MURRAY

1900 – Mary Locke Crawford was born at 10 Craig Row, Blantyre on 25th July 1900 – illegitimate daughter of Margaret Muir Crawford. No fathers name recorded.

1900 – Mary’s mother MARGARET MUIR CRAWFORD married DAVID BROWN MCMILLAN on 28th December 1900 both residing at Auchentibber, Blantyre.

1901 – Census (31st March 1901) shows David and Margaret McMillan and baby Mary living at 10 Craig Row, High Blantyre.

1903 – Robert Crawford McMillan was born 16th May 1903 and died 18th May 1903 – 15 Clyde Row, Auchentibber, Blantyre. Son of David and Margaret McMillan.

1904 – David Brown McMillan was born 20th August 1904 and died 20th August 1904 – 15 Clyde Row, Blantyre, Auchentibber. Son of David and Margaret McMillan.

Some time between 1904 and 1911 David McMillan and his family move from Auchentibber to Merryton Rows, Hamilton. Merryton Rows was located between Hamilton and Larkhall (near Ferniegair) in Lanarkshire, Scotland.

1911 – David McMillan born 2nd March 1911 at 15 Merryton Rows, Parish of Hamilton. Son of David and Margaret McMillan.

1911 – Census (2nd April 1911) shows David, Margaret and children Mary (age 11), Duncan Gillies (noted as adopted son) age 2 and David McMillan (age 1 month) living at 15 Merryton Colliery Rows, Cadzow, Hamilton.

1913 – Margaret Muir Crawford McMillan was born on 2nd December 1913 at 15 Merryton Rows, Parish of Hamilton. Daughter of David and Margaret McMillan.

1914 – William McMillan, father of David McMillan, died on 29th September 1914 at 1 Clyde Row, Auchentibber. He was 72 years old when he died. His death registered by her son William McMillan who was listed as living at No. 4 Clyde Row.

1918 – Thomas Crawford McMillan – 18th December 1918 Thomas Crawford was born to Mary Locke Crawford. According to both the Territorial Army Record of Service document and the Army Service Record Card show that Thomas Crawford McMillan was born on 18th December 1918 in Hamilton.   On his service record it shows his next of kin as Mr D McMillan (Father), 10 Clyde Avenue, Hamilton. We know that Thomas was raised by his maternal grandparents.

1918 – Jane McMillan (ms Brown), mother of David McMillan, died on 12th May 1918 at 1 Clyde Row, Auchentibber. Her death registered by her son William McMillan who was listed as living at 58 Hall Street, Blantyre.

1920 – Jane Brown McMillan (known as Jeanie) was born in 1920 in Hamilton. GROS ref. 647/00 0049. Jane would marry James Sommerville in 1946.

1923 – Margaret Muir Crawford born Hamilton, Lanark in 1923 – GROS ref. 647/00 0698. Margaret would marry James McDougall in 1934.

1924 – Margaret Muir Crawford died aged 1 year on 14th June 1924 at 10 Merryton Rows, Cadzow, Hamilton. Daughter of Mary Locke Crawford. There is no father’s information and the informant was David McMillan, Occupier.

1926 – There is a listing for the birth of William Murray in 1926 and there is also a listing for William Crawford – with the same GROS ref. 647/00 0687.

Year	Surname	Forename	Sex	District	City/ County/ MR	GROS Data
1926	MURRAY	WILLIAM	M	HAMILTON	/LANARK	647/00 0687
1926	CRAWFORD	WILLIAM	M	HAMILTON	/LANARK	647/00 0687

1928 – Mary Locke Crawford married William Murray on 7th September 1928 at Hamilton. Mary was 28 and William 26 years old. Mary’s address is 10 Clyde Avenue, Ferniegair and William’s is 7 Barrack Street, Hamilton.

1928 – James Murray died in 2007 aged 79 years which means he was born in either 1927 or 1928 depending on his date of birth. His parents married on 7th September 1928.

1934 – 2nd December 1934 – Margaret McMillan married James McDougall in Cadzow Manse. Margaret was 20 years old. Witnesses are Thomas McDougall and Jeanie Robertson Williamson.

1934 – 31st December 1934 – Duncan McMillan married Elizabeth Devine in Cadzow Manse, Hamilton. Duncan’s usual residence is 10 Clyde Row, Hamilton. Duncan is 26 years old. (Born about 1909). Witness is David McMillan.

1936 – Duncan McMillan Murray (my father) was born on 16th January 1936.

1937 – 19th February 1937 – David Brown McMillan married Agnes Goodwin in Cadzow Manse, Hamilton. David’s usual residence is 10 Clyde Avenue, Ferniegair, Hamilton. David is 25 years old (born about 1912). Witness is THOMAS MCMILLAN, 10 Clyde Avenue.

1942 – Margaret Muir Crawford McMillan died aged 61 on 6th October 1942. Leaving widower David and daughter Jane (Jeanie) who was unmarried at this time.

1944 – Thomas Crawford McMillan died on 29th May 1944 in Italy. Grave marker shows age as 32 years.

1946 – Jane Brown McMillan married James Sommerville in 1946 in Hamilton. GROS Ref. 647/00 0400.

1953 – David Brown McMillan died aged 74 on 27th January 1953. His death was registered by his son Duncan McMillan, 78 Primrose Avenue, Strutherhill, Larkhall.

1970 – John Murray died on 1st May 1970 aged 39 years.

1975 – William Murray died on 22nd February 1975 at Hamilton. Husband of Mary Locke Crawford.

1976 – Mary Locke Crawford died in November 1976 at Hamilton. Widow of William Murray.

1981 – Duncan McMillan Murray died on 14th June 1981 aged 45 years. Husband of Margaret McCurdie Brown Batton.

1986 – Robert Murray died in September 1986.

1988 – Duncan McMillan (Gillies) died in 1988 aged 80 years. GROS ref. 580/00 0260.

1989 – David Crawford Murray McMillan died in 1989 in Larkhall, aged 40 years. GROS ref. 580/00 0142.

1993 – Margaret Muir Crawford McMillan (married name McDougall) died in Hamilton in 1993 aged 79 years. GROS ref. 577/00 0003.

1993 – James Fleming McDougall (widower of Maggie) died in Hamilton in 1993 aged 84 years. GROS ref. 577/00 0475.

2000 – William Crawford Murray died in Crieff, Perth in 2000, aged 74 years. GROS ref. 394/00 0139. This means he was born in either 1925 or 1926 depending on his date of birth. Found 2 birth listings for 1926 for William Murray and William Crawford for the same GROS ref. of 647/00 0687.

2005 – Jane Brown McMillan (married name Sommerville) died in 2005, aged 85 years. GROS ref. 577/00 0032.

2007 – James Murray died in 2007 aged 79 years which means he was born in either 1927 or 1928. His parents Mary Locke Crawford and William Murray married on 7th September 1928.

2014 – Thomas Murray died in January 2014 at Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride.