Day 28: AULD CLOTHES

Auld Clothes

Week 8

"Comfort comes in auld clothes"

("Familiar friends are the best to comfort you")

["Haud Yer Wheesht!" Your Scottish Granny's Favorite Sayings by Allan Morrison

Neil Wilson Publishing (May 31, 2011)]

2012 Dalbeattie Cemetery Road, Kendra May Haney, used with Permission

It is comforting to know that I am finally making progress with understanding my paternal Scots ancestors. For this next week, I will be creating list of where everyone lived and when the latter generations not part of this project came to America. 

For me, I had to push myself to keep going back to what I had already found, learn the geography and find the right streets they lived on. I have been getting positive feedback from family who has enjoyed reading narratives about the people. Just shared names and dates wasn't enough.

The collateral research (working with non direct line) brothers, sisters and their children has proved interesting. Esther Wakeman Broadfoot, the only child of John and Jane (Hannah) Broadfoot did not come to America because she got married in a hurry and had a child to raise. I have no idea if she did that alone or if her husband was involved with the child. "Beloved wife of Francis Ferguson"on her gravestone is not enough information.

I have also studied but not documented two other Broadfoot people, Eliza Templeton Hammond Broadfoot, wife of Robert McKinnell and daughter of Thomas and Margaret Broadfoot needs more work. Also William Harcomb Broadfoot, son of Thomas and Margaret Broadfoot, grocer in Dalbeattie is not fully researched.

I finally have a lead on Margaret Harcomb's Harcomb family. They were not Scottish, but English in origin and their name included an "e" on the end.

We still have weeks 9 to 13 to go in the project. I will be glad not to have to write every day as in this challenge.

Thank you for reading my entries for the Family History Challenge and your kind words. Now, I return to working on the Scots Genealogy Do-Over!

Familiar friends can be a great comfort, like auld clothes. I hope to see you again.

Day 27: Until the Day Dawns

Day 27: Until the Day Dawns

Harbour St. Creetown, Scotland from Google Maps

Until the Day Dawns

Thomas and Margaret (Harcomb) Broadfoot's gravestone reads "Until the Day Dawns". This is fitting for my project because, I may have to wait until I get to Heaven to find out more about my earliest Scots. I plan to die trying anyway!

Thomas's father, John, married a woman named Mary. One census says her name is Reynolds and another says Randals. These two names, when spoken aloud, sound very much alike, don't they? Mary is either from Ireland or England. Right now, I think England and if so, her parents may be Thomas Randals and Mary Dawson. 

John Broadfoot was the son of David Broadfoot. On his death record, it states that he is a wood forester and that John Broadfoot, his son was present. 

Working with these two generations together will take more time of study than this do-over allows so I will leave them for another day 

Day 26: Margaret Harcomb, Shirt Maker

Day 26: Margaret Harcomb, Shirt Maker

Crop of photo of Margaret Harcomb Broadfoot,
 courtesy of California Cousins, Used with permission

Margaret Harcomb, wife of Thomas Broadfoot died at the age of 89 on April 9, 1922 of senile decay.  She was born 25 July 1832 in Dalmellington, Ayshire, Scotland to Hugh Harcomb and his wife Elizabeth Templeton. (Her death record gives the wrong maiden name for her mother).

The surname Harcomb or Harcombe is not Scottish but is of English origin. 

In this undated photo, Margaret is wearing a capote bonnet (thanks to Maureen Taylor for the help) and her clothes are those of a widow. When her husband died in 1899, Margaret was 67 years old. (The same age that I am now.)

It could be that when her son John Broadfoot went to have his photo taken with his second wife Helen Tait, he took his mother along to have her photo taken too. I am very grateful for my Broadfoot family to have sent this photo of Margaret.

In 1911, she is living alone as an old age pensioner. In 1901 she is living next door to family but has their daughter taking care of her. Her occupation is shirtmaker. She was 69.

I have found a Harcomb researcher to work with. It will be fun to see if we can learn more about her. 

Day 25: Thomas Broadfoot: Ag Laborer

Day 25: Thomas Broadfoot: Ag Laborer

Photo by Ruth Robb, 2012, used with permission

Thomas Broadfoot, my 2nd great grandfather, is the person I consider "top of my Scots chart" (see below) since my father's family told me that they did not know anything back further than his name and his wife's name. Accepting that, at the time, I wrote his name and the dates they gave me along with his wife, Margaret Harcomb.

I should mention that my father was named after these two people. Thomas Harcomb Broadfoot (1917-1998) was called "Harcomb" by friends and family in the years before he went to high school.

I don't think they knew that he was buried in Dalbeattie Cemetery. I am not sure how far away from his son, John Broadfoot's gravestone this grave is located. The tall trees in the background don't match the background of the other stones.

Thomas was born on 6 January 1829 and baptized the next day in Kirkinner, Wigtownshire, Scotland. That document states his parents as John Broadfoot and Mary Reynolds. In 1841, Thomas lives with his parents live in Blackmyre, Kirkmabreck. Thomas is twelve, He has siblings. In March of 1851, the family lives in Hollandbank, Kirkmabreck. 

From his marriage record, we find out that he and Margaret married on 7 November 1851 in that same location. By the way, "Ag Laborer" means agricultural laborer. His occupation is also listed as Cottar.

In Memoriam/Thomas Broadfoot/died 7th February 1899/aged 70 years. Margaret Harcomb/his wife died 9th April 1922 aged 89 years./Mary his daughter died 4th October 1875 aged 4 years & 6 months. Hugh his son died 8th October 1875 aged 19 years & 4 months. 

With the help of David Webster, a well known professional Scottish genealogist, whose online class I took, I know that Thomas had siblings named David (1826), Jane (1832) and John (1837). The last son, John gave the information on Thomas's death record.

Thomas Broadfoot died of pleurisy and pulmonary congestion in Dalbeattie. The story of where they lived and about their children belongs with his wife Margaret.

Day 24: Where There's a Will

Where there is a Will...

Day 24

Clip of the Will of Adam Smith of Merkland

I am still working on the wills in my Scottish family. The handwriting is better than our American counterparts in this time period.

Cousin Cary and I feel that the family did not own Merkland they just were in charge of farming it. Which means that were not willing the farm to anyone in my family.

I hope to transcribe these "personal estate wills" and report again on them later on in my Scots genealogy do-Over.

Notice it says "in Merkland, in the parish of Ruthwell". I have two pages done in this will and then I have another to do.

Day 23: Died at Merkland Buried at Kirkmahoe Cemetery

 

Photograph of Adam Smith and Helen Bell's Gravestone, 2014 by Cary Schmidt.
Used with permission

Died at Merkland

Buried at Kirkmahoe Cemetery in Dumfries, Scotland, Adam Smith and Helen Bell were my third great grandparents.

In Memory of/ Adam Smith./Farmer in Merkland, in the Parish of Ruthwell/Who Died the 20th September 1849 in his 57th year./

Also Helen Bell, his wife, who died at /Merkland, 6th of November 1860 in her 70th /Year.

And of Helen Smith, who died/ at Merkland on the 13th of March 1823 in her 7th year. And Helen Smith, who died at Merkland 3rd March 1831, in her 19th month. Daughters of the above.

And of James Smith, son of the above who died at Merkland, 26th April in his 46th year.

Day 22: Caerlaverock Churchyard

Caerlaverock Churchyard

Photo by Cary Schmidt, 25 Apr 2014, used with permission
Resting Place of Robert Hannah and Jane Smith

In my wildest dreams, I would not have expected that anyone would have taken a photo of this gravestone! I was lucky that Cary Schmidt noticed Jane Smith's name on the stone and realized it was his ancestor's sister and snapped the photo. He didn't remember he took it until I contacted him again. Meant to be? Absolutely. I can't thank him enough.

When Jane Smith, my second great grandmother, died in 1865, her husband buried her her at Caerlaverock Churchyard.  Even though the stone reads 1864, I have the death record that reads 1865. I have yet to track down what or where Kellwood is located.

In memory of/ Robert Hannah,/
died at Dalbeattie, 10 Dec//r 1883/
aged 73 years.

JANE SMITH, wife of ROBERT/
HANNAH who died at Kellwood
23//d March 1864 aged 46 years.

Since the dates and ages may not be right, This needs more research.

Day 21: Back to Merkland Farm

Photos by Cary Schmidt, 25 April 2015

The Right Merkland Farm

Google Map: Our Merkland Farm

A study of family history geography is harder than getting the names and dates organized especially when your ancestors are from a country you have never visited.

The vital records for my Scotland ancestors often list a place or a village before the parish, county and country. Since the "term" merkland is a unit of land measurement (source), it stands to reason that many places or farms can be called Merkland. 

My Smith cousin, who is from Australia, contacted me some time ago about our mutual "Smith" ancestors. As he was traveling at the time, he sent me a copy of Adam Smith's will and we never reconnected. Since I was still floundering around trying to find out more, I returned to his email and found his tree at Ancestry.com. In this case, I am glad for other people's tree since I hit the motherlode by asking him again. For nearly a week, we have been conversing about Merkland Farm and the area of our mutual Smith connection. 

Last April, Cary and his wife WENT to Scotland and they located Merkland Cottage and took the above photos. As Google Street View doesn't go "down the road and around the bend", I would NEVER have seen this if he didn't take the above photos. It is still hard to imagine our mutual ancestors living and working in this place.

Week 6: Day 20: MITHER'S WORK

Mithers Work

Week 7

"A' mithers go to work"

("All mothers are working mothers")

["Haud Yer Wheesht!" Your Scottish Granny's Favorite Sayings by Allan Morrison

Neil Wilson Publishing (May 31, 2011)]

Mother's Work is never done, is it? This Scottish saying is a good reminder of how much work our ancestral mothers had to do.

For my Scots Do-Over, I felt it was important to focus as much on the women in my tree as the men. When I took a course in Scottish genealogy, I was told that women often went by their maiden name for their whole life. I did notice that when I was given the actual photograph of the gravestone in Dalbeattie and when I learned to use genealogy software, I discovered that using the surname of women really took the sting out of being known as wife of "man's surname". 

When given the copies of the photographs of John Broadfoot and his wives Jane Hannah and Helen Tait, I made sure they were always referred as their full and whole name. With so many repeating first names, it is easy to confuse the children's with the first names of the grandparents. 

Women in my ancestral line were traditional "stay at home" mothers after their marriage. With so many children and a vegetable garden to tend, I guess they certainly were working

But, much to my surprise, many of the women worked outside the home or took care of aged family members, BEFORE they married and some were teenagers.

For the do-over this week, Thomas MacEntee has asks us to report on our genealogy software applications. I keep a public tree at Ancestry.com and export my data to RootsMagic because I can use that in conjunction with my Mac until there is a stand alone Mac version. I am a dual platform user (both Windows and Mac) at the moment but I will be moving to the Mac platform eventually. I also use Legacy Family Tree. I like their reports.

I own three scanners. One flatbed will sheet feed and the other is a printer-scanner that is terrific. I own a Flip-Pal for portable scanning. It is really amazing. The stitching software pieced together a scan of my Scot grandfather's naturalization papers perfectly. After all, he is the Scot that came to America and gave up his connection to the old country.

Day 19: Clan Hannay: Forward Together

Granite Hewer

John Broadfoot's Story

Day 19

Clan Hannay: Forward Together

Sorbie Tower, photo by Janette Hannah, used with permission

While trying to learn more about Merkland Farm and my Smith and Hannah ancestors, I discovered that the surname Hannah has many different spellings. Mine seem to be recorded as Hannah or Hannay.

Robert Hannah (1815-1883) and Jane Smith (1820-1865) were Jane Hannah's parents. Robert's father was also named Robert and he was born about 1785. His wife was Stewart Moat. That's as far back as my research can go at this time.

One Sunday, I discovered a YouTube video about Sorbie Tower whose location is not far from where my Hannah/Smith/and furthest most Broadfoot ancestors lived. (David Broadfoot lived in Sorbie in 1841.)

I learned about the ancient history of the Hannay family with a free excerpt of a book. From there, I discovered a family association called Clan Hannay Society. 

I joined their Facebook page and made a friend of a lovely lady married to a Hannay clansman. I have joined the Society for one year to learn more about my ancestors. I need to see what the Clan genealogist can do for my research.

Wow! I belong to a Clan. It still takes me by surprise.

Day 18: Granite Hewer: John Broadfoot: John's Death

Granite Hewer

John Broadfoot's Story

Day 18

John's Death, 1926

Present Day Gravestone Photo by Ruth Robb, used with permission

John Broadfoot , Granite Hewer Dies in 1926

John Broadfoot, my great grandfather, died at Alpine Cottage in Dalbeattie on 21 November 1926, of stomach cancer with his youngest child Robert Broadfoot in attendance. As you can see, his name and date are on the "original" gravestone along with his daughter Esther, the only child from his first marriage who did not come to America.

I was interested to see that Helen Tait is interred at Liverpool but I am not sure where she lived when she died. Her eldest son, Hugh, is also listed on the stone which is how I found out where he is buried.

Sad as it is, the stone's deterioration, is quite normal. At least the carving can still be read.

This is the stone transcription:

JANE HANNAH, wife of JOHN BROADFOOT/

who fell asleep in Jesus 2nd April 1895/

In the 44th year of her age./

Their infant son, born and died 3rd June 1876./

JAMES, their son who died at Vernon, B.C./

24th November 1912 in the 31st year of his age./

Also the above JOHN BROADFOOT/

Who died 21st November 1926/

in the 74th year of his age.

ESTHER WAKEMAN BROADFOOT,/

Beloved wife of FRANCIS FERGUSON,

Died November 5th 1928. Aged 42 years.

Information added to stone between 1928 and  2012

HUGH HARCOMB BROADFOOT/

eldest son of above John Broadfoot and /

of Helen Broadfoot his wife who died December/

22nd 1929 aged 29 years, buried at

Ratcliffe-on-the-Wreake, Leicestershire.

Also the above Helen Broadfoot who died 23rd July 1943 aged 80 years. Interred at Liverpool.

Day 17: Granite Hewer John Broadfoot: About Helen Tait

Granite Hewer

John Broadfoot's Story

Day 17

Helen Tait

Letter from Walter P. Broadfoot, 1971 explaining his branch of the family

After meeting Great Auntie Peg (Margaret Harcomb Broadfoot) the last child of John Broadfoot and Jane Hannah, Auntie Peg wrote me a letter and gave me the address of her step brother Walter P. Broadfoot. I wrote to him asking for information about his mother and his sister and brothers. This crop is one of the pages of the letter. I remember thinking it was sad that he lost a sibling who was only 29.

Helen Tait Broadfoot may have been called Ellen. I know most of her children moved to England. She was born in Scotland on 25 May 1862 in Kells and died 23 July 1943 in Dalbeattie. Helen's parents were Alexander Tait and Agnes Tait. They probably were cousins. I have worked on her parents and grandparents but not paid for all their vital and census records as yet.

Walter died in 1989. He had no children. I always thought it was cute how he signed his letter to me with a kiss from his wife Ruby.

Day 16: Granite Hewer John Broadfoot: Living in 1911

Granite Hewer

John Broadfoot's Story

Day 16

Living in 1911 in Dalbeattie

1911 Census, John Broadfoot and Helen Tait

Midge's Office Examining the 1911 Census Record Headings

The 1911 Scotland census spans two pages. This is where I stopped transcribing last week. Today, I see why Helen Tait may not have been living at home in 1901. This census tells me that she had 5 children and one is no longer living. Perhaps she was in the hospital from miscarrying on the night of the census? 

Agnes (13), Hugh (10), Walter, (8) and Robert (5) are all listed in this last census while John is still alive. I know that after John dies, the family moves out of Scotland, not to America but to England.

I needed the headings on a transcribing form to decipher this census because it was hard to read. I used a tool at Flickr to make the crop shown here and a tool called Illuminate to blacken the text. What you are seeing her is how I work in my office with natural light and my magnifying glass to closely examine and transcribe what I think they say. Then, I enlarge each page on the computer monitor. It is a laborious process.

Day 15: Granite Hewer John Broadfoot: New Century

Granite Hewer

John Broadfoot's Story

Day 15

New Century in Dalbeattie

College Atlas, 1965

Life is changing for my Broadfoot family in Dalbeattie in the new century of 1900. John's father, Thomas Broadfoot died in 1899. His children from his first marriage to Jane Hannah are growing up and moving away from Dalbeattie. 

In the years since John and Helen are married, the century has changed. In 1897, their first child, a daughter named Agnes Tait Broadfoot was born. John and Jane's last child ("Great Auntie Peg") was 9 years old and became a big step sister. 

By the year, 1900, John and Helen welcomed a son named Hugh Harcomb Broadfoot. Then, Walter P, Broadfoot is born in 1902 and the last child, Robert McKinnell Broadfoot arrives in 1906. 

John Broadfoot is now 53 years old and has grandchildren to meet his youngest son. No wonder his hair is white.

In the census for 1901,  Helen is not in the house the night of the census. Why? I can account for the grown and moved away children. This means that I must study Helen Tait's family before she married John Broadfoot. I laughed when I discovered the fact that her parents BOTH have the last surname. 

As my father and I pieced our tree together, he and I struggled with the geography. We knew they were "lowland". In college I was required to buy an atlas for a Western Civilization course. I immediately ripped out the map of Scotland (shown here) and put it in my genealogy notebook. 

That's right, notebook. I had one notebook and my huge rolled up family tree.  Every so often, I would take out this map and look at it and wonder what Dalbeattie, Scotland was like. Not being a traveler, I really did not expect to know anything about it. It is great to stay home and learn about your ancestors.

Week Six: SELL THE COW

Reading Records in Scotland, 2015 (click this link to view this larger)

Sell the Cow

Week 6

"Ye canna sell the cow and sup the milk too!"

("You cannot have it both ways")

["Haud Yer Wheesht!" Your Scottish Granny's Favorite Sayings by Allan Morrison

Neil Wilson Publishing (May 31, 2011)]

It seems like I have been researching this family for most of my life! During this Scots Genealogy Do-over, I have been examining the many vital records and census pages. I have searched for and paid the fee to obtain the actual records looking for clues to help me find where they lived, causes of death and in some cases to examine the actual signatures of those who were witness to an event. Records like this are very complete. They were required by law to be accurate and were filed by the registrar. It gives who "present" at the event. 

As an educator, I feel that you need to examine these records (that I have gathered for teaching purposes) so that you can see the similarities and differences to our records in the United States.   You need to gather the GROS number of each record for your citations if you have Scot ancestors.

Example of a Birth Record (click here to view record)
You can see the full record of the birth and death of the infant son of John Broadfoot and his wife Jane Hannah. The baby boy was born in the afternoon and lived 3 3/4 hours at 178 High St. Dalbeattie, Scotland on 3 June 1878. This is a Statutory Death Record which I stumbled upon by doing a wide search for just the surname Broadfoot in Dalbeattie. By the way, this matches what is on the gravestone. Always great to see good solid info even if it is a sad event. 

Example of Marriage (click here to view record)
The marriage record of Thomas Broadfoot and Margaret Harcomb in 1851 was not online in 2002 so I followed the directions and sent to Scotland for it. I realize now that I would never have all these records if I had to use the process of sending for each vital record. It took several weeks to arrive in my mailbox. The one online is the same exact record. I could have waited but it was fun to get it in the mail.

Example of Death (click here to view record)
The death record for John Broadfoot, my paternal great grandfather, confirms his death on Alpine Street in Dalbeattie at the age of 74 of stomach cancer. Notice that BOTH his wives are mentioned and his place of birth is on this record. I have not been able to find that record of birth (in Creetown) His parents are listed as deceased with no marriage date. Many records also include that marriage information but this one does not. Most births do list the parents wedding date and location.

The GROS numbering system is important to learn so that you can be sure you have the right person/family in a location. Scotlands People explains the numbering system on this page for free. Many new research books explains the numbering but as Scotlands People holds ALL the original images you will have to use that Web site to pay for them. (All you will get from Ancestry.com will be the index that was taken in cooperation with from Family Search.)

"You can't sell the cow and drink the milk" too, as you have to have the original (for pay) records for your research. Use the index to help you locate the record. I have learned that the index is quite good because if I can't find a record (like John's birth), I can't find it in the index either.

Day 13: Granite Hewer: John Broadfoot

Granite Hewer

John Broadfoot's Story

Day 13

John's Second Marriage

John Broadfoot and his second wife, Helen Tait

Say what you will about step-mothers but I am very grateful for this woman to be married into my family. When Jane Hannah died in 1895, John must have started looking for a new wife right way because he married Helen fourteen months later on 12 June 1896. They married in Edinburgh. He was 43 and she was only 34 but at that time, she was a spinster in the true meaning of the word, as she had not been married before.

It states that he lived at 24 Alpine St. in Dalbeattie at the time of their marriage. Her brother, James Tait, commercial traveler and Thomas Randall Dale, Die cutter, presumably John's friend witnessed the wedding. (I can't be sure that the word "dale" doesn't describe die cutter but the comma is after Dale, not Randall).

Her brother, James Tait is essential to her story. When my grandfather left home at 17, he traveled and lived with that family before taking a job in Edinburgh to have enough money to come to America. James Tait had many children and I have found one to correspond with. The magic of the Internet continues.

Day 12: Granite Hewer: John Broadfoot

Granite Hewer

John Broadfoot's Story

Day 12

Brothers Broadfoot
Men from Dalbeattie

James, Thomas and John Broadfoot, abt. 1904-1905
from the family of John Broadfoot, used with permission

I think of these three young men as the "Brothers Broadfoot" or as a subtitle, "Men from Dalbeattie". Looking well and prosperous, this type of photo was popular in the early turn of the century. Whether this was taken in Dalbeattie or in Westerly, it is not known, because the original was lost in a house fire. 

My grandfather, Thomas is the tall man in the middle. On the left is James and on the right is John. This photo speaks volumes to Thomas and John's descendants. James (born in 1882), wearing a pocketwatch, and his brother John (born 1880) with his self confident look, came to America together on the ship Umbria. They both returned to Scotland at least once after that.

Fair haired, blue eyed, James Hannah Broadfoot, died in 1912, single and alone in Vernon, British Columbia. His grave is unmarked but his name is on the family stone in Dalbeattie. 

John, the ancestor of my California cousins, married his wife in Dalbeattie in 1906, after returning back to Scotland. His first child, Jane Hannah Broadfoot (notice she was named after his mother, Jane Hannah), was born in Westerly, RI. 

When I was young, Jean, as she was called, came to Providence to visit one summer and she helped me with the family history until 1971 when I had to put my research away to get married, work and have a family. 

Dark haired John was the only one of these men to become a skilled granite worker. He may have learned more skills in Barre, VT, a place long known to apprentice monument makers. He went there in 1906.

Light haired, Thomas, was my grandfather. He never left America once he came here. Born in 1884, he was younger than his other brothers and came here as a single man in 1904.

Day 11: Granite Hewer: John Broadfoot: Journeyman

Granite Hewer

John Broadfoot's Story

Day 11

John's Occupation

Photo taken my Kendra May Haney, 2012, used with permission

On all the vital records (his marriage, his death) and the census records and vital records of his children's births, John is listed as a stone cutter, granite hewer, granite hewer journeyman or monumental mason. One birth record says sculptor but I don't think he did statues. 

Built From Stone, a book on the granite industry in Westerly Rhode Island, gives a great two page spread (pages 150-151) on the occupations of granite workers. It defines "Stone cutter" as a high skill craftsman job (journeyman) who cuts the stone to the final size/shape and finishes the surface as required. This does match the photo that I have and have posted of John Broadfoot finishing a stone.

In 1901, he and his second wife and their children live at 12 Albert St. in Dalbeattie. This is significant because this is where this entrance to Dalbeattie Cemetery was photographed. Recently, I asked Caroline of Dalbeattie Matters if there was a street name near these gates and once she told me Albert St. then it was easy to use Goggle "Street View" to find out where the photo was taken.

The houses had changed so there doesn't seem to be another 12 Albert St. but at least I can see that he "walked to work". The shed in the photo of him with the gravestone may be on the grounds of the cemetery. We will never know.

Tombstone Tuesday: Day 10: Granite Hewer John Broadfoot

Granite Hewer

John Broadfoot's Story

Day 10

Great-Grandfather, John Broadfoot, 1923

John Broadfoot, oldest son of Thomas and Margaret (Harcomb) Broadfoot, was by some mention in my oral family history, not a very like-able man. 

My father told me that his father told him, that John is the reason almost all of his children came to America to escape their father, a overbearing and argumentative Scot. 

Family records say he was born in Creetown, Dumfriessshire, Scotland on 6 Feb 1853 but Scotlands People does not have a record of his birth that I can find. Perhaps he doesn't want it to be found? 

The first record he appears in is the 1861 census when his parents have been married for ten years. They live on Bank St. in Creetown and John's age is listed as 8 which fits with his supposed year of birth.

Creetown is a small seaside town with a port that shipped local granite. So, it is fitting that he be born here and have early exposure to the world of granite. A look at Google Maps shows the River Cree flowing into a Ferry Burn into the town and not very wide Bank St. is inland just off the center of town. Of course, the structures and walls are made of stone.

John goes to school with his brother, Hugh, leaving little Eliza home with her mum. The 1871 census record of this family is nowhere to be found as yet. But, we know that there are several more children in this family from their birth records. John's little sister Mary who was born in 1871 in Creetown did die 4 Oct 1875 in Dalbeattie. That time period, 1871-1875, tells us that is when they moved from Creetown to Dalbeattie.

Day 9: Asleep in Jesus: Jane Hannah

Asleep in Jesus

Jane Hannah's Story

Day 9

Broadfoot Gravestone in Dalbeattie Cemetery, collection of the Broadfoot family
original photo held by Midge Frazel given to her by Margaret Broadfoot Toon


Carving the Family Gravestone

As you can see, Jane Hannah, wife of John Broadfoot, who fell asleep in Jesus, 2nd April 1895 in the 44th year of her age, is carved at the very top of this stone. [1 Corinthians 15:20] 

When given this photograph, I noticed how different it was from the ones in the plot where Jane's son,  my grandfather, Thomas and his family are buried in America. I asked my father if his father, Jane's son, made the gravestones for himself and my grandmother. He did not. They had unmarked graves until my father and his siblings hired someone to make them. I'm glad they did.

In Scotland, women's maiden names are often carved on the stone. People who died elsewhere are often added even though they are not buried here. The ones I have examined, when readable, are a great addition to their family history. 

I can't be completely sure, but Jane Hannah's husband, John carved this stone. Did he carve his wife and infant son's names and dates on at the same time.  I can't be sure.He was skilled enough to do the ribbon carving at the top.

But, at least what is carved here is perfectly accurate and matches all of the records I have found. I am pleased to see confirming evidence.

Rest well, Jane Hannah, wife of John Broadfoot. We will remember you and your story.

Day 8: Asleep in Jesus: Jane Hannah

Asleep in Jesus

Jane Hannah's Story

Day 8

The Death of Jane Hannah Broadfoot

In March of 1895, Jane took ill and the doctor was called for. She died after 8 days illness and died on 2 April 1895 at 1:30 in the afternoon at her home at 12 John St. She was only 43 years years old. She must have thought of her own mother Jane Smith Hannah who died young at 45 years of age.

The doctor who was present, along with Jane's husband, John Broadfoot, witnessed her sickness of 8 days and her death at home. She died of phthitis pneumonia which might be caused by inhaling granite dust. (Source: Book at Google Books) However it was also a catch-all term for tuberculosis, which many people died of in this time period.

John's parents were both still alive. John's oldest daughter, Jane Smith Broadfoot did not marry until 1903. Little Margaret was only 7. It must have been a sad time.

Day 7: Asleep in Jesus: Jane Hannah

Asleep in Jesus

Jane Hannah's Story

Day 7

Living on John Street in 1891

Typed date from Family Letter to Midge Frazel, 1971

Jane Hannah and John Broadfoot move to John St. by the time their daughter Esther Wakeman Broadfoot is born on 20 May 1886. The exact date of their move isn't known.

Younger Daughters

Esther Wakeman Broadfoot is the only child of Jane and John to have never left Scotland. She married Francis or Frank Ferguson in 1912 and had a child named Olrig Douglas.  She died in November of 1928, just a few years after her father, John died. She is listed on the gravestone at Dalbeattie Cemetery. Her marriage to Mr. Ferguson may have been "rushed" as her son was born in December when the couple just married the July previously. The descendants of John Broadfoot and Jane Hannah are wondering about Esther's marriage. and life.

Margaret Harcomb Broadfoot (known as "Great Auntie Peg") was born at John St. Dalbeattie in 1888. Margaret and Esther were close in age so it wasn't a surprise to see her name as witness to her sister's wedding. 

In the 1891 census, all of Jane's children live with her and John. It is the last record of this family together. The children range from 14 to 2 years old.  

After gliding down John St. with Google Maps, I can look in the window and imagine Jane with little Esther and Margaret, watching for those in school to come home.

Day 6: Asleep in Jesus: Jane Hannah

Asleep in Jesus

Jane Hannah's Story

Day 6

Living on High St. in 1881
[information about High St.]

Jane Hannah and John Broadfoot live on High St. in Dalbeattie in 1881 in a private house. On their marriage record, they are both living in Dalbeattie but she is doing "household duties" in her father's household as an occupation. Both are listed as 24 years of age. 

Robert Hannah died at Garden Cottage on High St. in Dalbeattie on 10 Dec 1883 of heart failure. Having this death record of Jane Hannah's father made me re-examine the birth records of his grandchildren,

178 High St. Dalbeattie, 2009

Jane's first child, born in 1877 at 178 High St, was Jane Smith Broadfoot. Named for her late grandmother, she married in Scotland and came to America with her husband and three sons. 

I did know her but at that time (about 1960s) she was a gentle old lady who lived with my aunt and uncle at the end of her life. I didn't know her name wasn't Jean until I found her birth record. She was born at 178 High St. Dalbeattie.

Jane's infant son, lived only 3 3/4 hours. He was born and died at this address in 1878. In 1880, the next child, John Broadfoot was also born here. He is the ancestor of my California cousins and the only skilled monument maker of this generation. James Hannah Broadfoot, was born in 1882 at 178 High St.  He died as a young man, unmarried with no descendants.

Then, of course, Robert Hannah, the grandfather died in 1883 at Garden Cottage, High St. However, my grandfather, Thomas was born in 1884 at Garden Cottage. It really makes me wonder if Garden Cottage is across the street. 

The next child, named Esther Wakeman Broadfoot was born 20 May 1886 at John St., so the family moved to John St. between 1884 and 1886. 

The last child, Margaret, was born at John St. I met and corresponded with her while I was working on my family history when I was a young woman. She helped me identify people and put them in the right order. Thank you Great Auntie Peg.

Day 5: Asleep in Jesus: Jane Hannah

Asleep in Jesus

Jane Hannah's Story

Day 5

Moving to Dalbeattie

Sometime between the 1871 census and her marriage in 1876, Jane Hannah moved with her widowed father, Robert, and her youngest brother, James to Dalbeattie. 

The enumerator of the 1881 census did not write clearly and he crossed out and wrote over. He stuck three names in the space for two at the bottom. It is only through the available index that I can see that two names are Robert Hannah and James Hannah who live with them on High St. in Dalbeattie. The other man is a visitor. He is a joiner and possibly a friend of James since he was born in Caervalerock.

1881 census cropped, example for teaching purposes, 2015

At this point in time, Robert Hannah is "retired" as indicated by the term formerly in front of his occupation and son James is a granite hewer. It is possible that it is because of James choosing a profession, they moved to Dalbeattie. James may have apprenticed with John Broadfoot and that's how John and Jane met. We will never know.

Jane Hannah and John Broadfoot marry in the Evangelical Union Church in Dalbeattie on 29 December 1876. Her sister, Jannett Hannah is a witness.  They were married by a minister named Robert Robertson. John's occupation is listed as a Mason Journeyman. 

This photo, originally owned by my cousins in California, burned in a house fire. Fortunately, the family had copies made before the fire or I would not know what Jane and John looked like. She looks like a strong woman.

Family history sometimes has strange coincidences. My parents chose to be married on 29 December without knowing that my father's grandparents were married on that date. She is wearing drop earrings and had a pocket watch on her vest. 

The church they chose to be married in no longer exists. It was called the Evangelical Union Church.

Day 4: Asleep in Jesus: Jane Hannah

Asleep in Jesus

Jane Hannah's Story

Day 4

In 1861, my great grandmother, Jane Hannah is nine years old and is in school with her younger brother Adam who is six, and her older siblings, Robert who is fourteen and Margaret who is twelve. 

Little Janet (or Jannett) is only 4 and is at home with her mother. Robert Hannah, the father, is 46 and is a ploughman. Being a ploughman is back breaking work. It means he ploughs the fields to prepare the land for crops. With a sheep and cattle farm, this means food for the herds of cattle and sheep plus food for the family.

 It doesn't say if he still works at Merkland Farm but it is probable that he travels to there to work. Jane Smith, Jane's mother is 42. They live at Nether Locharwoods Cottage in Ruthwell. They have two rooms with one or more windows.

In 1865, Jane Smith, my third great grandmother dies on 23 March. Her youngest son, James, born on 12 April 1861 doesn't appear on the 1861 census even though he was born by that day. He was a toddler when his mother died of a tumor in her abdomen that obstructed her intestines. She was only 45 years old.

In 1871, Jane Hannah is running the household for her father, age 45 and they live at Merkland at "Merkland cottage". Her sister Janet (Jannett) is 14 and no longer listed as a scholar. Little James is in school at age 9.

The farm is being managed by Robert Smith and his wife and their children. Because Robert is the farmer, it tells us the farm has 110 arable acres and 200 acres moss. He employs 2 men and 2 women. One man is a shepherd and one woman is a field laborer and are listed in Robert Smith's household.

Robert's brother, Adam Smith is listed with his wife and children. These men inherit Merkland Farm. I am glad this was all on one page of this census. It is always fun for genealogist to find one page of the census that tells us so much.

Day 3: Asleep in Jesus: Jane Hannah

Asleep in Jesus

Jane Hannah's Story

Day 3

Merkland Farm, photo by Richard  Dengate, used with permission

Jane is born in 1851

Great-Grandmother Jane Hannah is not listed in the 1851 census because it was taken on 30 March 1851, a few weeks before she was born on 12 April 1851. She was baptized on 27 April 1851.

Her parents already had four children who were named Helen (1841), John (1844), Robert (1847) and Margaret (1848) . After her birth, her parents had three more children who were named, Adam (1854), Janett (1857) and James (1861). 

Of these children, Helen and Adam were named for Adam Smith and Helen Bell who were the maternal grandparents. Robert and Jane were named after their parents.

Another researcher reports that Jane's oldest sister, Helen, married William Henry Good in 1863 and moved to Australia. She was ten years older that my Jane.  It was from this researcher's posts on a message board that I found the location of this photograph of Merkland Farm and confirmed, from the photographer, the location of the farm and its GPS location: 55° 16′ 41.51″ N 3° 52′ 6.33″ W which when typed into Google Maps bring me to the road leading to the farm complex as it was in 2010.

The census page for 1851 lists Robert "Hannay" Hannah and his wife Jane Smith, living on the farm with her mother Helen ("Ellen") Bell Smith, as a widow, and her unmarried children, James, age 27, Robert age 25, and Margaret age 17. Only one farm servant is listed in their household so this truly was a Smith family farm.