Neilson/Nelson - Henderson - Douglas - Renwick families - Scotland

This page outlines my paternal grandmother's origins in Scotland, primarily in the Lanarkshire area east and south east of Glasgow, and from south and north of Edinburgh, all relatively close to each other as shown in the map below.

The primary source for this information is Scotlands People. Some information about the Renwick and Brunton families below comes from this website created by Charles Houston.

Quick Links to content on this page about William Neilson

From 1620 to late 1600s - The Bruntons of Walkerburn, Traquair and Kailzie and nearby areas

According to a descendant, members of the Brunton family were recorded in the area around Walkerburn from the 1620s. A John Brunton was recorded living in the Kailzie area from the 1680s. A John Brunton was recorded in an area known as Grieston, the location of a 'peel tower' (one of several along the Tweed River), about 1.5 kms north west of Traquair house, in 1684. The same family was also farming Orchard Mains, just south of Grieston, in the 1690s.

The property named Traquair House dates back to 1107 as a hunting lodge. It has been lived in by the Stuart family since 1491. For more details and history see the Traquair House page.

See below from 1720s for more details.

From 1609 - The Renick, Rennick, Ranick, Ranwick, Renwick families

A William Renwick married Christain/Christian Brunton in 1747 in Peebles.

According to Charles Houston, the Renwick name originated in Cumbria on the western side of Scotland. The earliest birth record in Scotland's People appears to be of Johne Rennick, the son of Robert Rennick, who was baptised on 17 September 1609 in Dumfries (Ref 821 10/31).

Ashkirk is a small village half way between Selkirk and Hawick, south of Edinburgh in the Borders area, in the same area where the Bruntons were located. Children with the surname Renik (all with different fathers) were baptised in Ashkirk from 1630 to 1635. Children with the surname Rennick were baptised in nearby Hawick from 1643 to 1650. Two children (with different fathers) also with the surname Rennick were baptised in Ashkirk in 1651 and 1653. A child named Robert Rennick was baptised in 1658 in Jedburgh (north east of Hawick).

Whether or not they were originally from the Cumbria area, it is clear that people with the surname Renik, Rennick, and Renwick were located in the Ashkirk - Hawick - Selkirk area from the early 1600s.

Before 1676 - John Archibald marries Isabell Paul - Inveresk (Edinburgh)

Inveresk parish is of a semicircular form, lying round Musselburgh bay, four miles from Edinburgh. It is two miles and a half in length, and about, the same in width. The parish includes the town of Musselburgh. (Source and for further information about Inveresk, see: this site.

Based on the birth records of three of their children listed below, John Archbald (bap 1 May 1654, Inveresk) is believed to have married Issobell/Isabell Paul (born around 1660 at Inveresk) before 1681 (Ref TBA, their marriage is not obvious in Scotland's People, this Ancestry page suggests that they married at Musselburgh, Midlothian (part of Inveresk parish), in about 1675). They had the following children:

Before 1714 - James Archibald marries Margaret Deuar - Inveresk

Based on the birth records of their children, James Archbald/Archibald married Margaret Deuar/Dewar* sometime before 1714 (Ref TBA), presumably in the Inveresk parish where the children below were registered. They had the following children:

Margaret Deuar's surname is only recorded once as 'Dewar' against the names of her children. She may be the only recorded child of William Deuar and Jonet Cunningham, baptised in Edinburgh on 21 April 1689 (Ref 685/1 110/100), although this is but speculation.

Two other Archibald men had children around the same time in Inveresk:

They may be related somehow.

1710 to 1725 - The Hendersons of Hamilton

John Henderson and Ann Henderson, both of Hamilton, married in around 1741/42. While Ann is identifiable in the records, John's family is less obvious and needs further investigation.

Family of Ann Henderson

Based on the details of their children, it is believed that John Henderson* married Agnes Paterson/Peterson in Hamilton by 1710. They had the following children:

*John's parents cannot be positively identified but as it would have to have been at least 20 when his first son was born, he was probably born before 1690. Agnes Paterson is probably the daughter of Thomas Paterson and Jonet Haddow, baptised 24 April 1684, Hamilton (Ref 647 10/170) - there are no other Agnes Patersons born in the date range of 1650 to 1700.

Family of John Henderson

At around the same time, several other Henderson families had children, including a John Henderson who married the Ann Henderson above (born 1718). It is not possible to confirm with certainty which John Henderson married Ann (see below). Accordingly, all the possibilities are listed below.

Most likely option: John Henderson* and Jean Wilson, who had the following children:

*Given the names of the children, John may be the son of John Henderson and Isabel Roberton, baptised 8 August 1690 (Ref 647 20/6), and the brother of James Henderson (baptised 14 October 1694 (Ref 647 20/234)), while Jean may be the daughter of Agnes Wilson.

Less likely option: James Henderson and Elizabeth Leaper, who had the following children:

Not considered likely: John Henderson and Ann Wilson,who had the following children:

1720s - Brunton children baptised in Traquair Parish

At least two men with the surname Brunton are recorded having their children baptised in Traquair parish in 1726. It is not known if these two men are related.

John Brunton married Isobel Tait on 26 June 1726 (Ref 771/00 ??/??).

A John Brunton (from Grieston) had an unnamed daughter baptised on 2 June 1727 (Ref 771/00 10/26).

John Brunton and Isobel Tait had a daughter:

John Brunton had two children baptised on the same day in July 1732:

A John Brunton had a son baptised in 1735:

An Adam Brunton had two children baptised in 1733 and 1735:

John Bruntons from Traquair

The following children were born one or more John Bruntons:

1747 - William Rennick marries Christian Brunton

William Rennick/Renwick, a couper, married Christian Brunton (the one born in 1729) on 9 July 1747 at Peebles (Ref 768/40/61). It is believed that Christian was the daughter of John Brunton and Isobel (nee) Tait, but this is not confirmed (and may not be confirmable).

It has not been possible to confirm William's parents or other details. Based entirely on dates, he might be either of the following:

William and Christian Renwick (nee Brunton) had at least two children:

A William Rennick died at Peebles on 6 May 1752 (Ref 768/50/41). It is not known if this person may be the same as the William above.

George Ranwick/Christian Brunton - Peebles and Traquair

Curiously, a George Ranwick had children with a Christian Brunton in Peebles from 1765.

George Ranwick was born before 1745, possibly in Peebles. He married Christian Brunton before 1765. It is not known if George is related to William (who also married a Christian Brunton), or if the Christian Bruntons are related (or potentially the same person?). It was earlier speculated on this site that George's wife Christian may be the same Christian Brunton who was previously married to William Renwick above (perhaps after the death of William). However, given their likely ages when they married, and as two other Christian Bruntons were baptised in 1740 in Peebles (Ref 768/30/84) - ) and 1750 in Traquair, it seems more likely that this Christian was one of these two, and not William's wife.

George and Christian Ranwick had two children, only one of whom has been found in Scotland's People so far.

The Renwick line documented on this page is descended from Thomas Renwick (baptised in 1768). See below from 1794 when Thomas married Mary Stoddart. Thomas Ranwick died on 22 October 1857 in Peebles.

A Christian Brunton died in Peebles on 15 May 1800 (Ref 768/50/376). This person may be related to others above.

By 1742 - John Henderson marries Anne Henderson - Hamilton

John Henderson married Anne Henderson in Hamilton on 31 May 1741 (Ref 647 20/490). They had the following children:

1751 - Violet Archbald marries James McLennin [sic] - Inveresk

James McKLennin [sic] married Violet Archibald on 26 June 1751 at Inveresk (Ref 689 120/379). They had the following children:

1766 - The Douglas family of Bo'ness

Abraham Douglas/s was the son of Abraham Douglas and Agnes Hardie. No other details are known (yet) about this family. Abraham (the son of Abraham and Agnes) married Margaret Anderson (8 December 1748, Bo'ness - ) on 3 August 1766 in Polmont (Ref 487 20/143), with banns the previous day, about 5 kms away, in Bo'ness, ref 663 50/43).

Abraham and Margaret Douglas (nee Anderson) had the following children. If the family were following naming conventions it seems unusual not to see an Agnes:

Abraham Douglas was a coal miner at Bo'ness. On 2 March 1778, Abraham, along with David Robertson and Walter (Snaddon?) were killed, 'burnt in the pit'. It is not yet known exactly what happened to Margaret and the children. The three possibilities are as follows:

The story continues below with possibly career of their son Robert Douglas from the early 1800s.

Another Abraham Douglass at Bo'ness

Another Abraham Douglass (spelled with two s), perhaps a cousin of the other Abraham with a father named Alexander and mother named Margaret (based on first boy/girl children names), married an Isabel Reid (possibly the daughter of an Andrew Reid and Marion, again based on names of children) in Bo'ness on 31 March 1770 (Ref 663 50/58). They had the following children:

By 1775 - Robert Henderson marries Margaret Nicol - Hamilton

Robert Henderson married Margaret Nicol in Hamilton before 1775 (Ref TBA). They had one son:

Interestingly, a Janet Renwick, married to another Robert Henderson, gave birth to a number of children in Hamilton from 1764 to 1774. Could this Janet have also been from Traquair and the reason why other Renwicks moved to the Hamilton area? Or is this just coincidence of names?

By 1780 - John Penman marries Helen Brown - Liberton (Edinburgh)

Based on the birth details of their children, John Penman married Helen Brown, possibly in Lasswade, by 1789 (Ref TBA, the marriage is not obvious in Scotland's People). They had the following children (note that they appear to have moved after the first two were born):

Abraham was destined to meet Janet McLennan - see next paragraph.

By 1789 - Samuel McLennan marries Janet Adamson - Newton (west of Edinburgh)

Samuel McLennan married Janet Adamson on 1 March 1776 at Newton (Ref 696 40/370). They had two daughters:

1790 - Janet Renwick marries George Brunton - Peebles

Janet Renwick (abt 1765, Peebles - 22 June 1824) married George Brunton (1766, Peebles - 5 June 1838, Peebles) on 13 August 1790 at Peebles (Ref 768/40/128, M117686). George and Janet Brunton had the following children:

Further details of the Brunton family are known but not recorded here.

1794 - Thomas Renwick marries Mary Stoddart - Peebles

Thomas Renwick (baptised around 19 June 1768, Traquair Parish, Peebles (Ref C117712 and 1851 census) - 22 October 1857, Peebles), a weaver, was the son of George Renwick and Christian Brunton. Thomas' only surviving sibling, his sister Janet Renwick (born 1765), had married George Brunton in 1790.

Thomas Renwick married Mary Stoddart (1770, Selkirk - 10 July 1827, Peebles) on 28 December 1794 at Peebles (Ref 768 40/0 (banns), Ref 768 40/136 (marriage). The banns reference states:

28 December 1794. There is a purpose of marriage between Thomas Renwick, weaver, and Mary Stoddart both in this Parish in 2 days, daughter of the deceased John Stoddart(,) smith in Selkirk'.

The marriage record states:

'December 28: Thomas Renwick, weaver in this parish and Margaret [sic] Stoddart in this Parish, daughter of the deceased John Stoddart Smith in Selkirk were proclaimed in order to marriage and were married by the Rev'd.

Thomas and Mary Renwick were said to have had the following children but the details below have not been found in Scotlands People.

Abt 1797 - Thomas Henderson marries Anne Frame - Dalserf

Thomas Henderson (bap 1776) of Hamilton married Anne Frame* of Larkhall on 1 January 1797 in Hamilton (Ref 647 30/424). Thomas and Anne Henderson had two children, both registered in nearby Dalserf:

*Anne Frame may be the Ann Fram born to Thomas Fram and Marion Watson, baptised on 26 March 1780 at Liberton, Lanarkshire; if it is this one, it appears that Thomas and Marion had the following children, including two earlier daughters named Ann Fram, who are both assumed to have died:

Another Henderson family, Robert Henderson and his wife Janet (nee Davidson), also of Larkhall, had children also registered in Dalserf in a similar timeframe, suggesting that Robert and Thomas may have been related:

1803 - Thomas Renwick marries Marion Ritchie

The details of this family are included on this page as there are similar names and dates with the line of Renwicks who are the subject of this web page.

Thomas Renwick is believed to be the son of John Renwick (abt 1745 - ) and Elizabeth Forrest who married in 1764 in Tweedsmuir. Marion Ritchie was likely the daughter of Archbald Ritchie and Mary Leishman, baptised on 31 March 1782 in West Linton (Ref 773/10/233)).

Thomas Renwick (recorded as 'Ranich') married Marion Ritchie in West Linton (Ref 773/10/233)) in an 'irregular marriage' on 9 November 1802 in the small village of West Linton, about 10 kms north west of Peebles. A regular marriage was one that involved banns being read on three consecutive Sundays at the parish church. A minority were married by 'irregular' marriage in which a man and woman made a declaration in front of two witnesses, hence 'marriage by declaration'. Once they had this proof, the parties could obtain a warrant of a sheriff or substitute to have the marriage registered by the local registrar. Churches generally disagreed with this form of marriage.

Thomas and Marion Renwick had at least six children:

Early 1800s to 1815 - Possible life of Robert Douglas (born 1777)

As noted above, the coal miner Abraham Douglas was killed in a mining accident in 1778 when his youngest son Robert was less than a year old. It is not yet known exactly what happened to his mother, two sisters Margaret and Janet, and brother John after that event.

As we will see below, a Robert Douglas married in Old Monkland in 1815. Later census records would appear to suggest that this Robert Douglas was born in around 1777, which raises the question of what Robert was doing between around 1800 and 1815 when he might otherwise have married.

Although yet to be confirmed, a Robert Douglas was noted as being in the British military from 1808 to at least 1814 during the Peninsula War (on the Iberian peninsula). This Robert Douglas appears to be recorded in the list of British Army promomotions in 1813, in the 1814 and 1815 list of medals and awards for Gallantry and Long Service, and in the Waterloo Roll Call of 1815. Further research is required into the military records but this might explain why Robert did not marry until he returned to Scotland around 1815, aged 37/38, and then possibly worked in the Lasswade area of Edinburgh, possibly still with the military. Further research is required.

1810 - William Neilson of Cathcart

A William Neilson, the son of William Neilson and Isobel Rowan, was baptised in Cathcart on 3 June 1810 (Ref 560/10/182). Only four Neilsons were baptised in Cathcart between 1800 and 1820, in 1810 (William), 1817 (x 2, one a William) and 1819. This William Neilson (born 1810) may be the man who married Margaret Gardner there in May 1830 - see below.

1815 - Robert Douglas/Douglass marries Elizabeth Whillis/Willis - Old Monkland

As noted above the Robert Douglas born in 1777 in Bo'ness may have been in the military and only returned to Scotland in 1814/1815, where he decided to marry. Primary source documents seem to support the suggestion that this is the same Robert.

Robert Douglas married Elizabeth Whillis (born 1784) in Old Monkland on 4 February 1815 (Ref 652/10/466). Both were recorded as being 'in ths parish', not necessary from or of the parish. Elizabeth was the daughter of Joseph Whillis, a miner, and Agnes McClucky. The marriage register states 'Robert Douglas and Elizabeth Whillis both in this parish to be proclaimed three days' (Ref 652 10/466).

It is not yet confirmed, but it appears from the birth locations of their first two children that Robert and Elizabeth Douglas were living in Lasswade by early 1817. Perhaps Robert was still in the military and was based there. They then appear to have returned to Old Monkland by 1822.

Robert and Elizabeth Douglas had the following children. The details are also confirmed from Elizabeth's death certificate:

See below for the 1841 census record.

1817 - Abraham Penman marries Janet McLennan - Edinburgh

Abraham Penman (born in Liberton in 1792) and Janet McLennan (born in Newton in 1790 (Ref 696 20/272)) 'gave in their names for proclamation of their marriage' in Newton, west of Edinburgh on 21 February 1817 (Ref 696 40/357). Abraham and Janet Penman had at least two children:

It appears from the marriage and birth records that the family moved from Newton to Dalkeith, just south of Edinburgh. Janet Abraham (nee McLennan) may have died after the birth of her daughter Helenor (or Helen). However, while Helen may be the Helen Peaman [sic] who died on 17 April 1823 in Lasswade (Ref 691 70/272), there is no obvious death of her mother Janet. Did Abraham re-marry? Two other children were born to an Abraham Penman and a Barbara Mitchell in Dalkeith after 1821 - Sarah Penman was registered on 11 November 1827 (Ref 683 100/132), Abraham Bennet Penman was registered on 21 June 1829 (Ref 683 100/154).

1818 - Peter Ferguson marries Grizal Bryden - Muirkirk

Peter Ferguson married Grizal Bryden in Muirkirk in 1818 or earlier. They had at least one daughter, Jean Ferguson, who was christened in Muirkirk, Ayr, Scotland on 18 April 1819.

The map below shows the area south east of Glasgow where many of the people below this point lived.

October 1829 - William Neilson and Anne Henderson - Dalserf

On 5 August 1830, a boy named William Neilson, conceived from around October 1829, was born to William Neilson and Anne Henderson. The boy William Neilson was baptised on 17 March 1831 (Ref 638/20 112) in Dalserf, close to Larkhall. The birth register states that he was the 'illegitimate son' of William Neilson of the Parish of Bothwell, and Anne Henderson of Larkhall. This definitely makes him the William Neilson who married Grace Copeland (see below) as he put the same parents' names on his marriage record.

William Neilson's birth register, which appears to have been created at a later time from other records as the page also notes baptisms in 1832.

No birth with the surname Henderson was registered in Larkhall from 1800 to 1815 and so it is assumed that Anne was not born there. She may be the Anne Henderson, born on 26 (February?) and baptised in Dalserf on 15 March 1807 (Ref 638 10/106).

There is no marriage record for William Neilson and Anne Henderson, or any obvious death record for Anne. It is not known for sure who took care of the child. However, the 1841 census may provide some clues - see below.

1830 - William Neilson marries Margaret Gardener

A William Neilson married a Margaret Gardner/Gardener on 8 May 1830 at Cathcart (Glasgow) (Ref 560/20/208).

Is it possible that William Neilson had had a relationship with Anne Henderson, who became pregnant, but decided to marry Margaret Gardener? It is only speculation at this point, as there is no other reason to connect William Neilson and Margaret Gardener.

William and Margaret Neilson of Cathcart had several children before 1841, and the birth place of the children indicates that they moved about before 1841:

This family (along with another at Bothwell) appears in the 1841 census with a William Neilson and an Andrew Gardner aged 18, aged 10 - see below.

1830 - George Renwick marries twice

George Renwick (1796 - 1874) married twice. His first wife was Janet Stark (1796, Dolphinton, Lanark - 6 June 1861, South Side, High Street, Peebles) who he married on 4 July 1830 in Peebles (Ref 768/60/356 Peebles, also 759/40/60 & 61 Drumelzier). George and Janet Renwick had one daughter:

In later life, on 6 January 1862 he married Agnes (or McClapetry) Baird (1808, Peebles - 1872, Northgate, Peebles). George Renwick was recorded in April 1851 as a horse breaker at Southside, High St, Peebles. In April 1861 he was recorded again as a horse breaker at High St, Peebles. By April 1871 he was a horse trainer at Northgate, Peebles.

1832 - James Renwick marries Lilias Simpson

James Renwick (bap 24 July 1810, Newlands, Peebles - 1855, Lasswade (Ref 691/70)), the son of Thomas Renwick and Marion Ritchie, married Lilias Simpson (born 1809 - ?) in 1832. James and Lilias Renwick had the following children and are included here only because they had a son named Thomas Renwick born around the same time as another Thomas who married Isabella Simpson, see below (1835) who is the subject of this page:

1835 - John Renwick marries Isabella Simpson/Simson

John Renwick (born around 1798, likely in Peebles) was the son of Thomas Renwick and Mary Stoddart from Peebles. Thomas was working as a shoemaker in Kirkcaldy by 1835.

John Renwick and Isabella Simpson (baptised 1812 at Prestonkirk, East Lothian/Linton) married on 12 December 1835 in Dysart Parish, Kirkcaldy, Fifeshire (Ref 426 70/108). (Other references suggest, incorrectly, they were married in Lasswade).

Their marriage record, which curiously has 'Renwick & Peebles' written on the left side, with 'Peebles' crossed out and replaced by 'Simpson', states the following:

12th December John Renwick, shoemaker in this Parish, son of Thomas R[enwick] in Peebles, and Isabella Simpson [sic] in this Parish, daughter of the late John S, were cont'd (contracted) and after (were) married'.

It has not been possible to locate any other details for Isabella but it is believed she is not related to Lillias Simpson who married James Renwick in 1832. Given the location and dates, Isabella's father may be the John Simpson who died in Dysart, aged 78, on 29 September 1834 (Ref 426 80/293, the only person with that name to die in Dysart from 1770 to 1835), or perhaps that was her grandfather?. Further research is required.

John and Isabella Renwick had three children. Curiously, none of these births have yet been found in Scotland's People (which is odd); some of the details shown are from Charles Houston's research.

While it only speculation, it is noted that an Isabella Beveredge had two children with her husband George Simpson (married 27 November 1820 (Ref 685/1 540/365): (1) A daughter named Agnes Smith Simpson baptised on 2 September 1829 (Ref 685/1 560/172) and (2) a daughter named Mary Simpson baptised on 28 October 1833 in Edinburgh (Ref 685/1 560/454).

Abt 1837 - Jean Ferguson marries James Coupland/Copland - Muirkirk

Sometime before 1837, Jean Ferguson (1819 - ) met and married James Coupland (Copland, Copeland)(born abt 1814). James and Jean Coupland/Copland/Copeland had the following children:

1841 census

Renwicks

The following are recorded at reference 768/4/7 in Peebles, Peebles in the 1841 census:

John Renwick is recorded with his family at 'Village', Lasswade (possibly on the west side of Lasswade, based on the entry before this one) (Ref 691/2/9).

James Renwick is recorded living at Lasswade with his family (Ref 691/6/1):

Not far away, at reference 691/6/11, are the following Renwicks, included only because of the similar first name Lillias.

Douglas Family

Robert Douglas, aged 65 (which is close to him being born in 1777), is recorded at Airdrie/New Monkland in the 1841 census with the following individuals:

It is not known where Robert's wife Elizabeth was on this date. Their son Abraham was 17 at this time. There is no one with that name and age in the 1841 census in Scotland.

Their daughter Agnes was 14 at the time and may already have been working elsewhere. There are two Agnes Douglas aged 14 in the Lanark area in the census. Further research is required.

Robert Douglas died after 1841. His wife Elizabeth (recorded as Elizabeth Willis) married William Boyd in Old Monkland on 22 October 1843 (Ref 652/30/218). Elizabeth's youngest child, Isobel/Isabella, was 11 years old at the time. She died before 1855, according to her mother's death certificate (see below).

Another Abraham Douglas is recorded in the 1841 census in Barony, Lanarkshire, with a wife and two children (Ref 622/59/7, Barony, Lanark). They are included here for cross reference purposes only, it is not known if they are related.

Henderson family

Thomas Henderson (abt 1775 - ) may be the person of the same name, aged 65 registered in Hamilton, Lanark, in the 1841 census at the same location as an Agnes Henderson aged 50 (Ref 647 6/5). His son Robert may also be living in Hamilton at that time - there are two Robert Hamiltons aged 45, one living with an Isabella (aged 45), Robert (aged 13), Arthur (also aged 13), William (aged 9), Janet (aged 7) and Margaret (aged 3) (Ref 647 17/9); the other apparently living close by (Ref 647 15/5) with his likely children: James (aged 23), Marion (aged 21), Thomas (aged 17), May (aged 14), Jean (aged 5), and David (aged 4).

Anne Henderson (who appears again below) cannot yet be positively identified in the 1841 census; she may have been born in Larkhall in 1807 and listed in the Dalserf Parish register, daughter of Thomas and Anne Henderson.

Nelsons at Bothwell

The father of William Neilson born in 1830 was from Bothwell. In the 1841 census we find two possible links:

It seems unlikely that William senior would name two children William, and this tends to discount the possibility that that the 10 year old living with the Scott family is the same William born in 1830. See also the 1851 census.

Neilson family at Airdrie

The family of William and Margaret Neilson - whose relationship with the Neilsons at Muirkirk and Leshmahagow (below) is not certain - appear in the 1841 census at Airdrie (ref 23/9) along with a young man who may be Margaret's brother.

At some point before the 1851 census, this family moved to Sorn.

Penman family

Interestingly, two women with the name Janet Penman appear in the 1841 census in Bothwell, Lanark, the same location where William Neilson's family lived.

Carnbroe is a village on the northern boundary of the old parish of Bothwell, a mile or so from Bellshill. It adjoins Old Monkland Parish and is nowadays part of North Lanarkshire whereas Hamilton, Wishaw (Cambusnethan is Wishaw), Dalserf are in South Lanarkshire.

1842 - Abraham Douglas marries Janet Penman - Old Monkland

Abraham Douglas, the son of Robert Douglas (1777 - before 1843), quite likely met Janet Penman, the daughter of Abraham Penman, because they both lived and works near the Carnbroe coalworks.

The banns for the marriage of Abraham Douglas and Janet Penman were registered on 12 February 1842 at Old Monkland/Coatbridge (Ref: 652/30, Page 191 of 587).

Abraham's brother, John Douglas registered his marriage to Janet Barr 'both in this parish' on 29 January 1842. Two other as yet unidentified people with the surname Douglas are also present in the 1841 in Old Monkland - Sarah Douglas, aged 18 (Ref 652 19/5) and Alexander Douglas, aged 19 (Ref 652 40/17).

Abraham and Janet Douglas (nee Penman) had the following children:

1851 census

Douglas family

As noted above, Robert Douglas died between 1841 and 1843 and his wife Elizabeth married William Boyd in 1843. We find Elizabeth Boyd in the 1851 census in Airdrie/New Monkland in the 1851 census (Ref 651/48/7). Her second husband William Boyd is not recorded. See below for the death of Elizabeth in 1855.

Abraham Douglas, the son of Robert and Elizabeth Douglas (nee Whillis), and his wife Janet (nee Penman) who married in 1842 have not yet been found in the 1851 census.

John Douglas, Abraham's brother, and his wife Janet (nee Barr) may be recorded in Barony, Glasgow (Ref 622/20/27) (aged 35 and 31 respectively).

Renwicks

Thomas Renwick (of the Peebles line), aged 83, (abt 1768 - 1857) was recorded in the 1851 census as a woollen manufacturer in High Street, Peebles. Three other Renwicks are living at the same location:

It is assumed that Isabella Renwick's husband Thomas Renwick had died by the time of the census. There are two possible matches in Scotlands People: Thomas Renwick died 22 January 1842 in Southdean and Abbotrule, and Thomas Renwick who died on 1 December 1843 in Southdean and Abbotrule.

The widow Isabella Renwick, is recorded in the Parish of Dalkeith, Midlothian (ref 683 7/27), aged 48 (born 1803) with her children and others.

James Renwick (aged 39) and his wife Lillias (aged 39) and their children James (11), John (8), William (6), George (3) and Lillias (0) are recorded in Lasswade, Midlothian (Ref 691/5/7).

William Neilson (1810 - ) and William Neilson (1830 - ) - Bothwell

The family of William Nelson who appeared in Bothwell in the 1841 census is still there in the 1851 census (Ref 625/7/36) with the surname Neilson:

However, (a) William Neilson (born 1830) is not obviously recorded and in any case, (b) why would William give a second son the same name? At this stage, they are not considered to be the same family and the focus is on the family at Sorn.

William Neilson (1810 - ) and William Neilson (1830 - ) - Sorn

The family of William and Margaret Neilson (who married in 1830) appear in the 1851 census in Sorn, Ayr (Ref 613/7/2), not far from Muirkirk. As a 'formstoner', he may have moved around to find work. As noted above, this family may not be related to the Neilsons below:

William and Margaret (recorded as 'Nelson') had another child, Elizabeth Nelson [sic], who was baptised in Sorn after the census on 16 June 1851 (Ref 613/30/394).

1855 - Death of Elizabeth Boyd/Douglas nee Whillis

Elizabeth Whillis/Boyd, previously Douglas, died on 22 February 1855. The informants recorded on her death certificate were her third son John Douglas a pit (foreman?), and Abram [sic] Douglas, a miner both of New Mains, Lanark. According to the certificate, Elizabeth was 61 and had lived in the Bathgate area, Old Monkland, Lanarkshire for 45 years. According to her death certificate she had been paralysed for the previous two years. Perhaps she had had a stroke.

As noted earlier, her parents were recorded as Joseph Whillis and Agnes McClucky. Her death certificate noted that her second husband was William Boyd, and they had had no issue. The ten children recorded already are noted, including the fact that several were already deceased.

Elizabeth was buried at East Chapel Burying Ground.

1859 - Grace Copland gives birth to James Copland - Muirkirk

Grace Copland gave birth to one James Mcmath Copland on 12 March 1859 in Muirkirk. (Ref C11607-1, Scotland-ODM, GS Film 6035516, Scotland's People Statutory Births 607/00 0039 - shows the birth as 'Illegitimate').

1861 census

Douglas family

Abraham Douglas and his family already noted above appear in the 1861 census at No. 19 in Bothwell, Lanark (Ref 625/1 5/22) as follows.

Renwick family

Isabella Renwick (nee Simpson) and her sons Thomas and Archbald appear in the 1861 census at Lasswade, Midlothian (Ref 691/4/21 and 22). The name of their location is given as 'Gorton Loanhead'.

The location of Isabella's daughter Mary Renwick, now aged 27, a 'general servant' in the 1851 census, is not known. Perhaps she married.

Isabella Renwick died before Thomas married in 1865, which may be connected with him re-locating to the mining area around Bothwell.

The following Renwicks are recorded at 691/8/21:

The following Renwicks are recorded at 691/8/22:

William Neilson

The family of William Neilson (born 1810) and Margaret Neilson (born 1810 (who married in 1830) and four children, again appear in the 1861 census for Sorn with the surname spelled Nilson (Ref 613/10/16):

Their children listed below are not listed at Sorn.

Copeland Family

The 1861 census show James and Jane Copeland (aged 46 and 41 respectively) along with the following children (including Grace's son), living at 13 Bridge Row, Muirkirk:

Before 1864 - William Neilson dies

According to William Neilson's 1864 marriage certificate, his father William Neilson (born around 1808) was already deceased. It has not yet been possible to positively identify when or where he died.

1864 - Isabella Renwick (nee Simpson) dies

Isabella Renwick (born 1803) died before her son Thomas married in 1865 (see below). She may be the person with that name who died at Holytown in 1864 aged 64 (Ref 625/2/54). Three other Isabella Renwicks died in 1862, at Southdean (mother was Jordon), Ednam (mother was Keddie) and Tweedsmuir (mother was Brown).

1864? - Thomas Douglas marries Janet Frew

Janet Penman Douglas' older brother Thomas Douglas (1844, Old Monkland, Lanark - ), a coal miner, married Janet Frew (1842, Hamilton, Lanark - ) before 1865. They had the following children:

Thomas Douglas and family were living at 1 Wemyss Row, Cambusnethan, in 1881, two doors from his sister and her family.

1865 - Muirkirk - William Neilson marries Grace Copland

William Neilson (born 1830) appears to have arrived in Muirkirk sometime before 1864. He met and married Grace Copeland (also shown as Copland and Coupland), a domestic servant and single mother, in Muirkirk, Scotland on 25 March 1864 (Ref 607/6).

William Neilson's marriage to Grace Copeland.

As can be seen in the image, William's name was shown as Nelson (perhaps a typographical error but if it is his father and siblings in Sorn, they were also known as Nelson and Nilson). He mis-stated his age - he said he was 29 but was in fact closer to 35. He seems to have persisted with this younger age; the 1871 census shows him as being 36. It is not known why this age was incorrectly given.

Grace's parents were shown on the marriage certificate as James Copland, a coal miner, and Jane Copland (nee Ferguson), while William's were shown as William Nelson, a deceased labourer, and Ann Henderson (without the MS, indicating she was not married). Witnesses to the wedding were Daniel Ferguson and William Coupland, who were probably Grace's uncles on both sides.

William and Grace Neilson had the following children. Grace was recorded as 'Grace Copland' for all of the children.

Grace's father James Copland/Coupland died in Stonehouse, Lanark, in 1867.

1865 - Thomas Renwick marries Janet Penman Douglas

Sometime before 1865 Thomas Renwick, the son of Thomas Renwick and Isabella nee Simpson, travelled to Coatbridge to work as a miner.

On 9 June 1865, the 25 year old Thomas Renwick (born 1837 - ), a coal miner in the area around Coatbridge known as 'the Monklands', married the 18 year old Janet Penman Douglas (born abt 1847). Janet was recorded as a domestic servant in Airdrie in the County of Lanark (Ref 651/1/75, page 38).

Their marriage certificate stated that:

Thomas and Janet Renwick had the following children:

1871 census - Copelands in Stonehouse, Lanarkshire

In the 1871 census, James Copland (aged 12) was recorded living with (presumably his grandmother) Jane Coupland (aged 51 and head of the household) at 53 King Street in the district/parish of Stonehouse, Lanarkshire County, along with Cornelius Coupland, her son.

1871 census

Renwick family

By the time of the 1871 census, Lilias Renwick is still living with her family in Lasswade (Ref 691/8/29).

The other children appear to be living separately at this stage. Further research is required to identify their location.

Neilson family

By the time of the 1871 census, the Neilson/Nelson/Nilson family were no longer recorded in Sorn. William Neilson's death after 1861 likely had something to do with this. It is not yet possible to locate the family.

The 1871 census shows William Neilson (aged 36) and Grace Copeland Neilson (aged 34) and children living at No 2 Draffan Rows, Lesmahagow, Lanark with his wife's uncle William Copeland, his husband Janet, and their daughter Marion. (Ref 649/1/15).

The census shows the following individuals:

The census recorded that William Neilson was born in Hamilton. There is no birth of a birth for that name in Hamilton; only the baptism noted in the Dalserf Church register. He may however have been brought up in Hamilton.

It is not known why daughters Jane Neilson (then aged 4) or Annie Neilson (then aged 2), were not recorded with the family in this census.

According to Julie MacRae, Draffan Rows were actually in Kirkmuirhill in the parish of Lesmahagow. The mines in the area were cannel coal mines so supplied the gas industry and would have been productive for supplying gas lighting. There was a railway network which linked Muirkirk, Lesmahagow and Dalserf with other stations which covered the coalfields. So it would have been fairly straightforward for miners and families to travel to other mining locations.

The following text (provided by Julie MacRae) is from 'The Annals of the Parish of Lesmahagow'

Mr. Smith states, that in 1834 the raising of gas coal in the parish gave employment to about forty pickmen. In addition to these pickmen, there were at that time from twenty to thirty men and boys employed under and above ground in connection with the coal works at Auchinheath, at Littlegill, and at Nethanfoot.

The following section describes improvements in conditions in 1864:

From these and other circumstances, without doubt, the miners' life is of more value now than it was in the times referred to, and there is a marked improvement in the general appearance of the lads of the present day ; but while this is the case, they are deficient in the bone and bulk of their sires and grand-sires. ... Thirty years ago the miners employed at the gas coal work were less removed from the ordinary day labourer and farm servant, than they are now, and many engaged themselves as such in seed time and harvest. At that time the miners' present practice of living upon credit, from one pay-day to another, was the exception, not the rule. This case is now reversed. Wheaten flour bread was then little used ; it is now almost universally so. At that time all this better class of workmen managed to purchase oatmeal in bolls or loads, at wholesale prices, and to lay up a winter store of potatoes. Now, the purchases are made in stones and pecks. It is proper to notice that there is an approximation to a more economical method of conducting matters, by the recent establishment of a co-operative store, or shop, of which the workmen are the proprietors. Thirty years ago the ordinary wages of a labourer were from lO shillings. to 12s. per week; they are now from 14s to 16s. per week above ground, and from 15s. to 21s per week for ordinary labour under ground.

1872 to 1876 - Birth and death of children of William and Grace Neilson

William and Grace Neilson appear to have moved to Lesmahagow after the birth of Peter Neilson in December 1870. They had three more children (who are already listed above): James Coupland Neilson (1872 - 1874); Robert Neilson (1874 - ?); and Agnes Neilson (1876 - ?)

1878 - Abraham Douglas (born 1856) marries Martha Neilson

Abraham Douglas (1856 - 1928, Larkhall), the son of Abraham Douglas (1817 - ) and Janet Penman, and a coal miner, married Martha Neilson (8 February 1856, Cambusnethan - ) in 1878 in Cambusnethan, Lanark. Martha was the daughter of Richard Nelson and Roseann Wilson. Abraham and Martha Douglas were recorded in the 1881 census at 59 Meadowhill, Dalserf, Lanark.

Abraham and Martha Douglas had the following children:

1878 - Death of Grace Neilson (nee Copeland)

Grace Neilson died in 1878, probably in Lesmahagow at her uncle's house, leaving William with several very young children. This may be related to his move to Dalserf.

William then married Maria Irving (nee Gill) the same year, but it is not yet know if this event was in Lesmahagow or Dalserf. William was the second of Maria's three husbands. Her first husband was James Mudge, also a coalminer, while the third was Frances Irving, a farm labourer. (Source: Julie MacCrae).

Sometime between 1878 and 1881 after Grace's death, William Neilson and his children (and possibly Maria) left Lesmahagow and moved about 12 kms north to the village (and registration area) of Dalserf (recorded as 'Cornsilloch, Dalserf').

1881 census - Thomas Renwick and family, Cambusnethan

The family of Thomas Renwick (aged 41, coal miner) and Janet Renwick appear in the 1881 census living at 3 Wemyss Row in Cambusnethan (Ref 628 8/47):

The family also had a border and probably Janet's younger brother, John Douglas, aged 20 (born Cambusnethan) and also a coal miner. Janet Renwick may be the person, aged 16, at Eastwood, Lanark (Ref 562 1/12).

The map above shows the towns in the area mentioned including Dalserf and Lesmahagow.

1881 census

Renwick family in Lasswade

The 1881 census indicates that some of the Renwicks listed above have remained in the Lasswade area.

Copeland family

In the 1881 census, James Copeland (now 22) and Cornelius Copeland (recorded as the son of Jane Copeland, aged 23 and a coal miner) are recorded in the same household with their mother Jane Copeland, now 61, along with a John Copeland aged 9, in Queen Street, Stonehouse, Lanarkshire County. (Source - Martha Parker).

1881 census - William Neilson and family move to Dalserf

William Neilson and his children - but not Maria - were recorded in the 1881 census living in Ashgill Rows. It is not yet known why Maria is not recorded in the same household. Maria's death is recorded in 1906, aged 63, from bronchitis and cardiac failure (Ref 628/2 15).

One Neilson descendent has suggested that the Neilsons may have been originally from Dalserf. Julie MacRae noted that the Neilsons would have moved possibly because of work availability as miners did move around a lot back then or possibly William wanted to be closer to family as he was the one who came from that area. They would have been allocated housing owned by the mine company which was Ashgill, Cornsilloch etc. It seems less likely (but not impossible) that they moved there to find work as the mining industry was still going strong in Muirkirk when the expansion of the Lanarkshire coalfield was happening in the second half of the 19th century. There are many Neilsons living in the Dalserf area who are likely to be relatives.

William Neilson senior (now aged 45) was recorded as a coal miner. The children recorded in 1881 were:

It seems that the then 15 year old Jane Neilson was living (and likely working) elsewhere. There are four or five Jane Neilsons around 15 years old recorded in the 1881 census in the Lanark area. Given the later connection with the Renwick family in Cambusnethan (see below), it may be that she is the 15 year old Jane Neilson recorded there in the census (628/6/31), but this needs to be verified.

William Neilson and family in the 1881 census.

According to the website Scottish Mining (http://www.scottishmining.co.uk), Ashgill Rows was described as follows in 1914:

There had been 32 single-apartment houses in this property, but some of these, have been so rearranged as to form two apartments. There are only three washhouses for the whole property. There are coal-cellars for all the houses ; but the closet accommodation is beyond description. The water supply is one stand well for the whole place. An open channel carries off the dirty water, and was stagnant when we saw the place. [Evidence presented to Royal Commission, 25th March 1914]

It is not known if Jane Neilson (who would have been 14) had died or was elsewhere at the time of the census. Also, there is no woman present in the house so it is not clear how William managed with such young children. The Dalserf mines, as with many others in Scotland, were not overly safe, as noted in this summary; it is perhaps surprising that none of the Neilsons were killed.

From 1882 - William Neilson (born 1864) in the military (before marriage)

Note: Details of William Neilson's military service have been taken from his military records.

Private William Neilson, No 236, was discharged from the 4th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers on 9 October 1882. Three days later, on 12 October 1882, the 19 year old William joined the King's Own Borderers at Berwick on Tweed. He was 5' 4 1/2" tall with blue eyes. On his Short Service Attestation he noted that he had previously served with the 4th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers. William is recorded in the King's Own Borderers Depot and 2nd Battalion Musters from 1 April 1882 to 31 March 1884. (Ref WO16/1593 and WO16/1590).

William embarked for India on board the Euphrates on 15 December 1883, where he would spend 5 years and 323 days. He arrived in India on 15 January 1884. The Borderers' 1st Battalion was already in India at that time, having served in the Afghan War under Lord Roberts from 1878 to 1880. It appears that William joined the Borderer's 1st Battalion during its 1881-1882 trooping season; the Battalion left Cherut for the foothills of the Himalayas, proceeding by route march across Northern India. They marched through the Punjab to Rawalpindi, then down through Jhelum, Ludhiana and Ambala on their way to Dagshai about 68 kms (by road) from Simla, 6,000 feet above sea level. They remained at Daghsai for three years.

Map showing the location of the small town of Dagshai relative to Ludhiana, Changigarh and Umballa

William's medical record shows that he was in Umballa (Ambala) on 28 January 1884 (probably on his way to join up with the Battalion), then Dagshai on 1 April 1884. Perhaps like other young soldiers, William was drawn to local women and on 1 June 1885 he was admitted to hospital at 'Jatehgarh' (?) for nine days suffering from 'primary syphilis'.

According to the article 'Sexually transmitted diseases and the Raj' by R Basu Roy, India was an unhealthy place where malaria, cholera, dysentery and smallpox were endemic. By the end of the 19th century, sexually transmitted diseaseas were becoming more common among British troops; by 1895 the rate of infection had reached over 500 per 1000 troops (up from around 200 per 1000 in 1866). The primary treatment for syphilis at the time was mercury, usually via an injection of mercuric chloride or calomel. Unfortunately, many or possibly most soldiers had relapses and in some stations many men did not receive the recommended course of treatment. As a result, many men had destructive lesions on their face, mouth and nasopharynx. The treatment for gonorrhoea was urethral lavage and some early antiseptics or astringents such as alum or zinc sulphate, often in combination by the end of the century - urethral irrigation with large amounts of dilute antisepctic solution. This method was common until the late 1930s. (Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1758083/pdf/v074p00020.pdf accessed 29 October 2017)

In the column titled 'Remarks on the nature of the disease; how induced; if mild or severe ... In venereal cases, state nature of primary disease and whether mercury has been given' etc, it states that William's condition was caused by 'contagion' and was regarded as 'mild'. The next two words are not clear but look like 'Croml [possibly short-form for colomel], Recovery'. A few months later, in October 1885, William was admitted again at the same hospital suffering from ague (fever), caused by mild malaria.

The 1st Battalion moved from Dagshai to Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. In December 1885, William contracted gonorrhoea and was transferred to the General Hospital in Meerut where he spent 26 days recovering. It was noted that the cause of the infection was 'contagion local'. He was discharged on 9 January 1886. Unfortunately, he either re-contracted or had a relapse of syphilis (again 'local contagion') and was re-hospitalised at Meerut with the condition on 12 May 1886 where he spent 29 days. On 19 August 1886, William was again hospitalised with ague caused by 'climate'.

William was apointed Lance-Corporal on 15 October 1886.

The King's Own Borderers became the King's Own Scottish Borderers in 1887.

William was promoted to Corporal on 20 September 1888. He was admitted to hospital in Delhi on 16 July 1889 for 26 days, suffering again from primary syphilis caused by 'contagion'; again, his condition was stated as 'mild'.

1886 - Annie Neilson marries Robert Thomson

Annie Neilson (baptised as Ann Neilson)(24 January 1869, Muirkirk, Ayr - ) married Robert Thomson in Dalserf on 3 December 1886 (Ref 638/2/19). They lived at one point in Leafield Cottage, next to the railway that transported the coal across some of the collieries of the South Lanarkshire coal field. This was a more substantial house than some of the other mine workers' houses. They had a number of children:

Grace Copeland Neilson gave birth to a child, Helen Wilson Kerr, in 1909 (Ref 638/2/140). She married in 1912, see below.

638/2 140 Helen Wilson Kerr born 1909, daughter of Grace

It has not yet been possible to identify when and where Robert Thomson died.

1889 - 1890: The Chin Lushai Expedition

Britain annexed Burma in November 1885 following their victory in the third Anglo-Burmese War but raids by local tribes in the Chin Hills against British territory continued (as they had since the early 1870s). In September 1889 the Indian Government authorised the establishment of the Chin-Lushai Expededition, the objects of which were: 'to inflict chastisement on such tribes as had committed depredations on British territory, to extend British influence over these and other tribes, to explore the country between Chittagong and Burma, to complete, if possible, a mule road between Bengal and Burma and, by the establishment of communications and military posts, to ensure the recognition of the paramount power and the pacification of the country'. (Source: The London Gazette, 12 September 1890).

William was in Mandalay (? - more likely somewhere between Dagshai and Delhi) on 24 September 1889. In October 1889 the 1st Battalion left Meerut for Calcutta, then on to Rangoon. William's record shows that he was posted to Burma from 3 November 1889 (the date of the Battalion's arrival). He appears in Rangoon on 11 November 1889.

According to a history (the name of which has been lost because the old photocopy didn't include the details), the Borderers joined the Burma Columns, totalling around 3,500 men, whose object was 'to punish and subjugate the tribes of the Chin Hills between the Assam border and the Chindwin. The force was divided into Northern and Southern Columns; the Northern column was already located in the Chin Hills at Fort White. The Borderers were with the Southern column (also known as the Chin or Gangaw Column), consisting primarily of Indian troops and artillery under Brig Gen W P Symons. Their objective was Haka, to the south of Fort White. The Southern Column approached the Hills from the east and targetted the Zomi tribe.

Map showing the location of Haka in Burma

The men were only lightly equipped with summer clothing, one blanket, a waterproof sheet, ammunition, boots and one pair of puttees. The Column marched to Kan, a march of 165 miles through completely unknown territory, arriving there on 10 and 11 December 1899. Many of the troops suffered from malaria and dysentary and were evacuated to Kalewa, and from there by steamer to base hospital. Monsoonal rains resulted in the destruction of much of the supplies, meaning that the men had to rely on very poor rations; tinned meat that sick men could not eat, preserved compressed vegetables, and mouldy biscuits. By the end of January the rains had subsided enough for better quality supplies to be transported in by road. William was recorded in Kan on 2 February 1990.

The advance of 64 miles from Kan to Haka was originally estimated to take around 10 to 12 days. However, the tangle of steep jungle hills and ravines made for slow headway and it took 66 days. 1,000 mules, nearly 600 ponies, and 69 elephants provided the transport. Chin villages were subdued along the way and some of the Borderers were killed; Chin villages were burned in retribution. The Borderers reached Haka by mid-February 1890. Unfortunately for many of the men (who had only summer kit), it became very cold and often below freezing at night. By March 1890 many of the men were weakened by sickness. From this time, men were sent down in batches to Pakokku where they were then transported by river boat to Rangoon. William arrived in Rangoon on 24 May 1890.

In December 1890, the 1st Battalion embarked at Rangoon for Bombay and England. William Neilson arrived in Scotland on 7 February 1891, where he remained with the military. He was awarded the India Medal of 1854 with a clasp inscribed 'Chin Lushai' 1889-90 on 16 March 1891, the Mounted Infantry Certificate on 28 December 1891, and a musketry certificate on 24 November 1892. He was promoted to Sergeant on 1 March 1892.

According to his service record, William was 'permitted to convert the remainder of his Army Service into Reserve Service' on 29 April 1893.

1890 - A Jane Neilson marries

A Jane Neilson married James Dunn in Dalserf in 1890 (Ref 638/2 13). It is not yet known if this is the daughter of William and Grace Neilson who was born in 1867. See below for the 1901 census.

1891 census, Dalserf

The 1891 census for Dalserf shows the following groupings of Neilsons. Annie Thomson (nee Neilson) and her family do not appear to be in the 1891 census, for reasons unknown. Further research (and access to the original images) is required to confirm relationships.

1892 - Birth of another Grace Copland Neilson

Another Grace Copland Neilson was born in 1892 in Dalserf (Ref 638/2/16). She was registered as the illegitimate daughter of Agnes Brown Neilson (born 1876). Ann Neilson, Agnes older sister, was recorded (as Grace's aunt) as being present at this birth.

1893 - Marriage of Agnes Brown Neilson

Agnes Brown Neilson, the youngest child of William Neilson and Grace Copeland, married James Hamilton at Ashgill, Dalserf in 1893 (Ref 638/2/13) 'after Banns and according to the norms of the Established Church of Scotland'. They were both 18 at the time. The marriage register records that Agnes was a domestic servant and James was an engine keeper at a coalpit. James' parents were John Hamilton, a former colliery manager (deceased) and Sarah Hamilton (nee Millar).

James and Agnes Hamilton had several children, in addition to Agnes' daughter Grace Copeland Neilson (who likely took the surname Hamilton):

Agnes Brown Hamilton (nee Neilson) died in 1899 - see below.

Note that another Sarah Miller Hamilton was born in 1898 in Dalserf (Ref 638/2/89). She may be a cousin, also named after her grandmother. She appears to have died in Dalserf in 1900, aged 2 (Ref 638/2/30).

1893 - William Neilson marries Janet Penman Renwick

Young William Neilson remained in Dalserf and eventually met and married Janet Penman Renwick (9 August 1866, Whifflet, Scotland (abt 20 kms east of Glasgow) - 21 January 1939, Richmond, Victoria, Australia) on 1 December 1893 in Cornsilloch, Dalserf, Scotland (Ref 638/2/20). As noted above, Janet Penman Renwick was the daughter of Thomas Renwick, a coal miner, and Janet Douglas who were married on 9 June 1865.

1894 - Death of William Neilson (senior)?

A William Neilson, aged 59, died in Dalserf in 1894 (Ref 638/2/29). This man may be the same as William Neilson, aged 55, in the 1891 census.

1894 - William Neilson works (briefly) at Peterhead Prison, discharged from military

On 8 June 1894, William (who was still in the military reserves at the time) began work at Peterhead Prison, Peterhead (north east side of Scotland), resigning on 1 October 1894. His address when he started working at Peterhead was 19 Ashgill Rows, 'by Netherburn', Lankarkshire. This job may have been an attempt to find suitable work outside the military.

According the then Project Coordinator of the Heritage Recovery Project of H.M. Prison Peterhead writing in 1999, 'William Neilson was only in the service from July to October 1894, not even three months. Plainly long enough for him to realise the Civil Guards corps of Peterhead prison was not for him. He had no demerit points against him, the section dealing with negative comment is blank, so he simply didn't like the job. Not hard to understand - he had enlisted in a unique corps that served only at Peterhead convict prison' ... 'Only in Peterhead were there firearm carrying guards. The Warder corps of this prison was also unique, in that they carried cutlasses.' ... 'Peterhead is quite a windswept area, the 'sea breezes' coming inshore with a chilling edge that made standing exposed at guard posts on the wall, or out atop Stirlinghill, looking down into the quarry, a less than appealing prospect day in day out'.

William was discharged from the military on completion of the first period of limited engagement on 8 October 1894, leaving on 8 December 1894. His involvement in the military did not stop, however, even after he married.

From 1894 - 1906: William and Janet Neilson's children

William and Janet Neilson had the following children. Sometime after Janet was born, the family moved from Muirkirk and lived at 27 Beechgrove Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow. During the time that the children were born, William served for periods overseas with the military - see below:

1899 - Death of Agnes Hamilton (nee Neilson), James Hamilton re-marries

Agnes Brown Hamilton (nee Neilson), who married James Hamilton in 1893, died of 'malignant scarlet fever', from which ailment she suffered for three days, on 14 February 1899 at Ashgillhead, Dalserf. She was 23 and recorded as the wife of James Hamilton and daughter of William Neilson (coalminer, deceased) and Grace Neilson (nee Copeland).

According to online resources, 'Scarlet fever, also known as scarlatina, is an infection that can develop in people who have strep throat. It is characterized by a bright red rash on the body, usually accompanied by a high fever and sore throat. The same bacteria that cause strep throat also cause scarlet fever.' It spreads easily. 'If left untreated, scarlet fever can lead to serious complications including rheumatic fever (an inflammatory disease that can affect the heart, joints, skin, and brain), kidney damage, ear infections, skin infections, pneumonia, and sepsis.'

James Hamilton then married Elizabeth Whiteford in Dalserf in 1899 (Ref 638/2/19).

1901 census - Neilsons (and related families) in Lanark (Dalserf and Bridgeton)

The 1901 census for Dalserf shows the following groupings of Neilsons. Further research (and access to the original images) is required to confirm relationships.

William Neilson's military history after marriage

According to his service record (Ref WO128/121 195837), William Neilson, now a clerk, re-enlisted in May 1901 in the Scottish Horse for service in the Second Boer War in South Africa (October 1899 - May 1902). He stated that he had previously served with the 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers. His new service number was 36914. He was under 5' 7" tall, his complexion was 'fresh', he had blue eyes and brown hair. The Scottish Horse was raised for the South African War in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Pietermaritzburg and consisted of two regiments, formed from Australian volunteers plus drafts from Scotland and South Africa.

According to the Military History Sheet on his service record, William initially served at home (UK) from 31 May 1901 to 25 June 1901, in South Africa from 26 June 1901 to 27 August 1902 (63 days), and then home from 28 August to 3 September 1902. (This would suggest that his wife became pregnant with their son John just before he left for South Africa and was born while he was overseas).

William Neilson, Scottish Horse Uniform, 1901/2

According to 'The Scottish Horse (1900 - 1956)' by Lt Col R M T Campbell-Preston, the Regiment 'trekked continuously and with great success'. They were 'known and feared throughout the Eastern Transvaal'. Peace was signed on 31 May 1902 and the regiments returned to the UK in late August 1902.

William Neilson was discharged from the military at Aldershot on 3 September 1902. He was awarded the Queen's Medal and the South African Medal. William return to being a clerk.

1911 census - Neilsons and Hamiltons in Dalserf

The 1911 census for Dalserf shows the following groupings of Neilsons. Further research (and access to the original images) is required to confirm relationships.

Grace Copeland Neilson, the daughter of Agnes Brown Neilson born in 1892, is not clearly identifiable in the 1911 census and is not known what happened to her after 1901. There is no obvious marriage record. Perhaps she left Scotland? Curiously, a Grace Hamilton Neilson died aged 76 in 1971 in Hamilton (Ref 647/167). Not quite the right age, but very close all the same.

1912 - Grace Copeland Neilson Thomson marries

Grace Copeland Neilson Thomson (1891, Dalserf (Ref 638/2/7) - ), the daughter of Annie Neilson and Robert Thomson, and niece of William Neilson, married Robert Macdonald in 1912 in Dalserf (Ref 638/2/27).

Robert Macdonald was previously married to Elizabeth Falconer in Dalserf in 1906 (Ref 638/2/8). Robert and Grace Macdonald lived at Oak Place, Dalserf. Elizabeth died aged 19 (Ref 638/2/68, recorded with both her maiden and married name) giving birth to twins who also died (names not recorded).

Robert and Grace Macdonald had two children:

See below from 1920 for further details of the family

1913 - Migration to Australia

Perhaps influenced by the Scottish men from Melbourne Australia who he met in South Africa, William and family migrated to Australia. They arrived in Melbourne in May 1913 where he took up the occupation of 'coal merchant' or 'caretaker' (see below). They lived at 12 Moodie Place, St Kilda which had a name plate 'Strathclyde'. It is not known why that name was chosen.

Go to this page about the Neilson family in Australia for further details. Some of these details are noted below also.

1914 - William Neilson enlists for World War 1

World War 1 was declared on 4 August 1914. William, now aged 49, decided to enlist soon after, on 17 August 1914. His children were now aged between 8 and 18. His motivation for enlisting, at that age, with such young children, having just migrated to Australia the year before, remain a mystery.

To read the rest of William Neilson's activities in World War 1 and Gallipoli, click this link.

1915 - Sarah Millar Hamilton marries

Sarah Millar Hamilton (1895 - ), the daughter of Agnes Brown Neilson (died 1899) and James Hamilton, married William Lackie in Blythswood (Glasgow) in 1915 (Ref 644/10/1047).

1920 - Birth of Anne Copland Neilson Thomson

Anne Copland Neilson Thomson was born in 1920 in Dalserf (Ref 638/2/87). Her name suggests a relationship with the children of Robert Thomas and Annie Thomson (nee Neilson); one of their children, Grace Copeland Neilson Thomson was born in 1891 (as noted above) but their youngest children as recorded in the 1901 census were only just born. Further research is required.

1920 - Death of Robert Macdonald and further issues

Robert Macdonald was killed in a mining accident on 5 January 1920 (aged 41, Ref 638/2/5). the Scottish Mining archive, which quotes the The Lanarkshire 7 February 1920 as follows:

Larkhall – Another fatal accident occurred at Woodside Colliery, Dalserf, on Thursday night, whereby Robert M'Donald, who resided at Oak Place, lost his life as the result of a large stone falling on his head from the roof.

Robert was a very respected member of the community and local masonic St Thomas lodge. The Scottish Mining site above, quoting The Larnarkshire of 11 February 1920, noted that:

Larkhall – On Monday afternoon the remains of Robert M'Donald, Oak Place, Ayr Road (?), the victim of the colliery accident at the end of last week were laid to rest in Larkhall cemetery with Masonic honours. There was a good attendance of the members of St [illegible] Lodge of which the deceased was a member and the general public were also well represented.

With the loss of Robert, the family were left struggling as there was no welfare state in those days; Grace took a job in the local police station at Larkhall, cooking and taking care of the constabulary. She had a tough life.

Not long after the death of Robert, his son Robert Thomson Macdonald (born 1918) was hit by a motorcycle and left disabled. This incident added to the struggles the family had to endure. Family history recalls that Grace's mother, Ann Neilson Thomson helped her daughter and two children.

1921 - The Neilson family in Melbourne, Australia changed address

Janet Neilson wrote to the Officer in Charge, Base Records, on 30 March 1921 to advise of a change of address from 12 Moodie Place to 23 Addison Street, St Kilda. The house was named 'Strathclyde'.

1923 - Agnes Neilson Hamilton marries

Agnes Neilson Hamilton (1897 - ), the daughter of Agnes Brown Neilson (died 1899) and James Hamilton, married John McIntosh in Blythswood (Glasgow) in 1923 (Ref 644/10/2168).

1928 - Death of Herbert Warland

Janet and William Neilson's daughter, also named Janet, had married Herbert Warland in 1925. Herbert Warland died in an airplane crash in 1928. Click this link for more information about his life and the accident.

1931 - Death of Ann Neilson Thomson

Ann Neilson Thomson, the wife of Robert Thomson and mother of Grace Copeland Macdonald (nee Thomson), died on 4 March 1931.

1939 - Death of Grace Copeland Macdonald (nee Thomson)

Grace Copeland Macdonald died on 23 October 1939 in Dalserf (Ref 638/2/27). Her daughter Annie Macdonald continued to care for her disabled brother Robert. Ann married Anthony Peter Cornin in 1941 and they had three children.

1939 - Death of Janet Penman Neilson

Janet Penman Neilson died on 21 January 1939 in Richmond, Victoria, Australia (Vic BDM Ref 597). The younger Janet wrote several letters on behalf of her mother to the Australian Department of Defence about her father's military service.

World War 2 - Neilsons in the Australian Military

All three of William Neilson's sons enlisted in World War 2 in Australia. For more details, go to the Neilson in Australia page.

Page added 7 June 2015, last updated 13 August 2023 (updates to the Brunton family). Copyright Andrew Warland. (andrewwarland(at)gmail.com)