Hello, I’m Alan Stewart, freelance family history author, and this is my blog of UK/Ireland genealogy news.
I write regularly for the magazines Practical Family History and Family Tree Magazine in the UK, and Internet Genealogy and Discovering Family History in North America. I’ve also written for Ancestors, Family History Monthly and Who Do You Think You Are in the UK, and Family Chronicle and Everton’s Genealogical Helper in North America. You’ll also find me in the Family and Local History Handbook.
Please see the ‘Alan’s Books’ pages for information about my two family history books, Grow Your Own Family Tree (one of Family History Monthly‘s Top Ten Books of 2008) and Gathering the Clans:Tracing Scottish Ancestry on the Internet.
My own family history
When I was a small boy, my maternal grandparents had a large family Bible, which was wrapped up in brown paper and kept under a bed! Every now and then, I’d ask if we could get it out and look at the list of baptisms that had been recorded in it back in the late 19th century. Much later, when I had children of my own, I actually got round to tracing my ancestors. That was over 25 years ago.
Among the interesting people I’ve since discovered were my six-times great uncle Alexander Brodie, who went from being an apprentice blacksmith in the Scottish Borders to become a rich ironmaster in the Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire in the late 18th century. My wife Linda and I have stayed at his house, which is now a small hotel.
When Grace Darling and her father saved nine of the passengers and crew of the SS Forfarshire, which struck rocks at the Farne Islands in 1838, my great-great-grandfather’s brother Ruthven Ritchie was the only passenger to get into a lifeboat with eight of the crew, throwing his trousers in before him!
Most of my ancestors were Scottish, but I’ve also discovered English, Irish and even Indian ancestors that I hadn’t known anything about. Linda proudly states that all her ancestors were British (i.e. English and Welsh), but she may get a surprise one day.
Her mother’s ancestors lived on the Suffolk/Norfolk border, and Linda was fortunate enough to discover that other people had already traced her Hawes ancestors in Walsham-le-Willows, Suffolk back to about 1260, using parish records, wills and manor court rolls. You can read about James McNeill’s researches at www.walsham-le-willows.org/history/quarterlyreview.
If only we could all get that far back!
Good luck with your searching.
Alan
Dear Alan,
I am looking into the Alexander Brodie/ Cochrane family links for a possible contribution to “Durham Biographies 6″ for Durham Local History Society.
I know that Alexander Brodie 1 left a bequest to his niece Lilias Cochrane in 1811. She was married to Thomas Cochrane and lived in Broseley i think.
I live at Eshwood in Co Durham where Alexander Brodie Cochrane Thomas’s son sank his pit in 1856.
I am trying to find out if Thomas was a relation of Lord Dundonald (Archibald Cochrane) or at least one of his workers. They were in Jackfield where Lord Dundonald sold his share in the Calcutts mines forges and furnaces to Alexander Brodie in 1786.
Do you know about them please?
yours Pat
Hi Pat,
Some other people that I’ve heard from in connection with the first Alexander Brodie say that Thomas Cochrane was Lord Dundonald’s cousin. That may be so, although I looked at the entry for the Earls of Dundonald in Burke’s Landed Gentry and could find no sign of Thomas.
Best, Alan
Hi Alan – we are related!! – well sort of… My husband is also a gt x 6 nephew of Alexander Brodie, through Thomas Cochrane’s eldest son Alexander Brodie Cochrane. I have extensively researched the family history and would be happy to help on any ?’s you may have.
I guess our researches and contacts (including Pat Atkinson) overlap greatly and as far as I know, nobody has managed to establish a blood connection with the Earls of Dundonald. I am pretty sure that our Thomas and the Earl must have known one another as they were in Broseley, in the iron trade at the same time, But Thomas came to Broseley with Alexander Brodie (his wife was Lillias Brodie).
In the 19th century, the family seemed to have claimed a connection with the Earls (however loosely). The family crest was a derivative of the noble one and though I haven’t seen the documents myself, I believe the crest was registered with the College of Arms (they charge a lot to research and as I’m currently living in Dubai, can’t do it myself) Also one of the sons of ALex Brodie Cochrane jnr was named Alexander Dundonald.
Forgive me if I’m telling you what you already know. How do you descend from the Brodies?
Jenny
Hi Jenny
My maternal great-grandfather Joseph Tait (1849-81), a joiner, was the son of George Tait (a gardener, forester and farm worker) and his wife Margaret Walker, who lived in Stow, Midlothian. Margaret (1814-64) was in turn the daughter of George Walker (an ostler) and his wife Joan Brodie, who also lived in Stow.
Joan was baptised in Galashiels, Selkirkshire in 1792 and died in Stow in 1861. Her parents were James Brodie (a miller) and his first wife Mary Blake, who married in Selkirk in 1789. James died in 1825, and in his will mentions his late uncle Alexander Brodie of Carey Street, London.
Who James Brodie’s father was, I don’t know. I do know that Alexander was baptised in Traquair, Peeblesshire in 1733, the son of Charles Brodie (c.1690-1749), the blacksmith at Traquair Riggs, and his wife Ann Bald (c.1699-1766). (That’s as far back as I’ve got on their line.)
I’m also aware that Alexander Brodie had brothers Charles (baptised 1716), William (1718), Robert (1721), James (1723), another Alexander (1726), John (1728) and a sister Margaret (1730), who married George Broad in Selkirk in 1759. These baptisms are all in the Traquair parish register.
The children of the eldest brother Charles Brodie (1716) have been put on to the IGI by Coleen England Stutznegger in Utah (who is descended from one of them). Among the eight children is a James Brodie, baptised in 1760, who could be my James.
Although these baptisms all have specific dates (from 1748-64), they aren’t in the Traquair parish register. Perhaps they’ve been taken from a family bible. There’s no indication of who the children’s mother was.
I have copies of Alexander Brodie’s will and papers naming the 13 (I think) nephews and nieces (including Lilias Cochrane) who inherited his estate, but I couldn’t work out who was descended from whom (apart from two of Margaret Broad’s seven children).
Do you have any more information on this?
Best, Alan
Dear Alan and Jenny
Have you seen the responses for “Alexander Brodie” on the 19th century newspapers collection from the British library? He is all mixed up with an MP of the same name but is usually identified as being from Carey Street. I knew he had a patent stove for ships but did not know that he also had a patent for a domestic one which he defended in court & made the other party apologise in the press.
Yours Pat
My husband was a GP in Innerleithen for 36 years, we have been retired to the Isle of Arran for the last three years. We lived for that time in The Riggs, Traquair with our three children. Alexander Brodie was born there, the son of the local Blacksmith. He apparently fell out with his father and ran away to London where he subsequently made his fortune – I presume he had a basic trade as a blacksmith. In his old age he came back to his home and wanted to give something back to the place he had been brought up in and built the first woollen mill in Innerleithen – Brodies Mill. That was really the beginnings of the famous woollen industry in that area.
The house was wonderful and we had such a happy life there. There were lots of special features made by blacksmiths through the ages – iron railings, a very ornate dog grate fireplace, a beautiful gate etc. We always felt the house should be listed in some way but had no success in this venture. Unfortunately the present owners have dispensed with a lot of the original railings etc and it has lost a lot of its character. But Alexander Brodie should be recognised in some way as the person who introduced the first woollen mill in Innerleithen and the start of what was a huge industry in that area for a very long time.
To put the record straight the railings were removed because they represented a danger to our children located as they were next to steep steps.
Apart from removing the railings the house is as it was and has been significantly improved
Thanks for the information, Ethne. The “Commercial and Agricultural Magazine” of December 1799 says that “In 1751, at the age of eighteen, [Alexander Brodie] left Scotland for England, furnished with letters of recommendation by Lady Coniers, mother-in-law to Lord Traquaire.” Well, that’s what he told them!
I’ve visited Traquair a few times, but haven’t visited The Riggs. Do you perhaps have a photograph of the house?
Best, Alan
Hi Alan,
I’m working on the John Brodie m. Jane Russell, Peebles, family. One of their children is Alexander Brodie b 20 Mar 1785 (m. Catherine Brown), whose daughter Margaret Brodie b. 20 Dec 1824 married Adam Dobson of the Innerleithen Dobson mills. I’m wondering if there is a connection between this family and the philanthropist Alexander Brodie, as some of the Dobson family worked for him in his mill. Any help will be appreciated. Cheers!
Hi Jeannie
Is this the same John Brodie who lived at Northgate in Peebles? I seem to remember that that was the address of John, the cousin of my ancestor James Brodie (see above). If so, then your John is one of the many nephews and nieces who shared in Alexander Brodie’s will. Or perhaps your John is the Northgate John’s father.
Best, Alan
I should mention that the book I referred to above names two of the Brodie legatees–1. George Brodie of Bold Farm, whose son Robert was a joiner and sawmiller and son Alexander who was an innkeeper in Innerleithen; and 2. “Charlie o’ the Lee” whose grandson Andrew Brodie became an engineer.
Alan, my John Brodie died 21 Nov 1831 at Northgate, Peebles. He was a blacksmith at Temple Bar (info on one of his children’s birth certificates). I cannot find a birth certificate for John on Scotlands People, though, and so I’m stuck on trying to trace his parents. Can you help with this?
I would also love to see the list of Alexander’s 19 legatees (do you have this posted somewhere) as my Brodies are interconnected with the Dobson mill owners at Innerleithen and I’d like to sort them out. One of the Dobson brothers worked for Alexander Brodie as foreman at the Caerlee mill before starting up the Dobson woolen mill at the Innerleithen damsite with his brother. A couple of Brodie nieces lived at one time with John and Helen (Brodie) Dobson.
I have a pdf copy of the Reminiscences of Innerleithen and Traquair by Thomas Dobson I can share with anyone wanting to read about various characters in the villages.
Happy New Year
Jeannie, I note that you have a pdf of Thomas Dobson’s Reminiscences of Innerleithen? Do you still have a copy? I would love to see it. Thomas wrote an article in the Border Magazine on William Moffat, elocutionist, who married his sister Helen Dobson. Ian.
A request to Jeannie for PDF of Reminiscences of Innerleithen. Dear Jeannie, my mum has been trying to buy this book for a long time and I would be very grateful if you could send me a copy so I can print it out for her. Many thanks, Peter
Hi Alan, It’s good to come across your comments at http://growyourownfamilytree.wordpress.com/about/ .
I’ve exchanged emails with Jenny Cochrane in the past, and am just signing in as my family are descended from Lillias Brodie.
(Lillias Brodie m. Thomas Cochrane; Alexander Brodie Cochrane I m. Mary Caroline —— of Tamworth; Mary Maria Cochrane m Thomas Somerville (chartist, nonconformist, mathematician, and headmaster of Hawthorn Hall School in Wilmslow).
We’ve visited Eddleston, where there are a couple of C18 and early C19 memorials to Cochrans or Cochranes in the old churchyard; sadly, very little is legible, and what there is do not seem to name any known relatives of ‘our’ Thomas Cochrane.
One of Mary Maria and Thomas Somerville’s daughters married a german teacher at their school. She became Lillias Lobenhoffer, and in the 1890s she wrote a couple of novels. One of them describes life in a small scottish town. This suggests that the family retained some links with Scotland, even though Lillias lived in Cheshire. I have traced a copy of this book, and when I’ve read it I’ll let you know if it gives any clues about earlier family history.
Thanks for all the information you’ve put up on the net, and please include me in on any new information.
It was very sad to hear from Ethne Cumming that there was no protection for the blacksmiths’ artefacts at The Riggs in Traquair. Objects like these are so valuable for keeping people in touch with the realities of the past: they make the present richer and more meaningful. Once they’ve gone, they can never be replaced.
All good wishes, B.Morris
Hi Alan, You may already be aware of this, but I thought I’d forward it for information. It is from the document http://stnicholaschiswick.org/community/documents/APCM2009MASTER.doc which is actually the church’s accounts for 2008. The church’s main website is at http://stnicholaschiswick.org.
“ARCHIVES
The archive group continue to open the church on Wednesday mornings either to casual passers-by or arranged visits, sometimes via the website worldwide, to assist those researching an ancestor’s history.
Perhaps the most interesting enquiry this year was to ask if we could look in the graveyard for the tomb of an ancestor, Alexander Brodie. The grave was found south of the church covered in ivy and revealed clear lettering about this interesting Scotsman, a blacksmith who invented an amazing stove, which was eventually supplied to the whole of Nelson’s Navy.
The archives not only tell the history of Chiswick from 1622; now and again a special citizen’s story is discovered. “
Hi again, I see that the excellent Broseley Family History Society now provides the following whole-book text as an online .pdf. I’ve included the section here which gives the name of Alexander Brodie’s wife (Miss Howard of Chiswick); and the name of his nephew Alexander Brodie 2nd (aka Alexander Brodie Cochrane 1st)’s wife as Miss Griffiths of Broseley. Hopefully, that would be the Mary Caroline (Griffiths ?) who appears in later censuses as Thomas Somerville’s mother-in-law, living at Hawthorn Hall, Wilmslow ?
All best, B.Morris
———————————————————
http://www.broseley.org.uk/Docs/Broseley%20&%20Its%20Surroundings.PDF
Broseley and Its Surroundings
BEING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF BROSELEY, WILLEY BARROW, BENTHALL, AND LINLEY WITH NOTICES OF Remarkable events, facts, phenomena
AND MANUFACTURES
And Containing A CAREFULLY COMPILED INDEX
Illustrated
BY John Randall, Author of “The Severn Valley,” “Old Sports and Sportsmen &c.”
Originally published at “The Salopian and West-Midland Journal” Office Madeley Salop, 1879
Reprinted with notes by Broseley Local History Society 2001
© BLHS
“The Commercial and Agricultural Magazine” for December, 1799, speaking of the first Alexander Brodie, who was then living says that, “in 1786 Mr. Brodie purchased the Calcut mines, stock, houses, &c., near Broseley: from which government receives large supplies of cannon, and the country in general, iron of the best quality. Mr. Brodie may justly boast of possessing one of the most complete boring machines for cannon in Europe.” The account then proceeds to give the following particulars respecting that gentleman’s very successful career.
“Alexander Brodie, Esq., Iron master at Broseley, Shropshire, was born the 27th of February, 1733, Old Style, at the Rigs of Traquaire Minshmore, in the parish of Traquaire, Tweedale.
“In 1751, at the age of eighteen, he left Scotland for England, furnished with letters of recommendation by Lady Coniers, mother-in-law to Lord Traquaire. Mr. Brodie visited Huntingdonshire, where, excepting a few months which he passed in London, he remained upwards of three years.
“In 1755, Mr. Alderman Alexander, ironmonger and whitesmith, employed Mr. Brodie, on his return from
Huntingdonshire. He remained in his employment two years. From 1757 to 1758 Mr. Brodie was employed by Mr.Brodbent, in making engines to extinguish fire. In 1758, he was employed in Huntingdonshire where he made several excellent engines.
“In 1759, he returned to London, and became a master blacksmith, in Bear-yard, Lincoln’s -inn-fields; where he distinguished himself as a cramp -maker to chair and cabinet makers. In 1760, he removed into Old Boswell-court, Clements-inn.
“In 1760, he married Miss Mary Howard, daughter to Mr. Richard Howard, of Chiswick, Middlesex, by whom he had two children; both died in infancy. Mrs. Brodie died in 1777. Mr. B. remains a widower.”
The writer then describes an ingenious invention made by Mr. Brodie, in 1764, of a registered stove, which he patented; also a registered stove which he erected in 1779, in the state-room at Windsor, where her Majesty’s needle-work was kept; on which occasion Mr. Brodie presented a model of a ship’s hearth, which Sir Alexander Hamilton had ordered for the Lascelles, East-Indianman. Mr. Brodie afterwards received an order for two: one for the Fortitude, of 74 guns, and the Minerva, of 38 guns. The writer goes on to point out the superiority of Mr. Brodie’s ship’s hearth to those in general use, and an important substitution effected by him of iron-boilers for copper ones, on board the Minerva.
It appears also from this writer, that Mr. Brodie had a share in an iron-foundry at Manchester; and that having a strong predilection for his native soil, he established in 1792, an extensive woollen manufactory, in Inverleith. At Peebles, the writer says, Mr. Brodie purchased an estate, which he called Temple Bar, and Long-Side: and which was called Smythfleld; which occasioned him jocularly to boast that he could walk from Temple-Bar to Smythfield on his own ground. Mr. Brodie also made a purchase in 1798, of a house and estate at Upper Tutton, in the Parish of Strotton; which enabled him to retire to the country from business occasionally. The writer concludes by saying – “The extraordinary suc cesses of Mr. Brodie are not greater than his integrity. He is distinguished for charitable donations. He is worth £100,000 sterling.”
It is said that he died worth much more than the sum just stated, and that he left, along other legacies, to thirteen nephews and nieces, including Mr. Cochrane, who managed the works for him, the sum of £15,000 each.
He was succeeded by his nephew, Alexander Brodie the second, who married Miss Griffiths, of Broseley, and lived at Rock House, where Mr. Exley, jun. now resides. He died in 1830, and was buried at Jackfield Church, where a white marble tablet was erected to his memory. It has since been removed to the Pritchard Memorial church.
Hi
Thanks for all the information. I looked at the book “Broseley and its Surroundings” years ago at the Society of Genealogists Library. I’ll take another look at it on the Broseley Local History Society’s site.
I’ll keep a lookout for Lillias Lobenhoffer, who is – I think – my fourth cousin three times removed (or thereabouts). I searched Google Books, but while they list three of her books, they don’t have the full text – or any of it.
I wrote an article about Alexander Brodie that was published in “Family Tree Magazine” in 1996. I may put it up on the blog one of these days.
Best, Alan
Dear Alan
i would like to read your article about Alexander Brodie. please put it on your blog.
Yours Pat
Hi,
I was more than pleased to discover this wonderful web site – what a treasure for all Brodie descendants!
I am looking for entrepreneur. Our branch of the Brodie family eventually lived in Selkirk, but I am really stuck with finding the parents and grand parents of Charles Brodie, (brother of Alexander the industrialist ). I don’t want to make an unfounded link to the Brodies of that Ilk.
If you can help please contact me.
Many thanks,
Helen
Hi Helen
The parish register of Traquair shows that the parents of Charles and Alexander Brodie (and their brothers William, Robert, James and John, and sister Margaret) were Charles Brodie, blacksmith at Traquair Riggs, and his wife Ann. I’ve just had a look at the register page again, which states:
“1715 Dec on the 22nd day Charles Broady and Ann Bald was maryed.”
The gravestone in Traquair churchyard of Charles and Ann (which is quite worn away) shows that he died in March 1749 (aged 59) and she on 5 September 1766 (aged 67). This means that Charles was born around 1689/90 and Ann about 1698/99.
Who Charles’s parents were I haven’t been able to find out, but I did find the marriages in Traquair of “Barbarie Brody” to John Brunton on 12 June 1702, and also of “Margrat Broady in this paroch” to Robert Walker in the parish of Manor (I think) on 17 August 1711. I suppose Barbara and Margaret Brodie may have been Charles’s sisters, or perhaps cousins.
Best wishes, Alan
Hi Helen and Alan,
My family and I recently visited Scotland and stayed at a cottage opposite Traquair Kirk. A story of our adventure appeared last week in the Peebleshire News: http://www.peeblesshirenews.com/news/roundup/articles/2012/10/03/436545-canadian-descendant-of-the-bear-gates-contractor-returns-to-traquair/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
I am interested in making contact with any descendants of Charles Brodie still living in the Borders area. Any assistance or advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Dennis Brodie
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Hi Dennis
The article’s very interesting. I’ve been to Traquair House a couple of times, and I know about the legend of the Bear Gates, but I had no idea that they had been made by Charles Brodie and his son in 1738.
I don’t know whether there are any Brodie descendants still living in the Borders. You could try contacting the Borders Family History Society at http://www.bordersfhs.org.uk.
Best regards
Alan
Hi Alan,
We’ve discovered fairly conclusive evidence that Charles Brodie’s (1690-1749) father was William Brodie (or Brody), Blacksmith of the Riggs, who was buried at Traquair Kirk on 17 Mar 1720. The parish records indicate he was an elder in the Church and there are records of payment from the Parish to William and Charles for various things, including nails and a chain for the Church bell.
Dennis
Hi Alan, I’m a descendant of John Brodie, late of Northgate. I’m trying to put together the “Legatees of Alexander Brodie, Esq. of London”. I have copies of the 1811 “Sheriff Court Inventories” and the 1812 “Edinburgh Commissary Court”. Both appear to NOT contain the schedule listing all “Legatees”. I can account for 3 nieces ( Betty Cork, Lillias Cochran and Margaret McNiven) and 3 nephews (Alexander Brodie, William Brodie and John Brodie). There are others mention, eg. “David Peebles and Wm. Lauder”, could they be nephews from Mrs. Alexander Brodie’s side of the family? My question is, is there a document out there listing all of Alexander’s nieces and nephews that were recipients of his estate. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
Regard, John Brodie
Hi John
I have a schedule (Reference IR26/167) that I got from the National Archives in London (not the National Archives of Scotland) together with a copy of Alexander Brodie’s will (PROB11/1518). I also have a copy of his will from the National Archives of Scotland (CC8/8/138), which is much easier to read than the English one.
The schedule is four pages long and shows the payments made to the 12 legatees:
James Brodie – my ancestor
Alexander Broad
James Broad
George Brodie
Charles Brodie
John Brodie
William Brodie
Alexander Brodie
Betty Cook (or Cock or Cork)
Lillias Cochran
Margaret McNiven
Janet Brodie
Alexander and James Broad were two of the children of Alexander Brodie’s sister Margaret, who had married George Broad on 9 January 1759 in Selkirk. James was baptised there in 1762 and Alexander in 1771.
Janet Brodie was married to her cousin William Brodie.
Lillias Cochran was the daughter of Alexander Brodie’s brother Robert, and married to Thomas Cochran (see the post above from Jenny Cochrane).
Margaret McNiven was married to Charles McNiven. According to “Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the High Court of Chancery in the time of Lord Chancellor Eldon” Vol II 1813-1814 (as digitised by Google), “At the date of [Alexander Brodie's] will, and for many years preceding, she had been, and still continued, of unsound mind; though no Commission of Lunacy had been taken out against her. She resided with her brother in Scotland; but was maintained by her husband, who lived in England; and their only child, a son [another Charles], was at the University of Cambridge.”
Betty Cook was buried in the churchyard of St. Nicholas, Chiswick, in the same tomb as her uncle. The monumental inscription reads: “Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Beatrice Cook, widow of Mr. David Cook who was drowned at Boulogne sur Mer October 14th 1818, and niece of Alexander Brodie Esq. She died after a painful and lingering illness, which she bore with great patience and resignation, on 23rd March 1840 in the 71st year of her age.”
Does anybody know who the parents of Betty, Margaret and the others were?
George Brodie (Broddie, Broadie) was son of Robert Broddie and Jean Murray (married 28 Sep 1755 Innerleithen)
- a younger brother to Lilias – he was born 10 Aug 1761 chr 23 Aug 1761 Innerleithen.
He married Agnes Nicol whose father Michael Nicol was a shoemaker in Innerleithen
Michael Nicol was father to James Nicol the poet/reverend of Traquair and grandfather to James Nicol the geologist.
George and Agnes had Marion Mary 26 Jun 1799, Jean Brodie 22 Jan 1801,Robert 12 Mar 1803, Lilias 25 Sep 1807, Janet 08 Jun 1810
George was a farmer in Hillend when his wife died Feb 12 1831
‘independant’ in the 1841 census (age 75) – presumably as result of his inheritance
George died Aug 21 1847 and is interred innerleithen Kirkyard
Hi Dianne
I’ve just dug out some old notes of mine regarding the Brodies, and I see I had noted down the baptisms of Marion Mary (although ‘Mary’ had been crossed out), Jean and Robert at New Register House in Edinburgh in 1991. I knew they were the children of George Brodie and Agnes Nicol, but I wasn’t aware who George’s father was, and I certainly had no idea about Agnes’s relatives. So, thanks for this information.
Best wishes
Alan
Dear Alan,
I am also related to John Brodie of North Gate. Margaret McNiven is the daughter of George Broad and Margaret Brodie b: 1766. Still researching Beatice Cock. I am having a difficult time working my way through the National Archives to find the PCC Testators IR26/167 Legacy Duty Schedule for Alexander Brodie in 1811. i assume you obtained it in person. I have both the Scottish Will and the English Will, but am unable to find the schedule. any additional reference numbers for IR26/167 would be greatly appreciated, unless you would be willing to email a copy of the schedule. Enjoy your blog.
Terrance Brodie
Hello Terrance
Sorry for the delay in answering. It’s quite a few years since I received the schedule (of four A3 size pages), and I don’t think I specifically asked for it. I didn’t obtain it in person, but had written off for Alexander Brodie’s will.
I see that if you search for “Brodie” in the Death Duty Registers (IR26) on Documents Online, this document isn’t found. Likewise if you search for “IR26/167″ in TNA’s Catalogue. You can browse to IR26/167, however, where the Catalogue entry note says: “Entry nos. 1-418.”
The Alexander Brodie schedule is no. 40. The pages are too large for me to scan in, and the copies I have are difficult to read anyway. You could try TNA’s new online record copying service, which seems to be starting fairly soon.
Best regards, Alan
I am searching for descendants of the Lindley Mills, Selkirk, Scotland. I believe there was a Mary and Elizabeth Tait as well as some brothers (unkown name). Mary immigrated to Australia and married and lived in Charleville Queensland.
I believe the Tait brothers owned and operated the Scots Tweed Linley Mills in Selkirk, Scotland.
I would appreciate any information you can give me.
regards
It was me who wrote telling you that my family and I lived for 36 years in the Riggs of Traquair – birthplace of Alexander Brodie. I don’t have a photo to send you on line but funnily enough the Riggs is for sale at the moment and you can view it on Retties website!
im looking for john w stewart bron virginia 1805 said his father may be allen mother frances antle john married lucritia she called her self lucy bron of 1777 va as while thinks parents are isaac a and jane not no last name . thay move to missouri 1840 raised there childern .like to fine there family gayla.bear@yahoo.com if you mit now them
Hallo Alan, I’ve just found your blog whilst researching my family tree. I note you refer to Mr Ruthven Ritchie being your g.g.g’father’s brother etc. ?
My family were the McEwens/Isdales of Kenmore and I have a particular reason for being interested in the nobility family ” Ritchies of Ruthven” in the 1800′s. Could they be one and the same?
I( would love to get some detai,s about them and if you are interested can tell you of my interest.
Thanks.
Hello Winifred
Ruthven Ritchie, one of the survivors of the wreck of SS Forfarshire in 1838, and my great-great-grandfather Thomas Ritchie were two of the children of George Ritchie and his wife Euphemia (nee Dick). George and Euphemia lived at Hill of Ruthven in the parish of Tibbermore (or Tippermuir) in the south of Perthshire. They weren’t nobility, however, just reasonably well-off farmers. Thomas Ritchie wasn’t very good at managing his money, though, and ended up bankrupt.
Best wishes
Alan
Hello Alan- Two of my great uncles and husband of a great aunt ( she is buried in Australia) were living in that area and although I have tracked them on census and have some information I do not know the end result. Except for one William Thomas Robinson who died on the 3/4/1928 and is buried in Finchley Lodge? Islington. I cannot find this place. The second one is Henry Edward Robinson b 1854 West Hyde Herts and Charles French whose death is registered 28/2/1884 in Hampstead and they lived in Palmerston? Road Kilburn
There are so many churches, parishes and people in London in the 19th and early 20th centuries it makes my head spin- I live so far away and depend on the internet for my information
Sorry for rabbiting on
regards
Hi Alan,
Hoping you can help, I have recently started to look up my family tree, and have done good so far. My search has led me to a John Broadie, born in England in 1790 he moved to the US, and married a Catherine Lent in1809, then died in NY sometime after. I have a grate tree going, but am looking for more information.
I have found a Ralph Broadie born in England after. Not sure if he is a relative or not. I am vary interested in this source as I am named after my father who married a Margaret as did this Ralph, he also named his son Ralph, It like a weird thing that needs to be found out.
Thank you for your time.
Ralph Broadie
Hi!
I, too, have a Ralph Brodie (spelt several ways) on my family tree…he is my brick wall! He was born approx 1786 and married Elizabeth Martin on 27th May 1816 at Holy Trinity in Hull, Yorkshire. At one time he worked in Customs but, cos he was a naughty boy, he was sacked – twice!! Unfortunately the early Customs’ records – which might have had his birthplace and parentage – were burnt so I have no idea where he came from…did any of your Brodies go to/from Yorkshire?
Jenny T
I found your site by sheer luck
Im in Australia.
I,m sending you the list I’m stuck on in the hope you might be able to point me to the perants/brodie line I should be following
John Brodie
M27 Jun 1856 Peebles peebles Scot
Catherine Messer
children included
Janet b.18 April 1825 Pern Innerleithen Peebles
m. 27 Jun 1856 Peebles TO William Swanston
childen included Jean Swanston.
m. William Mutter
I’ve got most of the detail but finding the perants of John Brodie and Catherine Messer has me baffled.
I’m also wondering if the marriage to Catherine Messer was a 2nd Marriage
If you can help or point me to where I can try
I’ve done familysearch.org,ancestry.com scotlandspeople
sincerely
Marjorie
Hello Marjorie
The civil registration record of the marriage of John Brodie and Catherine Messer in 1856 should state the names of all four parents. Likewise, the marriage of Janet Brodie and William Swanston in 1856 (on the same day?). These marriages should be on ScotlandsPeople. An earlier marriage for John Brodie may be in the parish records on ScotlandsPeople. Hope this helps. Also, Scottish civil registration death records should name both parents of the deceased (provided their names were known by the informant of the death).
Best wishes
Alan
hi alan im looking for anne marie bryan of stockley lane calne wiltshire she married in 2009 shes now mrs peach but moved house in 2011her husbands name is stewart do you know how i can find out were they married and when also were they live now anne was born in 1982 just incase you need her age only never done this before and not sure were to start do hope you can advise would be very gratefull kind regards sue,
Hello Sue
The various online indexes of marriages don’t go up as far as 2009, I’m afraid. You could try searching BT Directory Enquiries at http://www.thephonebook.bt.com, or search one of the people-finding sites such as http://www.192.com. If you do a Google (or whatever) search for “electoral register”, that’ll find the various websites. As they’ve moved house in 2011, however, they may not yet be on the electoral register for where they’ve moved to.
Good luck
Alan
Hallo Alan , I contacted you about a year ago when researching. I have only just been able to get back to carrying on with it due my husbands illness and death. You may recall I asked about the Ritchies of Tibbermore who I mistakenly thought to be nobility as that has been the story down through the family. However, a forum member on another site has told me that tenant farmers could be considered as a “cut above”! I wonder if now, at last I have found who I was looking for in your ancestor Thomas Ritchie and his son William Murray.
The story is this: in 1846/7 Catherine Mackay of Fortingall went in service to the Ritchies and fell pregnant by one of the sons (grandson of George and Euphemia?). He wished to marry her but her mother wouldn’t allow it as he was above her station, subsequently marrying James Isdale. The baby, Eliza born 1847/1849, was my great grandmother Eliza McEwen, spouse Donald 1867. As far as I can see, Thomas is the only son whose offspring ties in with all the dates. Hope this makes sense.
Winifred Fry
Hello Winifred
Funnily enough, in 1848, my great-great-grandmother Agnes Roxburgh (who was about 18) had an illegitimate child by Thomas Ritchie (who was about 52). Thomas had married Janet Morrison (who was about 19 years younger than him) in December 1846. So, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Thomas himself had got Catherine pregnant. I don’t know anything about this William Murray.
Thomas Ritchie was living at Bowhouse in Alloa, Clackmannanshire in the 1840s (and continued to live in Clackmannanshire until his death in 1871). Thomas was a bit of a character – he was declared bankrupt about 1850, and in 1817, he’d been challenged to a duel by a Lieutenant James Rollo, who said Thomas was no gentleman. Instead of fighting the duel, Thomas took Rollo to court!
Best wishes
Alan
Thankyou very much Alan . If this is the case then we are a kind of cousin many times removed !! I’m going back through the McEwens now and then the McKays. its all intensely interesting and my sister and i are travelling to Loch Tay and Kenmore next month to ferret out a bit more !
All the best
Winifred Fry
I’m looking for a friend’s mother’s much younger brother – an Alan W.Y. Stewart born in 1935 – or any issue of his. My friend’s mother was Jean Nancy Stewart, born in 1918 in Birmingham. I have got so far, but the census stops at 1911. However, I’m now looking for any marriages or death records. Can you help?
Thanks, Dee
Hello Dee
I found Alan W.Y. Stewart’s marriage to Hazel C. Thorne in the September quarter of 1969 in St. Pancras registration district (RD), London and the following births of children, some of whom *may* be Alan’s and Hazel’s:
- Catherine Jane Stewart, September quarter 1971, Croydon RD;
- Rachel Stewart, March quarter 1972, Surrey South West RD;
- Daniel Alan S. Stewart, December quarter 1974, Bromley RD.
I’m afraid that’s about as far as I can get.
Best wishes
Alan
A strange coincidence. Last week at our film club we saw a short film made by an artist currently on display at Traquair. I looked at the gates and wondered if Charles Brodie had had a part in their making. Then your information arrived!
Thanks to all concerned
Hi Dennis
This is in reply to your message further up this page about William Brodie, the father of Charles (the father of Alexander and several others). That’s great news.
Do you know whether he had any other children besides Charles, as “Barbarie Brodie” married John Brunton in Traquair on 12 June 1702, and “Margrat Broady” married Robert Walker on 17 August 1711 in the parish of Manor, also in Peeblesshire.
Best regards
Alan
Hi Alan,
I noticed those records as well but can’t confirm they belong to William. Will let you know if I find any further evidence.
Best regards,
Dennis
Hi Alan, I have so enjoyed reading all this information. I told you earlier (Ethne) that my family and I lived at the Riggs in Traquair. My husband was the GP for the area for 35 years. What a wonderful house and we always felt a huge sense of history and were always very conscious of other families who had lived there through the centuries. The Brodie family were there for quite a few generations and left their mark on the community. I think it would be lovely to have a Brodie reunion one day, I’m sure a lot of people would love to wander round the area and get a “feel” for the place. There is a lovely wood just up the Minch road which my children spent many happy hours in and I’m sure so did many, many Brodie children through the ages. It is only since we retired to Arran that I have had time to research the Riggs in any depth – there will be a lot of records of the house in the Traquair House Archives. I know that there were sometimes 1,000 black cattle en route to markets from the highlands to Carlisle standing outside the Riggs while the drovers were “entertained” by the blacksmith and his family! Sorry to ramble on but it is all so interesting. Ethne
Yes, a Brodie reunion (or rather, a reunion of people descended from the Brodies). That could be good, as long as somebody else organises it!
Alan
What a good idea Ethne. it is always good to visit a site relating to someone we are researching. i would come. Pat
Peter Waugh, descendant of Lilias Brodie and Thomas Cochrane, says ” I would be up for it and try to get Waugh family (also Brodie descendants) from round there to go; the neo-brodies just need a venue and a date as a focus.”
As a Brodie descendant living in Canada, I would be very interested in help organize a reunion, perhaps by contacting any North American descendants. I wonder if 2014 would be a good time, given that is Homecoming Scotland 2014. http://www.homecomingscotland.com
Allan, I am trying to trace my family roots in Scotland and have very little to work with.
James Stuart is my great great grandfather, and my great grandfather was William Benjiman Stuart. They arrived in Grenada West Indies when William was 13 years old, and he died at 84 when my mother was 13. If she was born in 1929 and he died when she was 13 in 1942 at 84, then his birth date would be 1858.
What can you now help me with to do some tracing?
Hi Mike
I’ve taken a look on the ScotlandsPeople website http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk, but I can’t find any William Benjamin (or Benjiman) Stuart (or Stuard, Stewart, Steward, Steuart or Steuard).
In the Scottish 1861 census, there is a William Stuart, born about 1858, whose father’s name is James (a ploughman). They live in Rathven in Banffshire. The mother’s name is Jane and there’s also a one-year old daughter called Jane. They seem to have disappeared from the 1871 census.
I hope this helps.
Best regards
Alan
Thanks, I think you may have hit a very nice cover drive for four. James did do farming in Grenada, but what is a bit puzzling is William at times also carried the name Leacock Stuart. By accident this year, I found out the name Leacock when searching the land registry and I had to pay some good back taxes that he was owing the government, before the property was transferred on to my relative’s name. Another relative was one named Harry, who for some reason had a very hard dislike for the Irish, and went on to beat up the priest. Based on what my grand-dad told me that he had told him, James fought just about every day from Scotland to Grenada, and when he could not find an individual to fight, he threw the pig that was on board into the ocean. He caused a law to be placed on the books in all the Caribbean Colonies, that if a Stuart should hit any individual with their hands, they are to go to jail immediately. Apparently he was in a fight and broke the person’s jaw, and when he went to court his hands were weighed and the law was introduced. He just didn’t back down from a fight. There was also another rumor, that James had run away from some serious charge. Thanks again for your help. Mike Mc Quilkin
Is there a genealogy study exclusively for the Stewart or Stuart family in progress, and if yes how do I make contact? Thanks, Mike Mc Quilkin
Hi Mike
Well, I don’t know about a genealogy study, but there is the Stewart Society in the UK http://www.stewartsociety.org and the Clan Stewart Society in America http://www.clansstewart.org. In addition, Family Tree DNA has a Stewart DNA study at http://www.familytreedna.com/public/Stewart.
Best regards
Alan
Thanks. and MERRY CHRISTMAS. Mike Mc Quilkin
My father, Robert Stewart was born in Belfast in 1908; his father, John Edward Stewart born in Newry in 1865 (along with 6 sisters); John Edward Stewart’s father was John Stewart, born in County Monaghan circa 1840 and married to Esther McNeil (McNeale) in the 1st Rathfriland Presbyterian Church, Drumgath, Down. Their marriage registration lists John’s father as John Stewart (no surprise), a “pigger,” and Esther’s father as Daniel (possibly David), a farmer.
I have been unable to move back any farther, and wondered if you had ever run across these names, dates, locations. I noticed that one of John and Essie’s children was named Essie Swan, possible clue to a grandparent’s surname.
My father and his family emigrated to the US in the mid 1920′s, although his father returned to Ireland in 1930 where he died that year.
If you could even point me in a general direction, it would be great. Would your books contain something, if so, I will purchase.
I have to laugh – in my post above I meant that the eldest John Stewart’s occupation was “porker”‘ not “pigger!” Thanks!
Hi Robbie
I think you’ve done well to get that far back with your ancestors in Ireland. I haven’t come across any of those names myself, but my book “My Ancestor was Irish” does contain the addresses of a lot of websites you could use to try to get more information. Good luck!
Best regards
Alan
12/06/1702 1702 BRUNTON ALEXANDER BARBARIE BRODY/FR244 M TRAQUAIR OR TRAQUHAIR /PEEBLES 771/00 0010 0217
Unless I have started to muddle things up, I have Alexander Brunton marrying Barbarie Brody, not John Brunton.
Hello there. Yes, you’re quite right. It was Alexander, not John. My mistake.
Best regards
Alan