The Scotts of Ashkirk:
Generation 3: William Scott (1801-1848) and Mary Scott (1806-1880)
Generation 4: Alexander Scott (1840-1920) and Janet Grieve (1850-1921)
Generation 5: William Scott (born 1872 in Ashkirk) and emigrated to
Canada with his parents in 1880.
In this posting I discuss the last 3 generations of my direct ancestors to be born in Scotland, all of whom lived in Ashkirk Parish, Selkirkshire. The earliest of these were my great great grandparents, William Scott and Mary Scott, who married in 1826 in Yarrow Parish but located themselves in Ashkirk Parish were they raised their family. If there are readers of this site that are concerned about a marriage between two Scotts you may find it comforting to know that I haven't yet found any other connection between William and Mary's families. However, I must add that Ashkirk has long been occupied by families with the name of Scott, so much so that in his 1837 'statistical account' of Ashkirk Parish the Reverand G.J.Hamilton explained that "...at one time almost the whole parish belonged to gentlemen of the name of Scott."
I've visited Scotland several times over the years and I can report that Ashkirk lays amongst some of the most beautiful rolling hills I've seen anywhere. The patchwork of fields and clutches of trees are of the vibrant greens the Scottish Borders are famous for. The Ale Water (river) winds it way through the valley and passes fields that are still dotted with sheep, as evidence of the Border's thriving woollen industry of the 19th century. But Ashkirk's history is much older than the textile days, as by any measure Ashkirk is considered an old Parish.
I had to search widely for any comprehensive historical documents about Ashkirk's past and the best I've come across was a report presented to a meeting of the Hawick Archealogical Society in 1863! Thanks to Google Books I was able to find it and provide the link here. It's titled "The Early Records of Ashkirk Parish" as was presented by a Mr. Frank Hogg: http://books.google.ca/books?id=88wGAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA93&dq=ashkirk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hUzVULWeE-70igLc44G4Bw&ved=0CFQQ6AEwBjge#v=onepage&q=ashkirk&f=false
If fashion is more to you liking you may be interested to know that the Borders still produces fine woolen products and other luxury end clothing lines. A leading manufacturer is Lyle & Scott who still produce their internationally acclaimed cashmere in nearby Hawick but if you plan to visit their flagship store in Covent Garden, London, bring your credit card. Speaking of Lyle & Scott I should mention that a cousin of ours was employed as a Foreman at Lyle & Scott's in the mid 1900's - his son, an electrical engineer, lived in York, England, although I believe he recently passed.
To find Ashkirk on a map (a map is provided on the upper menu bar) first locate Edinburgh then head south on the A7 road which winds its way through the Scottish Borders as it makes its way to Carlisle in England. The little village of Ashkirk is on that A7, about 40 miles south of Edinburgh; midway between the larger towns of Selkirk and Hawick.
If you enter Ashkirk from the A7 stay to the left lane and you'll come to a sign posted intersection where the Smiddy Bar is located. To the right is the road up the hill to the Woll estate and from there a further 6 miles to Ettrickbridge. To the left is the B711 road to Roberton, also about 6 miles. This junction is actually about the middle of the village - yes it's tiny. The village's core consists of only a handful of cottages intermixed with a couple of businesses, which include the bar/restaurant and a small garage. Up the hill towards the Woll you can see cottages hidden amongst the trees. Looking back southwards, across the A7, the valley seems only filled with the green fields of the local farms.
The population of Ashkirk is reportedly about 190 persons so the nearby farms must be included to get a count that high. Don't be deceived, today's Ashkirk is a thriving rural community. Several large houses have been built in recent years as it seems to serve as a bedroom community for some of the larger nearby towns.
Continue driving straight through the junction towards Roberton and after you pass a couple of houses you will hopefully notice a small, seemingly unused lane to the right that goes up the hill to the Ashirk Church. This of course is a must see but the lane is difficult to drive so I suggest you park at the bottom and walk up. A word of caution to Canadians - you won't find anything that truly resembles a parking spot so join the others and just pull over as best you can.
I've visited Scotland several times over the years and I can report that Ashkirk lays amongst some of the most beautiful rolling hills I've seen anywhere. The patchwork of fields and clutches of trees are of the vibrant greens the Scottish Borders are famous for. The Ale Water (river) winds it way through the valley and passes fields that are still dotted with sheep, as evidence of the Border's thriving woollen industry of the 19th century. But Ashkirk's history is much older than the textile days, as by any measure Ashkirk is considered an old Parish.
I had to search widely for any comprehensive historical documents about Ashkirk's past and the best I've come across was a report presented to a meeting of the Hawick Archealogical Society in 1863! Thanks to Google Books I was able to find it and provide the link here. It's titled "The Early Records of Ashkirk Parish" as was presented by a Mr. Frank Hogg: http://books.google.ca/books?id=88wGAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA93&dq=ashkirk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hUzVULWeE-70igLc44G4Bw&ved=0CFQQ6AEwBjge#v=onepage&q=ashkirk&f=false
If fashion is more to you liking you may be interested to know that the Borders still produces fine woolen products and other luxury end clothing lines. A leading manufacturer is Lyle & Scott who still produce their internationally acclaimed cashmere in nearby Hawick but if you plan to visit their flagship store in Covent Garden, London, bring your credit card. Speaking of Lyle & Scott I should mention that a cousin of ours was employed as a Foreman at Lyle & Scott's in the mid 1900's - his son, an electrical engineer, lived in York, England, although I believe he recently passed.
To find Ashkirk on a map (a map is provided on the upper menu bar) first locate Edinburgh then head south on the A7 road which winds its way through the Scottish Borders as it makes its way to Carlisle in England. The little village of Ashkirk is on that A7, about 40 miles south of Edinburgh; midway between the larger towns of Selkirk and Hawick.
If you enter Ashkirk from the A7 stay to the left lane and you'll come to a sign posted intersection where the Smiddy Bar is located. To the right is the road up the hill to the Woll estate and from there a further 6 miles to Ettrickbridge. To the left is the B711 road to Roberton, also about 6 miles. This junction is actually about the middle of the village - yes it's tiny. The village's core consists of only a handful of cottages intermixed with a couple of businesses, which include the bar/restaurant and a small garage. Up the hill towards the Woll you can see cottages hidden amongst the trees. Looking back southwards, across the A7, the valley seems only filled with the green fields of the local farms.
The population of Ashkirk is reportedly about 190 persons so the nearby farms must be included to get a count that high. Don't be deceived, today's Ashkirk is a thriving rural community. Several large houses have been built in recent years as it seems to serve as a bedroom community for some of the larger nearby towns.
Continue driving straight through the junction towards Roberton and after you pass a couple of houses you will hopefully notice a small, seemingly unused lane to the right that goes up the hill to the Ashirk Church. This of course is a must see but the lane is difficult to drive so I suggest you park at the bottom and walk up. A word of caution to Canadians - you won't find anything that truly resembles a parking spot so join the others and just pull over as best you can.
The church that stands today was built in 1790 on the foundations of a much older church. In a booklet written in 1984 by a young Alasdair Allan, he explained that the previous 'auld kirk' of Ashkirk was a low building with a steep roof, thatched with heather, in which the congregation would sit on the earthen floor. He also explained that many of the Parish's dead had been buried beneath the church over the years.
The 'new' church stands a lovely knoll overlooking the valley but it's not for its view that I tell family members to visit. The main reason to visit the church is to see the memorial to our ancestors, William and Mary Scott.
When we visited the Churchyard in 1987 we found the headstone to William and Mary and their two eldest sons and their families. It was an exciting discovery which ignited the genealogy 'bug' within me.
When we visited the Churchyard in 1987 we found the headstone to William and Mary and their two eldest sons and their families. It was an exciting discovery which ignited the genealogy 'bug' within me.
However, when we visited again in 2011 we found that the headstone had fallen and was laying face down in the grass. Fortunately it appeared to be intact and with care it could be restored to its upright position one day.
Make sure you check the door to the church before you leave as it's usually left unlocked allowing visitors to go inside and look around or otherwise use the church. You will be suitably impressed by the two large and beautifully stained glass windows but look closely because one is fashioned on the Scott coat of arms - Corse Scott.
If you are looking for a reason for Ashkirk's original existance then its little church holds the answer as the earlier Frank Hogg report explained. But if you haven't read that yet then the following link will take you to a site provided by the current church's administration and their much shorter explanation of Ashkirk's history:
https://sites.google.com/site/ashkirkparishchurch/parish-profile/ashkirk---it-s-story
When you leave the church continue on the B711 road towards Roberton and you'll quickly come upon the Woll Golf Course to your right. If you are a golfer then make sure to plan a round as these are the lands of the family of the Woll Scotts and you won't want to miss the opportunity. If you are not a golfer then stop anyway and enjoy the lovely new restaurant which provides great views in a very picturesque setting. The website for the Woll golf course and their several holiday cottages is: http://www.wollgolf.co.uk/.
After your stop at the Woll Golf Course you have several options and you'll want to do them all. You can continue on the B711 and enjoy a beautifully picturesque drive up into the hills and over to Roberton. Or you can drive back to the junction in Ashkirk and take that road up over the Woll Rigg and down into the Ettrickbridge from its eastern entrance. They are equally beautiful drives and should both be explored which is why I recommend staying a few nights in the area. There are plenty of Bread & Breakfast or self-catering cottages to choose from.
Our family lived their years on nearby Synton Estate in what was called South Synton. To find Synton (sometimes spelled Sinton) locate yourself at the entrance to Ashkirk off the A7, then head south to Hawick and take the second left hand turn which has a small sign to 'Sinton'. This is a cute little country lane that winds past a large terraced house on the right before coming to the farm of Synton Parkehad on the left. If you stay on the main lane you will wind your way thru the hills until you come to a cross road which is where the Dimpleknowe farm is located. However, if at Synton Parkhead you take a little side lane to the left, just past the last house of Synton Parkhead, you'll be able to walk to the Synton Gardens cottage.
The following link to the Borders Family History Society's information about Ashkirk inlcudes an interactive map at the bottom which will be helpful in finding the old farm names. It's a dragable map so put your cursour where you want and move it around to see more:
http://www.bordersfhs.org.uk/ashkirk.asp
William and Mary Scott:
This posting is about our William Scott who was born in 1801 at Catslacknowe in the Yarrow Valley. In 1826 William was living at Ettrickbridge End where he worked as a labourer when he married Mary Scott of Ashkirk Parish.
Mary was born at Kirkhope in 1806 which is just up the road from Ettrickbridge End. Mary's parents were John Scott and Helen (Nellie) Scott and by 1810 Mary and her family had moved to Ashkirk Parish in the valley just south of the Ettrick Valley.
Although William and Mary's wedding was proclaimed in Yarrow Parish the couple took up residence at Synton Parkhead in Ashkirk Parish. Their first child was born there later that same year and following the Scottish naming tradition this first son was named after the father's father, William.
Synton Parkhead lays in that part of Ashkirk Parish called south Sinton. When our William moved to the area in 1826 the largest land owner in the area was a John Corse Scott who lived at the main Sinton House. By that time the only other land owner with the surname Scott in the Parish was Charles Balfour Scott Esquire of Woll, who's lands lay up the hill from the village's church and cemetery.
If you are looking for a reason for Ashkirk's original existance then its little church holds the answer as the earlier Frank Hogg report explained. But if you haven't read that yet then the following link will take you to a site provided by the current church's administration and their much shorter explanation of Ashkirk's history:
https://sites.google.com/site/ashkirkparishchurch/parish-profile/ashkirk---it-s-story
When you leave the church continue on the B711 road towards Roberton and you'll quickly come upon the Woll Golf Course to your right. If you are a golfer then make sure to plan a round as these are the lands of the family of the Woll Scotts and you won't want to miss the opportunity. If you are not a golfer then stop anyway and enjoy the lovely new restaurant which provides great views in a very picturesque setting. The website for the Woll golf course and their several holiday cottages is: http://www.wollgolf.co.uk/.
After your stop at the Woll Golf Course you have several options and you'll want to do them all. You can continue on the B711 and enjoy a beautifully picturesque drive up into the hills and over to Roberton. Or you can drive back to the junction in Ashkirk and take that road up over the Woll Rigg and down into the Ettrickbridge from its eastern entrance. They are equally beautiful drives and should both be explored which is why I recommend staying a few nights in the area. There are plenty of Bread & Breakfast or self-catering cottages to choose from.
Our family lived their years on nearby Synton Estate in what was called South Synton. To find Synton (sometimes spelled Sinton) locate yourself at the entrance to Ashkirk off the A7, then head south to Hawick and take the second left hand turn which has a small sign to 'Sinton'. This is a cute little country lane that winds past a large terraced house on the right before coming to the farm of Synton Parkehad on the left. If you stay on the main lane you will wind your way thru the hills until you come to a cross road which is where the Dimpleknowe farm is located. However, if at Synton Parkhead you take a little side lane to the left, just past the last house of Synton Parkhead, you'll be able to walk to the Synton Gardens cottage.
The following link to the Borders Family History Society's information about Ashkirk inlcudes an interactive map at the bottom which will be helpful in finding the old farm names. It's a dragable map so put your cursour where you want and move it around to see more:
http://www.bordersfhs.org.uk/ashkirk.asp
William and Mary Scott:
This posting is about our William Scott who was born in 1801 at Catslacknowe in the Yarrow Valley. In 1826 William was living at Ettrickbridge End where he worked as a labourer when he married Mary Scott of Ashkirk Parish.
Mary was born at Kirkhope in 1806 which is just up the road from Ettrickbridge End. Mary's parents were John Scott and Helen (Nellie) Scott and by 1810 Mary and her family had moved to Ashkirk Parish in the valley just south of the Ettrick Valley.
Although William and Mary's wedding was proclaimed in Yarrow Parish the couple took up residence at Synton Parkhead in Ashkirk Parish. Their first child was born there later that same year and following the Scottish naming tradition this first son was named after the father's father, William.
Synton Parkhead lays in that part of Ashkirk Parish called south Sinton. When our William moved to the area in 1826 the largest land owner in the area was a John Corse Scott who lived at the main Sinton House. By that time the only other land owner with the surname Scott in the Parish was Charles Balfour Scott Esquire of Woll, who's lands lay up the hill from the village's church and cemetery.
It's important to note that during these same years in the early to mid 19th century Mary's three brothers had married in Ashkirk as well and they and their families were also living and working in Sinton. The result was that Mary and William had relatives living in several of the houses of Sinton for much of their lives. Mary's eldest brother George lived with his family in the labourer's cottage at Synton Mills. Her brother John lived with his family next door at Whinfield cottage. Her younger brother William and his wife raised their 8 daughters at Synton Mossend.
William and Mary themselves lived in several houses at Synton. They lived first at Synton Parkhead, then just up the lane at Synton Lodge, then across from Synton Parkhead at Langtownheight, then Synton Mills before settling for good at the Thatchers Cottage at Dimpleknowe. Two of Mary and William's boys apprenticed at Sinton Mills and when her son Alexander married he moved into Synton Gardens.
For our Scotts, family was everywhere they turned. Although I've followed much of the lineage of our family in Ashkirk I've found no cousins living there today. But the search is made difficult because Scott is one of the most common names within the Borders and when I wrote this article I made a quick check of the British Telecom phone book and found 17 Scott families living in Selkirk, 27 Scott families living in Hawick and another 6 in Lilliesleaf, a tiny hamlet just east of Ashkirk.
William found employment as a Thatcher primarily although on one record I found he was listed as a Game Keeper. He and Mary had 6 children and all were boys: William, John, Robert, George, Alexander and Walter. Their last child was born in 1846 and only 2 years later William (the father) died at the very young age of 48. A news paper story published on October 27, 1848 in the Kelso Chronicle explained the circumstances of William's untimely and tragic death. Reportedly he had walked the 6 miles or so to Hawick the previous day and was returning with some articles he had purchased one particularly frosty night. As he did not arrive as expected his wife and a neighbour went looking for him in the morning and found him not far from home where he had literally frozen to death overnight. The entire 1848 news story is stored under the RECORDS tab on this website.
Mary was left a widow with 6 boys ranging in age from 2 to 22 years. These were harsh years for the poor and to be a widow with young children would have just made everything that much more difficult. Their home at that time was the Thatcher's cottage at Dimpleknowe farm where Mary remained the rest of her life. The Dimpleknowe farmhouse still stands today although I suspect the cottages have been replaced with proper farm out-buildings and more recently some bed and breakfast facilities were added. See (http://www.dimpleknowe.co.uk/ ). Speaking of local B&B's two more are nearby at Synton Mains (http://www.syntonmains.com/ ).
William and Mary themselves lived in several houses at Synton. They lived first at Synton Parkhead, then just up the lane at Synton Lodge, then across from Synton Parkhead at Langtownheight, then Synton Mills before settling for good at the Thatchers Cottage at Dimpleknowe. Two of Mary and William's boys apprenticed at Sinton Mills and when her son Alexander married he moved into Synton Gardens.
For our Scotts, family was everywhere they turned. Although I've followed much of the lineage of our family in Ashkirk I've found no cousins living there today. But the search is made difficult because Scott is one of the most common names within the Borders and when I wrote this article I made a quick check of the British Telecom phone book and found 17 Scott families living in Selkirk, 27 Scott families living in Hawick and another 6 in Lilliesleaf, a tiny hamlet just east of Ashkirk.
William found employment as a Thatcher primarily although on one record I found he was listed as a Game Keeper. He and Mary had 6 children and all were boys: William, John, Robert, George, Alexander and Walter. Their last child was born in 1846 and only 2 years later William (the father) died at the very young age of 48. A news paper story published on October 27, 1848 in the Kelso Chronicle explained the circumstances of William's untimely and tragic death. Reportedly he had walked the 6 miles or so to Hawick the previous day and was returning with some articles he had purchased one particularly frosty night. As he did not arrive as expected his wife and a neighbour went looking for him in the morning and found him not far from home where he had literally frozen to death overnight. The entire 1848 news story is stored under the RECORDS tab on this website.
Mary was left a widow with 6 boys ranging in age from 2 to 22 years. These were harsh years for the poor and to be a widow with young children would have just made everything that much more difficult. Their home at that time was the Thatcher's cottage at Dimpleknowe farm where Mary remained the rest of her life. The Dimpleknowe farmhouse still stands today although I suspect the cottages have been replaced with proper farm out-buildings and more recently some bed and breakfast facilities were added. See (http://www.dimpleknowe.co.uk/ ). Speaking of local B&B's two more are nearby at Synton Mains (http://www.syntonmains.com/ ).
Alexander Scott and Janet Grieve:
William and Mary Scott had 6 children, all boys, and my direct ancestor, Alexander, was their 5th born. Alexander was born in 1840 at the Synton Lodge cottage which lies just up a little lane, behind Synton Parkhead. Unfortunately there is nothing much of the remains left to show were Synton Lodge once stood. Alexander's father died in 1848 and by that time he and his family had moved to nearby Dimpleknowe farm where they were living in the Thatcher's cottage there.
Alexander lived with his mother in Dimpleknowe Cottage until he married Janet Grieve in 1870. They were married at Synton Gardens, a wonderful cottage in a beautiful setting. To find Synton Gardens take the lane to the left of the last house at Synton Parkhead. Walking up that lane you'll pass a driveway on the left to a new house before you come to a mostly hidden older drive off to the right. Don't be put off by the over growth and old gate because this is the lane to Synton Gardens. As you explore the area note the high stone wall encompassing the cottage's large back yard, a testament to the fact that Synton Gardens was once the home to the Gardener for the Synton Estate. I believe Janet had lived at Synton Gardens for some time as an earlier census shows a young 10 year old (the correct age) Janet Grieve was living there with her grandparents.
In 1872 Alexander and Janet's first child was born, named William of course. He was born at their home at Synton Gardens as were their next four children. The remaining 3 were born in Canada.
Mary died at Synton Gardens, in 1880 at the age of 74. After his mother died Alexander, or Sandy as he was called, promptly moved his young and growing family to Canada to join his younger brother Walter who had emigrated in 1866. My cousin Jean has in her possession a letter written by Walter in 1878. This and perhaps other letters from Walter were likely what enticed Alexander to move to Canda because in this letter Walter talks about his success in Canada, as his Scott and Bell furniture company was thriving in Seaforth, Ontario.
Alexander and his family moved to Seaforth in 1880 and in the spring of 1881 he travelled west staking a claim for a homestead in the newly opened land named Manitoba. Over the years he established a farm there and by 1890 his brother George left Scotland moving to a farm near Alexander (see Alexander's 1921 obituary under the RECORDS tab on this website). The other 3 brothers of Alexander remained in Scotland. John had moved to Innerleithen near Traquair and was employed in a textile mill there (as were all of his family) when he died of an accidental fall in 1886. Robert or Rab as he was called was a shepherd and he lived out his life in Ashkirk, dying a pauper at his home in Synton Parkhead in 1908 (see his obituary under the RECORDS tab on this website). William, the eldest son, pre-deceased his mother dying in 1878 at nearby Abbotrule, Southdean.
It was this William of Abbotrule that was the direct ancestor of my cousin Jean. He married the Ashkirk girl Jane Hogg and they had one son, also named William of course. The younger William wrote a poem in 1901 that is in Jean's possession. It tells anecdotes about his uncles, Alexander and Walter, and about his grandmother Mary, and of their life growing up in Ashkirk. I'm happy to report that the poem is filled with fond memories of their childhood and of the Ashkirk area. Here's a little snippet but the entire poem can found under the RECORDS tab on this website.
"...just like oor ain auld native 'Yill'
Gaun roorin doon by Ashkirk Mill
Or jookin' through amang the braes,
And singin' as in by gone days.
When we were young and free o' care,
And a' thing seemed sae fresh and fair...'
It's a wonderful poem and certainly reflects a love for Ashkirk and a passion for Scotland. Although these were years of poverty it appears our family found a way to enjoy their life in Ashkirk, our last home in Scotland.
William and Mary Scott had 6 children, all boys, and my direct ancestor, Alexander, was their 5th born. Alexander was born in 1840 at the Synton Lodge cottage which lies just up a little lane, behind Synton Parkhead. Unfortunately there is nothing much of the remains left to show were Synton Lodge once stood. Alexander's father died in 1848 and by that time he and his family had moved to nearby Dimpleknowe farm where they were living in the Thatcher's cottage there.
Alexander lived with his mother in Dimpleknowe Cottage until he married Janet Grieve in 1870. They were married at Synton Gardens, a wonderful cottage in a beautiful setting. To find Synton Gardens take the lane to the left of the last house at Synton Parkhead. Walking up that lane you'll pass a driveway on the left to a new house before you come to a mostly hidden older drive off to the right. Don't be put off by the over growth and old gate because this is the lane to Synton Gardens. As you explore the area note the high stone wall encompassing the cottage's large back yard, a testament to the fact that Synton Gardens was once the home to the Gardener for the Synton Estate. I believe Janet had lived at Synton Gardens for some time as an earlier census shows a young 10 year old (the correct age) Janet Grieve was living there with her grandparents.
In 1872 Alexander and Janet's first child was born, named William of course. He was born at their home at Synton Gardens as were their next four children. The remaining 3 were born in Canada.
Mary died at Synton Gardens, in 1880 at the age of 74. After his mother died Alexander, or Sandy as he was called, promptly moved his young and growing family to Canada to join his younger brother Walter who had emigrated in 1866. My cousin Jean has in her possession a letter written by Walter in 1878. This and perhaps other letters from Walter were likely what enticed Alexander to move to Canda because in this letter Walter talks about his success in Canada, as his Scott and Bell furniture company was thriving in Seaforth, Ontario.
Alexander and his family moved to Seaforth in 1880 and in the spring of 1881 he travelled west staking a claim for a homestead in the newly opened land named Manitoba. Over the years he established a farm there and by 1890 his brother George left Scotland moving to a farm near Alexander (see Alexander's 1921 obituary under the RECORDS tab on this website). The other 3 brothers of Alexander remained in Scotland. John had moved to Innerleithen near Traquair and was employed in a textile mill there (as were all of his family) when he died of an accidental fall in 1886. Robert or Rab as he was called was a shepherd and he lived out his life in Ashkirk, dying a pauper at his home in Synton Parkhead in 1908 (see his obituary under the RECORDS tab on this website). William, the eldest son, pre-deceased his mother dying in 1878 at nearby Abbotrule, Southdean.
It was this William of Abbotrule that was the direct ancestor of my cousin Jean. He married the Ashkirk girl Jane Hogg and they had one son, also named William of course. The younger William wrote a poem in 1901 that is in Jean's possession. It tells anecdotes about his uncles, Alexander and Walter, and about his grandmother Mary, and of their life growing up in Ashkirk. I'm happy to report that the poem is filled with fond memories of their childhood and of the Ashkirk area. Here's a little snippet but the entire poem can found under the RECORDS tab on this website.
"...just like oor ain auld native 'Yill'
Gaun roorin doon by Ashkirk Mill
Or jookin' through amang the braes,
And singin' as in by gone days.
When we were young and free o' care,
And a' thing seemed sae fresh and fair...'
It's a wonderful poem and certainly reflects a love for Ashkirk and a passion for Scotland. Although these were years of poverty it appears our family found a way to enjoy their life in Ashkirk, our last home in Scotland.
Free Church of Scotland
It's important to note that Alexander Scott and Janet Grieve were wed according to the Forms of the Free Church of Scotland and therefore we can expect that our family led a more pious lifestyle than members of the more moderate Church of Scotland. The Free Church was established during the "Disruption" in the 1840's when the more evangelical members split from the Church of Scotland in a bitter national protest against what they regarded as a patronage system where, amongst other complaints, rich landowners selected local ministers. I've often wondered what tensions existed in our family's community of Ashkirk especially considering that the local Free Church was built right next to Synton Mills, in the heart of Synton, an area mostly populated with our Scott relatives during those years.
To give you some more insights into the character of our family I will tell you that Synton Mills was also the site of newspaper article I found published in 1855. The Kelso Chronicle article was a review of a Temperance meeting hosted by Mr.Thomas Waldie of Synton Mills. Reportedly the meeting room was filled to the door and the speaker from the Scottish Temperance Society was gratified to find that the temperance principles (to reduce or prohibit the use of alcohol) in this district had been "attended with much success". Just how close was our family to Mr. Waldie? Well, I can tell you that not one but two of Alexander's brothers apprenticed under Mr. Waldie at Synton Mills, William and Walter. The principles of the Free Church and the Temparance Society would stay with Alexander the rest of his days.
To give you some more insights into the character of our family I will tell you that Synton Mills was also the site of newspaper article I found published in 1855. The Kelso Chronicle article was a review of a Temperance meeting hosted by Mr.Thomas Waldie of Synton Mills. Reportedly the meeting room was filled to the door and the speaker from the Scottish Temperance Society was gratified to find that the temperance principles (to reduce or prohibit the use of alcohol) in this district had been "attended with much success". Just how close was our family to Mr. Waldie? Well, I can tell you that not one but two of Alexander's brothers apprenticed under Mr. Waldie at Synton Mills, William and Walter. The principles of the Free Church and the Temparance Society would stay with Alexander the rest of his days.