Robert Struthers, born in Avondale, Lanarkshire c. 18341Year of birth estimated from census returns and marriage and death certificates, son of Robert Struthers and Sarah Wilson.2National Records of Scotland, 1908 Deaths, 621/20
Robert is at West Side Farm, Avondale on the 18413National Records of Scotland, 1841 Census, 621/3/9 and 18614National Records of Scotland, 1861 Census, 621/3/7 Census. This was his probable place of birth. In 1851 he is possibly at Eastfield Farm, Galston, Ayrshire, employed as a Farm Servant.5National Records of Scotland, 1851 Census, 593/4/9
Ann Wilson, born at Redding Farm, Avondale on 17 October 18446National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Records, 1844 621/40/151, daughter of John Wilson and Agnes Young.7National Records of Scotland, 1913 Deaths, 621/63
Ann is at Redding Farm on the 18518National Records of Scotland, 1851 Census, 621/2/11 and 18619National Records of Scotland, 1861 Census, 621/2/7 Census.
Robert and Ann were married at Redding Farm on 2 June 1868.10National Records of Scotland, 1868 Marriages, 621/24
Officiated by Robert Reid Rae, Minister of Avondale.
Witnessed by Andrew Struthers and John Wilson.
Robert and Ann are at Side Farm on the 187111National Records of Scotland, 1871 Census, 621/3/6, 188112National Records of Scotland, 1881 Census, 621/3/2, 189113National Records of Scotland, 1891 Census, 621/3/3 and 190114National Records of Scotland, 1901 Census, 621/3/4 census.
Ann, now widowed, is in Kirk Street, Strathaven on the 1911 Census.15National Records of Scotland, 1911 Census, 621/10/17
CHILDREN
Robert Struthers, born at Side Farm on 23 March 1869.16National Records of Scotland, 1869 Births, 621/47
Robert is at Side Farm on the 1871, 1881 and 1891 Census, latterly employed as a Shepherd.
Robert married Isabella Cochran Pate (b. Strathaven, Lanarkshire on 20 March 187017National Records of Scotland, 1870 Births, 621/39), daughter of James Pate and Barbara McLanachan, at Allarstocks Farm, East Kilbride on 15 January 1896. Robert was then working as a Farmer at Arkland Farm, Penpont, Dumfriesshire.18National Records of Scotland, 1896 Marriages, 643/1
Robert and Isabella are at Arkland Farm on the 190119National Records of Scotland, 1901 Census, 845/2/1 and 191120National Records of Scotland, 1911 Census, 845/2/1 Census.
Robert died at Arkland Farm on 9 November 1924, age 55.21National Records of Scotland, 1924 Deaths, 821/413
Isabella died at Arkland Farm on 23 May 1942, age 72.22National Records of Scotland, 1924 Deaths, 845/6
John Struthers, born at Side Farm on 16 November 1871.23National Records of Scotland, 1871 Births, 621/173
John is at Side Farm on the 1881 and 1891 Census, latterly employed as an Elementary Schoolteacher.
John married Mary McCowan (b. Neilston, Renfrewshire on 17 October 187024National Records of Scotland, 1870 Births, 572/1/130), daughter of David McCowan and Ann McIntyre, at Holehouse, Neilston on 28 June 1895. Mary was also a Teacher; her father was a Grocer.25National Records of Scotland, 1895 Marriages, 572/1/16
John and Mary are at 14 Percy Street, Govan, Lanarkshire on the 1901 Census.26National Records of Scotland, 1901 Census, 646/2/65/12
John and Mary spent many years in Japan; one of their sons, Robert, was born in Tokyo in 1911. The following biography of John was obtained from the Asiatic Society of Japan:27Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan, Vol.14 of Series III, 1978, p.174.
JOHN STRUTHERS, M.A., B.Sc., M.B.E., was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1871, graduated from Glasgow University, and lectured in agricultural chemistry at the Glasgow Agricultural College before coming to Japan to a commercial position as manager for the Chilean Nitrate of Soda interests in the Far East. In addition to nine years on the council, he held the onerous position of treasurer for fourteen years between 1913 and 1936, a grand total of twenty-three years as an officer. Struthers’ colleague in the Chilean Nitrate Company, N.K. ROSCOE, an Englishman, was treasurer of the Society from 1922 and 1930. On his return to London, Roscoe became, around the years 1935-1937, advisor to the Japanese Embassy.
Asiatic Society of Japan
The above mentioned N.K. (Norman Keith) Roscoe was John’s son-in-law, married to his daughter Annie. During the Second World War he worked with the Japanese section of the codebreakers at Bletchley Park.28https://bletchleypark.org.uk/roll-of-honour/7885
John and Mary are living at 39 Manor Way, Croydon, Surrey on the 1939 England and Wales Register. John’s occupation is Retired Agricultural Chemist.
John died at Croydon University Hospital on 1 April 1947, age 74. His usual address is given as 39 Manor Way, Croydon.
Mary died at 11 Summerside Street, Leith, Midlothian on 12 January 1959, age 88.29National Records of Scotland, 1959 Deaths, 685/5/62
Gavin Struthers, born at Side Farm on 27 July 1873.30National Records of Scotland, 1873 Births, 621/105
Gavin is at Side Farm on the 1881 and 1891 Census, latterly as a ‘Farmers Son/Ploughman’.
Gavin married Isabella Morrison Craig (b. Bankend Farm, Avondale on 27 April 187631National Records of Scotland, 1876 Births, 621/61), daughter of Alexander Craig and Jane Fleming, at Bankend Farm on 8 November 1898.32National Records of Scotland, 1898 Marriages, 621/32
Gavin and Isabella are at High Glenmuir Farm, Auchinleck, Ayrshire on the 1901 Census33National Records of Scotland, 1901 Census, 577/2 6/1 and at South Halls Farm, Avondale on the 1911 Census34National Records of Scotland, 1911 Census, 621/3/3.
Isabella died at North Halls Farm, Avondale on 2 March 1948, age 71.35National Records of Scotland, 1948 Deaths, 621/10
Gavin died at North Halls Farm, Avondale on 7 August 1956, age 83.36National Records of Scotland, 1956 Deaths, 621/41
Agnes Young Struthers, born at Side Farm on 8 November 1875.37National Records of Scotland, 1875 Births, 621/151
Agnes is at Side Farm on the 1881, 1891 and 1901 Census.
Agnes married William Scott (b. Avondale, Lanarkshire c.187038National Records of Scotland, 1870 Births, 621/100), son of William Scott and Agnes Davidson, at Side Farm on 23 December 1903.39National Records of Scotland, 1903 Marriages, 621/50 William was then at Dalfram Farm, Muirkirk, Ayrshire, but in 1901 he had been employed at Side Farm as a Ploughman.
Agnes and William are at Dalfram Farm on the 1911 Census.40National Records of Scotland, 1911 Census, 607/6/4
Agnes died at 2 Whitelees Road, Lanark on 29 August 1950.41National Records of Scotland, 1950 Deaths, 648/86
Sarah Wilson Struthers, born at Side Farm on 1 January 1878.42National Records of Scotland, 1878 Births, 621/4
Sarah is at Side Farm on the 1881, 1891 and 1901 Census.
Sarah married John Craig of Guelt Farm, Old Cumnock, Ayrshire (b. Avondale, Lanarkshire c.187443National Records of Scotland, 1874 Births, 621/117), son of John Craig and Margaret Craig, at Side Farm on 9 July 1902.44National Records of Scotland, 1902 Marriages, 621/30
Sarah and John are at Guelt Farm on the 1911 Census.45National Records of Scotland, 1911 Census, 610/A 8/4
Sarah died at Netherholm, Kirkmahoe, Dumfriesshire on 17 April 1953.46National Records of Scotland, 1953 Deaths, 835/2
DEATHS
Robert died at Side Farm on 30 March 1908, age 74.47National Records of Scotland, 1908 Deaths, 621/20
Ann died at 91 Kirk Street, Strathaven on 4 December 1913, age 69.48National Records of Scotland, 1913 Deaths, 621/63
REFERENCES