Robert Struthers – Jean Wilson

Robert Struthers and Jean Wilson‘s parents and dates and places of birth are unknown.

Based on the ages of his children, Robert and Jean were probably born no later than 1764, and no earlier than around 1720-1730; later in Jean’s case.

There are 17 entries in the Old Parish Records for a Robert Struthers born between these dates. Twelve are from South Lanarkshire, i.e. Avondale/East Kilbride/Glassford, one from Kilmarnock in Ayrshire and the rest from other parts of the country.

The possible entries for Jean Wilson are even more numerous; 79 in Ayrshire and 80 in Lanarkshire.

If the Scottish naming convention was followed, Robert’s parents were possibly James and Janet, and Jeans’s parents were possibly Robert and Isabel. There are several entries in the OPR indexes which match a James/Janet marriage in the immediate area, but only one for Robert/Isabel, in Hamilton parish.

Robert and Jean were proclaimed to be married in the parish of Avondale on 30 November 1782¹National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Records, 1782 Marriages, 621 (Avondale), 20/157

CHILDREN

Note – most of these births are registered under the father’s name only.

James Struthers, born at High Unthank Farm, Avondale, Lanarkshire on 22 November 1783 and baptised on 29 NovemberNational Records of Scotland, Old Parish Records, 1783 Births, 621 (Avondale), 10/191.

Isabel Struthers, born at High Unthank on 11 June 1785 and baptised on 19 JuneNational Records of Scotland, Old Parish Records, 1785 Births, 621 (Avondale), 20/6.

Isabel married John Pettigrew (b. Shotts, Lanarkshire c.1777²Place and year of birth from 1851 Census). They were proclaimed to be married in the parish of Avondale on 10 May 1809³National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Records, 1809 Marriages, 621 (Avondale), 20/192 and in the parish of Shotts, Lanarkshire on 21 May 1809⁴National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Records, 1809 Marriages, 655 (Shotts), 30/254.

Isabel is in Dykehead, Lanarkshire on the 1841 Census, visiting her daughter and son-in-law and their new-born child.⁵National Records of Scotland, 1841 Census, 655 (Shotts), 3/7 John is in Kirkgateknowes Farm, Shotts with three other daughters⁶National Records of Scotland, 1841 Census, 655 (Shotts), 4/9. Isabel and John are at Springhill Farm, Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire on the 1851 Census⁷National Records of Scotland, 1851 Census, 628 (Cambusnethan), 13/8 and at an address, probably still Springhill, on the Edinburgh and Ayr Road, Cambusnethan on the 1861 Census⁸National Records of Scotland, 1861 Census, 628 (Cambusnethan), 17/25.

Isabel died at Springhead, Cambusnethan on 27 October 1873, age 88⁹National Records of Scotland, 1873 Deaths, 628/393. Springhead and Springhill may be the same place.

Janet Struthers, born at Middleraw Farm, Avondale on 4 April 1787 and baptised on 10 AprilNational Records of Scotland, Old Parish Records, 1787 Births, 621 (Avondale), 20/13.

There is a record of Janet Struthers died in Drumclog, Avondale in 1862, age 74; i.e. born about 1788. Her parents are recorded as Robert Struthers, Farmer, and ISOBEL Struthers, no maiden surname. There are no other recorded births in the whole of Lanarkshire for Janet Struthers, daughter of Robert Struthers, for the period 1768 to 1808. The informant was Janet’s son, who could be expected to know his mother’s maiden surname.

Robert Struthers, born at Middleraw Farm on 2 March 1789 and baptised on 8 MarchNational Records of Scotland, Old Parish Records, 1789 Births, 621 (Avondale), 20/22.

Robert married Sarah Wilson (b. Avondale on 22 October 1803), daughter of Gavin Wilson and Mary Cochran¹⁰National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Records, 1803 Births, 621 (Avondale), 20/74. They were proclaimed to be married in the parish of Avondale on 13 January 1825¹¹National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Records, 1825 Marriages, 621 (Avondale), 40/226.

Robert died at Kirk Street, Strathaven on 5 October 1866, age 77¹²National Records of Scotland, 1866 Deaths, 621/63.

Andrew Struthers, born at Middleraw Farm on 6 April 1791 and baptised on 16 AprilNational Records of Scotland, Old Parish Records, 1791 Births, 621 (Avondale), 20/32.

Agnes Struthers, born at Middleraw Farm on 6 June 1793 and baptised on 17 JuneNational Records of Scotland, Old Parish Records, 1793 Births, 621 (Avondale), 20/41.

Agnes possibly married James Yuille; Agnes and James are in Gallowferter in Avondale on the 1841 Census and in Barnock in Avondale on the 1851 Census, although her year of birth is out by two years. If it is her, she probably died between 1851 and 1854, as her death does not appear to be on the statutory records.

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