Search Details

The first impression that came to mind was that this family had a great sense of timing. Since JLW's parents had been married shortly after the 1881 Census, it could be expected that they would be found living with their parents on the Census return.
In Janet's case, this turned out to be true. At the age of 23, she was living with her widowed mother and 4 younger siblings in East Linton.
James was lodging with another family in the same village. There was a large family of Whitelaws at a farm cottage near the village, and he was the right age to have been their eldest son, who might have left home due to overcrowding. However, this turned out not to be the case. This is a pity, because there had been Whitelaws in the area for centuries, but he does not seem to have been related to them. However, James's birthplace was given as Bonhill in Dumbarton, and his age as 21.

In the 1891 Census, James and Janet were still living in East Linton with their 4 oldest daughters, Janet (JLW, 9), Jeannie (7), Isabella (4) and Barbara (2). In the 1901 Census, they were still there, with their 4 youngest children Isabella (14), Barbara (12), James (9) and Wilhelmina (1). (In fact, as their descendants already knew, James and Janet were still living there in old age in the 1930s).

Examination of the birth certificates of JLW's siblings revealed their dates of birth and middle names:
Searching through the marriage and death records for these names revealed:

Jane married Robert Henry Summerfield on 21 Oct 1911. He was a golf greenkeeper, and they moved to Gullane. He died 19 Feb 1949 aged 78. She died 9 Feb 1963 aged 79. They had moved back to East Linton. The death certificates were signed by their son-in-law Ninian Douglas. Their daughter Jessie Whitelaw Summerfield was born in 1916, and married Ninian Douglas on 18 Mar 1944. (Later information revealed that their grave in Prestonkirk churchyard also contains their daughter Elsie (1914-1983), and mentions a son Robin who died at Arnhem in 1944).

Barbara married Robert Bathgate on 28 Feb 1914. He was a coal miner, but became a stoker in the Navy. Barbara died of influenza 3 days after giving birth to Helen Jessie Bathgate on 10 Nov 1918 at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh. There had been 2 older children, George (1913) and Barbara (1915). Robert remarried in 1924.

Wilhelmina married John Thorburn (by Declaration) on 1 Dec 1921. He was then a railway clerk, aged 20. Wilhelmina died a widow aged 86, on 4 May 1987, in Haddington Hospital. John had risen to Office Manager before he died. Her death was registered by a son-in-law with an illegible signature. The birth records have revealed Jessie (1922), Elizabeth (1924) and Wilhelmina (1935). The marriage records show that Elizabeth Thorburn married Stanley Simpson in 1956.

James and Janet had another child, William Whitelaw, who died at 6 days old in July 1895.

Examination of James and Janet's marriage certificate showed that they were married on 6 Sep 1881 at the Free Church of Scotland, East Linton.
His parents were James Whitelaw (slater) and Jane Ann Lochhead (decd).
Her parents were Andrew Levy (tailor, decd) and Janet Lawrie.
James Whitelaw's death certificate dated 8 Sep 1946 gives the same parents, (though his mother's name is spelt Lockwood), and gives his place of death as 11 Hardie Terrace, East Linton.
Janet Levy Whitelaw's death certificate dated 13 Apr 1939 gives the same parents, and gives her place of death as 5 Walker Terrace, East Linton.

James Whitelaw's birth certificate gave the date 10 Apr 1860, confirming the place and parents as before, and giving their marriage as 1852 in Barony, Glasgow.
His brother Robert was born 23 Dec 1862 at Bonhill.
His brother Lawrence was born 24 Nov 1865 at 40 Rose Street, Hutchesontown.

His parents' marriage was recorded in the Old Parish Register of Barony: on 10 May 1852, James Whitelaw (slater) and Jane Ann Lochhead, both of Barony, were married at the Sacred Chapel of Ease, Anderston, Barony Parish.
The eldest child was James, born 1852, died 2 June 1855 in Anderston of convulsions.
His brother Charles was born 11 Mar 1857 at Anderston.

Jane Ann Whitelaw died on 22 Mar 1869 aged 39 at 42 Rose Street South, Glasgow.
Her parents were given as Charles Lochhead (master plumber, decd) and Mary m/s Nicol.
No record of their marriage exists in the OPRs. There is a birth record of Jean Ann Lochhead to Charles Lochhead, plumber and Janet Nicol on 21 Jul 1833 in St. Cuthberts, Edinburgh. They were members of the United Associate Secession Church. The birth register of that church also records a brother James born 11 Mar 1840, and gives their address as 27 William Street. However, they were not still living at this address in 1841.
It is possible that Jean Ann's widower did not remember his mother-in-law's first name.
Presumably the family is listed on the 1841 and 1851 Census returns, but it is not certain where they lived, so this search would be very time-consuming. Her father (the Master Plumber) might possibly be found in a Trade Directory.

Since Jane's husband was still alive at the time of her death, (and not stated to be deceased on his son's marriage certificate) his death certificate (later than 1869, and possibly later than 1881) should give the names of his parents.
As Whitelaw is a common name, it is unlikely that this line will be traceable much further.

The interesting point of why James (JLW's father) moved to East Linton has not yet been solved.

The marriage of Andrew Levy and Janet Lawrie appears in the OPRs of both Prestonkirk (his parish) and Whitekirk (hers) - these are neighbouring areas in East Lothian. It occurred on 8 Jan 1851. The witnesses were David Levy and Robert Farquar.
His death certificate (dated 20 Oct 1878) gives age 50, died of chronic alcoholism, parents Andrew Levy and Eliza m/s Hunter of Prestonkirk.
Her death certificate (dated 4 Jul 1908) gives age 76, died of cerebral haemorrage, parents John Lawrie and Mary m/s Pringle of Whitekirk.

The parents' marriage did not appear in the OPRs of Whitekirk.
The only child whose birth John Lawrie and Mary Pringle had registered in the Parish Register was that of their eldest son John (30 Nov 1819).
However, the baptism dates of the others are listed in the IGI: Jean (7 Nov 1821), Elizabeth (6 Nov 1823), Ann (21 Aug 1825), Margaret (30 Sep 1829), Janet (30 Nov 1831), and Mary (10 Oct 1839). According to the 1841 Census, there were also Robert (1828) and James (1835).

John Lawrie died on 29 Jan 1866 in East Linton, aged 73. His parents are given as John Lawrie (carter) and Elizabeth m/s Dickson. They were married 24 Jun 1792. John was born 21 Apr 1793. Lawrie is a common name in that area, so the Lawrie line cannot be traced further back.
Mary Pringle Lawrie died on 24 Feb 1872 in East Linton, as a widow of 77. Her parents are given on her death certificate as Robert Pringle (ploughman) and Jean m/s Rankin. Mary was born 9 Nov 1794, and her sister Jean on 20 Jan 1800. The Pringle line cannot be traced further back.
If John Lawrie and Mary Pringle had followed the Scottish naming traditions, their parents would have been John and Elizabeth Lawrie and Robert and Jean Pringle. This was certainly true in both their cases. However, the 3rd daughter was Ann not Mary - in fact, Margaret and Janet also came in before Mary, so it does not work every time.

Andrew Levy and Elisabeth (Eliza) Hunter were married on 17 Jan 1824 at Prestonkirk, and had 3 children baptised there: Elisabeth (26 Feb 1824), David (18 Oct 1825) and Andrew (25 May 1828).
There is no record of Elisabeth Hunter's death, or of Andrew's second marriage to Elisabeth (Eliza) Reid, but there are 2 more baptisms: Isabella (25 Mar 1831) and Catherine (25 Dec 1833).
Elisabeth Hunter may have been the daughter of Thomas Hunter and Christian Bathgate, who was born 21 Apr 1799 in Prestonkirk, and who is the only Elisabeth Hunter of appropriate age in the records. However, there is not enough evidence to support this. (The birth of the right Elisabeth Hunter may not have been recorded). The Hunter line cannot be traced further back.
The children's baptisms were all witnessed by Thomas Reid, including Elisabeth Hunter's children. There is a possibility that Elisabeth Hunter and Elisabeth Reid might be the same person, but it is probably not possible to find out. They both died before death certificates were compulsory. Later certificates (the deaths of David and Andrew) list their mother as Elizabeth Hunter. The 3 girls seem to have died young, i.e. before 1855.

Andrew Levy and Janet Lawrie's 2 eldest children's baptisms were listed in the OPR of Prestonkirk:
Mary Ann (24 Mar 1851) and Andrew (6 Mar 1853).
Both list David Levy and Jean Lawrie as witnesses.
Their 7 younger children have birth certificates:
Elizabeth (23 Mar 1855), Janet (24 Jul 1857), John (1861), David (1863), Catherine (28 Apr 1866), William (1869) and Agnes Kedzlie (7 Jul 1872).
On some of these certificates, the mother's name is given as Janet Howden Lawrie. Howden (or Houdon) was a common name in Whitekirk. It is possible that one of her uncles married a Janet Houdon.
On the other hand, Mr Andrew Howden, Tenant of Lawhead, was the family's landlord and employer. Maybe one of his family was Janet's godmother.
The witness to Wilhelmina Whitelaw's marriage was George Howden - could this have been a cousin on her grandmother Janet Howden Lawrie's side ?

Searching for these names in the marriages and deaths index revealed:

Following up the unusual name of Agnes Kedzlie Levy:
The death certificate of Agnes Kadgley Lawrie dated 25 Jan 1897 describes her as the widow of John Lawrie, gamekeeper. When John and Agnes's 5th son Andrew was born in 1855, it was stated that his parents were married in Whitekirk in 1845.
The birth of one of their older sons, Robert, is listed in the OPR of Whitekirk on 10 May 1852. It seems likely (though not proven) that John Lawrie was the brother of Janet Lawrie, whose age was given as 21 in the 1841 Census. Although Lawrie was a common name in the area, the fact that Janet named her youngest daughter Agnes Kedzlie suggests this.

Andrew Levy's brother David (see above) was also a tailor.
He married Agnes Wight on 20 Jul 1849, and their 2 eldest children's baptisms are listed in the Prestonkirk OPR: Andrew (15 Oct 1849) and Mary (21 Aug 1852) - both born in East Linton.
Their next daughter Elizabeth was born in East Linton (9 Mar 1856), but Jemima (29 Mar 1860) and Margaret (18 Sep 1862) were born in Leith. The family remained in Leith.
Andrew married Elizabeth Russell on 3 Sep 1874, when he was a stationer living at 143 Constitution St, Leith. They had 5 children: David Walker (28 Mar 1878), Lillias Kerr (17 Mar 1880), Oliver Russell (5 Apr 1882), Andrew (1885) and William (1887).

There were a few of other Levys living in East Linton listed in the Census Returns, including Ellen Levy (born 29 May 1857). She was the illegitimate daughter of Rachel Levy (1816-1858), whose death was registered by one Janet Whitelaw (probably not related to JLW's father). Rachel was the daughter of David Levy and Isabella Punton, and therefore the sister of Andrew (as above).

David Lavie and Isabella Punton, were married in Whitekirk.
Isabella died on 22 Dec 1859 in East Linton, aged 80, survived by her husband.
Her parents were given as Thomas Punton and Margaret Murdie, and her birthplace as Prestonkirk.
David died on 11 Aug 1864, also in East Linton, aged 88.
His parents are given as Andrew Levy and Agnes Veitch, and his birthplace as Whittinghame.
David was illiterate, and the spelling of his surname on various records (Lavie, Levie, Levy) would have been provided by other people.
This couple had 6 children, 4 born in Whitekirk and 2 in Prestonkirk:

According to the naming tradition, the second son should have been Thomas and the first daughter Margaret. They may have had more children born than registered. (Or maybe Isabella's parents had disapproved of the marriage ?) I wonder who Katherine was named after ? She was given preference to the mother and the mother's parents.

Janet (b. 1809) married Andrew White, and had 3 sons born in East Linton - James (18 Dec 1827), John (25 Sep 1833), Ann (26 Feb 1839).
The children's baptisms were witnessed by Andrew Levy (James), David Levy (Ann).

Andrew Levy or (Levie, Livy or Lavie) and Agnes Veitch had 6 children:

The naming tradition suggests that his parents were Alexander and [Elisabeth or Agnes] Levy and hers were [Alexander or Andrew] and Elisabeth Veitch. But there is not enough evidence to confirm this.

Thomas Punton and Margaret Murdie had 7 children:

Maybe this was the Katharine who was given precedence over Isabella's mother in the naming of her daughters ?

If this couple followed the Scottish naming tradition, their parents would have been George and [Isabella or Katharine] Punton and Richard and Isabella Murdie.
Richard Murdie and Isabel Dunlop of North Berwick had 3 daughters:

This is the only Margaret Murdie in the birth records who fits, who would have been 24 at the birth of her eldest. (However, there were many more children born than recorded).
George Punton and Margaret Irvine of Whitekirk had Thomas would have been 19 at the birth of his eldest child. But there are many other Puntons on record in East Lothian.

The 1841 Census:

In East Linton:
David (60) & Isabella (58) Levy and youngest offspring Rachel (23) and David (20).
David senior was a sawyer, David junior was an agricultural labourer.
Older children Andrew (40), Katherine (36), Agnes (34) and Janet (32) had already left home.

Eldest son of David & Isabella:
Andrew Levy (39) and children Elisabeth (16), David (15), Andrew (13), Isabella (10) and Catherine (8).
Andrew senior was a tailor, and had recently lost his second wife.

At Lawhead, Whitekirk,
John (45) and Mary (40) Lawrie, with offspring John (21), Jean (19), Ann (15), Robert (13), Margaret (11), Janet (9) and James (6).
The parents, and probably most of the children, were agricultural labourers.


The 1851 Census:

In East Linton:
David Levy (72) still working as a sawyer. His wife Isabella was still alive, though not at home on Census day.

Andrew Levy's offspring:
David (24) and Agnes (23) Levy with baby Andrew.
Elisabeth Levy (26)
Janet Lawrie Levy (20) with newborn baby (unnamed, but later called Mary Ann)
Janet's husband Andrew (23) was not at home on Census day.

At Lawhead, Whitekirk,
John (57) and Mary (55) Lawrie, with offspring Robert (23), James (16).
All agricultural labourers. Lawhead is a farm on a hill.

Of those mentioned in 1841, Isabella (68) and Rachel (33) Levy were still alive, and both died in East Linton later that decade, but they don't seem to have been there on Census day.
David Levy (30) son of David was still alive.
Andrew Levy's younger daughters Isabella (20) and Catherine (18) were not mentioned, but might have married.

What of Janet Lawrie Levy's siblings: John (31), Jean (29), Ann (25) & Margaret (21) ?


The 1861 Census:

at 59 East Side, Linton Road, East Linton:
Andrew (32) and Janet (29) Levy with offspring Mary Ann (10), Andrew (8), Elizabeth (6), Janet (4) and baby John. Andrew senior was still a tailor.

David Levy (85) was still alive, and should have been there.
His daughter Rachel had died, leaving an illegitimate daughter Ellen Levy (4).

David Levy (36) had moved to Leith with Agnes and their children.

Andrew Levy's daughters Elisabeth (36), Isabella (30) and Catherine (28) were not mentioned, but might have married.


The 1871 Census:

at 34 Main Street, East Linton:
Andrew (42) and Janet (42) Levy with offspring Jessie (Janet, 13), John (10), David (7), Catherine (5) and baby William. Andrew senior was still a tailor.

Ellen Levy (14) was living in a Lodging House.

Mary Ann (20) later worked in Markinch - may have already left East Linton.
Andrew (18) later moved to Sutherland - may have already left East Linton.
Elizabeth (16) later worked as a cook at Gogar Mount - may have already left East Linton.

The 1881 Census:

in Main Street, East Linton:
Janet Levy (50, widow) with offspring Janet (23), John (20), David (18), William (11) and Agnes (8). Janet senior was a Lady's Nurse, Janet junior was a housekeeper, John was a tailor, David was apprenticed to a plumber.

What of Mary Ann Watson m/s Levy (30) ? She does not seem to be anywhere.

Ellen Levy (24) was boarding at MacDonald's Close Lodging House, with her 2 illegitimate children (by Robert Badger) Robert (4) and Jemima (2).

At Gogar Mount House, Ratho:
Elizabeth Levy (26) was employed as a cook.

At Balnakiel, Durness, Sutherland:
Andrew (27) and Barbara (22) Levy with baby Andrew. Andrew senior was a saw miller.
Kate (Catherine) Levy (13) was a domestic servant, living with her brother.

At 10 Primrose Street, South Leith:
David (55) and Agnes (53) Levy, with offspring Elizabeth (24), Jemima (21) and Margaret (18). David was still a tailor, Elizabeth and Margaret were shop assistants, Jemima was a dressmaker.
Older offspring Andrew (32) and Mary (29) had already left home.

James Whitelaw (21) boarded at Brown's Place, while working as a mason's labourer.

8 Vere Street, Barony, Lanark Charles (24) and Mary (24) Whitelaw, with baby Mary and father-in-law Archibald McFarlane (72).
Charles was an iron moulder, Mary a cotton thread winder and Archibald a night watchman.


The 1891 Census:

at 98 Brown's Place, East Linton:
James (31) and Jessie (Janet, 33) Whitelaw with children Janet (9), Jeannie (7), Isabella (4) and Barbara (2).

at 18 Main Street, East Linton
Ellen Levy (33) - domestic servant
Robert Badger (13) - apprenticed to a tailor
Jemima Badger (11)

at 36 Bedford Street, Edinburgh
David Levy (27) - plumber
Agnes Levy (17) - servant, living with her brother

at 13 High Street, Haddington
John Levy (30) was boarding, and working as a tailor.

At Balnakiel, Durness, Sutherland:
Andrew (38) and Barbara (32) Levy with children Andrew (12), Robina (9), William (7), David (6), James (4), Janet (3), John (1), and new baby Hector.

At Kirkliston
George (29) and Elizabeth (36) Garvie with children Isabella (2) and Elizabeth (1)
(Elizabeth is the former Elizabeth Levy).


The 1901 Census:

at 7 Station House, East Linton:
James (41) and Jessie (Janet, 43) Whitelaw with children Isabella (14), Barbara (12), James (9) and Wilhelmina (1). Isabella was already at work as a milkmaid.

Where was Janet (20) ? Does not seem to be in Scotland. (The Strathmore family were not in Scotland either).

at 18 Main Street, East Linton
Ellen Levy (46) and Jemima Badger (22) - domestic servants

at 41 High Street, Dunbar
John Levy (40) - Tailor
Janet Levy (70) - Lady's nurse

at Kirkhill, Dunbar
Agnes Levy (22) - Domestic servant

at 13 Moston Terrace, Newington, Edinburgh
Jeannie A. Whitelaw, nursemaid to Alexander & Bessie Harrison's children, Agnes (2) and Esme (1).

At Miller's House, Durness, Sutherland:
Andrew (47) and Barbara (42) Levy with children Robina (19), David (16), James (14), John (11), Hector (10), George 99), Barbara (7), Christina (6), Agnes (4), Penuel (3), Charles (2) and new baby James (1).

At Kirkliston
George (38) and Elizabeth (45) Garvie with Isabella (12)

Further details added later

The chronology and family tree contain many more details added later, including whole branches of the tree. Further details are not included here.

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