Sentimental Sunday – Stevens notebook reveals more

Could findings in the little Scottish book could lead to a “research trip” to Antigua for this Scottish genealogist?   Please?

I’ve already posted (here and here) about this fascinating little book which lists the descendants of Richard Stevens and Janet Forsyth who married on 11 March 1787 in Falkland, Fife and on Friday I showed it to some friends who are archivists, as I wanted advice on conservation.   The main result of this (besides the good advice) was HUGE EXCITEMENT AND CURIOSITY.  We chatted about who may have started keeping the book, and why, and concluded that I am lucky, as the family “record keeper” to have landed up with it.

I hadn’t paid a lot of attention to the inside cover, but got a bit nosy about the little everyday notes that had been made.  There are a few sums in pounds, shillings and pence, and on the first page a name, which could be Christian Stevens (born 9th Feb 1794 in Falkland – this is her actual birth date, rather than her baptism date which is recorded in the Old Parish Registers held at General Registers of Scotland in Edinburgh).  If it was Christian who started the book, how would she feel knowing that I had it in my possession?  I hope that whoever it was who thought it important to keep the family records would be delighted that I hold it so precious.  It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy just to hold it!

The next snippet of information is an address for George Chrichton Esq, Viewforth, Bruntsfield Links, Edinburgh.

Who’s he?  Is he related?  Was he a friend of the family and his address just jotted down in a handy notebook?  I know Edinburgh well, and Viewforth is still there – members of the Stevens family lived close by in the Polwarth area of Edinburgh .  What’s the connection?  I was really getting nosy now.

I couldn’t resist doing a little bit of research at the ScotlandsPeople Centre toward the end of the day when my clients’ work was completed.

The entry under George’s address is dated 31st Oct 1839 and reads “No of a watch purchased from R Stevens, Hollison, Liverpool No 1092″ so I checked the 1841 Census for George, and sure enough, he was living in Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh (aged 55, of independent means, and not born in the county of Midlothian), along with his wife Catherine, and five of their children.  In 1851, he was living at 11 Bruntsfield Place, Viewforth and was a proprietor of land and houses, aged 65, born Newtyle, Forfarshire.   The family were still at the same address in 1861 when George is noted as 80 years of age and a fundholder.

George died in on 17th July 1865 at 11 Bruntsfield Place – his death was registered in the Parish of Newington, Edinburgh (doc ref 685-05/406) and he is noted as 86 years of age, a retired merchant married to Catherine Forrester.  His parents are given as George Crichton, farmer (deceased) and Bettie Crichton, maiden surname Ogilvie (deceased).  He died of palsy (nearly 3 years ago – complete recovery) and apoplexy 12 hours before death, as certified by Wm Sellar MD.  George’s death was registered by his son, George Crichton, who was present in the house at the time of the death.  Don’t you just love the Scottish certificates for all the information they give?

George’s wife Catherine died aged 93 at 13 Granville Terrace, Edinburgh (doc ref 685-05/354).  She was noted as the widow of George Crichton and her parents were noted as William Forrester, major in militia (deceased) and Catherine Forrester, maiden surname ——–.  It appears that George Crichton, her son, did not know Catherine’s mother’s maiden name.  Catherine died of old age and debility as certified by John W Bell, LRCP&SE.

I couldn’t let George Junior go, so I pursued him to see if he had any family, but sadly he died single in 1913 at 43 Polwarth Gardens, Edinburgh (doc ref 685-06/17).  He was a retired mercantile clerk, aged 84 and his parents are confirmed on his death certificate as George Crichton, merchant (deceased) and Catherine Crichton, maiden surname Forrester (deceased).  George died of old age, cardiac debility and dropsy as certified by John W Bell, LRCPE and his death was registered by his nephew, Charles Clark, who was present in the house at the time of his death.

Time was running out as 4.30 closing time was rapidly approaching, but I just had time to locate George Junior’s baptism record in 1828 in the Parish Registers of St Cuthbert’s, Edinburgh.  It reads “Crichton – Mr George Crichton, late Merchant in the Island of Antigua, now residing at Viewforth, and Mrs Catherine Forrester, his spouse, had a son born on Eighteenth May last named George.  Baptised on Twenty First June thereafter by the Reverend Edward B Ramsay, Assistant Minister of St John’s Episcopal Chapel, Edinburgh”

DING DING!  The last bell went, indicating the end of research time and breaking my spell, just as I had discovered that the George in the front of the book was a merchant in Antigua!  NOOOOO!  I need to stay and find out more!  Lock me in for the weekend and I’ll phone out for pizza if I get hungry!  Please?

So I packed up my copy documents, laptop and pencils and headed for Waverley Station and home – it will be a few days before I can resume my search but perhaps a trip to Antigua might be needed?  It IS for research, after all  Maybe a “virtual” research trip – either way, I will let you  know what comes next…. and if you think you are related to George Crichton, please let me know.  All comments are gratefully appreciated!

Related Posts – Stevens family bible, a Scottish Genealogist’s dream to have and details of the Births of the children of Richard Stevens and Janet Forsyth from Fife

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