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Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Thomas Forsyth, son of James and Helen 1820-1872
In 1841, Thomas apears in the census for Ardersier, Inverness in the North of Scotland. He is a twenty year old 'private' in the 92nd Regiment at Fort George. The highest ranking officer seems to be Captain George Edward Therold. (Click on the title of this article for a website on
Ardersier and Fort George.)
Click to enlarge: Location of Thomas Forsyth in 1841 Census - Fort George, Inverness
Thomas' marriage record of November 29th, 1845, states that he was still a Private in the 92nd Regiment of Foot but this time at Edinburgh Castle. He married 'Ann Cameron, of Beaties's Lodgings, Ruis Close, Canongate, Edinburgh, the daughter of the late John Cameron, labourer of Castlehill, Edinburgh.'
Click to enlarge: Marriage of Thomas Forsyth and Ann Cameron, 1845, Edinburgh, Scotland
Thomas and Ann remained in Edinburgh for a few years where their first son, James, was born in 1847. Sometime before 1851, they moved to Kelso, Roxburghshire. Perhaps it was at this time that he left the army and began working for the railway, as in the 1851 census, Thomas' occupation is shown as 'railway guard.' Kelso is about twenty -five miles from Berwick.
1851 Census - Scotland - Kelso, Roxboroughshire
Address: Oven Wynd
Forsyth, Thomas, Head, 31, railway guard, b. EL, Dirleton
Forsyth, Ann, wife, 26, b. Midlothian, Edinburgh
Forsyth, James, son, 4, scholar, b. Midlothian Edinburgh
White, Janet, servant, 16, b. Peebleshire, Peebles
A second son, named Thomas, was born in Kelso in about 1852. However, Ann Cameron died before the 1861 census. We find her two sons with her sixty-seven year old mother, Ann Cameron, in Edinburgh when the census was taken.
1861 Census - Scotland - St. Cuthbert's Parish, Edinburgh
Address: Canning House, Canning Place
Ann Cameron, 67, b. 1794, Glencoe, Argyllshire, Fundholder
Clementine Rutherford, 47, daughter, coachman's wife
Catherine Cameron, 29, daughter, housekeeper
Robert Cameron, son, cashier, stationer
James Forsyth, 14, b. abt 1847, Edinburgh, grandson
Thomas Forsyth, 9, b. about 1852, Kelso Roxborough, grandson
Thomas Forsyth, the father, remarried and in 1861, we find his new family in Berwick on Tweed, Northumberland, England. He is still a railway guard according to this census.
Click to enlarge: Map of south-east Scotland and north-east England (East Lothian, Northumberland and Durham)
Address: St. Mary's, Tweed Street
Thomas Forsyth, head, 42, railway guard, born Scotland
Margaret Forsyth, 28, born Scotland
Robert Forsyth, 2, born abt 1859, Berwick on Tweed, Northumberland
John Forsyth, 4 months, born Berwick on Tweed, Northumberland
Sadly, on October 28th, 1866, James Forsyth, the eldest son of Thomas Forsyth and his deceased wife, Ann, died at 19 years of age at Lord Russell Place, in the district of Newington, Edinburgh. He was single and died of 'pulmonary consumption' from which he had suffered for twelve months. His father was present at his death.
Death record for James Forsyth, son of Thomas, 1866 Edinburgh
The second son of Thomas Forsyth and Ann Cameron died on March 19, 1870 at 19 years of age at 5 Keir Street, St. George District, Edinburgh. He was single and the sub-editor of a farmers' newspaper. He died of scarlatina in just five days. His death was reported by a Rutherford cousin of Tweeddale (?) Terrace.
Death Record of Thomas Forsyth, son of Thomas, 1870 Edinburgh
1871 Census - England, Northumberland, Berwick on Tweed
Address: Castlegate, "Free Trade Hotel"
(You can find photos of this pubic house on the internet)
Thomas Forsyth, b. 1821 Scotland
Margaret Forsyth, b. 1833, Scotland
Robert Forsyth, 12, b. 1859, Berwick, England
John Forsyth, 10., b. 1861, Berwick, England
Geoge Forsyth, 8, b. 1863, Berwick, England
Thomas Forsyth died in 1872 in Berwick. It is presumed that his wife either died before the 1881 census or remarried. The three sons appear in the 1881 census as follows:
1881 Census - EnglandGateshead, Durham County, 54 Cobden Terrace, St. Edmonds
Robert Forsyth, 25, b. Northumberland, Berwick on Tweed, night watchman
Susan Forsyth, 23, b. Northumberland, Scremerston Mary Forsyth, 1, b. Durham County, Gateshead Kate Forsyth, 3 months,
Friday, June 3, 2011
Cockburn - Morton Monument, Dirleton, EL
May 22, 2011 - My 62nd birthday, standing beside my great x 3 grandparents' monument in the Dirleton Churchyard in Dirleton, East Lothian. We visited the Dirleton Castle on the same day. It is quite close to the church and is in ruins but has a fabulous perennial border.
This monument was erected by Hugh Goodlet, a wright of West Fenton and his wife , Ann, the sister of Charlotte Cockburn. ERECTED
IN MEMORY OF
CHARLES COCKBURN
WHO DIED IN THE YEAR 1839
AGED 84 YEARS
ALSO
ALISON MORTON, HIS SPOUSE
WHO DIED IN THE YEAR 1837
AGED 84 YEARS
IN MEMORY OF HUGH GOODLET, WRIGHT
(OF) WEST FENTON WHO DIED 21st MAY 1867
AGED 69 YEARS. ALSO ANN COCKBURN, HIS WIFE
WHO DIED 11th MAY 1878
AGED 80 YEARS
If a man die, shall he live again. Job XIV - 14
Them also which sleep in Jesus
will God bring with Him. Thess IV-14
Dirleton Kirk, in Dirleton, East LothianDeath of Helen Scott

This is the information contained in the record:
Death in the Parish of GLADSMUIR, County of Haddington
Forsyth, Helen, widow of shepherd
Died: 1859, December, 31 at 7:30 a.m. in Hensmuir
Female, age 84 years
Daughter of Robert Scott, farmer
No medical attendant.
Burial: Haddington Church yard as certified by David Baine
Reported by John Forsyth, son, of Crawhill
Registered January 2nd, 1860
James Turnbull, Registar
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Burial at St. Mary's, Haddington, E.L.
JAMES FORSYTH was buried on 1st September 1842.
No age or occupation is given. He died of old age and was resident in Nungate.
[reference 3.17 (i.e. vol 3 page 17) entry 45 (ID 328)].
Searched by E. Collins, April, 2011
Re: Helen Scott Forsyth's death in 1860
Note from Mr. Collins: "The Burial Register for Haddington parish from 1858 (part) to around 1878 was lost in a fire, so is no longer available to look at. It is probable that she would have had an entry around 1860 in that Haddington burial register. Her Death Certificate would give her date of death. For a few years after 1855 they also gave where the person was buried, but I think that this stopped around 1861."
Burials at St. Mary's, Haddington, E.L.


(Very tall upright grey obelisk gravestone with a small pointed top. Also on this top piece on the front is a dove bird. The gravestone has an obelisk, and two square bases, which rest on stone. The gravestone is near to a path.)
(obelisk – front)
[garland wreath]
Sacred
To the Memory of
JOHN COCHRANE
Dyer Haddington
Who died 20th August 1860
Aged 73.
His daughter
MARION
Who died 1st March 1835
Aged 4.
His son
THOMAS
Who died 15th Sep. 1868
Aged 27.
Also his wife
MARION FORSYTH
Died 27th February 1877
Aged 73 years.
# MARION COCHRANE (COCHREN), aged 6 years, was buried 5th March 1834, (gravestone gives 1835 and is probably not correct as the register is in correct date order with 1834 given). She died of Measles (Messels) and her residence was Haddington (Haddn). Reference 2.134 (i.e. vol 2 page 134) entry 32 (ID 4953). [She was thus a Child].
John Forsyth and Isabella Sinclair
1841 Census for West Calder, Mid-Lothian, Briechmill
FORSYTH, Alexr, 25, Farmer, b. Outside Census County
FORSYTH, Christian, 25, b. Outside Census County
FORSYTH, John, 60, b. Outside Census County
FORSYTH, Jean, 50, Outside Census County
FORSYTH, Alexr (Jnr), 9, Outside Census County
MATTHEWS, Elisabeth, 35, Female Servant, b. Midlothian
John Forsyth and Isabella Sinclair, daughter of James Sinclair and Martha Hartley of Penicuik, were married September 17 1818 in Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh (IGI). The 1841 census states that John was not born in Mid-lothian, but Isabella was.
Their first two known children were Martha (1821) and John 1823) baptised in Penicuik.
John Forsyth, Labourer in Penicuik and Isobel Sinclair his spouse had a child born 18 April 1821, baptised 29th named Martha - Witnesses John Forsyth, Sr. and Thomas Sinclair
John Forsyth, Labourer in Penicuik and Isobel Sinclair his spouse had a child born 15 Septmeber 1823, baptised 28th named John - Witnesses: Thomas Sinclair Thomas Muir
The above records are extracts from Penicuik Parish Registers
The 40 year old John Forsyth in the 1841 census who is married to Isabella Sinclair is probably the son of a John Forsyth, substantiated by the 1821 baptism of a child named Martha of John and his wife, Isabel Sinclair when one of the witnesses is a John Forsyth, Senior. Note that there is a 15 year old John Forsyth, an apprentice, living with Laings in 1841. He is probably a son of John and Isabella who was baptised in 1823 (above).
1841 Census - Penicuik -Midlothian Address: -
FORSYTH, John, M, 40, Ag. Lab, b. Outside County
FORSYTH, Isabella (Sinclair), F, 40, b.Midlothian
FORSYTH, Isabella, F, 15, Paper Mill, b. Midlothian
FORSYTH, Jane, F, 10, Paper Mill, b. Midlothian
1841 Census Place: Penicuik -Midlothian Address: Silver Burn Smithy
LAING, Andrew, M, 55, Wright J&M, b. Outside County
LAING, Jean, F, 55, b. Outside County (1841)
LAING, John, M, 23, Wright Journeyman, b. Midlothian
LAING, Elizabeth, F, 19, b. Midlothian
LAING, George, M, 12, b. Midlothian
STODDART, Robert, M, 20, Wright Journeyman, b. Outside County
THOMSON, James, M, 15, Wright Journeyman, b. Outside County
WHITE, Adam, M, 20,Wright Apprentice, b. Midlothian
FORSYTH, John, M, 15, Wright Apprentice, b. Midlothian
BAILEY, George, M, 15, Agr. Labourer, b. Midlothian
HISLOP, Margaret, F, 15, Servant, b. Midlothian *
1851 Census St Cuthbert's -Midlothian Civil Parish: St Cuthberts
Address: 2 St James's Place
FORSYTH, John, Head, 27, Journeyman Joiner, Born-Penicuik
FORSYTH, Robetina, Wife, 22, born- Edinburgh
FORSYTH, Elisabeth, Dau, 2, born- Edinburgh
FORSYTH, Isabella, Dau, 3w, born- Edinburgh
SHEARER, James, Lodger, 40, Trunk Umbrella Maker, b.Edinburgh
PEARSON, Hugh,Lodger, 23, Grocer's Assistant Shetland - Delting
Marriages of Children of John & Isabella Forsyth:
Isabella Forsyth = James Whyte, 14 Dec 1851 Penicuik
Jane Forsyth = Walter Easton 20 Feb 1857 Penicuik
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Obituaries for Mary Forsyth - June, 1935
It was seventy years ago last January since Mrs. John Forsyth came with her husband and babies to Bracebridge. Labouriously they made their way by ox team through the unbroken forest to a homestead in Macaulay Township. There, the little family settled in the bush and by great perseverance and much hard work, made a home for themselves. There they raised a large family and there the husband died in July, 1908. Mrs. Forsyth, whose maiden name was Mary Dales, was born near Kettleby, King Township in 1840, daughter of Dianah Otherham and William Dales. In 1861 she married John Forsyth of Haddingtonshire, Scotland. Two daughters, Charlotte-Anne and Sarah-Jane, and a son, George, predeceased her. Those left are Diannah (Mrs. Crandell of Toronto); John Thomas of Cochrane; William Charles of Saskatchewan; James Cockburn of Utterson; Robert Scott of Port Sydney; Mary (Mrs. Harry Mortimer of Mortimer's Point); Elizabeth (Mrs. William James of New Liskeard; Clara (Mrs. Thomas Peacock of Bracebridge) and Jessie (Mrs. George Peacock of Macaulay).
Mrs. Forsyth passed away at the home of her daughter in New Liskeard. Though ninety-five years old, she enjoyed good health until four months ago. After the service at the home of her daughter in New Liskeard, the body was brought to the home of her daughter, Mrs. Thomas Peacock, of Bracebridge. Burial took place at the family burial ground in Falkenburg on Saturday, June 29th. Rev. P.W. MacInnes, Pastor of Knox Presbyterian Church conducted funeral services. Mrs. Forsyth was a life long member of the Presbyterian Church. Thus passes another of the fine old people who contributed so much to the upbuilding of Muskoka.
Mrs. Mary Forsyth
In our last issue, we made the announcement of the death of Mrs. Mary Forsyth in her ninety-fifth year, who passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. William James, Grill St., New Liskeard, the remains being taken out last Friday night for interrment at the Falkenburg Cemetery. The late Mrs. Forsyth's maiden name was Mary Dales. She was the daughter of Diannah Otherham and William Dales and was born in 1840 in the township of King near Kettleby. In 1861 she married the late John Forsyth of Darlington (sic) Parish in Haddingtonshire, Scotland and continued to live in King Township until 1865. The young couple then left with team and oxen for Bracebridge, Muskoka which was a town in the making and set in a section which was a dense forest. At that time, there was no train into Muskoka and the roads were in many places almost impassible. In the township of Macaulay they settled on a homestead and with great courage proceeded to make a home for themselves and their family of young children. They continued to live in Muskoka for many years and earned the friendship and respect of a very wide circle of friends. The deceased was predeceased by her husband who passed away on July 2, 1908. Two daughters, Charlotte Anne and Sarah Jane, and one son, George, also predeceased their mother. Those of the immediate family who survive their aged mother: Diannah (Mrs. A. Crandall, Toronto); John T. of Cochrane; Wiliam C. of Saskatchewan; James C. of Utterson; William S. of Port Sydney; Mary A., Mrs. Harry Mortimer of Mortimer's Point, Muskoka Lake; Elizabeth, Mrs. William James of New Liskeard; Clara, Mrs Thomas Peacock of Bracebridge; and Jessie, Mrs. George Peacock of Macaulay Township. There are 52 grandchildren, and over one hundred great grandchildren and many great, great grandchildren. Up until about four months ago, the deceased enjoyed almost perfect health and was in her usually bright spirits, up until almost the last. Following the service conducted at her daughter's home in New Liskeard, the remains were taken to Bracebridge. Mrs. James accompanied them to the home of her daughter, Mrs. Thomas Peacock. Here, Rev. P.W. MacInnis conducted services at 2:30 pm after which interment took place by the side of her departed husband in the Falkenburg Cemetery. A large number of friends gathered to pay their last respects to the memory of their former friend and neighbour.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Death of Mary Forsyth - June 27, 1935
Death Certificate: Sunday, December 12, 2010
Mention of Fairliehope in a Rebecca West Letter of 1910
An internet photo of the Fairliehope area today. Walter and Agnes Forsyth of Penicuik
A Walter Forsyth (perhaps the brother of our James Forsyth [Helen Scott], but most certainly a relative of James) married Agnes Ferguson Dec 12, 1812 in Penicuik. Agnes was probably the daughter of William Ferguson and Jean Buyer baptised September 23, 1778 in Biggar, Lanark. This town is not far from Penicuik and Agnes provided this town as her place of birth in the 1851 census, as shown below.
Three daughters were baptised in Penicuik: Jean, 25 August, 1814; Marion, August 16, 1816; and Joan, December 5, 1818. Alison, born about 1826, is with her father and sister, Joanna, in the 1841 census below.
A Thomas BROWN married Jean Forsyth on July 20, 1832 in Penicuik, Midlothian. Marion died in 1838 at 22 years of age and is buried the Penicuik churchyard. Alison married William ROBB in 1841, and Joan(na) married a Thomas MURRAY in 1849.
The 40 year old John Forsyth in the 1841 census who is married to Isabella Sinclair is probably the son of a John Forsyth, substantiated by an 1821 baptism of a child of John and his wife, Isabel Sinclair when one of the witnesses is a John Forsyth, Senior. Note that there is a 15 year old John Forsyth, an apprentice, living with Laings in 1841. He is probably a son of John and Isabella.
The facts which seem to suggest that James and Walter were brothers are:
i) Walter witnessed the baptism of a son of James in Penicuik
ii) both had a second daughter named Marion...perhaps their mother's name *
Therefore, there appears to be two Forsyth brothers living in the Penicuik area in the first decade of the 19th century. Walter lives there until his death, but James moves to East Lothian. There might have been a third brother, John, in the area, but there was definitely a John, son of John Sr.
1841 Census - Penicuik -Midlothian Address: -
FORSYTH, John, M, 40, Ag. Lab, b. Outside County
FORSYTH, Isabella (Sinclair), F, 40, b.Midlothian
FORSYTH, Isabella, F, 15, Paper Mill, b. Midlothian
FORSYTH, Jane, F, 10, Paper Mill, b. Midlothian
1841 Census -Place: Penicuik -Midlothian Address: Spittal Farm
FORSYTH, Walter, M, 70, Farmer, b. Outside County
FORSYTH, Joanna, F, 20, b. Midlothian FORSYTH, Alison, F, 15, b.Midlothian BROWN, David, M, 8, b. Midlothian SOMERVILLE, Mary, F, 18, Servant, b. Outside County
SOMERVILLE, Isabella, F, 15, Servant, b. OutsideCounty *
1841 Census Place: Penicuik -Midlothian Address: Monks Burn Cottage
BROWN, Thomas, M, 34, Wright, b. Outside County
BROWN, Jean, F, 25, b. Midlothian BROWN, Walter, M, 6, b. Midlothian
FORSYTH, Agnes, F, 62, Independent, b. Outside County
FORSYTH, Agnes, F, 3, b. Midlothian ** see 1851 below- Agnes Brown
ROBB, John, M, 18, Wright Journeyman, b. Outside County
HURT, James, M, 15, Wright Apprentice, b. Outside County
MASON, Mary, F, 15, Servant, b.Outside County
1841 Census Place: Penicuik -Midlothian Address: Silver Burn Smithy
LAING, Andrew, M, 55, Wright J&M, b. Outside County
LAING, Jean, F, 55, b. Outside County (1841)
LAING, John, M, 23, Wright Journeyman, b. Midlothian
LAING, Elizabeth, F, 19, b. Midlothian
LAING, George, M, 12, b. Midlothian
STODDART, Robert, M, 20, Wright Journeyman, b. Outside County
THOMSON, James, M, 15, Wright Journeyman, b. Outside County
WHITE, Adam, M, 20,Wright Apprentice, b. Midlothian
FORSYTH, John, M, 15, Wright Apprentice, b. Midlothian
BAILEY, George, M, 15, Agr. Labourer, b. Midlothian
HISLOP, Margaret, F, 15, Servant, b. Midlothian *
1851 Census Place: Penicuik -Midlothian Address: Nether Friarton
FORSYTH, Agnes, Head, Wid, F, 73, Annuitant, b. Lanarkshire - Biggar
BROWN, David, Grnson, Unm. M, 18, Wright, Midlothian - Penicuik [In 1851, Agnes is the only Forsyth surname in Penicuik] *
1851 Census Penicuik -Midlothian Address: Monk B(urn) Cottage
BROWN, Thomas, Head, Mar. M, 45, Joiner & Cart Wright Emp 2 Men, b. Lanarkshire - Dunsyre
BROWN, Jean, M, F, 36, Wife, b. Midlothian - Penicuik
BROWN, Walter, Son, Unm, M, 16, Cart Wright, b. Midlothian - Penicuik
BROWN, Agnes, Dau, F, 13, Scholar, b. Midlothian - Penicuik
BROWN, Joanna, Dau, F, 7, Scholar, b. Midlothian - Penicuik
BROWN, Thomas, Son, M, 4, b. Midlothian - Penicuik
BROWN, Jean, Servnt, Unm, F, 22, House Servant, b. Peebles-shire * *
Marriages of Children of Walter and Agnes Forsyth:
Jean Forsyth=Thomas Brown 20 July 1832 Penicuik
Alison Forsyth=Wm Robb 21 Dec 1841 Penicuik (at 9 Mile Burn in 1851)
Joanna Forsyth=Thomas Murray 17 July 1849 Penicuik
Marriages of Children of John &
Isabella Forsyth:
Isabella Forsyth = James Whyte, 14 Dec 1851 Penicuik
Jane Forsyth = Walter Easton 20 Feb 1857 Penicuik
Burials in Penicuik Churchyard:
1838, Nov. 16 - Marion Forsyth, dau of Walter, Farmer of Spittal, age 22 years
1849, Jan. 27 - Walter Forsyth, Farmer, Spitthall, age 80 years
