Thursday 30 April 2015

Peter Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Peter family history as sourced from a grave-marker at Castlehead Church, Paisley. This was erected in 1797 to mark the burial place of:


  • John Peter
  • Agnes Nicol
  • Children of above.







Wednesday 29 April 2015

Brannigan Ancestry, Paisley, Scotlland

This evening, I am posting information on Brannigan family history, as sourced from a memorial at Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This was erected by James Brannigan in memory of:


  • Janet Lang who died Aug 24th ?
  • James Brannigan, died Aug 11th 1902, age 66 years.












Tuesday 28 April 2015

Lochhead Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Lochhead family history, as sourced from a grave-marker at Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This records the death of:


  • John Lochhead on March 7th 1789, age 62 years





Monday 27 April 2015

Andrew Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Andrew family history, as sourced from a grave-marker at Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This was erected 1791 to mark the burial place of:


  • James Andrew in Maxwelton
  • Isobella Wordie
  • Heirs of above.




Sunday 26 April 2015

Nicol Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Nicol family history, as sourced from a memorial at Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This records births and deaths of the following:


  • John Nicol: Born April 18th 1838, died May 3rd 1904.
  • Elspeth Russell: Born: June 10th 1838, died Oct 5th 1915.




Saturday 25 April 2015

Wylie Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Wylie family history, as sourced from a memorial at Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This was erected in 1798 to mark the burial place of:


  • John Wylie, Smith
  • Margaret Bieath
  • Children of above













Friday 24 April 2015

Sproul Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland


This evening, I am posting information on Sproul family history, as sourced from a grave-marker at Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This was erected in 1789 to mark the burial place of:


  • Thomas Sproul
  • Ann Davidson
  • Heirs of above.




Thursday 23 April 2015

Laud Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Laud family history, as sourced from a grave-marker at Castlehead Church Burial Ground.This is undated (possibly last decade of 18th century/early 19th century) and records the burial place of:



  • Alexander Laud
  • Elizabeth Turner 
  • Children of above.



Wednesday 22 April 2015

Watson Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Watson family history, as sourced from a memorial at Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This records the death of:
  • John Watson who died at Lounsdale on April 6th 1826,, age 76 years.



Tuesday 21 April 2015

Henry Ancestry, Paisley Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Henry family history, as sourced from a memorial stone in Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This was erected by William Henry in memory of:


  • Agnes Stevenson, wife, who died Aug 4th 1829.




Monday 20 April 2015

Robertson Ancestry,Paisley, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Robertson family history, as sourced from a grave-marker at Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This was erected in 1797 to mark the burial place of:


  • Archibald Robertson of Lawfield
  • Heirs of above.



Sunday 19 April 2015

Thomson Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Thomson family history, as sourced from a grave-marker at Castlehead Church Burial Ground.This was erected on July 15th 1833 and marks the burial place of:


  • Thomas Thomson, Manufacturer.
  • Agnes Robertson
  • Children of above.




Saturday 18 April 2015

Black Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Black family history, as sourced from a grave-marker at Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This may have been erected in the 1790s. It marks the burial place of:


  • Archibald Black, Smith in Paisley.
  • Janet Murray.
  • Children of above.




Friday 17 April 2015

Borland Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Borland family history, as sourced from a grave-marker at Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This records the burial place of:


  • David Borland
  • Mary McNabb
  • Children of above.
The stone is not dated but other stones in close proximity date from the 1790s.






Thursday 16 April 2015

Hill Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This evening I am posting information on Hill family history, as sourced from a grave-marker at Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This was erected in 1795 to mark the burial place of:


  • Alexander Hill, Slater in Paisley.
  • Margaret Inglis
  • Children of above.





Wednesday 15 April 2015

Buchanan Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Buchanan family history, as sourced from a grave-marker at Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This is not dated but other stones close by date from the mid 1790s.

This stone marks the burial place of:


  • John Buchanan
  • Janet Renfrew, Ferguslee.




Tuesday 14 April 2015

Walton Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland


This evening, I am posting information on Walton family history, as sourced from a grave-marker at Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This was erected in 1793 to mark the burial place of:


  • James Walton, Maxwelltoun.
  • Rachel Coats.
  • Children of above.




Monday 13 April 2015

Brownlie Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Brownlie family history, as sourced from a memorial at Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This was erected in 1795 to mark the burial place of:



  • John Brownlie
  • Jean Jackson
  • Children of above.




Sunday 12 April 2015

Masson Ancestry, Glasgow, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Masson family history, as sourced from a memorial stone at Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This records the deaths of:


  • George Masson, Elder in East Relief Church, on March 7th 1849, age 79 years.
  • Isabella Neilson on Feb 20th 1832, age 60 years.



Saturday 11 April 2015

Beveridge Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Beveridge family history, as sourced from a memorial stone at Castlehead Church Burial Ground.This was erected by William Beveridge in memory of:


  • Jean Love who died Nov 27th., 1802, age 22 years.




Friday 10 April 2015

Turnbull Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This afternoon, I am posting information on Turnbull family history, as sourced from a grave-marker at Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This was probably erected around 1800 and marks the burial place of:


  • James Turnbull, Baker in Paisley.
  • Janet Moodie
  • Robert Turnbull, who died January 1803 age 10 years.



Thursday 9 April 2015

Tombstone of Ammonius, Glasgow, Scotland

This evening, I am departing from my usual fare and reporting on a tombstone which dates from the 1st century AD. This can be viewed at the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow.

The tombstone dates specifically from around AD80-AD90 and was found at Ardoch Roman Fort, near Braco in Perthshire, central Scotland.
The inscription reads:
"To the spirits of the departed Ammonius, son of Damio, centurion of the First Cohort of Spaniards, of 27 years service. His heirs had this erected."
The Ardoch fort pre-dates both Hadrian's Wall and the Antonine Wall and formed part of the very early Gask Frontier (AD 79-87) established during the Flavian period ( Emperor Vespasian and his sons). In essence Gask would have been a very exposed and isolated line deep in enemy territory.
Particular points of note in regards to Ammonius:
  • Of Spanish origin. Roman army units were recruited from all parts of the Empire and as such a Spanish unit was not unusual.
  • He served 27 years compared to standard term of service of 25 years. Centurions had the right to extend their service.
  • He would have commanded a unit of 80 men.
The Ardoch fort is about 40 miles N.E. of Glasgow. Outlying parts of modern-day Glasgow were occupied during the Roman period, in particular during the time of the Antonine Wall (AD 139-165).

This ancient tombstone does serve to provide a direct link with an identifiable person in Scotland dating back about 1,925 years.




Wednesday 8 April 2015

Provan Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Provan family history, as sourced from a memorial at Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This records the burial place of:


  • Thomas Provan, Williamsburgh.
  • Jean Cree, who died Aug 14th 1827.



Tuesday 7 April 2015

Tytler Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Tytler family history, as sourced from a grave-marker at Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This is undated but adjacent stones would suggest erected within the band 1790-1810. It marks the burial place of:

  • James Tytler, Wright in Paisley.
  • Elizabeth Scott, spouse.
  • Children of above.



Monday 6 April 2015

Boyle Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Boyle family history, as sourced from a grave-marker at Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This was erected to mark the burial place of:


  • William Boyle, Weaver, Storie Street, Paisley.
  • Janet Shedden
  • Children of above.
  • William Boyle died Jan 16th 1845, age 85 years.
  • Janet Shedden died Nov 4th 1840, age 78 years. 
  • William Boyle died Dec 8th 1854, age 74 yrs.
  • Ewing Watson died Jan 3rd 1854, age 68 years..



Sunday 5 April 2015

Mavitie Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This afternoon, I am posting information on Mavitie family history, as sourced from a memorial at Castlehead Church, Paisley. This records the deaths of:


  • William Mavitie, Merchant in Paisley, on Jan 13th.,1828, age 46 yrs.
  • Jean Miller, 1847, age 43 yrs.



Saturday 4 April 2015

Kerr Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This afternoon, I am posting information on Kerr family history, as sourced from a grave-marker at Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This is not dated but other grave-markers in close proximity date from last decade of 18th century. The stone marks the burial place of:

  • Daniel Kerr
  • Catharine McAlestir.
  • Children of above.



Friday 3 April 2015

Vallance Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Vallance family history, as sourced from a grave-marker at Castlehead Church Burial Ground. This was erected in 1806 to mark the burial place of:


  • Alex Vallance
  • James Vallance
  • John Vallance
All above being wrights in Paisley.




Thursday 2 April 2015

Young Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland

This evening, I am posting information on Young family history, as sourced from a memorial at Castlehead Church Burial Ground.This was erected on Nov 11th 1805 to mark the burial place of:


  • George Young, Plaisterer
  • Ann Ure
  • Children of above.



Wednesday 1 April 2015

Smith Ancestry, Paisley, Scotland


Thus evening, I am posting information on Smith family history, as sourced from an undated grave-marker at Castlehead Church burial ground. This probably dates from the first decade of 19th century and marks the burial place of:


  • George Smith, son of James Smith and Ann Hodgeri