The story of Jackson Walton and his family, told by Martin Robb at ‘Past Lives’

At about the time that I began creating AFamilyHistoryBlog, I discovered a great article about my 3x Gt-Grandfather; Jackson Walton, and his family, written by Martin Robb on his blog; ‘Past Lives’. I would say that finding this article was one of the things that inspired me to begin AFamilyHistoryBlog.

Martin Robb is not a direct relative! Trying to describe the relationship is complex. So it’s impressive that Martin has researched his family connections so widely. Thank you Martin.

I have long intended that at some point I would post something onto AFamilyHistoryBlog, linking to Martin Robb’s article about the Walton family. And now – having just posted a piece about William Oliphant Hutchison (the husband of Jackson Walton’s granddaughter, Margery), it seems like a good opportunity to share more of my family’s artistic heritage.

Please read Martin’s article here;

Janet Young and Jackson Walton revisited

For the basic details that I have about my Walton ancestry, please see the WALTON tree, or the WALTON Category on AFamilyHistoryBlog.

WO Hutchison portrait of Queen Elizabeth II to be sold at auction in Edinburgh

I have heard this evening (from an uncle) that a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, painted by my Great-Grandfather; William Oliphant Hutchison, is due to be sold at auction by Bonhams in Edinburgh on 12th April 2016.

Here is the press release from the Bonhams website;

Sir William Oliphant Hutchison PRSA RP (British, 1889-1970) Portrait of Her Majesty the Queen

A portrait of Her Majesty the Queen by the Scottish artist, Sir William Oliphant Hutchison, is to be sold at Bonhams annual Scottish Sale on 12 April. It is estimated at £30,000-50,000.

Until it was acquired by its current owner, the painting hung for many years on the walls of the former Police Staff College at Bramshill House in Hampshire.

Sir William was born in Fife in 1889 and studied at Edinburgh College of Art (1909-12) under E. A. Walton, one of the Glasgow Boys group of artists, whose daughter he married. He also spent time working and studying in Paris.

On leaving college in 1912, he founded the Edinburgh Group which exhibited for three consecutive years before the First World War intervened.

As a painter, Hutchison specialized in portraits and after the retirement of Sir James Gunn assumed the mantle of Scotland’s premier society portraitist. The Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh owns five of his works including a study of the Queen dating from 1956. The BBC owns another portrait of Her Majesty also from 1956 and Hutchison painted Prince Philip in the late 1950s. One of these is owned by the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, and one by the Defense Academy of the United Kingdom. His well-known portrait of the novelist Dorothy L. Sayers hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Bonhams Head of Scottish Art, Chris Brickley, said: “Sir William was a pillar of the Scottish art establishment – Director of the Glasgow School of Art from 1933 to 1943 and the President of the Royal Scottish Academy during most of the 1950s – but he also was a very fine artist. His works rarely appear at auction and I expect his portrait of the Queen to attract considerable interest.”

William Hutchison who was an Honorary Royal Academician, was knighted in 1953 and died in London in 1970.

Bonhams’ annual Scottish sale is now in its 17th year. As usual it will feature works by leading Scottish artists as well as a huge range of objects related to Scotland from highland dress and weapons to silver and glass; from books and furniture to ceramics. The sale will take place at Bonhams Edinburgh saleroom, 22 Queen Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1JJ over two days, 12 and 13 April.

Another website describes the painting as an “oil on canvas, 245cm x 153cm (8ft ½in x 5ft ¼in), in a carved giltwood frame surmounted by a coronet”.

Other details of the auction are available here; http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/23492/

Images of a selection of William Oliphant Hutchison’s paintings, that are owned by public collections in the UK, can be seen on the BBC’s “Your Paintings” website; http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/artists/william-oliphant-hutchison

I have just found a piece about W.O. Hutchison, with photos of him (including one with the Queen), and of some of his paintings, here; http://tweedlandthegentlemansclub.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/sir-william-oliphant-hutchison.html

What I know about my Great-Grandfather W.O. Hutchison’s ancestry, I have posted here; https://afamilyhistoryblog.wordpress.com/family-trees/hutchison-tree/ or please see the Hutchison tag, and the HUTCHISON and OLIPHANT categories of this site.

Creating A Family History Blog; copy of an article for my local Family History Society newsletter

As I previously mentioned in a “Names of Interest update“, I have written an article about creating AFamilyHistoryBlog for my local Family History Society’s newsletter. The Spring 2016 newsletter featuring my article has just been published, and I’m copying the article to the blog for others to read. The article is (in part) edited from the text on my Intro/Welcome page.

Here it is;

CREATING A FAMILY HISTORY BLOG
by Matt Walker

I’m in my 30’s and have always been interested in my family history. Over perhaps 15 years or so I have been gathering together a lot of research, trees, etc, done by many other people, and have from time to time done research of my own, to verify that done by others, and to add to it where I can.

In January 2014, I was looking back through some of my own family history notes, and through some very old family documents, and I thought that it would be a great idea to create a website about my family history. I have created several blog based websites in recent years, both for myself and for community groups/projects that I’m involved with. So I knew that it would be technically easy for me to setup the basic website.

A “blog” is a “web-log”; a kind of on-line journal. There are several services that will allow anyone with an e-mail to create a free blog, with space to “post” your journal entries, and the ability to create static web pages; e.g. a personal profile, or a welcome page. Among the popular services is “Blogger”, owned by Google – if you already have a Google account for e-mail or YouTube, then you can easy start a “Blogger” blog. Another great service is “WordPress.com”.

My primary motivation for creating a website is to share more widely the details of these old family documents (dating back as far as the early 1700’s). My concern is that if these documents are held in just one small part of the family, then how will other people in the wider family (with a shared ancestry and a shared interest in documents about their ancestors) get to know or hear about such documents, or about the family details that they can contain – details like evidence for family relationships which may be difficult to demonstrate purely from other available records. These documents and the details they contain could remain unknown to many people who would be interested in researching these family histories.

By creating a website I can share scanned images and transcriptions of these family documents for others to find on-line, helping them with their family research, and demonstrating the sources of my information – which sometimes lead me to conclusions that differ from those of others on-line who often appear to have relied only on records like parish registers!

I began my blog as a private, password protected site, because I wanted to build up some content and play with the layout and format before showing it to other people. With blogging services you can often choose and change between a large range of site design “templates”, which you can then customise to varying extents. I also wanted to consult my close family about it before going more public. So it’s only after about 2 years that I’m ready to make my website more public.

I deliberately chose a generic name for my site; “A Family History Blog”, because my intention is to include material about all the different branches of my family tree. Other people might be focused on a particular branch or surname, so might wish to use that name in their blog’s title. I was fortunate to get the name I had thought of. You could try to register a variety of different website names and find them all to be taken already! So you’ll probably need something very original!

I hope that my website can become a very collaborative one, with some of my relatives adding details of the information that they have, and the research that they’ve done into our shared ancestors. It is possible with most blogging services to add multiple authors/accounts to a blog, allowing each one to add articles/“posts” to the site, while one account remains overall administrator.

I would advise anyone else thinking of starting their own family history website to think about what your aims are for doing so. This will help to inform what services you use, and the style, layout and content of your site. Also have a look at the numerous other personal family history websites that are out there. As I began my site, I discovered www.GeneaBloggers.com which has a list of over 3,000 genealogy and family history-related blogs. It’s well worth looking through some of these to get a sense of the kind of site that you could create. In due course I plan to submit my site for addition to the GeneaBloggers list.

Please have a look at my blog. I would welcome the thoughts/comments of more experienced family history researchers about my site and approach. I would also be happy to speak in my local area, to individuals or small groups, to advise about the practical/technical side of how you can create your own family history website.

You can see my blog at; https://afamilyhistoryblog.wordpress.com

e-mail; [please use the Contact Page of this website]

Matt Walker.

Useful resources;

Blogging services (just a few of many);

• Blogger (by Google); https://www.blogger.com
• Word Press; https://wordpress.com
• Weebly; http://www.weebly.com/uk/

Genealogy and Family History blogging;

• Genea Bloggers; http://www.geneabloggers.com
• The Armchair Genealogist; http://www.thearmchairgenealogist.com

Old WALKER papers – letter from James Kettle, re £200 Bond

This is my eleventh blog post in a series about some old papers of the WALKER family, from Kirkliston, West Lothian, Scotland. See a list of these papers HERE.

Below is the last of a number of documents that I’m posting, from an envelope labeled “Old Wills etc. of the Walker family”, which is part of a box full of family papers that I received from my aunt at a family gathering in January 2014. The contents of this envelope all date from the 1700’s.

I have previously posted all those documents that are by, or speak directly about my Walker ancestors. I am now posting some documents where I am unsure of the nature of the connection to the Walker family. Please see my notes at the bottom.

This letter is rather ambiguous! It is not clear who it’s addressed to. My assumption is that it was addressed to my ancestor, James Walker (b. 1731), a farmer at Hiddlefaulds, Kirkliston. But I’m not at all certain of that!

Please click on the images to see the scans at full resolution. Transcribed text appears in a Maroon colour below each scanned image. At the bottom I’ve made some notes of my own about the people and places in the document.

Letter; Transcription of letter;

Edin. 2 Oct.1801

Sir
I have to intimate that at or about #
Mar[ch] first, I will be ready to pay you the Two #
hundred pounds Stg, which the late [..] [Calderwood] #
of [Colton] owed you by bond . ~

If you choose I will give you Mr [..] Durham’s #
own Bond for it, which will be the same thing to you #
only I must have up [..] [Calderwood’s] Bond as #
all his debts must be paid off. I am
Sir
your most […]
James [Kettle]

Notes;

The names in this letter are not very clear! I’m not entirely sure about my transcriptions of them, and I’m not at all sure who they are! I’ve not yet seen any similar names in other family documents!

“[Colton]” – might be “Clifton”, laying south of Hiddlefaulds, on the other side of the River Almond.

If anyone has any better, or alternative ideas of how to transcribe these names, or you have any further insights into this document and who/where it relates to, please leave a comment below, or use the Contact Page to get in touch. Thanks.

Old WALKER papers – Disposition of John Samuel, in Newhouses

This is my tenth blog post in a series about some old papers of the WALKER family, from Kirkliston, West Lothian, Scotland. See a list of these papers HERE.

Below is one of several documents from an envelope labeled “Old Wills etc. of the Walker family”, which is part of a box full of family papers that I received from my aunt at a family gathering in January 2014. The contents of this envelope all date from the 1700’s.

I have previously posted all those documents that are by, or speak directly about my Walker ancestors. I am now posting some documents where I am unsure of the nature of the connection to the Walker family. Please see my notes at the bottom.

This Disposition is by John Samuel, in Newhouses – which is a near neighbour to the west of Hiddlefaulds, and southwest of Kilpunt. I don’t know of any direct family relationship to my Walker family. As far as I can tell, the Samuel and Walker families were just neighbours.

Please click on the images to see the scans at full resolution. Transcribed text appears in a Maroon colour below each scanned image. At the bottom I’ve made some notes of my own about the people and places in the document.

Cover; Transcription of cover;

Disposition
John Samuel
To
Spouse & Children
======
1798
======

Page 1; Transcription of page 1;

Know all Men by these presents me John Samuel #
Wright in Nuehouses Kinpount having resolved to #
setle my Means and Effects in my own Lifetime #
So as to prevent All Contraversies thereanent after #
my decease Do therefore by these presents for certain #
considerations me moving Asign Dispone & make #
over from me and all others my heirs and successors #
To and in favours of Janet Black my spouse In #
Liferent for her liferent use only / Incase she survives me /#
and continues my widow and To John, Thomas, Walter, #
Marion, and Elizabeth Samuels my children of my first #
marriage to each of them One Pound Sterling #
at the first term of Martinmas or Whitsunday #
after her decease and To Henry, David and #
Margaret Samuels my Children of the present, #
Existing mariage all Goods Gear debts & sums of #
Money Corns Cattle outsight & insight and Every Other #
thing of what ever kind presently pertaining & belonging #
adebted & Owing to me or which shall pertain & belong #
and be addebted & Owing to me the time of my Decease #
by what ever Person or persons Dispensing whth #
the Generality hereof and Admitting these presents to #
be as valid and Effectual to all Intents & purposes #
As if every particular hereby conveyed were herein #
ingrossed reserving Nevertheless to my self my life:- #
-rent right of the premissice & full power & Liberty #
to use and dispose thereof at pleasure and to alter or #
Inovate these presents in whole or in part as I shall #
think proper Surrogating & substituting My said spouse #
and Children according to their respective rights #
and Interests of Liferight and fee above mentioned #
with and Under the faculty & reservation foresaid / in #
my full right & Place of the Promissies / with / #

John Samuel

Page 2; Transcription of page 2;

Page second

with power to them respective According to their #
said rights Immediately after My Death to Intromit #
with use and dispose upon the whole subjects hereby #
conveyed and generally to do every other thing #
Anent the premissies as fully & freely in all respects #
as I could have done myself in my lifetime and #
I hereby nominate and Appoint Henry Black resident #
at Burnside & John Black, gardener at Kinpunt sole #
Executors of this my Will & Testament And I hereby #
Declare that these presents shall be a Good and Valid #
Deed in their ffavours Tho found lying by me at my #
Death of found in the custody of any other Person #
In case it is not altered be me by another deed #
Consenting to the registration hereof in the Books #
of Council and Session or any Other judges books #
competent therein to remain for preservation there #
Letters of [Homing] and all other Execution needfull #
My pass hereon in form as Effeirs And these to #
——- [constitute]  My #
Prorators I witness whereof I have subscribed these #
presents written upon this and the preceeding page #
of Stamped paper by John Miller schoolmaster #
of Uphall at Newhouses Kinpount this fifteenth #
day Of October, One thousand Seven hundred and #
Nintey Eight years before these witnesses #
James Walker, farmer at Hiddlefaulds and #
the said John Miller, writer hereof —

John Samuel

James Walker, witness
John Miller, witness —

Notes;

Nuehouses (or Newhouses); lay on Newhouses Road, about where “The Astor” now sits – just north of the M8 motorway. It was west of Hiddlefaulds, and southwest of Kilpunt (“Kinpount”).

Searching the IGI transcriptions of parish registers suggests that John Samuel first married Marion Fraser, in Kirkliston on 10th Dec. 1757, and had the following children christened;

• John Samuel – chr. 11/4/1760
• Thomas Samuel – chr. 6/12/1761
• Walter Samuel – chr. 28/5/1764
• Jean Samuel – chr. 28/8/1768 (might this be the “Marion” named in the document above?)
• Elizabeth Samuel – chr. 2/5/1773

The IGI then shows the marriage between John Samuel and Janet Black, in Kirkliston on 10th Dec. 1785. They had the following children christened;

• Henry Samuel – chr. 6/5/1787
• David Samuel – chr. 17/1/1790
• Margaret Samuel – chr. 25/3/1792

If you could shed any more light on the family of John Samuel in Newhouses, Kirkliston, please leave a comment below, or use the Contact Page to get in touch. I would be particularly interested in anything more that might show the relationship between the Samuels, and the Walkers in Hiddlefaulds. Thanks.

Old WALKER papers – Discharges from the heirs of John Lishman, to William Walker

This is my ninth blog post in a series about some old papers of the WALKER family, from Kirkliston, West Lothian, Scotland. See a list of these papers HERE.

Below is one of several documents from an envelope labeled “Old Wills etc. of the Walker family”, which is part of a box full of family papers that I received from my aunt at a family gathering in January 2014. The contents of this envelope all date from the 1700’s.

I have previously posted all those documents that are by, or speak directly about my Walker ancestors. I am now posting some documents where I am unsure of the nature of the connection to the Walker family. Please see my notes at the bottom.

This is the second of two “Discharges” to William Walker (my ancestor) from the heirs of John Lishman, and he widow – Isobell Gray. I have previously posted John Lishman’s Disposition. John was a witness to the marriage contract of my ancestors; William Walker and Elizabeth Barron, in 1728.

Please click on the images to see the scans at full resolution. Transcribed text appears in a Maroon colour below each scanned image. At the bottom I’ve made some notes of my own about the people and places in the document.

Cover; Transcription of cover;

Discharges
the airs of John Lishman
to
Walker
——-
1754
——-

Inside, left page; Transcription of inside, left page;

I Archbald Kleland indueller in Roustoun Mains grants #
me to have receved from William Walker tennant in Hidlefolds #
full and Compleat payment of fifty merks Scots money given #
in Legacy to my spous Margraet Mitchell by Isobl Gray relex #
of the Deceesed John Lishman [lett] tennant in Craigiey and #
therfor I Archbal Cleland and my heirs do warrand this my #
discharge to William Walker and his hiers and all proseedings #
detted the 26th day of Jun 1754 years at Edn. before these #
presance and Discharges the said William Walker and #
all Proceding the [death] by me.   Archbold [Clie]

I David Lishman indueller in Eidn. grants me to have receved #
from William Walker tennant in Hiddlefolds full and Compleat #
payment of one hundred pounds Scots monie given in legacy to me #
by Isobl Gray relex of the diceesed John Lishman [lett] tennant #
in Crgiey and therfor I David Lishman and my hiers do #
warrand this my Discharg to William Walker his hiers #
and all proseedings [detted] the 26th day of Jun 1754 years befor #
thes presance and Descherges the said William Walker and #
all proceding [these] [Death] by me David his mark D Leshman

Inside, right page;

Transcription of inside, right page;

I Isoble Alexander spous to the discesed Andreu Lonnie #
indueller in Ednburgh grant me to have receved from #
William Walker tennent in Hiddlefolds full and Compleat #
payment of fifty merks Scots given to me in legacy by Isoble #
Gray relex of the diseced John Lishman Lett tennant in Craigiey #
and therefor I Isoble Alexander and my hairs do warrend this my #
Discharg to William Walker and his hairs and all prosidings #
dated the 26th day of Jun 1754 years at Edinburgh before #
thise presane and Discharge the said William Walker and #
all Proceding the [Death] by me Isoble her mark x x Alexander

I Jean Alexander spous to the dicised Thomas Jack #
indueller in Whithous grants me to have receved from #
William Walker tennant in Hidlefolds full and #
Compleat payment of fifty merks Scots given to me in #
legacy by Isobel Gray relex of the dicesed John Lishman #
Lett tennant in Craigie and therfor I Jean Alexander and #
my hiers do warend this my Discharg to William Walker #
and his hiers and all prosedings deated the 26th day of #
Jun 1754 years at Edn. befor these presenee #
and Discherges the said William Walker and all Proceding thes #
Death by me – Jean – her mark x x Alexander.

Notes;

Craigie; a farm laying southeast of South Queensferry, and northeast of Kirkliston village.

Roustoun Mains; is (I think) Royston Mains, in the Granton area of Cramond, Edinburgh.

Whithous; this might be where Whitehouse Road is, in Cramond, Edinburgh.

People;

Searches of the IGI transcriptions of parish registers reveal some extra details about some of the people named in this document;

Archibald Cleland (or Kleland) married Margaret Mitchell at Kirkliston, on 18th Oct 1729. See HERE. They appear to have 6 children christened at Kirkliston, between 1730 and 1747. See HERE.

Andreu Lonnie and Isoble Alexander; The IGI has two remarkably similar records –

• Andrew Aucherlonie m. Isabell Alexander, at Cramond, on 16th May 1719.
• Andrew Auchterlony m. Isabel Alexander, at Saint Cuthberts, Edinburgh, on 3rd Jun 1719.

These two records are so alike that I think they must be for the same couple. Andrew and Isobel also appear to have 6 children, christened between 1720 and 1735; the first in Corstorphine, and the rest at St Cuthberts, Edinburgh. See HERE.

Thomas Jack and Jean Alexander married at Corstorphine on 30th May 1723. They too appear to have had 6 children, christened between 1724 and 1739; the first at Corstorphine, and the rest at St Cuthberts, Edinburgh. See HERE.

There are presumably family relationships between all these couples, and the other individuals named in this document. I presume that Isobel and Jean Alexander were sisters. But in most cases I have yet to work out what the relationships were exactly.

Old WALKER papers – Discharge from Patrick Keir to William Walker

This is my eighth blog post in a series about some old papers of the WALKER family, from Kirkliston, West Lothian, Scotland. See a list of these papers HERE.

Below is one of several documents from an envelope labeled “Old Wills etc. of the Walker family”, which is part of a box full of family papers that I received from my aunt at a family gathering in January 2014. The contents of this envelope all date from the 1700’s.

I have previously posted all those documents that are by, or speak directly about my Walker ancestors. I am now posting some documents where I am unsure of the nature of the connection to the Walker family. Please see my notes at the bottom.

This is the first of two Discharges to William Walker (my ancestor) and Isobell Gray, the widow of John Lishman. I have previously posted John Lishman’s Disposition. John was a witness to the marriage contract of my ancestors; William Walker and Elizabeth Barron, in 1728.

Please click on the images to see the scans at full resolution. Transcribed text appears in a Maroon colour below each scanned image. At the bottom I’ve made some notes of my own about the document.

Cover; Transcription of cover;

Discharge
Pat Keir
To
Wm Walker
on Isabell Grays [..]
1753

Inside; Transcription of inside;

I Mr Patrick Keir in the Blair of Carnock grants me to have received #
from William Walker in Hiddlefaulds on account of Isabell Gray relict of #
John Leishman late tenent in Craigie the Sum of Two hundred Merks Scots #
money assigned to me by the said Isabell Gray in her Settlement of which #
sum of Two hundred Merks forsaid I hereby grant the Receipt And discharges #
and simpliciter exoners the saids Isabell Gray and William Waker and #
all concerned thereof for now and ever In witness whereof I have written & #
subscribed these presents at Hiddlefaulds the twenty fifth day of October #
One thousand Seven hundred and fifty three years.  Patrick Keir

Notes;

Blair of Carnock; I think this is at Carnock in Fife – now “Blair Lodge”, Oakley.

Craigie; a farm laying southeast of South Queensferry, and northeast of Kirkliston village.

Leishman; the surname is spelt in a number of ways in the documents I’ve seen, including; Leishman, Leshman, & Lishman. For my notes on how John Leishman might relate to William Walker, see John Lishman’s Disposition.

Scots Merk; =14 shillings (originally 13s 4d, or ⅔ of a Scottish pound). For more details, see Wikipedia, or TheReformation.info.

Old WALKER papers – Disposition of John Lishman to Isobell Gray, his spouse

This is my seventh blog post in a series about some old papers of the WALKER family, from Kirkliston, West Lothian, Scotland. See a list of these papers HERE.

Below is one of several documents from an envelope labeled “Old Wills etc. of the Walker family”, which is part of a box full of family papers that I received from my aunt at a family gathering in January 2014. The contents of this envelope all date from the 1700’s.

I have already posted those documents that are by, or speak directly about my Walker ancestors. In this, and the following documents, I am unsure of the nature of the connection to the Walker family. Please see my notes at the bottom.

This is a Disposition by John Lishman to his wife, Isobell Gray. John was a witness to the marriage contract of my ancestors; William Walker and Elizabeth Barron, in 1728.

Please click on the images to see the scans at full resolution. Transcribed text appears in a Maroon colour below each scanned image. At the bottom I’ve made some notes of my own about the document.

Cover; Transcription of cover;

Disposition and
assignation

John Lishman
to
Isobell Gray, his
spouse

======
1749
======

 155
 200
 520
 140
 220
——–
1235
 276
——–
1511

213
 63
——-
276

Page 1; Transcription of page 1;

Be it known to all men by these presents me John Lishman tenent in Craigie for as much as #
there was no contract of marriage betwixt me and Isobel Gray my Spouse the time of our ~ #
marriage that we have no children existing thereof And that the said Isobel Gray my spouse #
by her frugality and industry has been very Instrumentall in acquiring what means and effects #
we are possest of Therefore and for the love favour and affection that I have and bear to my #
said spouse and other grave and weighty considerations moving me Wilt ye me to have given #
granted assigned and disponed Like as In case she shall survive me and with and under #
the reservation and provision aftermentioned I by these presents Give grant assign and dispone #
from me my heirs executors and all others my assignoys To and in favours of the said Isobell #
Gray my spouse her heirs executors and assigneys whatsoever All and sundry debts and sums #
of money one addebted and resting or that shall be one addebted and resting to me the time #
of my decease by bond bill ticket accompt decreed paction promise or any other way whatso #
ever together with the haill voutchors and instructions of the said debts haill tenor and ~ #
contents thereof and all that may follow thereupon As also all and sundry my cropt and cornes #
of all kinds and denominations; haill Instruments of husbandry and labour with all goods gear and #
horss, nolt sheep household plenishing and furniture outsight and insight gold silver banknotes #
and all other moveables and execurtory as well heirship as others of whatsoever kind quality #
name of denomination the same be presently pertaining and belonging to me or that shall #
pertain and belong to me the time of my death Dispensing with the generality of these #
presents and declaring the same to be as sufficient valid and effectual in favours of my sd #
spouse and her foresaid As if every particular debt and haill other effects above Disponed had been #
herein specially and particularly in sort and disponed or as if the same had been disponed #
conform to a signed inventory And for that one I surrogat and substitute my said spouse and – #
her forsaids in my full right and place of the promisses for ever In case she survive me ~ #
with full power to her and them to ask crave receive intromelt with and uplift sell use and #
dispose upon the moveables and executry in my own possession and if need bees to call and #
pursue the debitors in the sums of money foresaid and to obtain decreets and use all maner of diligence #
for recoverie thereof compone transact and agree thereanent and upon payment to grant #
receipts and discharges which shall be sufficient and generally all and sundry other things #
necessary [aneul] the promisses to do and [exorce] amply and freely That I could do in my #
own lifetime or before granting this present Disposition and assignation which with #
and under the […] and provision after mentioned I bind and oblige me my heirs executors #

Page 2;

Transcription of page 2;

and successors whatsoever to warrand to my spouse and her foresaids from my own property #
fact and deed allennerly done or to be done in prejudice hereof Reserving nevertheless #
to me my own liferent use and enjoyment of the haill promisses during my lifetime #
And full and free power to me at any time or upon sickbed or the paynt of death to alter #
innovat recall or change these presents in haill or in part as freely in all respects as if these #
presents has never been made or granted But in case these presents be not so changed and #
recalled by me and be found either in my own custody or in the keeping of any other – #
person for my behoove I declare the same shall be held and repale a delivered and valid #
evident in favours of my said spouse notwithstanding of any law or practisce in the #
contrary And in that case by her using and accepting of these presents she shall be bound #
and obliged to pay and [defray] all my sickbed and funeral charges servants fees and all #
other my just and Lawful debts Consenting to the registration hereof in the books of #
Council and session or other Judges books competent therein to remain for preservation #
To which effect I constitute.
My [prors..]: In witness whereof (Written upon stamped paper by #
Robert Blair Clerk of Queensferrie) I have subscrived these presents. Att Queensferry #
the Twenty fifth ~ day of March – One Thousand Seven hundred and #
fourtie nine years before these witnesses. Edward Ramage – ye merchant in #
Queensferrie and the said Robert Blair

John Lishman

Edward Ramage, junior witness
Robt: Blair, witness.

Notes;

Craigie; a farm laying southeast of South Queensferry, and northeast of Kirkliston village.

John Lishman (Leshman/ Leishman/ Lieshman); I have found a record from the parish registers of a marriage in Dalmeny, on 4th July 1705, between John Leechman and Isobel Gray. John Leishman was a witness to the marriage contract of my ancestors; William Walker and Elizabeth Barron, in 1728. I don’t have any firm evidence for a family relationship, but a suspicion that John Leshman might be a cousin of William Walker.

Parish records for Walkers in the Corstorphine area (compiled by Norman Walker) include a marriage between a Robert Walker and Janet Leshman, on 11th June 1691. They then had one daughter, Janet, christened on 16th July 1693. Could they also be the parents of my ancestor, William Walker? And could Janet Leshman be a sister or aunt of John Lishman?

If anyone knows of evidence that can prove (or disprove) my theories here, I would be very interested to see it. If you do, please leave a comment below, or use the Contact Page to get in touch. Thanks.