Elspath Thomson 1794-1880

Elspath was baptised on 18 May 1894 at Mains, Smailholm, Roxburghshire, the son of David Thomson and his wife Margaret Mitchel.

Although her parents named her Elspath as an adult she used the name Elizabeth. On 12 June 1829 at Gordon, Berwickshire, Elizabeth Thompson married James Wylie, both were of the parish of Gordon. The preceding entry in the register is for the marriage of her sister Sarah. James Wylie was considerable younger than Elizabeth being born on 20 June 1809 at Coldstream, Berwickshire the son of Adam Wylie and Christian Orkney.

In 1841 the family were probably living at Holtree, Stow, Midlothian but some of the information on this census return is confusing. The parents and two eldest daughters ages are roughly correct so is the fact that they were not born in Midlothian, but the youngest daughter Elizabeth is missing. Also living with them is Christian Wylie born 1826 and as a separate household a servant Elizabeth Wylie age 15. In 1851 James, an ag lab, Elizabeth and their daughter Elizabeth were living at Weatherstone, Stow. By 1861 they had moved to Windydoors Stewards House, Stow and their grandson James Robertson was living with them. In 1871 James was a farm servant living at Broadmeadows Hinds House, Selkirk with his wife. Also there was a farm servant Elizabeth Shankie born 1833 Selkirk and her 1 month old daughter Jennie (Jane) Shankie born Yarrow, Selkirkshire

Elizabeth died aged 85 of bronchitis and old age on 3 July 1880. Her death was registered by her husband, now a garden labourer. Her parents were David Thomson, farm servant and Margaret Mitchell.

In 1881 James was living at Bowhill Estate, Newark Burn, Selkirk. With him were two boarders William Mitchellhill, garden labourer born 1833 Selkirk and Mary Mitchelhill, born 1830 Selkirk

Known children:-

Margaret Wylie born 31 December 1829, Gordon, Berwickshire
Margaret was baptised on 18 July 1830 at Gordon. In 1851 she was a house servant for the Melrose family living at Edenbank, Kelso, Roxburghshire. There is a marriage on 1 December 1853 at Melrose, Roxburghshire of a Margaret Wylie to Robert Leishman both of this parish but as no parents names are given it is not possible to know whether this is her.
Mary Wylie born in 1832 at Lauder, Berwickshire
In 1841 she was living in Stow, Midlothian with her parents. By 1851 she was a farm labourer living with the Dickson family at Whitslaid, Legerwood, Berwickshire. On 16 June 1854 at Melrose, Roxburghshire Mary married Thomas Robertson. Thomas was born about 1834 in Fala, Midlothian. In 1861 he was a ploughman living with his wife and younger children at Dayburn Hind House, Stow. Their son, James, was with his paternal grandparents. By 1871 the family were in Galashiels, Selkirkshire where they remained. Thomas gave his occupation variously as rag or china merchant. Mary died on 8 September 1874 and Thomas in 1902 both at Galashiels.

Children:-
- James Robertson born 1855 Stow, Midlothian.
  On 30 Jan 1874 James married Jane Bruce at Galashiels. Jane was the daughter of John Bruce and Jane Thomson born on 2 July 1855 at Galashiels. In 1881 James was employed in the wool factory and lived at Galashiels. By 1891 the family had moved to Edinburgh and James was a railway stoker and by 1901 he had progressed to engine drive. Jane died in 1926 at Galashiels
- Elizabeth Robertson born 24 June 1856, Stow
  In 1871 she was a woollen cloth picker living with her parents.
- Jane Robertson born 27 October 1858 Melrose
  Jane died in 1861 at Stow
- Mary Robertson born 26 September 1860, Stow.
  Mary died in 1871 at Galashiels.
- Neil Robertson born 21 September 1862
  Neil died in 1867 at Ladhope.
- Agnes Robertson born 12 October 1864 Galashiels
  In 1881 she was a woollen winder living with her father in Galashiels. In 1889 at Galashiels, Agnes married Matthew Mcguire. Matthew was born on 30 August 1864 at Selkirk. They lived at Galashiels, Matthew was a carter and later a lorryman. Agnes died in 1949 in West Lothian.
- Robert Robertson born 4 February 1867
  Robert died in 1867 at Ladhope.
- Margaret Robertson born 20 June 1868 Galashiels
  In 1881 she was living with her father in Galashiels.
- Thomas Robertson born 25 April 1871 Galashiels
  In 1891 he was a hawker living with his father in Galashiels.
- Tombstone: Wylie Scott McRae
Elizabeth Wylie born October 1835 Stow, Midlothian.
In the 1841 census the Elizabeth living with her parents was recorded as 15 year old servant. In 1851 she is a house servant of the correct age living with her parent in Stow. At the age of 17 she married Thomas Scott at Stow on 27 November 1852. Thomas was born 1828 at Cavers, Roxburghshire, and in 1861 he was a miller living at Maryhill, Lanarkshire. By 1881 Thomas was still a miller but the family had emigrated to Nepean, Carlton, Ontario, Canada. Thomas died on 25 Dec 1893 at Ottawa. In 1911 Elizabeth was living with her grand-daughter in Red Deer, Alberta where she died on 10 April 1914. She has a headstone in the Innisfail Cemetery, Alberta.

Child:-
- Elizabeth Scott born 1858 Ashkirk, Roxburghshire.
  Elizabeth emigrated to Canada with her parents. At around 1878 she married John McRae who was much older than her being born in 1841 in Ontario. It would appear to be a second marriage for him as in the 1881 census there are older children living with them. John was a moulder and in 1881 they were living in St Jerusalem, Argenteiul, Quebec. John died on 14 November 1907 and Elizabeth on 16 December 1915. They are both remembered on the family tombstone in Innisfail Cemetery, Alberta.