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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => West Lothian (Linlithgowshire) => Topic started by: lynnpringle on Tuesday 10 February 09 16:26 GMT (UK)
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can anyone tell me how i can find burial records for whitburn cemetery and get a plot number for a grave.
I am looking for a Margaret tervet young MELROSE died 1906
or any other melrose info anybody may have
thanks
lynn
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Hi Lynn,
Whitburn is part of West Lothian and for a plot number you would need to contact the Cemeteries Team at West Lothian Council on
West Lothian Council Cemeteries Section
County Buildings, Linlithgow, EH49 7EZ. Tel. 01506 775240.
[information is from westlothian.gov.uk]
Additionally, of more immediate help to you, West Lothian Family History Society are making their index to the burial registers at Whitburn and some other cemeteries available to search free online for 2009 as part of the 'Homecoming 2009' celebrations. I've had a quick look and there are 11 Melroses buried at Whitburn, including Margaret whose burial took place on Christmas Eve 1906. The registers don't include plot numbers.
The WLFHS website is: http://www.wlfhs.org.uk/ The records go up to the early 1970s.
Are you near Whitburn? If not, let me know if you get any information from the Council and I might be able to get you a photo of any stone that exists, once the evenings get a bit lighter. I'm often in West Lothian visiting family.
Best wishes
Rockford
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Hi, Lynn - to add to what Rockford has said:
While the online index does not quote the Lair number, the West Lothian FHS Burial Register CD does. Baby Margaret Terver Young Melrose, aged 3 weeks, was buried in Section H Lair 7. There was no-one else buried in that Lair up to 1974. Her parents, Alexander Cunningham Melrose and Ann Young, are not buried in Whitburn, nor Fauldhouse, nor Livingston, nor Woodbank, nor Linlithgow, nor Boghead.
Regards,
mr-aitch
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Thankyou both very much you have been a great help, If i contact the west lothian council will they be able to provide me with a layout of the cemetery do you think, so i can find section H, as I am thinking there is probably no Headstone on this grave.
Also one more question, does Kirknewton come under the same region, I have an Alexander Young who died in 1894 as a result of an accident, the nature of the accident I haven`t been able to find out yet, was wondering if there may have been something about it in the local paper at the time, does anyone know what the name of the paper would be and where the Kirknewton burial records are held ?
Thankyou again
lynn
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Hi Lynn,
I don't know if the will give you a map, but there might be one at the entrance - I can't remember. If they know when you are going, they might also be able to send someone to mark the plot for you.
Kirknewton probably came under Midlothian in 1894. As it was on the boundary between Mid and West Lothian, the accident could have been featured in the West Lothian Courier - I'd check the westlothian.gov.uk site and look for the contact details for the Local History Library in Blackburn. They are very good and hold microfilm copies of the Courier and (I think!) the Midlothian Advertiser. They may also be able to help locate burial registers - I would also ask the Council when you contact them.
Have you looked at Alexander's death certificate on Scotlands People? If he died in an accident, there would normally have been a report made to the procurator fiscal. This would create a 'Register of Corrected Entries' [RCE], which might give you more information. The RCE number would be noted in the margin next to Alexander's death entry and you should be able to access this through Scotlands People via a big red button that appears when you view the screen that lets you save or download the main certificate.
However, if Alexander was a miner - he might be the person noted here:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~miningvillages/1894deaths.html
Search the page for Alexander Young and it gives details of an accident on 19 March 1894, which might be the one you are looking for.
Best wishes
Rockford
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Thanks Rockford,
The mining accident recorded here was indeed my alexander,
many thanks for that you have managed to solve one of my mysteries.
lynn
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Hi Lynn,
You're welcome. Glad I could help!
Best wishes
Rockford
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Hi,
If you phone 01506 775300 (Cemetery Office at Linlithgow) ask to speak with Donna Johnston or e-mail donna.johnston@westlothian.gov.uk .
She will send out a map and have the lair marked for you.
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Thanks for that info fantasia
Great help
lynn
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I have been told my ancestor was buried at Whitburn is this possible as this was in 1852/53 she was living on a farm named Yancrum i 1.5 miles west of West Calder
Patrick
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Hi Patrick,
There are three burial places in Whitburn, as far as I know. Blaeberry is much newer [1980s?] and the cemetery known as Whitburn Cemetery opened (I think) in the late 19th century.
For the period 1852/53 it might be more likely that your ancestor was buried in the original kirkyard which surrounds the original parish church. This is just slightly further up the hill from Whitburn Cemetery.
I have some photos of the church and surrounding burial ground, which I'll post today or tomorrow. No individual stones, I'm afraid, though!
Best wishes
Rockford
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Hi Rockwood,
Many thanks for your help, my understanding is there was very little in the way of Church's and burial grounds for the Catholic's at that time.
Patrick
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Hi Patrick,
I don't know of any burial grounds in West Lothian that were dedicated for solely Catholic use, although I stand to be corrected!
In terms of churches, I think it may only have been with the influx of Irish workers to industries such as coal and shale mining that led to the founding of new Catholic churches. The oldest I can find are St Michael's in Linlithgow (founded in 1850), followed by St Mary's, Bathgate (1858), SS John Cantius & Nicholas in Broxburn (1862) and St John the Baptist in Fauldhouse (1865), most of the others were founded in the late nineteenth, early twentieth or later. Our Lady and St Bridget's in West Calder wasn't founded until 1877. I'm sure Mass would have been said in other places before these churches were established, but these are the oldest ones still in use.
If your ancestor was buried in the orginal churchyard at Whitburn, you can see some of it here: http://www.whitburnsouthparishchurch.org.uk/index.htm
They are also in famous company, as one of the daughters of Robert Burns is also buried there:
http://www.westlothiancourier.co.uk/west-lothian-news/west-lothian-news/west-lothian-news/2010/07/01/whitburn-people-restore-rabbie-burns-daughter-s-grave-62405-26757217/
I've attached another photo of the church taken from another angle.
Best wishes
Rockford
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Particular sections of Churchyards or even just single Lairs/Plots would be consecrated by the local priest to allow Catholic burials or burials would be in the closest Episcopal Churchyard.
Anne
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Patrick
There is Whitburn and West Calder church yards that would be used then but what is the names.
Tom
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Hi,
MY RELATION WHO I WAS LOOKING FOR WAS ANN LEESON/LAWSON FROM County MEATH WHO LIVED IN A PLACE CALLED YAN KRUM (NOT SURE OF EXACT SPELLING WEST CALDER) WIFE OF WILLIAM DIED AROUND 1853.
THE REST OF THE FAMILY MOVED TO BLACKBURN WEST LOTHIAN AND WORKED IN THE SHALE MINES
THE LEESON NAME WAS CHANGED TO LAWSON I BELIEVE AFTER ANN'S DEATH
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP, MOST KIND OF YOU.
PATRICK
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Hi Patrick,
Yan Krum does not ring any bells and I grew up near to West Calder. Where did you see this name written? My first thought is that it was a misreading of handwriting for 'Harburn', which is just south east of West Calder.
Best wishes
Rockford
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Hi,
Thank you once again for your help, i have attached a map which someone sent me to show where the place is, although not shown i am assured it is the correct area. Also attached the 1851 census where the place was discovered, although very poor quality.
Any help is much appreciated.
Patrick
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Hi Patrick,
It is indeed Yancrum!
I found it on an old Ordnance Survey Map on the National Library of Scotland website (http://geo.nls.uk/maps/ , using the maps from 1843 - 1882 which is the first one on the list).
I've attached a clearer version of the map that you posted. Yancrum is about 1 - 2 miles South West of Mid Calder. Sadly, it no longer seems to exist.
Best wishes
Rockford
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If my ancestor died in that area Yancrum Mid Calder being a RC would there be a burial ground near by at that time 1853 ?
Thank you for the map link also.
Patrick
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hi lynn margaret young melrose is in lair h 7 date 24 dec 1906 and if you want to know more i will get my email add to you as i am blind and find rootschat site not very good but i will get that to youand i will tell you morere melrose burialsas i have most records of that cem terry and guide dog usher
can anyone tell me how i can find burial records for whitburn cemetery and get a plot number for a grave.
I am looking for a Margaret tervet young MELROSE died 1906
or any other melrose info anybody may have
thanks
lynn