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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Wigtownshire => Topic started by: catleugh on Thursday 18 April 13 20:48 BST (UK)
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Before she died, an aunt of mine wrote a simple family tree. She said that her grandparents were living on a farm in Leswalt, and that her grandmother, Jane Cunningham (nee Murdoch), died between 1897 and 1901, and was buried in "... the cemetery beside Loch Ryan (Stranraer) ..."
Can't seem to find a cemetery near Leswalt AND Loch Ryan. Any ideas?
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Hi catleugh,
Dumfies and Galloway Family History Society might be able to help with your query. They also publish and sell for a small cost, booklets of Monumental Inscriptions.
Their web address is www.dgfhs.org.uk
Looby
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Thanks Looby. I've confirmed that the family did live at Leswalt for the 1881 Census, but have now found her death entry on the Scotlands People website, and she died in Cults, in the parish of Inch, County Wigtown, in 1886, so maybe she isn't buried near Leswalt after all.
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From what I can gather from this website www.genuki.org.uk on it's Wigtownshire pages Inch Parish Church is situated near Castle Kennedy (which appears to be a small village) and also close to the White Loch (a small inland loch). The village of Cults is only a couple of miles away. There is a cemetery at the church. Don't know if this is of any help?
Good look with your search,
Looby
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Hi Looby,
That sounds possible. I'm hoping to be able to visit the Family History Society at Dumfries that you told me about shortly, and maybe go on to look at some cemeteries. I'll make another post if I find anything interesting.
Thanks again.
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Hi,
There is a cemetery at Leswalt I know as my great grandparents are buried there.
The one at Castle Kennedy -- at Inch Parish Church this is on the A75 about three miles out of Stranraer on the Dumfries road -- my grandparents and many family members are also buried there.
One which is right next to the sea is Cairnryan which is about three miles out of Stranraer on the A77
more relatives buried there.
There is website called Wigtownshire List which is for people researching the Wigtownshire area many of the members are willing to do lookups.
I have a few of the booklets will have a look over the weekend see if I can find your relatives
Good Luck,
suzilad
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Thanks for the info suzilad,
I'm heading up that way next week, and will take a look at all of those.
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Hi Catsleugh,
I have the books for Cairnryan Kirkcolm and Leswalt Cemeteries just had a look and she is in none of them.
There is in LESWALT cemetery -- a Patrick Cunningham -- a cattle dealer from Stranraer who died 2 Feb 1889 aged 47 his stone was erected by his brother John Cunningham who died 27 January 1894 aged 60
Could they be yours ?
Don't know exactly when you intend going to the area try this before you go -- phone Stranraer
Council offices -- ask for the dept. that deals with this it is at Blackparks Industrial Estate -- the girl is very helpful as you don't know the cemetery she will get back to you with details -- as you are going to
be in the area you can pop in and she will show you exactly where the grave is --.
I found in my research there that my relatives all went back to the village where they were born.
My great grandfather was born in Leswalt but died in New Luce and was taken back to Leswalt for burial
Let me know how you get on.
suzilad
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Suzilad,
Would it be impertinent of me to ask if there is a Thomas Dorman or Annie Dorman in your books?
These are ggg grandparents of mine who lived in Leswalt and Stoneykirk. Thomas died in 1864/5 and Annie died years later around 1890's.
Hope you don't mind me asking but I was planning a trip to Stranraer area this spring to have a grave hunt and any help would be appreciated.
Hope Catsleugh finds Mrs Cunningham!
Looby
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Hi looby,
Think nothing of it only to willing to help.
Unfortunately they are not in any of the three books I have -- then again there might not be a
marker.
I have a Canadian friend who has the Stoneykirk book -- I'll see if she can find them won't be for a few
days though.
suzilad
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Thanks Suzilad,
It was worth asking...although I think I might be on a wild goose chase. :D
Think my folk were so poor they'd be lucky to pay the gravedigger never mind For a headstone.
Looby
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Hi looby ,
Were did Thomas and Annie die ?
Yes a lot of mine were the same agric. labourers over from Ireland to Portpatrick which is where they landed before 1841 .
Although I was amazed when I saw the size of my gg grandfather's headstone in Portpatrick cemetery stood about 7ft and he also worked on the farms it really puzzled me how he could have afforded something so grand .
My ggg grandfather was the beadle/gravedigger at Kirkcolm in the 1850's and 60's kept quite good records as I found out when I was researching there.
Keep me posted how you get on --
suzilad
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Hi suzilad,
I don't know of any connection with the two Cunninghams you mention in Leswalt cemetery - something else to check on. Thanks for looking in the books
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Looby.
I was in Stranraer on Tuesday, but forgot to keep an eye open for Thomas and Annie Dorman (sorry). I suppose you know about some earlier Dormans listed here:
http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ainsty/parishes/leswalt/death/a_d.html
As for my own Great Grandmother, I have decided that it's most likely that she's in Sheucan cemetery, which is in sight of Loch Ryan, and although in Stranraer is included in Leswalt Parish (she gave birth to my grandfather in Auchnotteroch, Leswalt six months befor she died in Inch Parish). No stone there, but there are a lot of stones missing.
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Hi Looby,
I was feeling guilty about forgetting to look out for your ggg grandparents, so I used a couple of spare credits I had for the Scotlands People website.
Thomas Dorman is listed as having died in Leswalt Parish, in 1864 - age not given.
Found two Annie Dormans who died in Wigtown County around that time, one age zero, died in 1899 at Penninghame, Wigtown, and the other aged 20, died at Stranraer (other surname given as Stevenson). The next nearest didn't die until 1913 (Annie, other surname Little, aged 54, in Stranraer), and 1916 (Annie Elizabeth, aged 47, in Stranraer).
Could your Annie have moved from the area after Thomas died?
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Thank you Catleugh!
But don't feel guilty about not looking :D. I'll have a good wander round myself in about a months time when I manage to get to the area. My husband will love it ::)
Yes the Thomas Dorman you found died in 1864 is my ggg grandfather so maybe Leswalt would be the best place to look for him although he wasn't in suzilad's book.
Annie Dorman may well have died elsewhere, some of her family came to Ayrshire. I must have a look myself on SP.
The Annie Dorman/ Little died 1913 in Stranraer is a daughter of the couple.
I have all the families birth's/ censuses. And I have Thomas's death , just wondered if there was a grave to visit and photograph!
But thanks for looking for me and I'm sorry you didn't find your own great grandmother's grave.
How sad that she died young and leaving a baby (your granddad behind). I suppose if money was tight her widower would not be able to provide a headstone. I think many of my various family lines have been buried in unmarked graves. :) Bu tas long as we're talking about them , they are not forgotten.
Best wishes Looby
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Looby,
I'm like your husband, I enjoy looking round old cemeteries just for the sake of it, so don't feel I had a wasted journey. I visited 12 altogether, in the parishes of Inch, Stranraer, and Leswalt. The most interesting was Inch Old Parish Churchyard. It's on private land, so I parked at the new churchyard, then walked through the gates towards Lochinch Castle. You have to go through a hole in the fence to get into the churchyard. If you go, try not to disturb the goose that is nesting in one of the ruined buildings!
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Thanks for the advice Catsleugh ;D.
Regards,
Looby
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Glad you got on so well Catsleugh I forgot all about the cemetery at the High Kirk on Leswalt High Road and when you think of it you can see right up Lochryan from there.
My grandfather worked in the gardens where the Old Inch Cemetery is -- Castle Kennedy Gardens -- he stayed in an estate house and we went every year there on holiday.
suzilad
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Just noticed this post. Seems to me it could be Cairnryan cemetery, just up the loch from Stranraer. The Ferry boats for Belfast leave from there now. DGFHS sell the MI booklet for Cairnryan.
Ian McClumpha
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Ian
I visited Cairnryan cemetery. It's very small, and there aren't many stones left to see. As you say it's right next to Loch Ryan. It's very well looked after, and there are a couple of war memorials there.
I still think the best bet for my Great-Grandmothers grave is Sheucan Cemetery, because of where she was living shortly before she died. There is no stone for her there either, but there are many stones missing.