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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Stirlingshire => Topic started by: TropiConsul on Thursday 07 July 16 04:54 BST (UK)
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I just returned to Texas from a trip to the Rhineland, Scotland, and London. I have a Scottish fifth cousin with whom I have corresponded regarding family history for over four years. He was kind enough to book us a stay at Allanfauld Farm B&B, a delightful combination of working farm and hospitality suite that is expertly managed by Libby who is a charming and industrious hostess. Do book a stay if you can, because it is uniquely serene and picturesque location.
My cousin and I descend from a common ancestor who managed Allanfauld Farm. He was 'Deacon' Alexander Rennie (1752-1828). I took a number of pics of the gravestone, but I doubt that I am gleaning all of the information it provides. I do know something about the 'Deacon' , but I am missing a great deal. Please clue me in if you can. It seems that I can not post a legible image of the stone. I will be happy to provide pics in a way that do not encounter size restrictions.
Alexander's will disposed of an estate of £797 and 3 shillings 6 pence. This sum is equivalent to a present day valuation of £2,511,000 when calculated as capital available for investment as a percentage of the United Kingdom's GDP for the year 1828. Alexander left a bequest of £250 to his youngest son, James Mathie Rennie, who was my 3rd great grandfather. Alexander states that James Mathie Rennie is living in his household (he was 19 years old) and the bequest was larger than the £100 left to the older son, Robert Rennie, who is described as "flesher [butcher] in Glasgow". Presumably Robert had already received a sum from the estate to set him up in business. Alexander's will describes his intention to obtain an equitable disposition, after providing for resolution of his debts and the maintenance of his widow, of the remaining estate among his numerous heirs. Alexander's first wife and their two children predeceased Alexander and left no issue. His second marriage with Elizabeth Ker resulted in eleven children.
The namesake for James Mathie Rennie was the writer (attorney in Scottish parlance) James Mathie (1758-1795) who served as Clerk of the Trades House of of Glasgow from 1790 to 1795. Another James Mathie, a writer in Stirling, appeared at the Testament Dative and Inventory (probate) in 1809. I am not sure what the family relationship was between the two James Mathies.
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Here is the top portion of the marker. It appears to be a seperate piece. At the top the incised carving reads Alanfauld 1894. I think this is a later addition to the stone. The other carving is in bas relief in the form of a shield or coat of arms with the date 1661. I do not know the significance of the date. My cousin communicated with Lord Lyon and was informed that no coat of arms was found to be registered to Alexander Rennie. I am wondering whether this stone was part of a farm building at Allenfauld where Alexander Rennie was the tenant farmer.
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The first line appears to read "AM AC 1745". I don't know what this refers to.
The second line reads "AR EK 1796". AR would be Alexander Rennie and EK would be Elizabeth Ker, his wife. I do not know what the 1796 date refers to. They were married in 1787. Their eleven children were born from 1788 to 1809. The next line reads "In Memorium". The next two lines read "Alexander his son who died 12th Nov 1836 aged two years". This refers to the son of John Rennie, 2nd son of the Deacon, who married Grace Young on 17 Aug 1830. The next two lines are "Grace Young his wife (illegible) 9 Apr 1888 aged 89 years". She was born 13 Dec 1799.
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Alexander Rennie was possibly a deacon of one of the Glasgow Trades. Google the Trades House, Glasgow.
Skoosh.
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I don't think that is likely, Skoosh. I have mined the Trades House material extensively and I dont find a mention of Alexander. Alexander Rennie was the tenant farmer of Alanfauld. Alexander was however closely associated with the Reverend Doctor Robert Rennie, D.D whom he referred to in correspondence as "my brother". Robert Rennie's second wife was Isabella Auchincloss who was the daughter of Robert Auchincloss. Robert Auchincloss served as Deacon Convener of the Guild of Coopers (1781-1782), Trade Counselor (1787), and Member of the General Session of the Directors and Managers of the Town's Hospital in Glasgow.
Isabella Auchincloss was also the widow of James Mathie who was Clerk of the Trades House of Glasgow from 1790 until his death in 1795. James Mathie was succeeded as Clerk by his brother Benjamin who held the office from 1795 until 1831. Benjamin was also part owner of the Glasgow Herald and author of 'View of the History, Constitution, and Funds, of the Trades' House of Glasgow' (1827). Their father was David Mathie who served as Preses of the Grand Antiquity Society of Glasgow (1776).
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The following link will take you to a view of the old churchyard in Kilsyth on the day of our visit. My cousin is 6' 6" and my wife is a foot shorter. The Alexander Rennie and Rev. Dr. Robert Rennie markers are on the right side of the frame adjacent to each other and set into the ground in the horizontal plane.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/124304610@N07/27503105014/in/dateposted-public/
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I searched all the Deacons known to the Trades House and there is no mention of Alexander Rennie, there is however a mention of John Rennie, Deacon in 1860 and 1873 in the Incorporation of Masons of Glasgow. That John Rennie may be a relation and he resided at: 407 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow and he Died: 7 June 1878.
If you wish a photograph of him, can I suggest that you visit www.tradeshousemuseum.org and leave a message in the [CONTACT US] page and one will be sent free of charge.
Best of luck in your research.
Craig R. Bryce.
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Thank you for your kind and thoughtful reply, Craig. My cousin and I have debated whether the appellation of "Deacon" for my ancestor was a title from association with the trades of Glasgow. My best guess is that it derives from close association with the Reverend Minister who might have encouraged Alexander to accept an oath to minor ecclesiastical orders.
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TC, the 17th cent' arms on the stone don't match any of the Trades Incorporations arms, it looks like the letters A? & S above the shield then under that there's a line cut on the stone & it appears that any lettering below that has been removed & the stone re-used in the 18th cent'. Who were the heritors in Kilsyth parish in 1661 the date on the stone? The Stirling's were certainly prominent landowners in that area.
It was common to re-allocate the lairs in old cemeteries & sell them off, clearing any markers. Your ancestor has probably purchased this lair & kept the stone & arms, any burials below it would just be cut through when needed. The stone could even have come from elsewhere, was there a family burial plot at Allanfauld?
Skoosh.
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Can I just make a couple of points.
1. I believe the Deacon title was because Alexander was a Deacon in the Church of Scotland. The position is very rare nowadays, but there are a few Deaconesses. They were semi-trained for ministry.
2. The shield on the stone with the date 1661 was copied from a much older stone which lay beside the one shown in the thread. This earlier stone is completely worn away, as is the more recent one. I have a photo of the more recent stone with reasonably clear inscriptions. Like my cousin, TropiConsul, I don't know who AM and AG with 1745 refer to. They may have been the initials of earlier ancestors.
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I believe the Deacon title was because Alexander was a Deacon in the Church of Scotland. The position is very rare nowadays, but there are a few Deaconesses. They were semi-trained for ministry.
I have to disagree with this.
According to the Church of Scotland's own web site, deacons have been ministering in the Church of Scotland for 120 years. In other words, only since the late 19th century. See https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/serve/ministries-council/partnership-development/the-diaconate. It also says there are currently 58 deacons. It coyly avoids including what Wikipedia says: The permanent diaconate was formerly exclusively female, and it was in 1988, the centenary year of the diaconate, that men were admitted to the office of deacon..
As far as I know the Church of Scotland has not had 'minor ecclesiastical orders' since the late 17th century, and possibly earlier. You were either an ordained minister, or you were not. No vicars, rectors, curates etc (and no bishops, canons or deans either, of course). I've never come across the term 'holy orders' in relation to a Church of Scotland minister, only in relation to an Anglican/Church of England clergyman, though it might also have applied in the Episcopal Church of Scotland.
In the 18th century most towns had guilds of artisans and merchants, and the senior officer of a guild, corresponding to chairman or president, was the Deacon. Think of Deacon Brodie, the 18th century model for 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'.
The following is just one of numerous examples from the records of the Forfar Incorporation of Shoemakers, who elected a deacon, thesaurer (treasurer) and officer (?secretary) every year: Friday 27th September 1665. The trade being conveened in order to choose their deacon and there being on leit with the present deacon viz James Binney elder John Auld John Whytlaw David Ramsay and David Binny the said James Binney was continued deacon George Binny thesaurer and Alexander Dickson son to John officer till Michaelmas 1666.
Kilsyth was a burgh of barony, with its own town council, so it probably had a guild or two. A small tenant farmer might also have practised a trade alongside farming, and could have been a member of a trade guild in the town.
If I were you I would look for the records of Kilsyth Town Council to see if Alexander Rennie is mentioned in those.
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Mebbes even a Masonic Deacon in the Kilsyth Lodge?
Skoosh.
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Mebbes even a Masonic Deacon in the Kilsyth Lodge?
Yes, absolutely.