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« on: Wednesday 24 June 15 15:41 BST (UK) »
Might be able to help here .... I have been researching my family tree as I am descended from George Barclay, who was the younger brother of the Helen Barclay you might be looking at. There's probably three different Barclay families living in St. Cyrus in the eighteenth century who were probably off-shoots from the main family Barclay family. Here's what I know of this family -
EARLIEST GENERATION
The earliest members of the family that can be traced reliably are George Barclay and Isabel Thomson. They have a family headstone at St. Cyrus Nether Churchyard which was then re-used by their descendents for over 100 years. George Barclay is likely to have been the boy recorded as being baptised at St. Cyrus on December 16th 1716, the son of Alexander Barclay of “Comistoun”. Isabel Thomson’s birth cannot be traced with any real certainty.
George Barclay and Isabel Thomson were married on 9th June 1743 in the old church at Benholm, near Johnshaven, in Kincardineshire. The family stone at St. Cyrus Nether Churchyard states the family were sub-tenants (tenant farmers) at “Dubton of Comostoun”. This farm is spelled as “Comostoun”, “Comistoun” or “Comieston” over time. The modern day “Commieston” is just off the main road between the river North Esk and St. Cyrus.
The gravestone is dated 1782. The reverse is highly decorated with a carving of a set square and dividers, hammer and plough. The plough is a reference to his profession as a farmer. The other symbols are Masonic. This, and the accompanying inscription, would indicate that he was a highly religious man and a freemason. The stone would have been expensive. The late eighteenth century was a time of relative prosperity for Scottish tenant farmers and a gravestone of this quality shows that the family must have been financially comfortable.
The inscription reads as follows:
“When first I drew the breath of life I nothing knew at all yet Long before my death I knew That I with Adam fell my body lays neer to this stone Waiting the morning call When Christ will take me by the hand: he is my all and all.”
There are nine sets of initials on the headstone. These may refer to their children. George Barclay and Isabel Thomson had a large family. There are baptisms recorded at St. Cyrus for at least five of them; Alexander (b. 1748), Katharine (b. 1750), John (b. 1753), James (b. 1756) and David (b. 1758).
NEXT GENERATION: David and Catherine Barclay
David Barclay, son of George Barclay and Isabel Thomson, was born on 9th April 1758. David married Catherine (or Katherine) Barclay at St. Cyrus on December 23rd 1786. The marriage entry seems to imply Catherine’s maiden name was also Barclay.
David and Catherine Barclay lived and farmed at the “Hill of Morphy”. There are surviving tax records for the farm from this period. David Barclay paid 2 shillings for “Cart Tax” in 1786 and 1790. He had two horses and paid 4 shillings and sixpence in “Farm Horse Tax” in 1797. The Hill of Morphie was (and still is) a farm settlement to the south-west of St. Cyrus. It is very close to Commieston.
The couple produced a large family, with baptisms being recorded at St. Cyrus for at least seven of their children; David (b. 1787), Helen (b. 1788) Susanna (b. 1790), Catherine (b. 1792), Agnes (b. 1794), George (b. 1796) and Margaret (b. 1800).
There are no details of the deaths of David or Catherine Barclay. As I said, I am definitely descended from George (b. 1796) as he is also buried in the same family plot at St. Cyrus and the family re-used the headstone when he died in the 1860s. If you want a copy of a picture of the Barclay headstone let me know and I can send it to you.
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