Annan - an elusive seaman

[kenjo]

Hi Fear na mara and lesleyhannah,
I am glad you told us a bit more about your wonderful Sea Captain, and in the last reveal....that Ann did infact know her husband as a Sea Captain...
I wonder if Ann did  pass away while on a trip with her husband..?

I was thinking that because the Will of John Elliot has not been found, yet.
You could go to Edinburgh and search the sasines.
.http://www.nas.gov.uk/guides/sasines.asp..
just to see info on when Joseph bought the houses in Annan.
This could give a clue as to when he came into money...

Also if anyone else has any suggestions about searching Annan solicitor records please chime in..

By searching the Sasines...it could tell you what came of the houses and the people you are related to.....
JO

[AGA]

Just to keep you all on your toes on this saga, following are the MIs for some of the Elliots buried in Annan.

ELLIOTS BURIED IN Annan

ANNAN OLD BURIAL GROUND

In memory of George IRVING, Master of the Sloop New Land who was lost in Ulverstone Canal on the 13th March, 1819 aged 34 years and is interred there.  Also Margaret HALLIDAY his wife who died the 27th of November, 1857 aged 72 years.  Also Andrew IRVING their son, Mason in Annan who died the 27th September, 1872 aged 59 years.  Also Isabella ELLIOT his wife who died at Annan 12th May, 1899 aged 77 years.
Here lyes the body of Thomas ELLIOT, Smith in Annan who died November the 3 day, 1724 of age 55 years.  [Back of stone]  Here lyes Thomas ELLIOT son of William ELLIOT.
In memory of Margaret RICHARDSON spouse to William ELLIOT Coast Officer in Annan who died October, 1833… James ELLIOT Surgeon their eldest son who died at Lees near Manchester on the 2nd of December, 1855 aged 60 years.  Also William ELLIOT M.D. of Sewerby Bridge their youngest son born 12th December, 1811 died  5th October, 1882.  And James ELLIOT Surgeon of Sewerby Bridge only son of the last named born 22nd May, 1843 died 30th November, 1881.  Stone weathered.
In memory of Thomas ELLIOT Blacksmith in Annan who died November the 3rd, 1724 aged 55 years.  Also in memory of William ELLIOT his son, Blacksmith in Annan who died December 22nd, 1771 much regretted he lived to the age of 71 years well respected by all who knew him.  Also Margaret  MITCHELL spouse to William ELLIOT who died May 8th, 1766 aged 67 years.  Also James ELLIOT late smith and Burgess in Annan son of the above William ELLIOT who died in June, 1787 aged 55 years.  He lived beloved by all that knew him and died lamented by his friends. And Agnes BLAIR his spouse who died 5th March, 1812 aged 80 years.  Also Bryce ELLIOT their son Accountant in the Bank of Scotland at Kelso who died 3rd April, 1796 aged 28 years.

ANNAN OLD PARISH CHURCH GRAVEYARD

In memory of Elizabeth McKinnel spouse of Robert Elliot in Annan who died 23rd February 1825 aged 47 years.

D2   In memory of John Jeffrey who died 19th February 1826 aged 13 years. Also Janet Elliot the beloved wife of James Jeffrey in Hull who died at Northfield Farm 28th July 1871 aged 47 years. ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven’

In memory of Isabella Bell who died at Brydekirk Village 29th March 1883 aged 77 years. Foot of Stone Erected by her grandson William Elliot.

ANNAN NEW CEMETERY
B11 In memory of  Life how short, eternity how long. Ann Scott Shennan, wife of Captain John Elliot, who departed this life at London on 1st October and was interred here on the 4th of October 1866 aged 33 years.  Also the above John Elliot who died at Swatow, China, on the 30th October 1872 aged 40 years.  Also Helen Elliot, daughter of the above and wife of David Gardiner, who died at Annan 29th December 1925 aged 62 years.  Also the above David Gardiner who died at Annan 23rd March 1948 aged 83 years.  Also Elliot Gardiner their son, died 11th September 1946 aged 42 years.  Also David Gardiner their son died 15th June 1956 aged 61 years.

[kenjo]

OH AGA!!!! 
I have to tell you....as I was reading ....I could feel there was something big coming up....
and when I read the last passage I was covered in Goosebumps...and blood rushed to my head..
WOW.....Wow...wow.
Darling Anne...we now know what happened to you.. I am so grateful.

I must say 'fear na mara' I am sorry for jumping in and replying like this....and taking the pleasure away from you...but I couldn't help it...

You have a lot of info here.....and if they are all connected that is grand...
all the Elliot women...revealed again and Janet...knowing were exactly she died...wonderfull.
Oh...I can't explain...my happiness....now I am having a cry.
JO

Death Index
Ann Elliott aged 33...Dec Q  ..E London, 1c    1

[Fear na mara]

Demands of family took me to London for the last couple of days. I return now at dead of night to find yet another great seam of family history revealed. It is overwhelming: so much information - corroborative and new. Not just revelations from Aga, but pushing the envelope way back and way ahead. I will need to examine all this when I  have recovered my composure. (If the current demands do not moderate, I shall have to consider becoming a Camaldolese hermit).
October was a bad month for Captain John - two wives and finally his own death. Yes Jo, it is a "sad joy" to have the end of Ann's story, and John mentioned on the same stone with his children and his childrens' children. But, John was not in London at the time of her death, he had set off on the Regent for a trip - first call West Indies, then round the Horn and across the pacific to the East Indies. I will need to look up the port stops and my log of telegraph growth to see when he might have had news of Ann's death.

[Fear na mara]

When Captain John married Eliza Baverstock in May 1869, his residence was given as Albert Square, Limehouse - not yet made infamous by Jack the Ripper or famous by Eastenders. I have ordered a copy of Ann's death certificate which should tell us where they stayed while in London.
I am so grateful to AGA for the information about the graves, especially Annan new Cemetery, where Ann, John and Helen are commemorated. And their children Elliot and David, which brings this history into my own lifetime.
My mother is both delighted and saddened: to have found her lost relatives and their story, yet never to have known them.
Jo has really achieved quite an outstanding result and I hope there is a grander title than Aristocrat to mark her exceptional performance.
There is a small sadness that Isabella lies apart from the later family but consolation that she is perhaps with the forbears of Sarah Margaret's husband Edward - the Blacksmiths of Annan. It raises a question about my conclusion that Edward's grandfather, George and his great-uncle Thomas had their roots in Canonbie.
I see that a search of the Sasines would require a trip to Edinburgh - that must wait until the spring, when I anticipate loading the camels and trekking up to Scotland - first stop Annan.

[Fear na mara]

I can add just a little to AGA's gravestones report. Not for the Elliots but Isabella's father-in-law, who is mentioned 
on her gravestone in Annan Old Burial Ground.
The following is taken from the Dumfries Journal of 6th April 1819.
On the 30th March  a Sunday evening, George Irving aged 39 and his younger brother  William Irving aged 32 left a public house on the quay side at Ulverston Canal. The publican lighted their way to the steps.
Shortly after cries for help were heard and next morning the two bodies were found in the canal. George was the master of the 'Newlands' and left a wife and Five children.
Given his age, he had survived the worst the seas could throw at him and the hazards of the Napoleon's navy, only to drown in the local canal after a few drams too many.

[kenjo]

Hi All,
I just thought I would add the facts on the Irving family seeming 'E' your on the trail at the moment..
{I must say 'E' you do have some wonderful resouces at hand...}.
1841 census

English St, Annan.
Agness Anson 20 
Andrew Anson 30  Glass blower
Andrew Irving 25 Mason.
Margaret Irving 55  Widow
Margaret Irving 13 
Susan Irving 12 
Agness Williams 25 
John Williams 25    (I am not sure of the order this is in..or even if it is right all the names together)
1851 Census
Murray St, Annan.
Margaret Irving Head, 67yrs, Sailors Widow, Annan.
Andrew Irving Son, 36yrs, Stone mason, (journeyman), Annan.
George Irving, grandson, 7yrs, Annan.
1861 Census
Murray Street, Annan.
Andrew Irving, Head, 46yrs, Stone-Mason (mastic), Annan.
Grace Irving, Neice, 14yrs, Annan.

'E' I was  wondering if Andrew was a bachelor or a widower when he married Isabella Elliot?
Jo[/color]

[Fear na mara]

Now, with the benefit of the marriage certificate, we know that Andrew waited in Back Lady Street and had his fiftieth birthday before Isabella married him. The patient Andrew contrasts with another Irving - William , born in Annan in 1816, became one of the youngest Captains working out of Boston. At the age of 33 he moved to the Western seaboard on the barque, Success, in which he owned some shares, and set up a freight business in Oregon. He bought a steamer, the Eagle, the first to work the North East Pacific, and some land as a base for his business. That base eventually became the city of Portland. He moved over the border into British Colombia and bought two river steamers to work the Fraser River. His home is now a heritage site. He is very well researched but the Annan roots do not indicate his relationship with our Irvings.
And – I recognise a nautical deviation which might pull too far from the business in hand.
And - if we skirt around the temptations of the sea-farers, we should avoid most carefully Edward Irving. whose statue used to stand outside the Town Hall, but was moved to the parish Church in what may be an act of forgiveness for his heresy. There is enough potential religious controversy in Helen and David Gardiner's son, John Elliot slipping off to marry in the United Free Church.

[Boongie Pam]

This is a fantastic thread of work!

I'm getting goosebumps reading.  I have sea captains in my family from Annan so extra special interest for me.

I also have a coincidental name thing which is getting me very excited.  Unfortunately my website seems to be down  but I have a female who had 5 illegitimate children all with the middle name Elliot born in and around Port St in the 1860-70s.  I will log on tonight when I am at home to see if any naming patterns coincide.  I have had many moments of "that sounds familiar" as I have read the thread but without access to my website I can't confirm anything.

Pam