Durrisdeer

[DorothyMH]

My MENZIES ancestors were living in Newark, Nottinghamshire on the 1841 census.  John and his younger brother Robert both stated they were born Dumfriesshire.  They were joined very soon afterwards by another younger brother Thomas.  All three went into business, John was already a Draper with a shop, Robert and Thomas became Tea Dealers then Grocers.  All three stated their father to be Andrew MENZIES, Farmer, on their marriage records.  All three named their eldest son Andrew, and the second eldest daughter Agnes - the second son and eldest daughter were all named for the father/mother of the wife. 
On one record John stated he was born Durrisdeer.  I have found what I am pretty sure are my MENZIES living at Woodhouselee, Andrew and Agnes unmarried brother and sister.  I have their death certificates and both state their parents were Andrew and Agnes.

There were other children including a Helen and a William.  Is anyone on the list related to these MENZIES? 

I have used a local researcher who has checked the parish churchyard for me without finding any gravestones etc so I am at a loss as to how I am going to get further.

Dot Holden nee MENZIES

[ev]

hi dot

woodhouselea(address) is in the parish of durisdeer going by 1841 census
in scotland

ev

[runningbear]

hi pal,

i see...

1841 census- woodhouselee,

andrew...age 32...farm labourer...born durrisder c1810
agnes...age 26...born durrisder c1815
mary...age 23...farm labourer c1818
helen...age 20...farm labourer, christened 30/8/1817 durrisder
thomas...age 18...stone breaker...c1823
agnes finlater...age 6 months

helen is on the igi;s www.familysearch.com under the surname minzes and there is a strong possibility that the andrew there is your christened 1776

Joe

[DorothyMH]

Thanks for the speedy replies!  Yes, that is the right family from the 1841 Durrisdeer (Durisdeer) census records.

The Thomas is the younger brother who also made his way to Newark, Nottinghamshire.

I cannot find any record in trade directories for Andrew senior, but then you had to pay to be included and although the sons stated he was a Farmer he may not have had much land..

I read somewhere that in the early 1800's a lot of Scots were encouraged to become Drapers to get them into employment away from the land.  Does anyone know if there was such a campaign held in Dumfriesshire?

I think my gt gt grandfather John probably provided the funding to get his younger brothers started in the Tea business, before he retired he was a Master Draper with a couple of shops and owned houses which he rented out so was presumaby quite successful.

Dot