"Laings" in Fife and beyond

[annev]

Hi Mairi

I am the grandaughter of your Robert Laing, Gardener at Weem and descended from William Laing and Ann Kinneir (Kilmany).  I can give you some info them but perhaps you have all you need.

Look forward to hearing from you
Anne

[MairiD]

 Hi Anne,

 Thank you for your message!
 
 Robert Laing, b. c. 1852 worked as an under-gardener to my gt.gt. grandfather, Andrew Robertson Annan when he was at Ravelston House estate in Edinburgh c. 1871. He is listed in the Census.
 
 Thinking he must be related to Andrew's wife, my gt. gt grandmother, Mary Laing (of John L. and Mary Monro at Pitcairlie House nr. Newburgh) I tracked his lineage, family and career as best I could from Censuses.
 
 Like my ancestor he travelled around; in Robert's case Auchtermuchty, Ravelston, Bannockburn, Melrose, Logierait, Weem, Perth.  Hard work but a wonderful career!

 Alas I cannot find a link to the Laings of Pitcairlie who descended from a John Laing of Ard***?,( I can't read John's DC. 1883.) Cupar, b.c 1780. I don't know whether you can find a link between John and your David b. 1774, who married Jane /Jeannie Paton.

 What has been apparent has been that umpteen Laings were gardeners!

 My most recent (and fascinating) detective work has been centred around a John Laing of Carriston/Careston, Forfarshire, a seedsman and nurseryman who went south to Kent and was linked to partners in Edinburgh---again at a nursery where Andrew worked.

 Then there was another Laing who worked as a gardener at Charlton/Charleton near Montrose, when my Andrew was there, c. 1861.
 
 They must all have had green blood.

 Mairi.
 

[annev]

Hi Mairi

Thank you for replying.  I think I said I was Robert Laing's grandaughter when, of course, I am his great grandaughter!  He died in 1944 before I was born but was always taken by my parents for and annual pilgrimage to Weem to see where he lived and worked and where my mother spent most of her childhood.  We haven't been to Killichassie House since JK Rowling bought it but before then we visited the grounds, the gardeners cottage, and the steading where Robert retired to.  for your interest. his grandfather, David who was married to Janet Paton was in the Tay Fencibles. ...."It was a regiment of foot, and spent sometime in Ireland until December 1801, when it marched from Ballymena to Belfast, via Antrim, proceeding thereafter to Portpatrick, thence to Stranraer, Wigtown and Port William, and spent sometime in Glasgow and Stirling." (Quoted from the Lyal Tay Fencibles on the Fife FHF site).  Haven't come across any connection re John Laing and Mary Monro but if I do I will certainly let your know.  I know for sure that the couple had a daughter Kathryn who married Andrew Reikie in Falkland( - another Andrew?) but haven't found any more of their family yet although I am sure there must be more (Andrew Reikie registered Jean Paton's death)

I have heard of Pitcairlie House between Abernethy and Newburgh. Will try to dig deeper soon .

The attached picture is Robert Laing at Weem.

Regards
Anne

[ostler]

There's no attached photo and the place name is spelt "Wemyss", pronounced "Weems". At least I assume it's this place as I've never heard of a place called "Weem".

[MairiD]

Hi Anne,
Thank you for your very interesting post. I love all that sort of detail.

 (I can't find a symbol to access your photo.)

 John Laing of Pitcairlie gardener's house was well known for the fruit he produced, particularly grapes.  The glasshouses must have been quite a sight.

Regards,
Mairi.

[MairiD]

  Hi Ostler,
 Weem is near Aberfeldy in Perthshire.
 Regards,
 Mairi.

[MairiD]

Hi again Ostler,
In research I am doing I have found a Margaret Dudgeon who married Thomas Downie (gardener), Midlothian.
Mairi.

[ostler]

  Hi Ostler,
 Weem is near Aberfeldy in Perthshire.
 Regards,
 Mairi.

My apologies.

[ostler]

Hi again Ostler,
In research I am doing I have found a Margaret Dudgeon who married Thomas Downie (gardener), Midlothian.
Mairi.

You'll need to specify a year as I have a few Margaret Dudgeons (no marriages for any of them).