Reekie of Falkland and Leslie

[Southern Scot]

Hi Folks
First time posting here so apologies if I use the wrong terms etc.

I'm trying to trace my family, ok that should come as no surprise to you.

I've found an ancestor called Lawrence Reekie born in Falkland 29th March who, I think had parents by the names of David Reekie and Helen Smart

I'm trying to go as far back along this line as I can so would love to find information on David Reekie's parents and so on.

Anyway, ta for reading this.

Regards

SScot

[CaroleW]

Hi and welcome to Rootschat

Could you tell us what year Lawrence was born - you have only shown 29th March

This is the marriage you mention from www.familysearch.org

DAVID REEKIE    Spouse:  HELEN SMART    Marriage:  12 DEC 1861   Cults, Fife

1871 census for Falkland - all b Falkland except Helen

David Reekie 40  Linen weaver
Helen  36  b Collessie Fife
Mary 18 
Margaret  12 
Barbara   9 
Catherine   8 
Lawrence   6 
John   4 
Helen   5 Months 
Falkland ED 8 Page  1 Line 6

It appears to be a second marriage for David

1861 census for Falkland

David Reekie 30 Linen weaver
Michael 10
Mary 8
David 6
Margaret 2
Falkland; ED: 3; Page:  9; Line: 2

[CaroleW]

This is a submitted IGI entry which may be meant to be 1850 not 1880 given the marriage date.  Still not correct if they only married in 1851

 
Michael Reekie   Birth:  1880   Falkland, Fife
Father:  David Reekie   Mother:  Elizabeth Bell 
 
DAVID REIKIE    Father:  MICHAEL REIKIE 
Marriages:
Spouse:  ELIZABETH BELL  Marriage:  18 MAR 1851   Falkland, Fife
 
1851 for Falkland - all adults are shown as children of Michael

Michael Reekie 62 
Margaret 58 
Elspeth   28 
James   23 
David  21  hand loom weaver (linen)
George 1  grandson
Falkland; ED: 8; Page:  13; Line: 20

The census was taken on 30th March and as David and Elizabeth married 18th March - I would expect them to be on the census as a couple.  Elspeth is not Elizabeth as I checked back to the 1841 as follows

Indexed as Roskie - Chapel St Falkland - all b Fife

Michael 50  oc HLW (hand loom weaver)
Margaret   45 
Lawrance   25 
Michael   20 
Elspet(h)  15 
James  14 
David  12 
Falkland ED 1 Page  16 Line 1280

[CaroleW]

From the IGI - extracted records

MICHAEL REIKIE   Spouse:  MARGARET REID
Marriage:  01 DEC 1810   Falkland, Fife
 
MARGARET REEKIE Birth:  16 OCT 1858   Falkland, Fife
Parents DAVID REEKIE / ELIZABETH BELL 
There is also a submitted entry for Margaret's birth showing 1888
 
ELIZABETH REEKIE  Birth:  30 NOV 1860   Falkland Fife
Parents DAVID REEKIE / ELIZABETH BELL
 
Another submitted entry which has the wrong birthyear - probably meant to be 1852

Mary Reekie  Birth:  1882   Falkland
Parents David Reekie / Elizabeth Bell 

And another - probably should be 1854

David Reekie  Birth:  1884   Falkland 
Parents: David Reekie / Elizabeth Bell 

Submitted entries are very often unreliable but are also an indication that somebody else is researching the same family

[Southern Scot]

CaroleW, the year of birth was 1865. Sorry can't believe I missed that out!

I appreciate the information and help. Many thanks

SScot

[NorrieG]

Hi SScot
you said I've found an ancestor called Lawrence Reekie born in Falkland 29th March 1865
this is a headstone inscription Leslie Cemetery, could this be him

239      In memory of Lawrence REEKIE my Husband
   `   who died at Croft Leslie 13.8.1915 age 50
      daughter Helen Reekie Penman died 26.12.1915 age 21
      his wife Janet FARMER died 9.4.1944 age 80
      also Robert Hunter died 1.7.2000 age 81
      husband of Janet PENMAN

Norrie G

[Southern Scot]

Hi NorrieG

Thanks for this. The dates fit, as do the name Lawrence and Janet.
Looks like thats the very man.

Ta

SScott

[NorrieG]

Hi SS this is a photograph of the stone

Norrie G

[JAP]

With respect to the following record:
Marriage, David REEKIE (father Michael REEKIE) and Elizabeth BELL (father David BELL), 18 March 1851.

This might be the first proclamation of the banns - the actual marriage might not have taken place until after the date of the census (30 March 1851).

This could explain why David, aged 21, was still at home with his parents when the census was taken ...  But it would be necessary to view the actual image to see whether he is listed as married or unmarried.

There is a possible Elizabeth BELL in 1851 - though rather young
Main Street, Leslie, Fife
BELL
David 56, Head, Ag Lab, b Longforgan Perth
Mary 54, Wife, Flax Winder, b Kennaway Fife
David 24, Son, Ag Lab, b Seven (probably should be Leven), Fife
Mary 21, Daughter, Bleacher, b Leslie Fife
Elizabeth 15, Daughter, Hand Loom Weaver, b Kinglassie Fife

Then by 1861, Elizabeth has probably passed away.  Perhaps in childbirth with Elizabeth born 30 Nov 1860.

JAP