Hi, JMB and Agnes’s Budge are my great-great grandparents on my mother’s side. John was highly educated, he went to the burgh school followed by 5 years at the classical school and when finished he started work at the legal firm of Smith & Cagney. After 3 years of law he left with his wife for America to sort out family estates in Virginia. On completing that family task, I believe it was for the Budge family connections. They returned to Dundee where John took over his father-in-laws auctioneer and valuer business. He became a well respected member of the Dundee society, became the Commissioner of Police, a member of the Dundee council, a member of the Dundee Grammar School board and a noted writer with his articles being printed in newspapers and journals. He died at St Andrew’s and was buried with one of his granddaughters, unfortunately the grave is unmarked. His son, my great grandfather John McLean Beatts married Christina Lawson and worked for a time in and around the Liverpool docks in sales of jute bags. He learnt Chinese at the docks to add to his education as an accountant or bookkeeper. He fell on hard times so took his family back to Dundee and sailed to different ports buying goods to sell back in Scotland. He eventually settled in Halifax, Queensland, Australia where he purchased land to grow sugar cane, which he called “restview”. He sent for his wife, Christina Lawson, son John Leyland Beatts and daughters Agness Lizzie, Christina and Isabella Lawson. Hope this helps?
