Neil, Barclay in Bellsquarry

[fenultimate]

I have just finished writing my autobiography, even though I had a dearth of information about my father's forebears from Bellsquarry.  Father James Neil, Mother Catherine Barclay.  James Neil was a shale miner, who died very young.  I'd like to know the circumstances as my grandmother, Catherine Barclay, refused to talk about it.

[AMBLY]

Hi Fenultimate
Welcome to Rootschat   
Congratulations on finishing your Autobiography  to date 

http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/
SP - Indexes 1 marriage of a couple so named - in 1902, indexed in Midlothian.

If you know James' birth date or year, have you tried to narrow down a death for him?  Starting perhaps from the last known point when & where you believe he was alive (eg: at his marriage or 9 months prior to the birth of the youngest known child). If you don't know James' parents names - his marriage cert should (hopefully) name them and in turn,  the same parents should (hopefully) be entered on a death certificate .

If he died relatively young, you might be lucky enough to have him 'stand out' in the Death indexes, otherwise you may have to risk getting a wrong cert or two - which is the reason to try narrow down the possibilities before you start parting with the folding....

Cheers
AMBLY

[fenultimate]

Thank you so much.  I am an absolute 'newbie' at this and, to make it a wee bit more difficult, I live on the South Coast.  I hope to get up to West Lothian in the New Year and start chasing.  My Grandmother would not even talk about the circumstances of my Grandfather's death to her own 5 sons!  I believe it may have been mining-related, so there may well be an additional line of enquiry through the NUM.  I also believe there is a Barclay Arms pub in Bellsquarry.  I wonder if there was a connection there with my grandmother's family.

[Cauther Lassie]

Hello Ambly,

Just so happens that I have the marriage details of James Neil and Catherine Barclay, they married 1902 in Bellsquarry.   His DC shows James died in the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh aged 51 (so not so young) January 19th 1929, they were living in Mannerston Place, Penicuik at the time.  His COD was Carcinoma of Liver (6 months) and Broncho Pneumonia.   So no suspicious circumstances I'm afraid.    It was probably a horrible time for your Grandmother.  Name on his DC is James Waugh Neil (Waugh was his mother's maiden name).  His father was deceased and his mother still living.    His son James signed the DC.
  The Inn in Bellsquarry was The Elm Tree Inn, whilst it may have been the Barclay Inn at some point, I've never heard it referred to as that, as we "Cauther" folk have long memories.

I hope this helps ....   and you may find that he is buried in Penicuik and not West or Mid Calder.

cheers ...  Meg

[fenultimate]

Thanks so much Cauther Lassie.  As you say, it must have been a pretty horrible time for all.  Cancer of any kind let alone of the liver must have been a hideously painful disease, with little relief.
I'm amazed that my father would not talk about this.  He would have been 13 at the time.  All five brothers died some years ago, so unless my cousin Jim in Penicuik has any more info the secret has died with them.  James, who signed the DC was the eldest, and the first to pass away, was my cousin Jim's father.
I can't remember where I picked up the titbit about the Barclay Arms, but I will apply some methodology and see if I can resurrect it.  Thank you once again.

[Cauther Lassie]

Hello Again,

Glad that was useful, here's what I have, which may also help, or at least you'll have them.

cheers ...  Meg

[fenultimate]

Thank you so much Meg.
You don't irealise that these delvings into the past might create more questions than answers.
Got to rewrite some of the autobiography, which must be on hold pending answers.
Allan

[fenultimate]

Hello Meg,
Oh my!  What a can o' worms!  D'you think you could possibly contact me on my E-mail (*) to save taking up space on this website.  I'll happily post the saga afterwards.
Allan

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[Blinkyman]

Hi,
      Re the Inn in Bellsquarry.

It was in fact know as Barclay's before it was the Elm Tree Inn.

Your memory must be slipping Megs as I'm only a year or two, at most, older than you :-))

Blinkyman