Blair in Kilbirnie Old Kirkyard

[gordon5]

Hi all

My wife's several times great-grandfather was James Blair who died in (we think) 1729 and was apparently buried  in Kilbirnie Old Kirkyard. According to my wife's grandfather (now sadly deceased) there was a stone but we were unable to find it during a flying visit a couple of years ago. There were quite a few stones that were totally illegible due to moss but we didn't want to start scraping and possibly causing more damage.

Does anyone have any information or knowledge of this burial or of James Blair of Kilbirnie?

Many thanks

gordon5

[Skoosh]

Gordon, there is a Blair website, features Perthshire & Ayrshire,   http://blairdna.com/default.html            skoosh.

[gordon5]

Hi Skoosh

Yes, we've looked in there - these DNA projects are potentially exciting but sadly this one doesn't link in at any point with my wife's family. We know they moved to Greenock where one of her ancestors founded one of the Greenock papers but this James Blair is the earliest ancestor we've (possibly) traced. It would be good to have more info on him and/or a view of his memorial - if it exists!!

gordon

[Skoosh]

Gordon,  I asume you've been through the Watt Library archive of the Greenock Telegraph? how about trying the Blairs in the National Archive of Scotland,   http://www.nas.gov.uk/onlineCatalogue/
skoosh.

[gordon5]

Hi Skoosh

Yes, we think we've pretty much exhausted the usual sources including Scotland's People - although they keep adding records so we check about every quarter or so. Having said that, we haven't checked burial records - not sure where the ones for Kilbirnie would be held although the Mitchell Library in Glasgow might be a good place for us to start. Really wondering here if anyone has any old MIs for this kirkyard when the stone might have been legible - or would know if it even exists!!

Thanks for the ideas though, as with Sps records always worth our while checking back.

[gordon5]

Should also add that we're in the remote wilds of the south of England and so poppng up to Ayrshire for an hour or two isn't do-able!! In fact after dropping my parents at an airport to fly back to Scotland, they got back to their house before I got back to mine!!!!

Still, could be worse, we could be doing this from Australia!

[Skoosh]

Gordon,  have you tried  scotfamtree  good site, very helpful, join as a free member and see what you think, a sub is currently £8.      skoosh.

[gordon5]

No, that's a new one on me!! I'll give it a go and post what I think.

[q98]

Hi gordon5
Having access to Kilbirnie Old Cemetery records, I may be able to assist you with your query but cannot promise a positive result. I'll try to view the records this week (1st week of April) and advise.

Q98
Fremantle (currently in Saltcoats)
Western Australia