Glassford Cemetry Help

[twitter]

Hi All
This is a first for me so I hope I'm doing it correctly. My husbands ggg grandfather was James Sinclair. Born around 1816. He married Margaret Menzies in June 1838 in Lesmahagow and they moved to Glassford. He died between June 1841 and Oct 1844. Margaret Sinclair remained in Glassford for the rest of her life. I am assuming that since they lived there he would have been buried in the church yard but church records were not kept from 1807 until required to do so by law in 1855. Can anyone be of assistance. Twitter

[Lodger]

Hi Twitter,

Welcome to Rootschat.

According to the monumental inscriptions for Glassford parish churchyard there are 2 stones that mention the name Sinclair and one stone with Menzies on it.
No sign of James Sinclair but I wonder if this could be his parents? It's a simple marker stone that reads - "The burying place of Archibald sinclair and Margaret Lowrie his wife and their children 1805". This stone would have been erected to mark the family plot (Plot owners were encouraged to do this by the kirk session because of "interlopers" taking over the ground) it does not mean that the entire family died in 1805.
The other stone belonged to a family by the name of Woodburn, "Elizabeth Sinclair died 27th July 1911 aged 70 years, wife of George woodburn". If you think this is a connection I will send you the full transcription.

The 3rd stone is interesting - I wonder if James' wife remarried after his death? Could this be her?
"Robert Crozier died 24th December 1898 aged 79 years. His wife Margaret Menzies died 8th December 1898 aged 80 years. Their daughters, Isabella died 17th March 1853 aged 7 years and Margaret died 29th February 1876 aged 22 years".The age is right, Glassford was, and still is, a tiny parish, and this is the only Menzies in the entire list of inscriptions.

Good luck,

Lodger.

[sancti]

I have pictures of the 2 headstones with the name Sinclair that you have quoted Lodger

[Lodger]

Found the marriage for Robert Crozier and Margaret Menzies on the IGI, dated 13th October 1844 at Glassford, so I assume that this is why you give Oct 1844 as the cut-off date for the death of James.
Here are 2 views of "The Glessart" kirkyard, Sancti will, upon request, supply the individual pictures.

[twitter]

To Lodger and Sancti
You two have accomplished more for me in two hours than I have been able to accomplish in years. Yes to everything. Margaret Menzies/Sinclair maried a Robert Crozer or Crozier (spelling changed over the years) on the 13 Oct !844. She had two children to James 1. John and 2.Elizabeth and at least 3 children to George. Elizabeth married a George Woodburn on the 27th of July 1861. What I didn't know and could never find out were who were Margaret's  parents names but you've accomplished that also. Any info/ pictures inscriptions etc you have would be most welcome. Thank you. Please write back soon Twitter

[Lodger]

Glad to help! Here's the full inscription for the Woodburn stone.

"Many friends erected this memorial of the Christian life and labours of George Woodburn born 16th November 1840 died 1st May 1900. Of his family, died James 11th April 1877. Jeanie died 21st June 1877. Robert died 11th January 1879. David died 14th December 1895. Also, his wife Elizabeth Sinclair who died 27th July 1911 aged 70 years. Mary died 4th August 1951 aged 68 years and is interred at Larkhall. John died 27th January 1962 aged 84 years. Elizabeth died 25th November 1963 aged 83 years".

Lodger.

[twitter]

To Sancti and Lodger
Thanks again for your help. The Woodburn and Crozier families are all related to us. I would appreciate photo's of the grave stones when you have time. I was able to trace Archibald Sinclair and Margaret Lawrie on both Scotlandspeople and on the IGI. They were married on the 23rd of May 1777 in Stonehouse. When I got that piece of data I was so hopeful that James was one of the "children" however, Archie and Margaret had only two children both girls. Isabel born in 1786 and Hellen born in 1781. If they had others they don't appear to have been registered. So my James and Margaret remain a mystery. Over the years I have been tracing every Sinclair family in Glassford to try and find a family connection, but no luck so far and also the Menzies family in Lesmahagow. The 1841 Census is so flawed that locating parents based on the birthdates registered remains speculation until you have additional supporting data. Is there any other avenue ie: church records, genealogy group or town historian  that made have information.
Again thanks for you help you've been terrific. twitter

[MonicaL]

Just a thought....

I am wondering whether if James Sinclair is connected to Archibald Sinclair and Margaret Law/urie, there could be a missing generation? Archibald and Margaret married 1777 and then James's birth c. 1816...a big gap there potentially.

Monica 

[twitter]

To Monica
Thank you for your interest in my James Sinclair quest. It is possible that either of the two girls may have married a Sinclair but it is also just as possible that James and Margaret were "imports" from who knows where and have no family relations in Glassford. I will try and trace the two girls and see if anything turns up. It would be wonderful if Archie and Margaret turned out to be the grandparents.
James had a son named John, who had a daughter Annie Allan Sinclair, who died in Toronto Canada at the age of 105. At the end she was frail but lucid and could have answered my questions but I wasn't into genealogy then. So a word to the wise -mine your seniors memories while you have the chance.
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