I have just spent a wet Sunday afternoon checking the burial records and MI book for Cambusnethan, looking for any connection to the Brownlie family of Headlesscross. The MIs were transcribed between 1982 & 1983. The burial records were transcribed several decades later, by different people. It would have helped the cross-checking if the records had been aligned to the MIs but this is not the case and it makes thing that much more difficult to marry-up.
This is what I have discovered.
The plot in the old churchyard (at Greenhead) has many stones with the name Brownlie (and its variations). Probably the oldest known stone dates back to 1726 (about 50 years after the church was built there) and this stone is on a large family plot which was used by the Brownlies over many generations. There are three headstones (there may be others buried) on this plot.
Stone 1. A flat stone, very worn. The inscription reads -
"Margaret (Mar)shall died 3rd May 1726 and is the appointed burying place for Alexander Brounly and Janet Russell his spouse and their children 1733". (This is followed by a Latin inscription which has not been transcribed).
Stone 2. An upright stone.
"James Brownlie died 31st December 1890 aged 91 years. His wife Lillias Barrie died 1st January 1887 aged 86 years".Stone 3. A flat stone.
"This is the appointed burying place of James Brounlie and Janet Waddell his spous. (Large carving of a malt shovel).
James Brownlie, Headlesscross".I think that stone number 3 is, because of the spelling, probably the oldest.
From the plot owners register (This register only begins about 1875 unfortunately)
Plot owned by James Brownlie, Headless Cross.
In the South lair - James Brownlie aged 90 years, interred 6th January 1891.
In the Centre lair - Lillias Brownlie, aged 86 years, interred 6th January 1887.
Probably in this same plot but before the Plot book was begun. This is taken from the gravedigger's day book.
Alexander Brownlie, farmer, Mains (of) Headlesscross, aged 65 years, married.
Parents - James Brownlie & Martha Thomson.
Interred in the old churchyard 8th February 1867.
This next entry is from the Plot Book, with no corresponding entry from the Day Book or MI to confirm parents names. All I can say is that it isn't very close to the Headlesscross plot, it seems to be on a Walker plot, the name Taylor appears on the stone there.
Plot owned by Alexander Brownlie and Jean Walker.
In the Centre plot - Jean Brownlie aged 90 years, interred 26th May 1892.
Lastly, not the old churchyard but the Private walled burial ground between the churchyard and the municipal cemetery.
Plot number 605.
Stillborn Female Brownlle, Headlesscross.
Parents - John Brownlee and Alicia Pettigrew. Interred 16th December 1863.
Alishia Brownlee, housewife, Headlesscross, aged about 30 years, married.
Parents - William Pettigrew and Alisha Smellie. Interred 1st September 1871.
Plot 606. (I imagine these 2 John's are father and son?)
Martha Brownlie, Liberton, aged 2 years.
Parents - John Brownlie and Martha Dalziel. Interred 23rd October 1890.
Robert Brownlie, Edinburgh, aged 18 months.
Parents - John Brownlie and Martha Dalziel. Interred 14th January 1895.
Any questions?
