John Scott, born 1851 in Dalziel, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

[Forfarian]

I think the place mentioned is Auchenlea rather than Auchenlen. The valuation rolls list John Scott as the proprietor of a farm, quarry and brickwork at Auchenlea or Auchenled, parish of Shotts in 1905, 1915, 1920 and 1925.

[Lodger]

Well done Lionel, that was quite a wedding!
Forfarian, you are right (as usual!) Auchenlea Brickworks was in Cleland, which was in the civil parish of Shotts.

[Forfarian]

Och, well, it helps if you've come across places in your own tree.

My 4th great-grand-aunt Elizabeth Storry of Braco (parish of Shotts) married Captain William Cleland of Auchenlee/Auchinlie, (parish of Shotts), in 1723. They eventually became the great-grandparents of Sir James Young Simpson, whose family is quite well documented.

[Lionel-W]

Hi!

Thanks for the additional information, it seems strange that Greatgrandfather has just disappeared from Wishaw (eg. census 1911). Maybe he was just chasing my grandfather round the world after he found out he'd been cheating on this daughter!

One question I have though is that John Scott is reported as being a colonel with "V.D, V.C, J.P" after his name. I can't find "V.D." (in this context anyway!) and he doesn't appear in the list of Victoria Crosses. I presume that J.P. means Justice of the Peace, but there is no record I can find to confirm this. Hoping to find something out, I sent an email (with the wedding info.) to the four "politicians" responsible for Wishaw, but firstly nobody answered and two still haven't bothered to reply. I don't expect everybody to get excited to help me, but it is Wishaw history and hoping to get reelected they should have enough sense to just say: "Very interesting, good luck, but I'm sorry I can't help". However, one suggested contacting the "Motherwell Heritage Centre", which I still have to do.

One bit of luck I had was while searching for photos in the attic. When I was born my mother set up a "Diary of Lionel Winston Bell" (please no comment!) and at the front, there's a telegram pasted in with "Congratulations from all at 54, Belmont Street" and stamped "Glasgow". At the bottom, there is a scribbled note in ink stating "Auntie Lottie Smith, Betty and Nora & Auntie Ellie Scott & Auntie Maude Scott. This all fits in with the John Scott family and I actually met up with my father's "aunts" (Betty Smith and Nora Meadows - obviously cousins) who were living together in Johannesburg, S.A. in 1968. The deeper you get into this, the worse it becomes!

Lionel

[Forfarian]

I could be wrong but I think VD in this context is 'Volunteer Division'. VC is usually 'Victoria Cross' and JP is 'Justice of the Peace'.

As he was a colonel, have you tried the records of Army officers in The National Archives https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ ?

JPs were appointed by the county council, so there surely must be some record in the archives of Lanark County Council?

[MonicaL]

Interesting notes here:

21/05/1897 – Motherwell Times – Major Scott of Motherwell takes over the Auchinlea Estates. A few weeks ago it was publicly announced that the lands of Auchinlea and North Shaws, belonging to Colonel Buchanan, Drumpellier, had been purchased by Major Scott, Motherwell. The lands are rich in mineral, containing the famed Auchinlea freestone, partly leased by Messrs Taylor & King, and Messrs T. Gibb & Sons. Coal is also being worked Messrs Greenhill Colliery Company, Limited. The purchase by Major Scott has given the most lively satisfaction. He is the sole partner of the firm of Thomas King & Co., Bellside Quarries and Brickworks and Greenhill Quarries, and the largest employer of labour in the district...........
www.scottishbrickhistory.co.uk/greenhill-colliery-and-brickworks-cleland-north-lanarkshire/

Monica

[Lionel-W]

Thanks, Monica!

You beat me to it, I was just about to put this in having searched for the brickworks in Google!

It seems that John Scott must have been a parttime office in the local territorial army and the "VD" apparently stands for "Volunteer Officer’s Decoration". The "VC" I can't identify as nobody of this name is listed. So I'll just keep on looking.

By-the-way, does anybody know what happened to the house "The Green" in Wishaw where everybody lived and where my father was born? I can't find any other information than what "Lodger" gave me last year.

Lionel

[MonicaL]

Lionel, did you confirm that the death for Elizabeth that we found much earlier was the correct one? Just thinking it might help to confirm it and from it establish whether husband John had already died to try to narrow down his death year window.

Monica

[MonicaL]

I do not have a subs to the BNA, but this looks like John Scott's death:


THE WISHAW PRESS AND ADVERTISER. DEATH OF COLONEL JOHN SCOTT

... PRESS AND ADVERTISER. DEATH OF COLONEL JOHN SCOTT Former Commander of Scottish Ridge Battalion The death of Colonel John Scott, late of Rathmore. Lenzie, removes of the diminishing band of old Volunteer ...

Friday 08 July 1932

www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk