Interesting - we descend from David Brown Wardlaw, JFW's older brother.
JFW is an interesting character - he declined to receive any part of his father's considerable estate, as documented in his father's Will……..
"“I have said nothing concerning my other son John Fleming Wardlaw writer to the Signet because his behaviour has been of so odd a nature altogether that I hardly know what to make of it. I freely forgive the injuries he has done to my feelings. I sincerely wish him happy, to which I would have been glad to contribute my endeavours if he would have allowed me. He has made it appear that he despises the goods of this world by rejecting the excellent opportunity of a handsome and honourable provision which providence put in his power……."
JFW trained initially as a Doctor (1820), like his brother, and then switched to the Law (Writer of the Signet), and served as a Clerk in his father's legal practice (where one of the other partners - George Dalziel - threatened to resign if JFW was ever made permanent!) He then gave up the Law on his father's death, and became an evangelical Presbyterian minister in the north of England (ordained 1835). He evidently lost his faith, and became a portrait painter in Leicester (1845), before returning to Edinburgh and resuming work as a Writer (1858). He was a wealthy man when he died, owning several properties in Edinburgh.
His restless spirit seems to have communicated itself to his sons - three of whom moved to Australia, as you will know, and one became a Master Mariner……..
(Henry) David W - b 1833 - was a grocers apprentice in Portobello, before joining the Dragoons, where he became Troop Sergeant Major. Interesting that his father did not buy him a Commission - he may have run away. As a heavy Dragoon, he may have participated in the Charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balalclava, and in suppressing the Indian Mutiny. He arrived in Melbourne in early 1869, and received the following message (presumably from brother John) on 25/2/1869, in the Melbourne Argus…
“David Wardlaw, who arrived ex-Mogul - apply Norfolk Hotel, 66 Little Flinders St, where you will hear something to your advantage”.
He died of advanced syphilis on 20/7/1869 at Yarra Bend.


James W - b 1848 - became a Law student, then an Insurance Clerk, and, in 1874 after his father's death in 1871, worked his passage as a Fireman to Australia on the Dunedin. He became a farmer in Fisher's Creek, near Avoca, where he died suddenly from a pulmonary hemorrhage (presumably due to TB) on 10/7/1877.

John W - b 1835 -worked as a Hosier's assistant before developing "gold fever", and moving to Avoca (and also temporarily NZ)
around 1853. On 21/4/1857 the following message appeared in the Melbourne Argus'….

“John Wardlaw, Avoca, your brother Andrew is in the ship Calliance, Hobson’s Bay”.

Andrew at this time was still an Able seaman. He was later to become ship's Captain, getting his Master's certificate in 1874. In 1883 he lost the William Dickenson to fire - a collier from Newcastle where he lived (and had been raised). He died of TB the following year.
John W described himself as a "puddler" - someone who broke up gold-bearing clay using a rake in a pool of water. His descendants, of whom I would love to know more, and my uncle's three sons, are the last surviving descendants of David Wardlaw (Scottish Widows) in the direct male line, as far as I can estimate. There are also some left in the female line - the Wardlaw-Milnes are best documented - Sir John W-M was an MP for Kidderminster, and another brother assisted at the operation on General Booth (Salvation Army) for cataract (the General died).
Why did JFW dislike his wealthy father so much? His father David Wardlaw, son of a weaver turned prosperous grocer, married a grocer's daughter (Ann Dow) from the Canongate. They lived initially in a large ramshackle building at Bowhead, Edinburgh (demolished in the 1860's as part of a road improvement scheme) with other members of DW's family. DW, a Whig,was a child of the Age of the Enlightenment, and his career took off. He went into partnership and acquired a number of rich and famous clients.
Ann, whose father, a confectioner who lost his position and became a porter, possibly due to drink, probably had not had much education and would have struggled to keep up. The Canongate at this time was the rough side of the tracks. There might have been a conflict here to which JFW, as the youngest child, was exposed. With his father working all hours, JFW would have been brought up by his mother, and her early death in 1811 must have hit him hard. His father's speedy remarriage in 1812, to a spinster, Annabelle Drummond, from a Catholic Jacobite family, who had spent time in Paris, probably spoke fluent French and was otherwise accomplished, and was also several years older than his mother (and father) could have led to friction.

Annabelle was from Yester, and she, her mother and sister, were in poor financial circumstances following the death of her father in 1795. One or two wealthy friends and former students of her father - a Teacher of French who had studied at the Scottish College in Paris - had raised a subscription to help them DW acquired the account of the Marquis of Tweeddale in 1811 - the Tweeddales had their seat in Yester, and this may have been when he met Annabelle. No doubt they shared common interests, and from his side she would have appeared an ideal person to raise his two motherless sons, and it would not have escaped her attention that DW's wealth provided a solution for her impoverished family.
On her mother's side, her family had been feuars and enjoyed the patronage of the Hay (Tweeddale) family in the past - her maternal grandfather - a farmer - had obtained a salaried post as a "Tidewaiter" in Montrose, for example, which required support within the Home Office. As an educated woman she might well have been employed within the castle, as a teacher or governess. Learning to speak French, followed by a Grand Tour, was part of the education of the aristocracy in those days.
Intriguingly, however, DW and Ann Dow lived at 21 James Square in 1805/6, then a modern, upcoming new build outside of the Old Town, and Annabelle's family - brother, mother and sister - lived at the exact same address in 1807/8. A tenement house, with various flats, but this seems almost beyond coincidence. Could they have met before, and, if so, could DW have used his influence, and possibly money, to help them out with accommodation? The rent would not have been inconsiderable, especially to a poor family - the neighbours were mostly lawyers and other professionals/gentry.
If Annabelle had cast her cap at DW before Ann Dow's death, one can understand why JFW might have rebelled! Was it Annabelle, in fact, who used her influence to obtain the Tweeddale account for DW in 1811?
All purely speculative!
Regards - Neil.

Hi Neil,

Thank you for your fascinating response! There is a lot in there that I did not know. I totally agree with you in regards to JFW being an interesting character. I always assumed he had a falling out with his father over religion, but it must have been more than that. Would you know if any of his paintings still exist? He mentioned in his will about his paintings in the property at Portobello.

As mentioned in my original post, JW was married twice in Australia. He fathered four children to each wife. I don't have a lot of other information on him other than he was a secretary for the Ancient Order of Foresters and was well respected in the Avoca area.

I'm pleased to report that the DW line will not die out in Australia for a long long time! Of JW's three sons, James had two boys (and 2 girls), Andrew had one son (& 2 daughters) and John Edwin had five sons (11 children in total). I am descended from JE. The Wardlaws have been one of the largest families in Avoca for quite some time.

I found out from a descenant of AW Master Mariner that David (Henry) had hitched a ride to Australia on the Mogul, of which Andrew was captain. We will never know if he managed to met up with his brother John while in Australia, as he was admitted to the Yarra Bend Lunatic Asylum a couple days after that notice appeared in the Argus. I have visited the site of Yarra Bend Lunatic Asylum and there is only a pillar from the gate remaining. There is now a golf course where the cemetery used to be.

James' burial record (1877) says he had died of consumption (inquest and death certificate says pulmonary hemorrhage) , and I believe it was due to the TB which made him decide to come to the warmer climate in Australia. The shipping records show two inward passengers named James S Wardlaw during the early 1870s, but I have never known if they were John's brother or not. I had speculated that upon their father's death, James had traveled to Australia with documents in regards to John's inheritance, then returned to Edinburgh to sell the property, before returning to Australia where he and John invested in a farm at Fishers Creek (which is between Avoca and Lamplough, north of the highway).

regards,
Darren

Thanks Darren - good to hear from you, and I am delighted that the Wardlaws have done so well in Australia.I remember coming across your ancestor Edwin - listed as a gardener, I think.
I like your theory about James - it makes sense. Was John a co-owner of the farm at Fisher's creek? When he died he left two Crown allotments, one of which had a house, but he could have disposed of his share earlier. If I remember rightly, James left his estate to be divided equally amongst his family. The register of Sasines in Edinburgh might show when James and his brothers sold their inheritances, I guess.
I have Andrew as an apprentice on the Britannia from 2/3/1867-29/11/1871, and then as an AB on the same boat from 10/3/1871-29/11/1871, but I may be wrong, particularly since he passed his First Mate's Certificate of Competency in 1865. David's trip to Australia would have been noticed by the other passengers, in that the poor fellow would already have been in the initial stages of his final illness, which simulate drunken behavior, with loss of inhibition and poor muscular coordination.
Like you, I have often pondered on the significance of religion within the Wardlaw family. JFW was named after the Rev John Fleming, who his father greatly admired - even to the extent of having a portrait of JF hung in his house. JF was a Director of Scottish Widows, and the one who spoke most vociferously in support of the continuance of the Society during those difficult early years. It was essentially a humanitarian enterprise. JF would also have brought in the Earl of Roseberry as Chairman, I suspect (Roseberry owned Pitreavie, amongst his many estates, and DW, JFW's father, had a nebulous connection to Sir Henry Wardlaw of Pitreavie, which I suspect he played up for professional purposes). But JF was not a particularly religious minister - he was a wealthy landowner and a Republican, in the tradition of Adam Smith. JFW undoubtedly got his religion from somewhere, but not, I suspect, from JF. I have occasionally wondered if he fell under the spell of Dr Ralph Wardlaw, the leading Presbyterian evangelist of the day (and who also claimed connection to the Wardlaws of Torry and Wilton). Ralph Wardlaw gave a few sermons in the North of England, possibly as a result of invitations from JFW.
But I also wonder whether JFW's religious stance was an abreaction against his father's pursuit of wealth, whilst professing socialist values and (publicly) supporting a number of (non-religious) charities, together with his rich and titled friends.

I think JFW viewed his father as a bit of a hypocrite. For example, his father's connection with the Marquis of Tweeddale was in the context of facilitating the removal of his lordship's tenants, to bring in more efficient (and lucrative) farming practices. I'm not sure how much religion DW genuinely had - his sister's son became a Minister, and his brother Ebenezer had a religious bent, but DW's parents were probably free-thinkers and closet Republicans. Their choice of William Binning as witness at his sister Agnes' christening was probably indicative - he was the local schoolmaster and must have done an excellent job, but he was also a leading member of the Society of Friends in Scotland, a society dedicated to achieving universal enfranchisement (by constitutional means), but viewed with deep suspicion by Henry Dundas and his set, who regarded them as subversive. They certainly had an extremist fringe and several were executed or deported for their views, Binning himself narrowly escaping accusation during the trial of Downie and Watt.

This link may give you more info on Rev John Fleming, if it would interest you.

https://books.google.at/books?id=-OEaAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA578&lpg=PA578&dq=john+fleming+colinton&source=bl&ots=JSrmfptQ8A&sig=1N00_sAeC23E1zyhjAND6ko8wys&hl=de&sa=X&ei=a2GyVKb-AZL1auiJgugF&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=john%20fleming%20colinton&f=false

In 1913, as you probably know, David Wardlaw Wardlaw, my mother's grandfather, moved to Australia (Dumbleyung) with three of his sons, and, having deposited them on a ranch, he visited Melbourne. I have often suspected that he was attempting to re-establish contact with the other branch of the family. I wonder if you have ever heard anything on this? He became ill and returned to GB in 1915 with the youngest boy, leaving the other two. They enlisted in the AEF, with Cuthbert killed in 1916, and Alan Christopher seriously wounded in the same action (a German counterattack during the Battle of the Somme). DWW died in 1916 also, as did two other sons, which is partly why the English branch is now a bit thin on the ground.
Regards - Neil

Its been a pleasure to hear from you and read all these details. Obviously you have spent a long time researching. For me, it has been hard to find out too much from so far away, although I do plan to visit UK someday.

I agree with your view that JFW could have seen his father as a hypocrite, but I believe the argument was more to do with JFW's plans than how he felt towards his father . Behaving oddly and despising the good of this world seem to be views of a secular mind towards someone giving up a good career to take on a vocation where provisions would be significantly less. I suggest JFW had made his plans to train for the ministry known to his father, which led to discussions/arguments and feelings being hurt because son did not accept father's advice. DW excluded him from his will either because he knew he did not want his money, or because he did not want his riches contributing towards the Church of Scotland. Interestingly, JFW's brother-in-law also became a minister.

Do you have exact dates when JFW left the law firm? The other partners might have forced him out since his father was no longer there. Or could he have resigned earlier? I don't quite understand how he could have a row with his father and continue working there. I wonder what, other than study religion, he did to support his wife and two boys between 1832 and 1835? What led them to move to Portobello - were they living with relatives there? There must have been some attachment with Portobello, since they later returned there.

I have a few pages from the Brampton Zion Chapel Minute Book & Register which mention JFW's invitation to become their pastor, of his acceptance and appointment, and his eventual removal in 1838 (having been led by the provice of God ... to another sphere of labour). He must have been well respected there though, as he was invited back as a guest minister during the ordination of a new pastor in 1840.

To me it seemed quite a career change to go from minister to portrait artist. While his new vocation did not make him famous, he must have earned enough from his paintings to return to Edinburgh and prosper there. One thing I have not discredited is that wife Ann might have inherited from her mother, Grace Buchan Stevens (Campbell), who was living with them in Leicester at the time of her death in 1856. Grace's father was Sir Colin Campbell, a successful and wealthy merchant in the West Indies who left his fortune to his only daughter. It was mentioned that she became religious towards the end of her life.

One thing you could please tell me if you know: where is JFW buried?

I was not aware of DWW's time in Australia but knew there were some Wardlaws in WA. There would have been a few Wardlaws living in Melbourne in 1913 but I doubt they had any knowledge of our branch living over 100 miles away in the countryside. Its tragic that so many of the family died in such a short period of time.

There is a story passed down thru the family that John Edwin's family in Avoca were once visited by a gentleman wearing a top hat who claimed to be a relative from England. He was promptly told by the eldest son, however, that "We don't know anyone from England!" before having the door closed in his face! Descendants of JE's half brother Andrew also shared a story of Andrew being visited by a relative from England, and from this meeting they became aware of how the Wardlaws were known as Wardlaw-Milne in England; we can conclude from this which part of the family this relative was from.

I wasn't aware of John ever being in NZ. His son JE had inlaws from NZ (many who had returned).

I can't say for sure whether James and John were in equal shares on the farm at Fishers Creek, but it seems possible given that John had applied for probate. John's first wife's burial records show that she recided at Percydale Road, which is on the other side of Avoca to Fishers Creek, although in 1872 their children had attended the Avoca Lead school, which is a lot closer to Fishers Creek. This is something I'll look into in the future when I get to spend more time back in Avoca (we moved away from there when I was 9 years of age). If the Fishers Creek farm had been anything prosperous, then you would expect John's sons to continue working it (providing he was successful in gaining James' share). James Henry (b 1864) initially carted hay (from 15 or 16 years of age) before getting into cyanide works at Mt Egerton and Rutherglen. Andrew (b 1865) had his own block of land south-west of Avoca (which he farmed) but also dabbled in a bit of mining around Lamplough area, before moving to Amphitheatre & working as an orchardist. James Edwin (b 1880) initially carted hay around Mt Egerton area, then returned to Avoca to start market gardening. He eventually bought land and became a sheep farmer, with a few of his descendants still farming the same lands.

regards,
Darren

I just went over the information that I have here and noticed that in the Register of marriage between John Fleming Wardlaw and Ann Mcnab Stevens, he is listed as being an artist, residing at 2 South Nelson St (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's family lived in this street in 1857). So that may have been the cause of his odd behavior. But we don't know whether the plan was to be a full time artist or it was just a means to an end while studying to become a minister. At the very least, being a minister might have given him more free time to paint than if he had stayed working as a solicitor.

Thanks again Darren, and for all the fascinating additional information on the Wardlaws. I love the story of the gentleman in the top-hat. I will research the Wardlaw-Milnes a bit more - I was unaware that any had gone to Australia.
The information that you got from AW's descendant, on AW being the Captain of the ship that took David to Melbourne is possibly incorrect - partly because AW did not get his Master's ticket until 1874, and also because of a shipping announcement, for Melbourne in February 1869, which indicates that the Captain's name of the Mogul was Blyth. Unfortunately I cannot paste it in here.
JFW was definitely at the law firm between 1826-8, and, to judge from George Dalziel's letters, he met him for the first time in 1826, so JFW must have joined around this time. Here are some excerpts of the correspondence between GD, DW and James Gibson-Craig, the majority shareholder in the firm….

DW to JGC 25/11/1826

...With regard to my son I do not wish you and the other partners to commit yourselves by any unqualified stipulation, but I trust there will be no objection to the same understanding as was agreed to formerly, namely that if he turns out qualified for the situation I am to have it in my power to give over to him a part of my share in the concern, in the same way as you did to James (JCG's son).
The decision as to his fitness must of course be left to you and the other Partners and I have perfect confidence in your judging with candour.
I hope also it will not be considered unreasonable to have it understood that in case I die he shall be entitled to a small share, say 1/3 of my portion, but with the same proviso as to his being qualified to hold it…

GD to JGC Sunday 26th November 1826
.....I am particularly averse to our committing ourselves with regard to Mr Wardlaw’s son, either qualifiedly or unqualifiedly...James (JCG’s son) knows my sentiments upon this subject ad we are quite agreed upon it. I don’t think you will blame either of us for possessing these feelings, and saying so to you, in confidence.
But whatever you may think proper to do as to this, I shall be quite satisfied..

JGC to DW 27/11/1826
My Dear Sir, I am favoured with your letter of the 25th.
There will be no objection to you giving your son to the extent of one-third of your share, after 31st Dec 1829, providing the other partners then alive, think him properly qualified to be admitted a partner and, if you should unfortunately die, that he should be admitted a partner to the extent of 14/144 at or after 31/12/1829 if the surviving Partner or Partners think him qualified.

Undated letter from GD to JGC. GD is threatening to leave the practice and has had a good offer to work with Wm Thompson. However he is actually using this as leverage against JFW. Elsewhere he has threatened to take his business with him if he leaves….

..”With the highest possible regard for him (MR William Thomson) as a friend and a gentleman, I have long completely made up my mind as to the imprudence of connecting myself with him as a man of business.
It was only, however, when Mr Wardlaw’s son was introduced into the office that i can say, I formed a decided resolution of leaving you. I could not consent to fill a subordinate situation where there was ever a chance of his becoming a partner, and after the determination I had already come to in regard to Wm Thomson I had no reason to flatter myself with anything better.
The mentions of DW's possible decease imply that he is known to be a sick man at this time, and attempting to make provision for his son. He died in Peebles a few years later - my guess is from rheumatic heart disease - so GD's concerns about JFW becoming a partner had a basis in fact.
I am not sure of the significance of the mention of 1829. JFW provided an affidavit to the House of Commons on 21/5/1827, when he is described as "of the City of Edinburgh, Clerk to Messieurs Gibson Craigs and Wardlaw, Writers to the Signet..
On 14/3/1828 JFW resigned as a member of the Juridicial Society - a sort of legal debating society, having joined in 1827, which might imply that he has finished with the law. He had enrolled as an apprentice with Wm Renny WS, and the date given is 11/12/1828, but I am not sure if this was when he enrolled or completed his apprenticeship - my feeling is the latter. It was about a 5 year training period. My guess is that his training was due to finish in 1829, as referred to in JGC's letter, so it rather looks as if JFW packed in the Law prematurely (but was awarded his WS nonetheless).
My suspicion is that he lived off his wife's money during his training as a Minister, but only a supposition. I wonder if he trained in Glasgow?
I am not sure that she was an heiress, but she must have had some means, given her ancestry - see Robert Louis Stevenson's comment in "Fleeming Jenkin"

[Colin Campbell] had four daughters. One [Grace Buchan] married an Edinburgh writer, as I have it on a first account - a minister, according to another - a man at least of reasonable station, but not good enough for the Campbells of Auchenbreck; and the erring one was instantly discarded.

I have also wondered if there were any instances of JFW's art still in existence. Evidently he was a middling portraitist. You probably have this quote
26/7/1851 Leicester Art exhibition – “114,133 and 124 are three contributions by Mr Wardlaw., who evidently mistakes his forte. He cannot tell a story on canvas:and we are therefore sorry to see him waste his time in the effort. In the upper or Third room there are two portraits by him which are much more calculated to do him service by their exhibition: we refer to Nos 269 “Portrait of Mr Dalby”, and 274 Portrait of Miss M Buck”, the latter of which, we are told, is a good likeness: and both having much more force and character about them than the artist’s other and previous contributions”.
He was originally a painter of busts. He must have painted members of his family, and possibly himself, and it is a shame that these disappeared after the house was sold - presumably on his daughter's death. Perhaps the descendants of Mr Dalby or Miss Buck still have their copies! Photography would have rather destroyed his adopted profession.
In the Valuation Rolls of 1865 he has the following listing
Tenant, 9 Bath St, Duddingston, Portobello
Owner and Tenant Occupier, House No 6 Straiton Place, Duddingston
Owner, House 77 Cumberland St, Edinburgh
Owner, House 4 New Broughton, Edinburgh
Owner, House 27 Hercles St, Edinburgh

and he has added to them by the time he dies. My impression is that he turned out to be a rather successful lawyer, once he put his mind to it! Possibly his father foresaw this quality in him.
There was a gold rush in Otago NZ in 1861, which John W joined in, but by the time he got there the best sites had been taken.The same year he returned to Melbourne, Australia, arriving on the ship Aldingo, from Otago, New Zealand, on 13/10/1861, moving on to Avoca, where he had a letter waiting for him. I wonder if the unclaimed letters are in an archive somewhere -they are dated 21.10.1861, 20.1.1862 and 19.2.1864.
The Aldingo made 3 trips to Melbourne from New Zealand in 1861 - in October, November and December, carrying around 170 passengers/trip - virtually all were young men in their 20’s. They were leaving Otago, where gold had been found, in May 1861, in Gabriel's Gully. A press report stated that two men - Hardy and Read - had prospected country "about 31 miles by 5 broad, and in every hole they had sunk they had found the precious metal".
I have not found any record of JFW's last resting place - he is not with his father DW and wife (plus son David Brown Wardlaw's daughter) in St Cuthbert's graveyard. Ebenezer is also there, and the earlier Wardlaw generation are, I suspect, in Greyfriars. My guess is that JFW may be at Warriston Cemetery, or possibly in with the Stevens. I will try to look him up in the Memorial Inscriptions of Scotland at the Bell Library in Perth next month. His brother DBW is in the Dean Cemetery (close to Deanpath, where DW was born), with other members of his family, surrounded by Brodies, his wife's family (who took over the legal practice).
Dalziel prospered and did well, becoming a JP and paterfamilias. Gibson-Craig finessed a baronetcy, using his skills as a legal genealogist and adopting his wife's family name. The Craigs' seat was at Riccarton, formerly gifted to the Wardlaws by Marjory, daughter of Robert the Bruce, and now the site of Herriot-Watt University. DW's old firm is now Brodies - second largest legal firm in Scotland. It has its own web-site, with pictures of numerous happy smiling lawyers. John Clerk Brodie - brother of DBW's wife Ann Brodie and Keeper of the Sasines, helped to sustain its position.
I would love copies of the Brampton Chapel and Minute Book - there may also have been a Minister called Stokoe there, and would be very happy to send you any copies of anything I may have.
Regards - Neil

Fascinating that JFW was already working as an artist in 1832 - his father having died in 1831. His priestly training for the Secession Church was not overly onerous, and the sessions alternated between Edinburgh and Glasgow, so he would have had quite a bit of spare time, as you suggest. The training schedule is given in this link
https://books.google.fr/books?id=SqYHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA919&lpg=PA919&dq=secession+church+fisher+college&source=bl&ots=EBu7fST8zL&sig=YYufSoP_N90k8FwSVGgeb3Pq_pM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDcQ6AEwBGoVChMI-4uQtYX5xgIVBOsUCh1hCwBc#v=snippet&q=training&f=false

Hi Neil, sorry for the delay in replying. I thought I had lost the Brampton Chapel Minute Book copies but they eventually turned up. The researcher had photographed three pages from the church minutes, showing entries made by J.F. Wardlaw, plus a page mentioning the invitation for him to join their church as their pastor. The researcher reported that he had officiated in one baptism while there but no marriages. These are all marked "Copyright Not to be reproduced without permission", from Cumbria Record Office (Carlisle). So I will need to get permission before providing you with a copy.

I have located the church which JFW had been at in Longtown. It is now known as St Andrew's Church of Scotland and is across the road from the Esso service station in Bridge St (near the river)...in google maps street view, look down the laneway next to Cobbinshow House and you'll see the sign. Search for it online and you'll find photos and further details.

Something else you might find of interest - Scottish Widows have a Facebook page, and under their Timeline, for 1825, there is a photo of the silver plate presented to David Wardlaw.

regards,

Darren

Hello Neil
Darren already knows me as we have been in touch for some years. I am also descended from John Fleming Wardlaw via his son Andrew, whose daughter Alice Wilhelmina Ann was my great grandmother.

I am extremely impressed by all the information that you have gathered together. I thought I would put here what I know about Andrew Wardlaw and then perhaps ask you some questions about your research.

Andrew Wardlaw (1839 - 1884)
Born 9 April 1839, Westoe, South Sheilds
24 May 1868 married Julia Olivia Somerville at St Michael's Cathedral, Barbados, West Indies. You will see below that he travelled the world via the merchant marine so presumably met Julia on a voyage but how he managed to woo her given his travels is a bit of a mystery.
Children:
Julia Lilian Wardlaw born 16 April 1871, Leith, Scotland d 7 Feb 1933, Seaton Carew. unmarried
Alice Wilhelmina Ann Wardlaw, born 6 June 1874, Newcastle (my great grandmother)mar Arthur James Peberdy 17 Jun 1896, St John Lee, Hexham. Two children, my grandfather Arthur Raymond Edward Peberdy (1897-1972) and John Archibald Peberdy 1899-1904. Alice died in 1900 from TB.
Ann Stevens Wardlaw, born 7 June 1876, Newcastle died 28 June 1879
John Alleyne Wardlaw, born 29 Jan 1879, Newcastle married 1911 Violet Elizabeth Douglas. Died 22 Mar 1935 at Seaton Carew. Bank manager in Hartlepool. Three children that I've been able to find. Doreen Alice Wardlaw b 1913, Ian Douglas Wardlaw (1915 to 1938) died in a tragic car accident. Margaret Douglas Wardlaw b 1919
After Andrew's death from TB (something the family seem very susceptible to) Julia remarried Christian Paul Sherman. He is fascinating, a converted Jew from Russian Poland. Entered the church, missionary to Jews in Damascus, curate in Newcastle (when he met Julia) then Rector of St John Lee, near Hexham.
Julia Somerville/Wardlaw died in 1899 at St John Lee of Bright's disease.

The following are all my notes on Andrew Wardlaw taken from various sources, BMD certs, censuses, newspapers and Lloyds' Register of Merchant Navy Captains:

Occupations:
1867: Chief officer of the Shannon merchant ship (source = father's will, Edinburgh Sherriff Court inventories)
1868: Chief officer of barque Cardinganshire (source = marriage cert)
1871: First mate, Merchant Service (source = daughter's birth cert)
1874: Master mariner (source = daughter's birth cert)
1876: Merchant (source = daughter's birth cert)
1879: Master mariner (source = son's birth cert and daughter's death cert)
1881: Master mariner (seaman)
1884: Master mariner (source = death cert)
1896: Captain, Merchant Navy (source= daughter's marriage cert)

Addresses:
1839: Fowler Street, Westoe, South Shields (source = birth cert)
1841: Smithfields, Stockton on Tees (source = census)
1867: Leith, Scotland (source = Lloyd's Captain's Register: date passed certificate of competency)
1868: Barque Cardiganshire in Carlisle Bay, Barbados (source = marriage cert)
1871: 11 Trinity Crescent, Trinity, Leith, Scotland (source = daughter's birth cert)
1874: 5 Cromwell Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (source = daughter's birth cert)
1876: 5 Cromwell Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (source = daughter's birth cert)
1879: 21 Belgrave Terrace, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (source = son's birth cert)
1881: 24 Belgrave Terrace, Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (source = census)
1881: William Dickinson, North Shields, Northumberland (source = census)
1884: 24 Belgrave Terrace, Elswick, Newcastle-upon-~Tyne (source = death cert)

1871: informant at North Leith for his father's death cert.

Detail from his father's will dated 10 August 1867 and proved 7 February 1872: 'To my third son Andrew Wardlaw present Chief Officer of the Shannon Merchant Ship...that lodging or dwelling house recently altered into 2 dwelling houses ...on the south side of Brown Street.

1881 census shows him as Captain of the William Dickinson, berthed in North Shields, with 27 crew from countries including England, Denmark, Austria, Malta, Scotland, Ireland, St Vincent, Peru and Spain.

Oct 1884: Cause of death = Phthisis Pulmonalis (Tuberculosis) 20 Months

1899: referred to in wife's obituary in the Hexham Courant: '...was first married to Captain Wardlaw who commanded a Tyne steamer and resided in Belgrave Terrace at the west end of Newcastle'

Details from Lloyds Captain's Registers, Guildhall Library, London
Andrew Wardlaw: Place and Date of Birth: 1839, South Shields
Certificate number: C29601 Received: Leith Year: 1867
Special qualifications: 1870 Steam
1867-8 Cardiganshire 50109 West Indies
1868 Mogul 47358 Australia
1870 Mogul EI (East Indies, Burma, Mauritius, Red Sea) May 27 discharged
1870 North Tyne 62358 (East Indies, Burma, Mauritius, Red Sea,) Oct 1
1871 North Tyne Jan 23, Feb 6, May 15, 25 (Mediterranean), Aug 2, Oct 12, Oct 20, Dec 13
1872 North Tyne Jan and June 26, July 3, (France, Portugal, Spain) Aug, Oct 3, 4 Nov 20, Dec 2
1873 North Tyne April 12 (East Indies), Apl 21, June 30 (British North America), July 8 (British North America), Sep 8, Sep 25, Dec 2
1874 North Tyne Mar 29, Apl 10, Aug 18, Oct 30, Nov 17
1875 North Tyne Jan 9, Feb 8 (East Indies), June 26 (British North America), Sept 3(British North America), Oct 12 (Mediterranean), Dec 18, Dec 29
1876 North Tyne Feb 28 (Mediterranean), Mar 13 Struck pier, May 17, May 5, May 31(Mediterranean), Aug 3, Nov 5, 29.
1877 North Tyne Jan 29, Apl 7, June 12 (Baltic, Norway), Oct 14, Oct 27 (United States East Coast and Gulf ports)
1878 North Tyne Jan 16, May 29 (Mediterranean), Aug 16, Nov 22
1879 Wm Dickinson 80524 Feb 18 (Cape Colonies), June 25 (Mediterranean), Oct 15 (France, Portugal, Spain)
1880 Wm Dickinson 80534 Feb 14 (East Indies), June 29, Aug 24 (Mediterranean), Dec 9
1881: Wm Dickinson Apl 13 (West Indies), July 18 (Mediterranean), Nov 14
1882: Wm Dickinson Jan 20, June 9 (East Indies), Oct 26, Nov 4
1883: Abandoned at sea Mar 1/85 (see below)
1884: Sir Wm Armstrong 88772 Mar 20 (East Indies). Ashore and got off Apl 21/31, May 21/34 (see below)

Lloyd's List March 1st 1883: William Dickinson (steamer). Malta. February 28th 5pm. British steamer 80534 (William Dickinson), Newcastle, abandoned at sea at 4.00am on February 27th in lat 35N, long 15E; captain and 13 of crew have arrived here.

Lloyd's List Monday April 21 1884: Sir Wm Armstrong (s) Liverpool. April 19 10.22am. Cable from Perim states as follows: Sir Wm Armstrong from Newcastle for Bombay, ashore north of Perim; will float off next tide; assistance rendered by French transport Correze, but she leaves before ship floats: details to follow - (Mem: The Sir Wm Armstrong (s) was not due to coal at Perim). Sir Wm Armstrong (s) - Aden April 19 11.15am - The French transport La Creuse reports having seen the steamer Sir Wm Armstrong ashore, and remains on north-west point of Perim. Lloyd's List Wednesday May 21 1884: Sir Wm Armstrong (s) - Bombay May 2 - The Sir Wm Armstrong (s), Wardlaw, which arrived here April 27th from Newcastle after being ashore on Perim Island, reports that she grounded there on April 18, and remained about 14 hours. She jettisoned about 50 tons of bunker coals, and from 30 to 40 tons of coke and then floated without having sustained any apparent damage.

Somerset House wills: Andrew Wardlaw 1884 Personal estate £2433 19s 7d. 8 Nov will with a codicil of Andrew Wardlaw late of 24 Belgrave Terrace in the City and County of Newcastle-upon-Tyne was proved at Newcastle upon Tyne by Julia Wardlaw the relict, John Drever Spence of Logie Villa in Trinity near Edinburgh, North British Assurance Agent and Margaret Wardlaw of Willowbank House, Trnity, spinster the sister, Executors. Will made 1878. Trustees = J D Spence, brother in law and Alexander George Ross, 26 Campbell Street, consulting engineer and friend. Julia Wardlaw (Somerville) = total executor. On her re-marriage to the children to share and share alike. Robert Dickinson = solicitor. JNO Miller = clerk Codicil made 1882. Robert Dickinson = solicitor. Alexander Mark Turnbull = clerk.

The Argus (Melbourne) Tuesday 21 April 1857:
'John Wardlaw, Avoca - your brother Andrew is in the ship Calliance, Hobson's Bay'.
Presumably Andrew was trying to get in touch with his brother whilst he was in Australia in the hope of meeting up. Darren thinks Andrew may have proposed to visit John at Avoca as there is a listing for unclaimed mail for Andrew Wardlaw dated 17 December 1859.

Caledonian Mercury Tues 25 August 1863: 'Forth and Joppa Swimming: The annual competitions in connection with this Club took place on the morning of Thursday, Friday and Saturday last. The Club Medal for fast swimming was won by Mr Andrew Wardlaw.... The medal for long distance swimming ... was also gained by Mr Wardlaw.... The medals for swimming were won easily by Mr Wardlaw who, without at all pressing, swam the short distance (150 yards) in 2 minutes 15 seconds, and the long distance (350 yards in 5 minutes, 40 seconds)

The Bridgetown Times, Barbados. 10th June 1868
On 2nd inst (ie 2nd June) the barque Cardiganshire laden with sugar left the bay for London and by some unaccountable means got on shore at 'Harrison's Great Head', however she swung off during the night, and proceeded on her voyage. We learn that she had much sugar on board not insured.
(Andrew married Julia Somerville on 24th May and possibly she was on board the Cardiganshire to go back to England with him)

Western Mail (Cardiff) Mon Dec 10 1877
Shipping intelligence - The North Tyne, s, Captain Wardlaw, arrived at Galveston from Sunderland the 4th of November

The Newcastle Courant Friday January 10 1879
Drowning of a Sunderland Captain and two seamen
A telegram has been received stating that the chief officer of the barque Hawk of Sunderland lying off Dalmetta to lead for the United Kingdom on the 22 ult, had reported to North Tyne, s Captain Wardlaw from Port Said to Barletta, that the captain and two men were drowned when going on shore by the boat capsising. The captain was Mr John Wilson, about sixty years of age living in Alice Street, Sunderland

Glasgow Herald - Friday Oct 27 1882
Shipping intelligence - arrived at Glasgow
Arrived at the Tail of the Bank October 25 William Dickinson (s) 1371 Wardlaw, from Java for Greenock, sugar.
On the arrival of the steamer William Dickinson 1371 tons from Java via Malta with sugar, at the Tail of the Bank yesterday morning, she was placed in quarantine as she failed to have a clean bill of health. No cases of infestious disease on board however have been reported.


Newcastle Daily Journal. Friday 3rd October 1884:
Deaths - Newcastle, 24 Belgrave Terrace on the 1st inst, aged 45, Capt A Wardlaw. Funeral to leave the house on Saturday October 4th at 3pm.

The Scotsman: 3rd October 1884:
Deaths
At his residence, 24 Belgrave Terrace, Newcastle-on-Tyne on 1st inst Andrew Wardlaw, commander ss 'Sir William Armstrong', son of the late John Fleming Wardlaw, WS Willowbank House.

The Mercantile Navy lists show that a number of Andrew Wardlaw's vessels were owned by William Dickinson 65 and 67 Quayside, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. These included:
The North Tyne. Built 1870 Vessel no 62358
William Dickinson Built 1877 Vessel no 80534 Steam. Registered Newcastle. Built by C Mitchell and Co at the Low Walker Yard. Iron. Length 300ft. Breadth 35ft. Depth of hold 24ft. Net tonnage 1371. Gross tonnage 2111. Engine Horse Power 240sc
Sir William Armstrong Built 1884 Vessel no 88772 Steam. Registered Newcastle. Built by Sir W G Armstrong, Mitchell and Co at the Low Walker Yard. Iron. Length 300ft.
The Sir William Armstrong appears to have been built to replace the William Dickinson which was abandoned in the Mediterranean on a voyage from the Tyne to Alexandria with a cargo of coal (see above). www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/S-Ships/sirwilliamarmstrong1884 has a picture of the launch party for the Sir William Armstrong taken on 12 January 1884. Possible that Andrew Wardlaw as the first captain of the vessel and his family are in the picture but cannot identify them.

I think that's enough for one entry! I'll do another one with the questions I have about your research.
Best wishes
Sue

Hello again Neil and Darren

I hope you don't mind me asking some questions and making my own contribution to your debates so far. As I said I am amazed at the amount of information that you have uncovered. Anyway here goes:

Very interested that JFW initially trained as a doctor like his elder brother. Where did you find that information?

You said that the reason JFW stopped being a minister and became a portrait artist may have been that he lost his faith. I am not so sure about that. I've come across the following newspaper article that refers to his moving on from the church at Longtown:
Newcastle Courant 12 March 1892 - report on resignation of Rev Peter Carruthers, Minister of Longtown:
'At the end of 1835 the Rev John F Wardlaw was ordained minister of the church, but he shortly afterwards changed his views in regard to the Presbyterian form of church government and became an Independent minister'
I'm wondering whether in fact JFW was just one of those prickly characters who didn't like being told what to do! That may have been one of the reasons he didn't go down well in his father's legal practice and, as demonstrated here, he wanted to be independent and not part of a hierarchy. Churches can be tricky places to be and congregations difficult to get on with and the fact that JFW changed churches several times may tell its own story. Being a freelance artist would have been quite liberating - although I'm intrigued why he chose Leicester to settle in and I agree that the timing was lousy given the invention of photography!

(Henry)David Wardlaw b 1833. I'd be ever so grateful if you could let me know how you found out that he was initially a grocer's apprentice in Portobello? It may be that JFW couldn't afford to buy him an officer's commission since he would have still been a portrait artist in Leicester at the point at which HDW wanted to join up. V interested that you said that he died of syphilis. Have you concluded this from the symptoms? I must admit it hadn't occurred to me but looking at them again it does seem likely.

James Wardlaw b 1848. I've got him as a law student but didn't know about him being an insurance clerk. How did you find that out?

Andrew Wardlaw b 1839. I still have some work to do on his merchant navy career prior to his getting his master's cert in 1867 but my post above shows all his ships and journeys from that date. I haven't got the info about him getting his first mate's certificate of competency in 1865 so would appreciate more info on that. As the Lloyds register shows all his ships from 1867, I don't think that the Andrew Wardlaw apprentice on the Britannia 1867 to 1871 is the same person. Andrew was definitely on the Mogul bound for Australia in 1868/9 as the Lloyd's register confirms but I suspect as the Master's Mate ie not actually the Master/Captain

David Wardlaw (Scottish Widows founder) - he and JFW may not have got on, but JFW's descendants were extremely proud of him. There is a report of my great grandmother Alice Wardlaw's marriage to Arthur Peberdy in the Hexham Courant of June 20 1896 (not on line unfortunately) which describes her as 'second daughter of the late Captain Andrew Wardlaw, grand-daughter of Mr John Wardlaw WS of Edinburgh and great grand-daughter of the late Mr David Wardlaw of Gogremont Edinburgh, the founder of the Scottish Widows Fund' It was finding this info in 1986 that set me off into researching the Wardlaws!

You describe David Wardlaw's father James Wardlaw b 1737 as 'weaver turned prosperous grocer'. I've seen records where he is described as a weaver and as a 'merchant' but not a grocer so would be interested in more info on that.

David Wardlaw's marriage to Ann Dow and residence at Bowhead, Edinburgh. Despite much searching I've never been able to find any information on DW's first marriage apart from the name of his first wife, so I'd be fascinated if you could let me know how you tracked this down. Also the information about Ann Dow's father.

Sorry to keep switching around but back to JFW: I am at a loss to know how he supported himself when he was being an artist in Leicester. I am just about to send Darren a whole load of info on Grace Buchan Stevens (nee Campbell) and her ancestors ie JFW's mother in law. Her husband was a solicitor but seems to have come to grief in business, promptly dying which was why Grace was trying to make ends meet as an early authoress. She was in fact the 4th of Colin Campbell's daughters and as you said the others were mentioned (not entirely accurately) by Robert Louis Stevenson in 'Flemming Jenkin'. Colin Campbell did not take up the title of Baronet of Auchenbreck, I suspect because he was too broke. He was a lousy businessman who had to flee to Jamaica because his business affairs were 'embarrassed'. Unless things improved considerably after that - and I haven't been able to find any evidence that they did - I'm not sure that Grace would have inherited much from him. If you are interested in any of this, let me know and I will send you the info I am sending separately to Darren.

If you can find out where JFW is buried I too would be very interested and thanks for all the info about where other Wardlaws are laid to rest. I will try to look them up next time I'm in Edinburgh - not planned anytime soon unfortunately!

Best wishes
Sue

Dear Sue and Darren,
It was great to hear form you both - apologies for my late response - we are in Scotland and Wifi coverage is a bit patchy.

Darren - many thanks for the further info about JFW's time at Bampton. By coincidence we always stay at the Graham Arms in Longtown on our trips up/back from Scotland, so we know it well, although I had not realized that the building opposite the petrol station was JFW's former church. We must have walked past it on many occasions but never taken any account! Will check it out more thoroughly on our return. Actually, with time to spare, we may spend an extra day there, and visit the Records Office at Carlisle ourselves, and look up the Bampton Church records - many thanks for putting us on to it.

Sue - many thanks for your email, and the wealth of information that you supplied, the bulk of which was totally unknown to me, and I am extremely grateful to you for filling in so many gaps. On the subject of Andrew, your ancestor, I have it that he was first
apprenticed in the Merchant Navy on 19/9/1854 for 6 years indenture, to John Hay, Sunderland on the Calliance, 822 tons. He would have been around 15 years old. The ship was new, and was constructed for the India route, although later it was used to take emigrants to Australia. It was wrecked in 1864 in Camden Bay. There is more information about it online, from which you may be able to reconstruct Andrew's voyages.

Julia Somerville, his wife, is a bit of a mystery. She was born in Antigua, probably to a family of Scottish settlers. Somerville as a name dates back to the Norman Conquest, and, although they settled in Scotland, they originally came from Semerville, near Caen. Possibly she descends from two brothers from Cambusnethan, Covenanters, who were transported there in 1685, although an alternative would be that she descends from Alexander Somerville, son of Rev Somerville of Stirling, who went there in 1807.
Thank you very much for filling in the fascinating details of her later life. I believe Ian Douglas was buried also at St John Lee, and no doubt others besides. Julia, one of Andrew's daughters, appears to have been a pianist and violinist in Chelsea for a while.
To attempt to answer some of your questions (I am away from my sources at the moment)…
JFW's ill-starred attempt to become a doctor is listed online in the Univ of Edin archive (medical) as is also his brother DBW (DBW took a gap in the middle, and I wonder if this was due to illness)
JFW is a fascinating character, and I guess we shall never really get to the bottom of his various motivations. If I recall correctly, the Secession Church rejoined the main body of the Presbyterian Church around the time that he gave up his Ministry. I have him down as a member of the Secession Church, but regardless, it may be that he disapproved of the changes occurring in the church of Scotland around this time. I view his adoption of the Church as a career partly as an abreaction against his father's more worldly values, but this is pure speculation! There is no prior "religion" in the Wardlaw line, but JFW's aunt Elisabeth Wardlaw, who married Gardner, partner to Andrew, one of David Wardlaw's brothers who had a Hosier's business, had a son who became a Minister - Peter Gardner, mentioned in Ebenezer's Will, and Ebenezer himself also mentioned the Church in his Will. In other words, I wonder if David Wardlaw's mother, Elisabeth Brown, may have imported religious awareness into the family. Frankly, the Wardlaws were on the slide until she married James, DW's father, and I wonder if she put the pep back into the family.
The info on the occupations of JFW's children (James and David) prior to emigration came, I believe, from the relevant censuses. As you know, they list occupation - they are on the Scotlands People website. David's death from syphilis is evidenced from two sources - firstly that, on admission to Yarra Bend he was suffering from General Paralysis of the Insane - this was one of the commonest causes for admission to an "asylum", and, already people were still generally unaware of it, it had just been proven to be due to syphilis. As a medical student I saw a certain amount of it, although it had become much less common by my day. The post-mortem findings, also described in the report from Yarra Bend, of thickened meninges etc are confirmatory.
I have got copies of Andrew Wardlaw's various Certificates which I could email to you, if you are interested.
I have searched for JFW;'s burial site with no success - in fact, I might go into Perth this afternoon and look up the Monumental inscriptions at the AK Bell library - presumably he was buried in Leith. However, there was no funeral notice that I have been able to track down, either for him or his wife, and his wife's burial place (presumably the same as his) is also a mystery. I just wonder whether the grave is unmarked (if so, it might support the hypothesis that the family had become atheistic).
I was in Edinburgh yesterday, at the Record Office, looking, amongst other things, at the documents that they hold on Andrew Stevens - he was evidently in severe trouble before his death, due to bankruptcy, but he managed to come to an accommodation with his creditors and escape imprisonment. His widow was pursued after his death by certain creditors, but managed to fend them off! Many of the documents were off-site, so we will return next week.
I will break off now, but am conscious that I have not answered many of your questions. Apologies for now - must go and search for a Wifi connection!
Regards,
Neil.

Dear Sue - just a follow-on from my earlier email. ..
James Wardlaw is usually described as a "merchant", as you state, but it seems that grocers also used this rather upmarket term to describe themselves. However, in the Edinburgh Directory he is described as a grocer, at the head of west Bow, and a photograph of this large and ramshackle building actually shows the shop-front. In fact, with the eye of faith, and a certain amount of credulity, one can almost make out the initials "JW" inscribed on the lintel above. JW is also described as a grocer in 1790 - I do not have the reference with me, but I suspect that it stems from a Tax-roll of some kind. His son James of course was also a grocer, apprenticed to David Bridges in 1788, when the family were still at water of Leith. Incidentally, Ebenezer's first shop at 521 Lawnmarket is just across the square from Bowhead, and still intact (now the Ensign Stewart pub - highest pub in Edinburgh, they say).
I wish that I could find a record of DW's apprenticeship as a Writer - he was not a Writer to the Signet, unlike his other two later partners. I have a theory that it was with Archibald Brown, a possible relative of his mother's, but have never researched it seriously.
Water of Leith was a centre for weaving, and I imagine that James' father had acquired skills from Dunfermline, which had "poached" high-quality damask production from Edinburgh, and improved the technique. At the time that the family arrived in Edinburgh (from Crossgates - then a fairly unlovely place) Edinburgh weavers consortia were offering good pay for the best weavers, to redress the balance. Prior to Crossgates they were in Beath (now Cowdenbeath), as you probably know. Actually, apart from DW's father, and a sister who married and moved to Ratho, they seem to have returned to Fife. Jean Johnson, DW's grandmother, also came from Ratho, presumably establishing the link to Gogarmount, which is adjacent. But of course there have been Wardlaws there since the land was first deeded to the Wardlaws in the 14th century (although subsequently sold on). My guess is that DW regarded it as "ancestral territory" . I wonder if, had he not died prematurely, he was going to attempt to repeat the stratagem which his partner Gibson-Craig managed, of obtaining a baronetcy having first acquired the land and then establishing an old family connection with an extinct title attached. They certainly had the legal means and expertise at their disposal. Interesting that so many of the earlier Wardlaw birth certificates, leading back to the Wardlaws of Balmule, have been annotated by some person long ago - obviously a person of some influence, to have obtained them in the first place.
If you have a chunky file on Grace Buchan Stevens I would love a copy, if I could. Again, a larger than life family - they seem to have been more abundant in the 18th century.

The plate presented to DW was, if I recollect properly, passed down in the family and then sold back to Scottish Widows by David Wardlaw Wardlaw, my mother's grandfather, who was rather improvident, maintaining houses in Paris and Axland Park near Reigate. When the money ran out (i.e. after his indulgent father died) he held a fire-sale, and went to Australia to try his luck.
The West Bow is now no more - Bowhead was demolished in 1878 - by gunpowder, they say. West Bow has a lot of history - an old arterial road leading out of Edinburgh to the south, and, in earliest history, probably just a winding footpath ascending to the crags above. It has connections with Deacon Brodie and Major Weir, two of Edinburgh's most infamous characters! The Templars also had a house there, and Bonnie Prince Charlie was nearly apprehended at a party there, when the English sallied from the castle.
Ann Dow is very hard to track down, I entirely agree, as is also her father.He is described as a grocer in 1774 (off the meal market - Ed. Directory) but does not appear in the 1775 version. In 1789 (birth of sister Margaret) he is a porter, from Tron Kirk parish, when his task would have been to loiter, with many others, by the Tolbooth awaiting a customer. Because of the hilly terrain, it was hard work.
No luck with the Perth Library - they just hold the MI's for Perthshire and some adjacent counties. But the Edinburgh Records Office may hold the key to JFW's final resting place.
Regards,
Neil.

Hi Neil,

I'm pleased to hear that you will be able to check out St Andrews Church, Longtown on your return.

The reference for Brampon Zion Chapel Minute Book & Register is DFCCL/10/1

I am still searching for the location of the Zion Chapel; one possible location is at the current location of Brampton United Reformed Church, Moat Side.

regards,

Darren

Thanks Darren - I see now that St Andrew's Church is down a little side-street adjacent to the petrol station. Since they hold services on the 3rd Sunday of the month @ 9.30, when we will be there, we may be able to get inside. If we stay an extra day, we would have time to visit Brampton, which seems to be a small hive of churches/chapels..
"The dissenting places of worship in the town are - a Presbyterian chapel, in the back street, erected in 1722, being the third place of worship belonging to this congregation. On the passing of the act of uniformity in 1662, the Rev. J. Burnand, then vicar of Brampton, was ejected from the living, but many of his people adhered to the presbyterian discipline, and founded a separate congregation, which is now connected with the presbyterian synod of England, and forms a part of the presbytery of Cumberland. In addition to a house and garden for the use of the minister, it is endowed with five acres of land near Brampton, to which the celebrated Dr. lsaac Watts was a contributor. The Rev. George Brown, L.L.D., has been the minister of this congregation since 1844. The Independent chapel, in Back-street, was built in 1818, and is now under the care of the Rev. T. B. Attenborough. The Wesleyan chapel is a substantial building in Brampton-lane, erected in 1836, at a cost of £1100; and the Primitive Methodists have a chapel in Back-street".
There is another old chapel, now disused, on Tindale Fell, outside the town, but, arising from Sue's suggestion that JFW went independent, maybe the Independent Chapel in Back-Street is worth checking out.
Regards
Neil

Just found this regarding James Stevens Wardlaw's death:

A very sudden death occurred this morning to a young man, 30 years of age, named James Stephen [sic] Wardlaw, brother of a well-known resident of this district. His brother, John Wardlaw, was in the stable harnessing the horses, when he heard a noise, and returning to the house found that his brother had burst a blood-vessel and was dying. Deceased expired almost immediately. An inquest will be held this afternoon.
- Avoca Mail, Tuesday 10 July 1877

An inquest was held on Tuesday, on the body of James Stephen [sic] Wardlaw, whose sudden death we reported in our last issue. The medical evidence was to the effect that death was caused by pulmonary hemorrhage, and the jury returned a verdict accordingly. Deceased, who had been ailing for sometime, was much respected by all who knew him.
- Avoca Mail, Friday 13 July 1877

A lot of the old Avoca newspapers are being scanned and are being made available online, so happily I am finding out more about John and James. John was quite active in the Avoca Progress Committee (Prospecting Committee, Railway League), and it is great that he has a voice at long last (I had very little information on him previously).

regards,
Darren

Fascinating material - one can almost imagine the scene! Hopefully more to come. John is an interesting individual who, to me, comes over as quite a strong-minded and energetic person who presumably influenced his brothers to come over to Australia as well. Well done!
I have made possibly a bit of progress with JFW and his life in Brampton. There is a report in the Carlisle Journal of 13/5/1837..
"On Friday evening, May 5th, the annual meeting of the Brampton Branch Wesleyan Methodist Society was held at the Methodist Chapel, Brampton.
Mr M Atkinson, of Carlisle, was in the chair, who, together with the Rev Messrs Watson of Newcastle, Jackson of Sunderland, Wardlaw and Stokoe of Brampton addressed the meeting on behalf of the heathen world".
I don't quite understand what it all means, but in 1835 Stokoe was documented as the Methodist minister in Brampton, and, although I haven't yet checked, my suspicion is that the other unknowns will also turn out to be methodists. It may be that JFW has now turned Methodist as well (although presumably an unpaid one!)
Also "Zion" seems to be quite common in the names of Methodist Chapels.
Regards,
Neil.

Hi Neil,

Initially I thought Zion Chapel must have been Methodist, but JFW is always mentioned as being Independent after he left Longtown.

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/CUL/Brampton/Bulmer1884#ChurchHistory mentions
"The Independent Chapel, in Back Street, was erected in 1818."

http://www.genuki.org.uk/cgi-bin/churchentry?CCC=CUL,ID=23 lists it as "Calvanist Independent."

I took a Google Street View walk down Back Street, and there are very few buildings here. There is one rendered building which looks like it could have been a church, although I can't judge its age (it might not even be the original building from 1818).

I've also found that the URC previously was Presbyterian, so we can rule that one out.

Regards,

Darren

Hi Darren - yes, I think you're correct. I also found a reference to JFW being independent. Also, on 12/5/1838, according to the Carlisle journal, he officiated at the ordination of R Worstenholme, from Blackburn College, Lancashire, as a Congregational minister. The other attendees that I have checked out (Shawyer, Parkhead, - Raffles Liverpool, - Brewis, Penrith) were all Congregational ministers.The ceremony took place above the Congregational Chapel in Carlisle.
Many thanks for putting me straight. I'll check out the buildings in Back Street, Brampton, when we get down there, and do a Google Walk beforehand, as per your excellent suggestion. There may be people on the ground who have local knowledge of the chapel. Incidently, JFW's career now closely parallels that of Ralph Wardlaw, who switched from the Secession Church to Congregationalism. RW was evidently a distinguished theologian of his time, and may perhaps have been an influence on JFW.
Regards,
Neil. (see below)

John F. Wardlaw 1837?-Trained under Professors Dick and Mitchell. United Secession Theological Hall, entering 1830. MacKelvie noted that he was minister of the United Presbyterian congregation at Longtown, being ordained there on the 10th of November.
1835. Became an Independent and was deposed. Ministered at Brampton and afterwards at Stockton

http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/61730/1/Westaway.pdf

Hello Darren and Neil
Goodness what a lot of posts! I'm finding it hard to keep up. However here are some responses to what you've said.

Many thanks Neil for the info about Andrew W's apprenticeship. I would be most grateful for copies of Andrew's certs that you have. I'll send you a private email via this site with my email address. If you would care to do the same I will send you what I have on Grace Buchan Stevens/Campbell and her Campbell ancestors. There is far too much to post here!

Julia Olivia Somerville - she married Andrew in Barbados although she was born in Antigua. It looks like her family may have only been there for a short while and I have traced them through the Barbados records - presumably her father William Richard Somerville (b 25.9.1812 St George B'dos) had a shortish term job there but I haven't been able to prove this.

W R Somerville married 1. Mary Richard Earl (b 1811 Christ Church B'dos) on 22.1.1832 in St George B'dos. Their children apart from Julia were:
John b Feb 1834 B'dos
Agnes b Jan 1838 B'dos
Agnes Geraldine b 1840 St Thomas B'dos (presumably Agnes no 1 died but can find no trace)

W R Somerville married 2. Mary Klacky Payne b 1839 on 27.12.1860 in St Michael, B'dos. Children
William Seafield Somerville b 1862 B'dos
William Seafield Somerville b 1867 B'dos (again presume WSS no 1 died but no trace also none so far for Mary Richard Earl - wife no 1.

W R Somerville was the eldest child of William Somerville and Martha Burton Mandeville m 31.10.1811 St George B'dos. She died 1854 B'dos. No further trace of him however. Apart from WRS their children were:
Susanna b 1819 in St Michael, B'dos
Anne Pitcher b 15.1.1822 in St George B'dos
Angelina b 6.4.1823 in St George B'dos

All this has come from Family Search which has some of the original registers available to consult. So far I haven't got further back with the Somerville line. Maybe a trip to Barbados...

Yes there are a no of Wardlaws buried at St John Lee, Hexham. John Alleyne Wardlaw his wife, Violet, Ian Douglas Wardlaw, Julia Olivia Wardlaw (Somerville) and my great grandmother Alice Peberdy (Wardlaw). I haven't actually seen the latter 2 graves as they are hidden away but the churchwardens have told me where they are so I will try to locate them next time we are that way.

I did see some info on Grace Buchan Steven's financial affairs when I was at the Edinburgh Record Office several years ago, but like you I had not ordered the info on Andrew Stevens and so didn't see it. If you get to it before I do, please let me know!

Thanks, Neil, for all the Warlaw info prior to David W of Scottish Widows - I don't have much apart from basic BMD info. You certainly seem to understand the Edinburgh/Scottish merchant context better than I do and thus are able to imagine what their lives would have been like. I did wonder how it was that Scottish Widows ended up getting DW's plate back so thanks for filling in that bit of the jigsaw too.

Thanks Darren for the newspaper detail on James Wardlaw's death - such a shame as he was quite young but apart from your ancestor John none of them seemed to live to old age.

Must go but I will have a happy time looking at all the leads you have provided.
Best wishes
Sue

Dear Darren and Sue,
Just to say that we followed Darren;s instructions and found the UPC church at Longtown - opposite the petrol station, but set back from the High Street, from which it is largely screened by more modern houses. There has obviously been some recent development on the site.
The plaque above the door reads "United Secession Church 1831". The building itself is solid and in good shape, built of local stone, and quite plain inside - the pulpit being the central feature. I took a number of photos, to which you are welcome, but unfortunately my cheap camera seems to have got the focus slightly wrong.
The congregation was pretty small, and the Minister also covers Carlisle, to where he was headed when we went, but two kind ladies who look after the Chapel showed us round - their records indicate that Peter Carruthers was minister from 1834 onwards, with no mention of JFW. Carruthers actually joined in 1837, and went on until his death in 1894. JFW's brief ministry seems to have been overlooked (or air-brushed out!)
Family matters then overtook us, and we had to head on south, leaving the visits to Brampton and the Cumbria Records Office as pleasures deferred for next year.
Neil

Hi Neil, Darren and Sue
Just found this thread last night and am working my way through it, and I am finding it very interesting. I would like you to know that my husband (Morry Mashado) is the grandson of Alice Wardlaw, who was married to Francis Edward Mashado and also to Alexander Rammage. Alice was the Daughter of John Wardlaw and Mary Ann Tooley.
At the moment I am ploughing through all the information that you have written here last year (shame I did not see this before I was over in England last year ☻)
I have been doing this family tree on and off for quite a few years and would like to say 'thank goodness for the internet' as now locating information is a lot easier. I still find it hard to know where to start and verifying the information that I have been given by other members of the family/ies.
You all look as though you have put in a lot of time and effort with all your research. I would love to be pointed in the right direction at times, and finding a lead like this is amazing.
regards
Margrit

Hi Margrit,

Its nice to hear from you again - I remember we corresponded via email a couple years ago. I am much the same as you, in doing the family tree on and off over the years. I did take a bit of a look at some things earlier this evening (once hearing ancestry.com has Australian records open for searching until after Australia Day).

During the Christmas Break I almost visited Barkley/Frenchmens/Moonambel, which are the areas where Alice & Francis (and Alice's sister Annie Ramage) lived, but something else came up and I couldn't get there. I will get there eventually, so if there's anything you would like me to search for, I would be happy to help. I have been searching for Alice's grave but haven't been able to locate it yet...she died in Thornbury in 1945, so it might be in a nearby cemetery. Her sister Annie is buried in Avoca (I have photos of her grave), brother James in Rutherglen and brother Andrew in Steiglitz.

regards,

Darren

Hi Darren
Great to hear from you, I wasn't sure if this was you or not.
It's been a busy weekend so far, we are members of the Mount Gambier Vintage and Veteran Car Club and they run an Australia Day Weekend for members in Victoria and South Australia so we have been out and about the last few days. Now I have the grand-kids around so I will try to get a quick look in between playing games with them.

Also when we came back from overseas I had to get a new computer so I no longer have your email address, if you have mine can you send me an email so I can keep in touch with you that way (I am afraid that I might loose this link).

We plan on maybe going to Tasmania in April and will head over that way ourselves, so maybe we might find something as well, if we do it would be great to share. I have been looking for my Mashado family tree info since we got home from overseas last year and have not been able to locate it (moved rooms for painting etc), I have asked family that I might have lent it to but they do not have it, so consequently I have had to start all over again (anything you would like to share would be greatly appreciated). Philomena on the Francis Ellen Mashado side has kindly posted me photocopies of her collect Births Deaths and Marriages, but I also had ship records and other records which I now have to replace. This time it goes on the internet, I am using Geni at the moment which I have found free and workable.

regards
Margrit

Hi Sue, Neil
I am researching the family of Grace Buchanan Stevens/Campbell.

I was under the impression that she did inherit from her father but her husband lost the money and that is why she became an author.
Would you be happy to pass on info that you have
I believe that she is my husbands 3rd Great Grandmother.
Regards
Sue McLellan

Hi. Darren, Neil, Sue and Sue,
I have been very interested to read of your communications, regarding John Fleming Wardlaw and Ann McNab Stevens.
I am also researching Grace Buchanan Campbell/Stevens; my 3x great grandmother. I am interested to learn more about about Grace's father Colin.
Regards,
EAMK.