Dirrans Sawmills - Neil Small - James Small - Mary Ralston

For those researching family in the three towns area.
bobfish
Settling In
Settling In
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 12:26 pm

Re: Dirrans Sawmills; Neil Small; James Small; Mary Ralston

Post by bobfish »

Neil Small and Mary Ralston - what happened to there children?....

John Small b.1848 D. 1st April 1878 in Kilwinning (unmarried aged 30 yrs)
James Small b.1851 D. 15th December 1881 in Kilwinning (unmarried aged 30 yrs)
Neil Small b.1853 No record of Death but one record states 'Presumed to have died in South Africa'. I have wondered if he might have some connection with the Boer War.
Elizabeth Small b.1855 D. 30th August 1928 (unmarried aged 73 yrs)
Gavin Small b.1857 D. 10th July 1922 in Kilwinning (unmarried aged 65 yrs)
Maggie Small b.1859 D. 4th of January 1951 in Kilwinning (unmarried aged 92 yrs)
Mary Small b.1861 D. 1st of April 1931 in Kilwinning (unmarried aged 70 yrs)

Someone somewhere has family, perhaps parents who can recall some of these Small family members. I'd be interested to hear of anyone's recollections of them. It would be incredible to find further documents or photographs relating to the family.

Mary Ralston (wife of Neil Small) was evidently very special in the life of my great Grandma Jane Crawford Small, since Jane named one of her twin daughters after her. Unfortunately Jane's daughter Mary Ralston never survived beyond the age of one year - but I'd be interested to learn how/why my Great Grandmother seemed to share such a great affinity with her Aunt Mary Ralston. I'd love to learn what kind of a man Neil Small was and what kind of a woman his wife, Mary Ralston, was.

Regards,

David
I'm not a remarkable person by character, but my sentimental nature makes my life feel remarkable. I don't know where I would be without my sense of sentimentality!
User avatar
sweet caroline
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 2482
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:20 am
Location: North Ayrshire

Re: Dirrans Sawmills; Neil Small; James Small; Mary Ralston

Post by sweet caroline »

Neil Small Birth
1760 in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland Death
1786
2 Mar Age: 26 Marriage to Jean Kerr Kilwinning, Ayrshire

Janet Small 1787 – 1873 Agnes Small 1788 – Agnes Small 1788 – Alexander Small 1790 – Archibald Montgomerie Small 1792 – James Small 1796 – Anne Small 1800 – Robert Small 1802 – Helen Small 1804 – 1874 Mathew Small 1806 – Elizabeth Small 1808 –

Taken from a tree in "Ancestry"
“He that has no fools, knaves, nor beggars in his family, was begot by a flash of lightning.” Thomas Fuller
User avatar
sweet caroline
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 2482
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:20 am
Location: North Ayrshire

Re: Dirrans Sawmills; Neil Small; James Small; Mary Ralston

Post by sweet caroline »

Sorry if i am duplicating what you already know.
MARGARET SMALL Pedigree
Female Family


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Event(s):
Birth:
Christening:
Death:
Burial:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marriages:
Spouse: JAMES WHITEFORD Family
Marriage: 10 SEP 1858 Kilwinning, Ayr, Scotland



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Messages:
Extracted marriage record for locality listed in the record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the marriage date.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source Information:
Batch No.: Dates: Source Call No.: Type: Printout Call No.: Type:

M115991 1855 - 1875 6035516 REGISTER Film NONE


Sheet: 00
“He that has no fools, knaves, nor beggars in his family, was begot by a flash of lightning.” Thomas Fuller
User avatar
sweet caroline
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 2482
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:20 am
Location: North Ayrshire

Re: Dirrans Sawmills; Neil Small; James Small; Mary Ralston

Post by sweet caroline »

JANET SMALL Pedigree
Female Family


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Event(s):
Birth:
Christening:
Death:
Burial:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marriages:
Spouse: ROBERT STEWART Family
Marriage: 17 APR 1857 Kilwinning, Ayr, Scotland



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Messages:
Extracted marriage record for locality listed in the record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the marriage date.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source Information:
Batch No.: Dates: Source Call No.: Type: Printout Call No.: Type:

M115991 1855 - 1875 6035516 REGISTER Film NONE


Sheet: 00
“He that has no fools, knaves, nor beggars in his family, was begot by a flash of lightning.” Thomas Fuller
User avatar
sweet caroline
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 2482
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:20 am
Location: North Ayrshire

Re: Dirrans Sawmills; Neil Small; James Small; Mary Ralston

Post by sweet caroline »

1. ELIZABETH WHITEFORD - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 10 OCT 1858 Kilwinning, Ayr, Scotland
4. MARY WHITEFORD - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 03 JAN 1865 Kilwinning, Ayr, Scotland
6. DAVID WHITEFORD - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 21 AUG 1860 Kilwinning, Ayr, Scotland
7. JANET WHITEFORD - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 02 NOV 1862 Kilwinning, Ayr, Scotland
“He that has no fools, knaves, nor beggars in his family, was begot by a flash of lightning.” Thomas Fuller
User avatar
sweet caroline
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 2482
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:20 am
Location: North Ayrshire

Re: Dirrans Sawmills; Neil Small; James Small; Mary Ralston

Post by sweet caroline »

1861
Name: Margaret Whiteford
Age: 22
Estimated birth year: abt 1839
Relationship: Wife
Spouse's name : James
Gender: Female
Where born: Kilwinning, Ayrshire
Registration Number: 599
Registration district: Kilwinning
Civil parish: Kilwinning
Town: Kilwinning
County: Ayrshire
Address: Main St
ED: 13
Household schedule number: 63
Line: 22
Roll: CSSCT1861_87
Household Members: Name Age
James Whiteford 22 c1839 Kilwinning -Coal Pit Engine Keeper
Margaret Whiteford 22
Elizabeth Whiteford 2
David Whiteford 7 Mo
“He that has no fools, knaves, nor beggars in his family, was begot by a flash of lightning.” Thomas Fuller
User avatar
sweet caroline
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 2482
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:20 am
Location: North Ayrshire

Re: Dirrans Sawmills; Neil Small; James Small; Mary Ralston

Post by sweet caroline »

Hi Bobfish this is getting interesting ,as i have a Mary Scott marrying a John Whiteford in 1848 Stevenston.His father was David Whiteford ,mother Elizabeth .He states he's born Stevenston,but there are no bapts in Stevenston,or deaths ,except his,no Whiteford's in the 1836 Census,and none in the 1851 Census except himself.Only David Whiteford married to an Elizabeth i have found is this one ,with possible your James Whiteford on it.
1841
Name: David Whiteford
Age: 25
Estimated birth year: abt 1816
Gender: Male
Where born: Ayrshire, Scotland

Civil parish: Kilwinning
County: Ayrshire
Address: Kenneths New Houses
Occupation: Coal M
Parish Number: 599
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
David Whiteford 25
Elisabeth Whiteford 25
Margret Whiteford 10
David Whiteford 8
John Whiteford 6
James Whiteford 5
Mary Whiteford

John and Mary's only Child Catherine Whiteford was born 1849 Kilwinning
“He that has no fools, knaves, nor beggars in his family, was begot by a flash of lightning.” Thomas Fuller
User avatar
sweet caroline
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 2482
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:20 am
Location: North Ayrshire

Re: Dirrans Sawmills; Neil Small; James Small; Mary Ralston

Post by sweet caroline »

Just discovered i Have Ann Small 1800 Kilwinning ,Father Neil Small,Mother Jean Kerr ,on my tree.
Ann married David Reid 27.3.1802 Stevenston,Father William Reid,Mother Jane Scott.Jane was a sister of my GGGGGrandfather Adam Scott.David Reid died 12.2.1873 Toll Bar,Lochwinnoch.
1851 Census at Cartside,Paisley Abbey,Johnstone
1861 Census at Cartside Mill,Paisley Abbey,Johnstone
1871 Census at Lochwinnoch
Death-Apoplesey 2 days.William McGregor ,son in law,present
Ann Reid nee Small -died 23.12.1866 Cartside,Johnstone
-Influenza-Father Neil Small,mother Jean Kerr
Neil Reid c 1827 Paisley
Jean Reid c 1828 Paisley
Ann Reid c 1833 Stevenston-William McGregor c 1833 Thorn,Johnstone-Toll Keeper,marr.31.10.1862 Paisley
William Reid c 1842 Johnstone.

So that explains how Mary Scott met John Whiteford ,James married Margaret Small.
They did like to be introduced in those days LOL
Last edited by sweet caroline on Fri Jul 09, 2010 3:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
“He that has no fools, knaves, nor beggars in his family, was begot by a flash of lightning.” Thomas Fuller
bobfish
Settling In
Settling In
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 12:26 pm

Re: Dirrans Sawmills; Neil Small; James Small; Mary Ralston

Post by bobfish »

Sweet Caroline - you almost lost me for a while there... My first time back to these message boards for a day or so and I can see you've been busy!

I'll need to take a closer look at my family tree during the evening and check to see who married who - see if I can match up some other names with you too.

Having spent the last couple of years searching for the family surname 'Small' I've come to realise that there were quite a few families by this name in Kilwinning alone, although I'm not certain if all of them are directly related to my Small family ancestry.

Neil's brother, James, left the family in Kilwinning and travelled/moved to Glasgow as a 'Bitters Traveller'. Bitters are, to my knowledge, like tonics sold in drinlk form.

I have no idea why my Great Great Grandfather James Small left Kilwinning and started in his new venture. Maybe he grew tired of the family sawmill and left to find his own way in life?

After James arrived in Glasgow he met and married and had one daughter. Sadly his wife died within two years of their daughter Jane Crawford Small, my great grandmother, being born. This is where I think Mary Small (Nee. Ralston) who will of couse been Jane's Aunt, made a big impact on her life. Perhaps Jane recieved some support for her Aunt Mary as she grew up - I'm not certain - but she named one of her first born with the first name 'Mary' and middle name 'Ralston'. Naming one of her first born after her Aunt gives me the impression that her Aunt meant a great deal to her. It's only a hunch - but in the absence of any concrete evidence, it's the best hunch I have so far.
I'm not a remarkable person by character, but my sentimental nature makes my life feel remarkable. I don't know where I would be without my sense of sentimentality!
User avatar
sweet caroline
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 2482
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:20 am
Location: North Ayrshire

Re: Dirrans Sawmills; Neil Small; James Small; Mary Ralston

Post by sweet caroline »

Hi Bobfish,
Yes that's where the Sawmill sat,where Woodmill housing is now.The bus stop was at the entrance to the footpath ,and the Sawmill fencing ran along the pathway.I believe the entrance was just about where the start of the gardens are at the bus stop.It covered a large expanse of land. Is Larchfield House the first private house at the other end of the Dirrans,something tells me i was told that was where the Smalls lived.?
“He that has no fools, knaves, nor beggars in his family, was begot by a flash of lightning.” Thomas Fuller
User avatar
sweet caroline
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 2482
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:20 am
Location: North Ayrshire

Re: Dirrans Sawmills; Neil Small; James Small; Mary Ralston

Post by sweet caroline »

Hi Bobfish,
It seems like Your Aunt played a big part in your grandmother's life.Could she have lived with her after her mothers death ,as your father would have to go on working. That was not unusual. Not looked on "ancestry" for your James Small
“He that has no fools, knaves, nor beggars in his family, was begot by a flash of lightning.” Thomas Fuller
User avatar
sweet caroline
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 2482
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:20 am
Location: North Ayrshire

Re: Dirrans Sawmills; Neil Small; James Small; Mary Ralston

Post by sweet caroline »

Hi Bobfish, This your James .He'd be travelling around in his job ,if he never remarried ,then perhaps daughte stayed with Neil and Mary.
Name: James Small
Age: 56
Estimated birth year: abt 1835
Relationship: Head
Gender: Male
Where born: Kilwinning, Ayrshire
Registration Number: 644/9
Registration district: Kelvin
Civil parish: Glasgow Maryhill
County: Lanarkshire
Address: 61 Seamore St
Occupation: Traveller
ED: 66
Household schedule number: 116
Line: 15
Roll: CSSCT1891_278
Household Members: Name Age
James Small 56
Elizabeth Small 62
“He that has no fools, knaves, nor beggars in his family, was begot by a flash of lightning.” Thomas Fuller
Post Reply