Cairns Stories and Mysteries - A Challenge for all you budding local historians, railway enthusiasts and genealogists.

Cairns History

One name

My ggg grandparents were David Cairns a Groom at St. Clemontwells, Wallyford and his wife Mary Chalmers or Chambers. My ggg grandfather died sometime between 1841 & 1851 and although I have not been able to find a record of his death. I have found much information on his wife for she lived to the ripe old age of 80 years.

The picture above and the map below gives a visual account of where my great great great grandmother was living in 1851. The Cottage beside the Roman Bridge is thought to have been demolished about 1876 to make way for the expansion of the Brunton Wire Mill seen just in front of Sheepfield Cottage. My great great great grandmother is not thought to have lived at that address very long for in 1861 she was found to be residing in the High Street by which time her son John* was an Agent with the Peebles Railway Company.[*see Family Story Book]

Where was Thomas Cairns in 1851?

The 1851 Census gives details of my ggg grandmother, Mary Cairns a widow aged 53 born in Gladsmuir Haddingtonshire and residing at Sheepfield Cottage with her son John aged 23 a Rail Porter, her daughter Janet aged 14 a Scholar and Janet Stewart also a Scholar aged 7 born in Dalkeith who was lodging with the family on the night of 30 March 1851.

The 1851 Census of Musselburgh makes no mention of Thomas Cairns the eldest son of David & Mary Cairns. It is known however that Thomas married Anderina Work at Leith in 1857. They had three children, all died as infants and by 1860 Anderina had died also. The 1861 Census of Leith shows that Thomas was a widower aged 38 and living alone.

Thomas subsequently married Catherine Manson in 1862 and they had two children although only one survived into adulthood. It is thought that this marrage was not a happy one as Thomas and Catherine appear to have been living apart on the night of the 1871 Census. His daughter Wilhelmina was with him and Catherine was living alone. Thomas died in 1900 and his death was reported by Catherine his wife.

Where was Thomas Cairns in 1851?

By now you may be wondering why I am curious to know where Thomas was living in 1851. In the OPR index a marriage between Thomas Cairns and Flora Cairns was recorded in the Parishes of Inveresk Musselburgh and Colinton dated 1845.

On examination of the Banns at Inveresk. Thomas was described as a Labourer in the Parish of Inveresk. Cautioner for the man William Cairns and for the woman John Cairns. On examination of the Banns at Colinton. Flora's father John Cairns is described as a Surfaceman.

Thomas had a brother named William. No other record of William has so far been found save for his birth record at Tranent Haddingtonshire in 1822. If I can establish that this Thomas Cairns was my gg grandfathers brother, then there is hope that I may be able to track down their brother William.

From the Old Parochial Records of baptisms in the Parish of Colinton. Thomas Cairns a Labourer in Colinton and Flora Cairns had a son named David born 29 Aug 1845. Further examination of the OPR index seems to indicate that Thomas & Flora do not appear to have had any other children.

I have searched the 1851 Census of Colinton but Thomas and Flora are not recorded there. There is however the following entry which includes a child named David Cairns aged 5 grandson to John Cairns a Road Surface Man.

1851 Census Parish of Colinton

*Name*	*Rel.*	*Status*	*AgeM*	*AgeF*	*Occupation*	*Where*	*Born*
John Cairns	Head	Mar	50		Road Surface Man	Peebles	---ling?
Mary do	Wife	Mar		48		Argyle	Mull
William do	Son	Unm	19		Snuff Millers App	Peebles	West Linton
Alexander do	Son	Unm	17		Millwright App	do	Newlands
Cathrine do	Dau	Unm		15	Post Girl	do	do
Mary do	Dau	Unm		13		do	do
David do	G-Son	Unm	5			Midlothian	Colinton

This entry taken from the 1851 Census at Colinton is, I believe, Flora's family with David her son. David appears again in the house of his grandparents in the 1861 Census aged 14, yet again no record of his parents. By 1871 David would have come of aged and was probably married. He is not recorded as having spent the night with his grandparents on the night of the 1871 Census and there is no record of him living in Scotland in 1881.

The entry below was taken from the 1841 Census at Colinton and this appears to be the same family with Florans (Flora) aged 16.

1841 Census Parish of Colinton ~ Hailes Quarry

*Name*	*AgeM*	*AgeF*	*Occupation*	*Born in County*
John Cairns	40		Lab Weaver	N
Mary do		38		N
William do	8			N
Alexander do	6			N
Florans do		16		N
Agnes do		11		N
Kathrin do		4		N
Mary do		2		N

How can you help?

If you happen to be searching any 1851 Census records during the course of your own research, could you please keep a watchful eye out for Thomas. His birthplace should be recorded as Tranent and he will be aged about 28 years. He may or may not be living with Flora.

If you are searching any death records in the Midlothian area between 1845 - 1857 during the course of your own research, could you please keep a watchful eye out for Flora (Florans or Florence).

I have already examined the following 1851 Censuses and they do not appear in any of these:

The Old Town, New Town and Canongate Edinburgh, Inveresk, Colinton, Leith, Borthwick, Carrington, Cockpen, Corstorphine, Cramond, Cranston, Crichton, Fala & Soutra, Newton, Penicuik, Stow, Temple and Newbattle. All these parishes are within Midlothian.

It might be that you are connected to the family mentioned in the Census above. If so then I would love to hear from you.

This early etching of the River Esk which runs through the Burgh, dividing Fisherow from Musselburgh shows the famous Roman Bridge that has stood in this place for nearly 2000 years. The bridge has played a vital role over the centuaries and it has been said that Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Highland army marched over the bridge on their way to the Battle of Prestonpans in 1745.

In the foreground local women can be seen washing their clothes in the river, a common practice in the "Honest Toun". In the distance Inveresk Kirk stands high on the hill where many a marriage, baptism and burial service has been performed. The Cottage in the centre of the picture does not appear on the map above which is dated about 1853 and it is thought that it was probably demolished to make way for the railway station.

Where was the Rev. William Nisbet's Family living in 1871?

Was Janet Cairns still in their employ ?

Although I have been able to trace the life of Janet Cairns from her birth in 1836 through all the census records save one till her death in 1925, I have not been able find her in the 1871 Census, Janet was the youngest child of David Cairns and Mary Chalmers or Chambers. She was born on the 10th October 1836 with her twin brother James. James is believed to have died in infancy. In 1861 Janet was a Servant to the Rev. William Nisbet, Minister of John Knox Free Church in the Canongate Edinburgh. Rev. Nisbet lived with his family at 10 Argyle Square, Edinburgh and Janet was resident at that address on the night of the Census.

Rev. Wm. Nisbet died in 1869 and Janet and the Nisbet family were not at Argyle Square in 1871. It is my belief that Janet continued in Rev. Nisbet's employ up until his death and perhaps remained with the family until William's youngest child Arthur was old enough to marry. In the Census of 1881 Janet aged 42 is recorded as a Servant to John Williamson a Merchant but was not in Johns Williamson's employ in 1871.

I have approached the Free Church of Scotland to enquire about the Rev. Nisbet's family but they have no information as to where the family were living in 1871. They have no record of any of William Nisbet's son's joining the ministry of the Free Church.

Is Rev. William Nisbet part of your family tree?

Do you know where his children were residing in 1871?

Was Janet Cairns still in their employ?

If you think you can help with information. Please contact me: