Robert Craig (1825 - 1887)

Born 1825 in Beith, Ayr, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Jane Kennedy — married 16 Mar 1864 in Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, Scotland

Descendants

Died 25 Dec 1887 at about age 62 in Beith, Ayr, Scotland

Biography

This biography was auto-generated by a GEDCOM import.^[1] It's a rough draft and needs to be edited.

Census

Census:

Date: 1871

Place: 6 Main Street, Kilbirnie

Census:

Date: 1841

Place: Gateside, Beith, Ayrshire

Census:

Date: 1881

Place: Cochrane Street, Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, Scotland

Note

Note: #N313

PHOTO

PHOTO @M526@

Object

Object: @M515@

Object: @M526@

Object: @M527@

Object: @M528@

Object: @M529@

Sources

1. ↑ Craig-4113 was created by David Craig through the import of CRAIG-2015_2015-07-25_01.ged on Jul 25, 2015. This comment and citation can be deleted after the biography has been edited and primary sources are included.

Notes

Note N313Robert was born around 1825 (+/- 1 yr) in Beith, Ayrshire. As for other Beith births around this time, no trace has be found on SRO or LDS records.

The 1841 census finds Robert and his family living at Gateside, Beith. The census simply lists Robert as aged 15 (+/- 5 as normal for the 1841 census). Parents Robert (a Grocer, aged 50 +/-5) and Margaret aged 40 (+/-5) are also present, plus siblings Margaret (15 +/-5) and Jean (11). All were born in Beith. No occupations are listed for anyone other that father Robert.

On 16 March 1864, Robert married Jane Kennedy. Their marriage certificate contains a lot of useful confimatory information:

- Marriage date was March 16, 1864

- Marriage took place in Kilbirnie, John Orr was the minister

- Robert is listed as Pitheadsman, single and second cousin to Jane

- Jane is listed as Dressmaker, single and second cousin to Robert

- Robert is 38 years old (confirms birth in 1826 +/- 1)

- Jane is 24 years old (confirms birth in 1838 +/- 1)

- Robert lived at Craighouse Bridge, Kilbirnie

- Jane lived at Bank Street, Kilbirnie

- Roberts father was Robert Craig, Spirit Dealer

- Roberts mother was Margaret Caldwell, deceased

- Janes father was David Kennedy, Quarryman

- Janes mother was Ann Logan

- witnesses were William Matt and Mary Kennedy (Jane's sister).

Robert's occupation was an Ironstone Pitheadsman - looking after the pit head works for the ironstone workings near Kilbirnie.

Robert had a pretty rough time of it - married his wife (15 years younger than him) when she was well advanced in pregnancy. In 1864, Robert became the father of firstborn son Robert. Then in 1866, a second son James was born. The birth cost wife Jean her life - she died three days afterward. Then in 1868, son Robert died, leaving only son James. No wonder Robert neglected to mention the fact that Jean kennedy (on the gravestone - see below) was his wife, and that young Robert was his son.

Robert and James moved in with James' grandfather Robert and Roberts sisters Ann and Margaret.

The 1871 census finds Robert, James and family living at 6 Main Street, Kilbirnie, Ayrshire. He is described as aged 45, widower, occupation Pit Head Man, born in Beith. Also present are Robert's father Robert, Head of Household, aged 84, spirits dealer and a widower; sister Margaret, aged 49, unmarried, no occupation listed, born in Beith; sister Ann, aged 47, unmarried, no occupation listed, born in Beith; and son James, aged 5, born in Kilbirnie.

In 1876, Robert was present at the death of his sister Ann.

The 1881 census finds Robert living with his son James and sister Margaret at Cochrane Street, Kilbirnie. The census record states that Robert, aged 52, is a widower, occupation general labourer, and brother of Margaret who is listed as head of the household. Margaret is described as unmarried and aged 55. James is described as aged 15, scholar, and nephew to Margaret. The census confirms that Margaret and Robert were born in Beith, and James in Kilbirnie.

Robert died of liver disease at Cochrane Street, Kilbirnie, on Christmas Day, 1887. He was 61 years old. His death certificate confirms that he was an Ironstone Pitheadsman, widower of Jane Kennedy, and that his parents were Robert Craig (Innkeeper), and Margaret Caldwell (both deceased). His son James - the only surviving family member - signed the death certificate.

Robert's Inventory and Will have also been found and are reproduced below. He was not well off - until his sister died 9 days earlier, leaving him a sizeable sum. Were it not for that, he would have had just over £3 to his name.

Inventory and will follow......

Inventory Umql Robert Craig

At Ayr the fifteenth day of February Eighteen hundred and eighty eight years. Compeared Love & Williamson Writers in Beith, who produced inventory of the personal estate of the deceased Robert Craig after designed, and of which Inventory the tenor follows:

Inventory of the Personal Estate wheresoever situated of Robert Craig, residing in Cochrane Street, Kilbirnie, who died there on the twenty-fifth day of December Eighteen hundred and eighty seven.

Scotland

Personal Property

1. Wearing Apparel and other effects which belonged to the deceased conform to Appraisement £ 3 11s 0d

2. The Share and interest of the deceased in the succession of the late Margaret Craig residing in Cochrane Street Kilbirnie his sister, who died at Kilbirnie on 16th December 1887 being one half estimated at £ 480 0s 0d

Amount of Personal Estate the whole of which is situated in Scotland £ 483 11s 0d

(Signed) James Craig, RW Knox J.P. At Kilbirnie the Thirteenth day of February Eighteen hundred and eighty eight. In presence of Robert William Knox Esquire, One of Her Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the County of Ayr. Appeared James Craig, Clerk, residing in Cochrane Street Kilbirnie, executor dative of the deceased Robert Craig, residing in Cochrane Street Kilbirnie, his father, who being solemnly sworn and examined depones that the said Robert Craig died at Kilbirnie domiciled in Ayrshire upon the twenty fifth day of December Eighteen hundred and eighty seven, and left lawful issue surviving, but predeceased by his wife. That the deponent has entered upon the possession and management of his personal or moveable estate as executor dative qua nearest in kin. That the deponent knows of no Testamentary Settlement or other writing left by the deceased relative to the disposal of his Personal Estate or Effects or any part thereof. That the foregoing Inventory signed by the deponent and the said Justice of the Peace as relative hereto, is a full and complete Inventory of the Personal Estate and Effects of the said deceased Robert Craig wheresoever situated and belonging or due to him beneficially at the time of his death in so far as the same has come to the deponents knowledge. That the deponent does not know of any money or property belonging to the deceased secured by Scottish Bonds or other Instruments excluding executors. That the said deceased had no heritable Estate in this country in so far as is known to the deponent. That the value at this date of the said Personal Estate and Effects situated in Scotland, including the proceeds accrued thereon down to this date is Four hundred and fifty pounds sterling, and does not exceed Five hundred pounds sterling. That confirmation of the said Personal Estate is required in favour of the Deponent. All which is true as the Deponent shall answer to God (signed) James Craig, RW Knox J.P. Written by Thomas Traill. Collated by Robert Goudie.

The above facts about Robert Craig, his wife Margaret and son James tie up with family information from other sources.

Robert is buried in the Old Head Street Cemetary in Beith. There is a Craig family gravestone, erected by Robert, which reads as follows:

Erected

By

ROBERT CRAIG

In memory of his father

ROBERT CRAIG

Died 11th May 1878

Aged 91 years

And his mother

Margaret Caldwell

Died 27th July 1860

Aged 63 years

Ann Craig

Died 24th March 1876

Aged 53 years

Jane Kennedy

Died 21st March 1866

Aged 26 years

Robert Craig

Died 27th September 1868

Aged 4 years

Margaret Craig

Died 16th December 1887

Aged 67 years

Also the above

Robert Craig

Died 25th December 1887

Aged 61 years

His brother in law

William McHattie

Died 11 February 1900

Aged 78 years

Also his wife

Jane Craig

Died 28 February 1905

Aged 71 years

This one gravestone gives a link to a part of the family which was completely unknown about. Details of that family have now been added to the family tree. The LDS and SRO databases confirm Robert's marriage date and place, plus the names, DOBs and places of birth of his two boys. Roberts wife Jane died after only 2 years of marriage, 2 days after their second son James was born.