William Purdom Laidlaw (1854 - 1911)

Born 10 Sep 1854 in Hobkirk, Roxburghshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Hall Young — married 16 Jun 1880 in St Giles, Edinburgh, Scotland

Descendants

Died 18 Aug 1911 at age 56 in Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada

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Biography

William LAIDLAW (William LAIDLAW , Helen DOUGLAS , James , John ) was born on 10 Sep 1854 in Hobkirk, Roxburgh. He was christened there on 22 Oct 1854. William was counted there in the censuses of 1861, 1871 and 1881. He was a Farmer.

William married Elizabeth Hall YOUNG on 16 Jun 1880 in St Giles, Edinburgh, Midlothian

In the 1881 Census William (26) is working on his father's East Fodderly Farm in Hobkirk with his new wife Bessie^[1]

William LAIDLAW Head M 65 M Farmer 210 Ac Of which 196 Ac Arable Emp 2 Men 2 Wo 1 Boy Hobkirk, Roxburgh, Scotland

William LAIDLAW Son M 26 M Farmers Son Hobkirk, Roxburgh, Scotland

Bessie LAIDLAW Daur In Law M 26 F Wilton, Roxburgh, Scotland

Margaret MOYES Serv U 16 F Serv (Domestic) Cavers, Roxburgh, Scotland.

William and Bessie moved to Tasmania a few years after their marriage with their two sons, William and Robert. Later a daughter Agnes (Nan) and two more sons Douglas and Alec were born there. They had a farm, Dayspring Farm, near Cam at West Beach, Burnie on the North coast where they had a creamery and also raised Shetland ponies.

By about 1896/7 things were not going well and William and Bessie returned to Scotland. Bessie was rather disenchanted with the adventurous life.

William and his eldest son William and perhaps Robert moved to London where he worked as a butcher. Soon afterwards, now parted from his wife, he set up home with Ethel Cairns. In June 1898 a son Stanley was born and in 1900 a daughter Mary Millicent. As an alias the name "Evans" became the children's surname. The name has no connection or relevance to the family. The relationship was a happy one. However it seems to have been an embarrassment for William's highly respectable brother Robert, later MP for East Renfrew. William was probably persuaded to emigrate again and in April 1902, he went to Canada where he was joined by his son William and Robert. Their descendants live in Pincher Creek, Alberta and Lethbridge and VAncouver, BC. Ethel could have gone with William but preferred to remain in England. A few years later she married John Wild and had another family but Stanley and Mary were always part of it.

William sailed from Glasgow to Montreal on 19 April 1902 on the ship "Sarmation" . The ship had 302 passengers. "Laidlaw, W.P., Passenger Contract 126, Farmer aged 47. bound for Lumsden, Saskatchewan (near Regina and Moose Jaw) Landing at Montreal after a journey of 32 days Fare 3 pounds."

In Pincher Creek, he ran a General Store with his sons. William was a strong and hard-working man- energetic and quick-tempered.

William died from a brain tumour on 18 Aug 1911.

Winding up the estate of Wm. Laidlaw - Laidlaw, William sometime of 17 Comely Bank Streer, Edinburgh; Late of Pincher Station, died 18 Aug 1911 at Pincher Station...Confirmation granted at Edinburgh, 26th October, to Elizabeth Young or Laidlaw, 18 Comely Bank Avenue, Edinburgh, his widow , favourably nominated in will or deed, dated 18 April 1902 and recorded in Court Session of Commissaries of Edinburgh 25th Oct 1911. Value of estate 5 pounds.

Sources

• WikiTree profile Laidlaw-74 created through the import of doug english.ged on Oct 16, 2012 by Katharine E. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Katharine and others.

1. ↑ 1881 Census: "Scotland Census, 1881 (LDS)"
   National Records of Scotland, Ref: 791576
   https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ (accessed 5 February 2024)
   Surname: LAIDLAW; Forename: William; Year: 1881; Gender: M; Age at census: 65; Address: Dwelling: East Fodderly (Farm House); Census Place: Hobkirk, Roxburgh, Scotland; Birth Place: Hobkirk, Roxburgh, Scotland.