Unknown Unknown (abt. 1786)

Descendants

Biography

The father of George Kidd is unknown. It is assumed that he was probably around the same age as his partner, Mary Kid(d) which would mean he was probably born around 1786. It seems likely that he might have been a farm labourer.

Research Notes

DNA testing might help find a paternal link.

The Prestongrange link

This unknown person's son, George Kidd, was born in the parish of Whitekirk, East Lothian, probably about 1816, but possible dates from official documents vary between 1812 and 1826. His mother was Mary Kidd (or Kid), a milkmaid and the father was unknown. Mary’s nephew, George Kidd, had two interesting witnesses when he was baptised at North Berwick on 3 January 1814: Sir James Suttie Bt, and Mr Clarence Dalrymple. These were representatives of the two local landowning families. Sir James was MP for Haddingtonshire, and succeeded to the estates of his aunt, Janet Grant, Countess of Hyndford, one of the three daughters of Lord Prestongrange of Kidnapped/Catriona fame. One of his relatives was captain of Dunbar Golf Club. The other children do not seem to have had such illustrious witnesses or were baptised before the congregation. It should be noted, however, that Suttie and Dalrymple also witnessed the baptism of the daughter of David Laird, gardener, Balgone, (presumably Suttie’s gardener) six days later. This may mean that John Kidd was also a servant of Suttie or Dalrymple. On the baptism certificate he is a labourer, but in 1816 and 1819 he is “servant at Newhouse, Dirleton.”

The above was the second son to be named George as a George Kyd had been born on 21 July 1807 to John Kidd and his wife. This George presumably died before the birth of the second George in 1813.

Who was George Kidd’s father?

George Kidd’s date of birth is not known with possible ranges between 1812 and 1826 according to various official documents. Could his mother’s brother and sister-in-law, presumably without a surviving male child of their own after at least 8 years of marriage, have adopted Mary’s illegitimate son George as their own and had him baptised? Probably not!

It is tempting (but extremely unrealistic) to link all of the above and fantasize that our George Kidd might also have been a descendant of Lord Prestongrange! Although it is more likely that the real father was a farm labourer.

Sources

• No information