Margaret Whitecross (1815 - 1890)

Born 23 Apr 1815 in North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland

Ancestors

Daughter of James Whitecross and Mary (Manderson) Whitecross

Descendants

Died 27 Feb 1890 at age 74 in North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Steven Wilson [send private message]

Margaret Whitecross was born in Scotland.

Biography

Margaret Whitecross was born on April 23, 1815, and baptised May 7, 1815, at North Berwick, Scotland. She was the daughter of James Whitecross and Mary Manderson.^[1]

On June 16, 1836, "Margaret Whitecross, N Berwick Mains" was admitted a member of the Church of Scotland, and entitled to communion.^[2]

In 1841, Margaret Whitecross, age 25, appears as a female servant in the lodging house of Helen Black at 8 Forres Street (west side), Edinburgh.^[3]

On June 17, 1847, upon receipt of a testimonial, "Margaret Whitecross, N.B." was received into communion at North Berwick.^[4]

She never married, but she did have two daughters with Alexander Russell.

• Mary Russell, born May 25, 1849, at North Berwick.^[5]
• Jessie Russell, born about 1854, at North Berwick.^[6]

The North Berwick kirk session took notice (although they got the sex of the first child wrong).

On February 6, 1850:

Also compeared Margaret Whitecross, unmarried, resident with her Father in North Berwick who confessed the sin of fornication with Alexander Russell, resident at Cantybay, declared that she had brought forth a male child on 25th May last of which he was the Father, that he had paid 10/- in June toward her lying in expenses, and in November had paid 5/- toward the maintenance of the Child. Declared that the sin was committed with Alexander Russell under a promise of marriage, which he had failed to fulfil. She expressed her sorrow for her transgression and after deliberation she was rebuked and admonished by the Moderator, absolved from the scandal and duly restored to the privileges of the Church.^[5]

On February 6, 1859:

Compeared Margaret Whitecross an unmarried woman residing in North Berwick who confessed to having borne a Child in Fornication four years ago, to Alexander Russell Fisherman in North Berwick. She was rebuked by the Moderator and with the view of being at a future period put in possession of Church privileges was placed on probation.^[6]

On February 20, 1859:

The Moderator stated that some time ago Alexander Russell Fisherman in North Berwick had applied to him for Ordinances with the view of becoming a Member of the Church. As he was not Known up to that time by him as an attender of Public Worship in the Parish Church (though it is believed he did attend elsewhere), it was intimated to him that the first thing to be done was to give attendance upon Public Worship, with which request he has complied. In consequence of the declaration made and recorded in the Minutes of last Meeting of Session, by Margaret Whitecross that he was the Father of a child borne by her about four years ago, the Moderator requested him to compear this day, before the Session, that the said Margaret Whitecross’ Statement might be Made Known to him. Having been called in and had the Minute read to him, he solemnly declared before God and the Session that the statement was not true, that he never had acknowledged the child as his, never would, and had never supported it, which declaration on his part is here recorded, according to his wish.^[7]

On November 5, 1859:

Compeared Margaret Whitecross chargeable with the sin of Fornication, Satisfactory evidence being adduced of her suitable Christian walk and conversation, since her last appearance at the Session, she was admonished by the Moderator, and restored to Church Ordinances.^[8]

An Ancestry DNA match suggests that Margaret Whitecross was correct, and that Alexander Russell was the father of the second child also.^[9]

At the time of the 1851 census, Margaret Whitecross (house servant, age 36, born in North Berwick) was living with her parents on Back Street, North Berwick, Scotland. Also living there was Margaret's daughter Mary (age 1, born in North Berwick).^[10]

In 1861, Margret Whitecross (laundress, age 46, born in North Berwick) was living at 29 High Street, North Berwick, with her two daughters, Mary Russell (age 12, born in North Berwick) and Jessie Russell (age 6, born in North Berwick), and one boarder, James Easton (cooper, age 14, born in Musselburgh).^[11]

In 1870, one of Margaret Whitecross's lodgers, a baker named Chapplin Gray, appeared in court having been accused of "malicious mischief" on the night of October 9. Her house was then on Fish Close. Because of Margaret's testimony, the prosecutor vacated the case against Gray.^[12]

In 1871, Margaret Whitecross (laundress, age 55, born in North Berwick) was living alone on Church Yard Lane, North Berwick.^[13]

In 1881, Margaret Whitecross (age 65, born in North Berwick) was living with her daughter and son-in-law James and Mary Grieve, at 4 Kays Road, North Berwick, Scotland.^[14]

Margaret Whitecross died on February 27, 1890, at Melbourne Square, North Berwick. Her death registration names her parents as James Whitecross, deceased farm steward, and Mary Manderson.^[15]

Sources

1. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 13 February 2023), Margaret Whitecross born or baptised on 7 May 1815, daughter of James Whitecross & Mary Manderson, in North Berwick, Haddingtonshire, Scotland; citing Parish Number 713, Ref 40/248, Frame 1041.
2. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Virtual Volumes," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 13 February 2023), Margaret Whitecross admitted to communion, 16 June 1836, North Berwick Kirk Session Minutes (1835-1839), Ref CH2/285/12, Images 19 & 21.
3. ↑ Scotland Census, 1841: County: Midlothian, District: Edinburgh, Margaret Whitecross, Reference: 685/1 144/19; National Records of Scotland, 3 West Register Street, New Register House, Edinburgh, EH1 3YT.
4. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Virtual Volumes," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 13 February 2023), Testificate of Margaret Whitecross, 17 June 1847, North Berwick Kirk Session Minutes (1839-1867), Ref CH2/285/13, Images 101 & 103.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} "Church of Scotland: Virtual Volumes," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 13 February 2023), Rebuke of Margaret Whitecross, 6 Feb 1850, North Berwick Kirk Session Minutes (1839-1867), Ref CH2/285/13, Image 119.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "Church of Scotland: Virtual Volumes," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 13 February 2023), Rebuke of Margaret Whitecross, 6 Feb 1859, North Berwick Kirk Session Minutes (1839-1867), Ref CH2/285/13, Image 183.
7. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Virtual Volumes," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 13 February 2023), Denial by Alexander Russell of illegitimate child, 20 Feb 1859, North Berwick Kirk Session Minutes (1839-1867), Ref CH2/285/13, Image 185.
8. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Virtual Volumes," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 13 February 2023), Restoration of Margaret Whitecross, 5 Nov 1859, North Berwick Kirk Session Minutes (1839-1867), Ref CH2/285/13, Image 193 & 195.
9. ↑ Paternal relationship is suggested by an AncestryDNA test match of 15 cM on 1 segment between Steven Wilson and his half third cousin W.G. Their most-recent common ancestor is their great great grandfather, Alexander Russell, but with different great great grandmothers.
10. ↑ Scotland Census, 1851: County: East Lothian, District: North Berwick, James Whitecross, Reference: 713/2/11; National Records of Scotland, 3 West Register Street, New Register House, Edinburgh, EH1 3YT.
11. ↑ Scotland Census, 1861: County: East Lothian, District: North Berwick, Margret Whitecross, Reference: 713/2/18; National Records of Scotland, 3 West Register Street, New Register House, Edinburgh, EH1 3YT.
12. ↑ Haddingtonshire Courier, Haddington, Scotland, December 2, 1870.
13. ↑ Scotland Census, 1871: County: East Lothian, District: North Berwick, Margaret Russell, Reference: 713/1/19; National Records of Scotland, 3 West Register Street, New Register House, Edinburgh, EH1 3YT.
14. ↑ Scotland Census, 1881: County: East Lothian, District: North Berwick, Margaret Russell, Reference: 713/1/14; National Records of Scotland, 3 West Register Street, New Register House, Edinburgh, EH1 3YT.
15. ↑ "Scotland: Statutory Registers - Deaths," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 13 February 2023), Margaret Whitecross died 1890, in North Berwick, Haddingtonshire, Scotland; citing Ref 713/13.