Thomas Hepburn (bef. 1779 - 1857)

Born before 7 Jul 1779 in Athelstaneford, Haddingtonshire, Scotland

Descendants

Died 7 Dec 1857 after age 78 in Whitekirk and Tyninghame, Haddingtonshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Thomas Hepborn is conjectured to have been born in Athelstaneford in Haddingtonshire (now East Lothian) in 1779 to parents John Hepborn and Elisabeth Sinclair. He was baptized in the Church of Scotland parish church of Athelstaneford on 7 Jul 1779^[1]

Thomas, aged 23 years, married Allison Stewart on 5 Feb 1803 in the Church of Scotland parish church in Whitekirk and Tynninghame, Haddingtonshire^[2]

Thomas and Allison had only one known child:

1. John, born 10 Dec 1803, baptized 18 Dec 1803 in the united parish of Whitekirk and Tynninghame^[3] Later known as Captain John Stuart Hepburn, Australian colonial explorer and pastoralist.

It is conjectured that Allison died within five years of John's birth. No further children born to her have been identified and Thomas married a second time in 1808. No record of her death has been identified.

Thomas is conjectured to have married Agnes Whitecross in Whitekirk parish about 1808. No record of the marriage has been located in any of the church registers in Haddingtonshire around that time. It is assumed that Thomas and Agnes were married at the time that their first child was baptized in Mar 1809.

Thomas and Agnes had the following children whose baptisms are registered in the Church of Scotland parish registers in Haddingtonshire in the period 1805-1830. All the children were baptized in the united parish of Whitekirk and Tynninghame, except William who was baptized in North Berwick parish:

1. Ann, baptized 12 Mar 1809^[4]
2. William, baptized 11 Nov 1811 in North Berwick^[5]
3. James, baptized 31 Jan 1819^[6]
4. Jean, baptized 23 Jun 1821^[7]
5. Elizabeth, baptized 6 Nov 1824^[8]
6. Benjamin, baptized 15 Mar 1826^[9]
7. Margaret, baptized 21 Jul 1828^[10]

It is conjectured that Thomas and Agnes had at least one other child, Janet Hepburn, born between 1811 (when William was baptized) and 1819 (when James was baptized). On Janet's death certificate her recorded age suggests that she was born in 1816, and the certificate records her mother's maiden name as Whitecross.

Thomas and Agnes lived most of their lives in the village of Tynninghame, Thomas was an agricultural labourer even into his seventies. By the time of the 1841 Census the only child left living with Thomas (aged 60 years, rounded) and Agnes (50 years, rounded) was Elizabeth (aged 15 years, and an agricultural labourer)^[11].

Ten years' later in 1851 Thomas and Agnes were still living in Tynninghame, and Elizabeth was still in the household^[12] Thomas' age was recorded as 76 years, and Agnes' as 65 years. Her birtplace is recorded as Edinburgh.

Thomas died on 7 Dec 1857, his death was registered in Whitekirk and Tynninghame district^[13]. A grave monument to Thomas and Agnes was erected by Thomas' son, John Stuart Hepburn in Whitekirk churchyard^[14]. John Stuart Hepburn^[15] emigrated to the Colony of New South Wales and squatted at Smeaton Hill near Hepburn Springs, named after him.

Sources

1. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 4 January 2024), Thomas Hepborn born or baptised on 7 Jul 1779, son of John Hepborn & Elisabeth Sinclair, in Athelstaneford, Haddingtonshire, Scotland; citing Parish Number 703, Ref 20/23, Frame 353.
2. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Banns and Marriages," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 3 January 2024), Thomas Hepburn / Allison Stewart 5 Feb 1803 in Whitekirk and Tynninghame, Haddingtonshire, Scotland; citing Parish Number 723, Ref 20/196, Frame 466.
3. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 3 January 2024), John Hepburn born or baptised on 18 Dec 1803, son of Thomas Hepburn & Ellison, in Whitekirk and Tynninghame, Haddingtonshire, Scotland; citing Parish Number 723, Ref 20/116.
4. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 3 January 2024), Ann Hepburn born or baptised on 12 Mar 1809, daughter of Thomas Hepburn & Agnes Whitecross, in Whitekirk and Tynninghame, Haddingtonshire, Scotland; citing Parish Number 723, Ref 20/128, Frame 395.
5. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 3 January 2024), William Hepburn born or baptised on 17 Nov 1811, son of Thomas Hepburn & Agnes Whitecross, in North Berwick, Haddingtonshire, Scotland; citing Parish Number 713, Ref 40/220, Frame 1013.
6. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 3 January 2024), James Hepburn born or baptised on 31 Jan 1819, son of Thomas Hepburn & Agnes Whitecross, in Whitekirk and Tynninghame, Haddingtonshire, Scotland; citing Parish Number 723, Ref 20/151, Frame 418.
7. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 3 January 2024), Jean Hebpurn born or baptised on 23 Jun 1821, daughter of Thomas Hebpurn & Agnes Whitecross, in Whitekirk and Tynninghame, Haddingtonshire, Scotland; citing Parish Number 723, Ref 30/6.
8. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 3 January 2024), Elizabeth Hepburn born or baptised on 6 Nov 1824, daughter of Thomas Hepburn & Agnes Whitecross, in Whitekirk and Tynninghame, Haddingtonshire, Scotland; citing Parish Number 723, Ref 30/16.
9. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 3 January 2024), Benjamin Hepburn born or baptised on 15 Mar 1826, son of Thomas Hepburn & Agnes Whitecross, in Whitekirk and Tynninghame, Haddingtonshire, Scotland; citing Parish Number 723, Ref 30/19.
10. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 3 January 2024), Margaret Hebpurn born or baptised on 21 Jul 1828, daughter of Thomas Hebpurn & Agnes Whitecross, in Whitekirk and Tynninghame, Haddingtonshire, Scotland; citing Parish Number 723, Ref 30/24.
11. ↑ "1841 Census of England, Scotland and Wales," database, (FreeCen Transcription : accessed 4 January 2024), Thomas Hepburn (60), Agricultural Labourer, in Tynninghame, Whitekirk/tyningham in Whitekirk-Tyningham registration district in East Lothian, Scotland. Born in East Lothian, Scotland; citing The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey, England, Reference HO 107, Piece 723, Page 10.
12. ↑ "1851 Census of England, Scotland and Wales," database, (FreeCen Transcription : accessed 4 January 2024), Thomas Hepburn (76), married, Agricultural Labourer, head of household in Village Of Tyninghame, Whitekirk Tyninghame in Whitekirk-Tyningham registration district in East Lothian, Scotland. Born in Whitekirk, East Lothian, Scotland; citing The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey, England, Reference HO 107, Piece 723, Folio 0, Page 4, Schedule 20.
13. ↑ "Statutory Register of Deaths," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 4 January 2024), Thomas Hepburn death registered 1857 in Whitekirk and Tynninghame (age 81, mother's maiden name Sinclair); citing Ref 723/23.
14. ↑ "Find a Grave," database with images, (Find A Grave: Memorial #131856090 : accessed 4 January 2024), Memorial page for Thomas Hepburn (29 Jun 1799-7 Dec 1857), citing Whitekirk Churchyard, Whitekirk, East Lothian, Scotland.
15. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "John Stuart Hepburn," database, (Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia : accessed 4 January 2024)