Janet (Hepburn) Hunter (abt. 1815 - 1888)

Biography

Janet Hepburn is conjectured to have been born in Tynninghame, Haddingtonshire (now East Lothian), Scotland about 1816. Her parents are conjectured to be Thomas Hepburn and Agnes Whitecross. The registry entry of her death in 1888 records her age as 72 years, and her mother's maiden name as Whitecross^[1] This place her year of birth around 1815-16.

Janet married George Hunter on 29 Dec 1848 in the Church of Scotland in Prestonkirk^[2] Janet was recorded as "in the parish of Whitekirk", and George as "in this parish" ie Prestonkirk. Janet would have been aged around 33 years.

There is no record either in the Old Parish Registers or in the Statutory Registers of George and Janet ever having any children

Three years later Janet and George were living in East Linton in the parish of Prestonkirk. George (aged 35 years) was recorded as born in Prestonkirk. Janet (35) was also recorded as born in Prestonkirk^[3]

Ten years later in 1861 they were living in Eastside Linton. In the household were George (aged 40 years, a carter), Janet (aged 38 years and recorded as born in Tynninghame), George's sister-in-law, Ann Hepburn (aged 44 years, wife of an agricultural labourer and born in Whitekirk) and a minor Alice Tait (aged 11 years and born in England)^[4] It is conjectured that Ann Hepburn was Janet's older sister. Ann is recorded as born in Whitelaw and Janet in Tynninghame. These parishes were united in 1761. This lends support for Janet being born as recorded in Tynninghame.

Janet died on 3 Aug 1888^[1] and was buried in Prestonkirk Parish Church Graveyard^[5]

Research Notes

No record of the birthplace, birthdate or parents of Janet Hepburn (and its variants) has been found in any baptismal registers in East Lothian (or the former Haddingtonshire). This profile originally had Janet's parents as Thomas Hepburn and Agnes Whitecross, there is no record of this. However, the data on her death certificate^[1] is conjectured to be definitive which records her mother as surnamed Whitecross.

Thomas Hepburn and Agnes Whitecross had five children whose baptisms are recorded in the OPRs: Ann (baptized 12 Mar 1809), William (17 Nov 1811), James (31 Jan 1919), Elizabeth (6 Nov 1824), and Benjamin (15 Mar 1826), four were baptized in the united parish of Whitekirk and Tynninghame, except William who was baptized in North Berwick. The Anne Hepburn enumerated in George Hunter's household in Eastside Linton in 1861 is recorded as his sister-in-law, aged 44 years, placing her date of birth in 1807. Janet was recorded in the same household as aged 38 years, placing her birth as occurring in 1813. The 1851 Census has her aged 35 years, placing her birth in 1816. There is a gap between 1811 and 1819 when Thomas and Agnes' children were baptized. It is possible that Janet was born in that period, exactly in which year is uncertain.

The inscription on George's memorial in Prestonkirk parish church graveyard has been incorrectly transcribed, closer inspection suggests that her year of death was 1888, consistent with her death certificate^[1]. Additionally George's death certificate records that he was "widower of Jessie Hepburn"^[6]

Stone No. G303, Face: East

ERECTED

TO

THE MEMORY OF

GEORGE HUNTER

CARTER, EAST LINTON, WHO DIED ON

31ST MARCH 1895, AGED 79 YEARS,

AND OF HIS WIFE,

JANET HEPBURN,

WHO DIED ON 3RD AUGUST 1898 (sic)

AGED 72 YEARS.

HIS BROTHER JOHN DIED ON

8TH SEPTR 1885, AGED 69 YEARS.

HIS SISTER MARY DIED ON

28TH MAY 1889 AGED 68 YEARS.

HIS BROTHER ALEXANDER, DIED

ON 20TH JANUARY 1890, AGED 78 YEARS

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} "Statutory Register of Deaths," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 2 January 2024), Janet Hepburn death registered 1888 in Prestonkirk (age 72, mother's maiden name Whitecross); citing Ref 717/21.
2. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Banns and Marriages," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 2 January 2024), Janet Hepburn / George Hunter 29 Dec 1848 Prestonkirk, Haddingtonshire, Scotland; citing Parish Number 717, Ref 30/235, Frame 715.
3. ↑ "1851 Census of England, Scotland and Wales," database, (FreeCen Transcription : accessed 2 January 2024), Janet Hunter (35), wife, in household of George Hunter (35) in East Linton in Prestonkirk registration district in East Lothian, Scotland. Born in Prestonkirk, East Lothian, Scotland; citing The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey, England, Reference HO 107, Piece 717, Folio 0, Page 26, Schedule 85.
4. ↑ "1861 Census of England, Scotland and Wales," database, (FreeCen Transcription : accessed 2 January 2024), Janet H Hunter (38), wife, in household of George Hunter (40) on Eastside Linton Rd in Prestonkirk registration district in East Lothian, Scotland. Born in Tynninghame, East Lothian, Scotland; citing The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey, England, Reference RG 9, Piece 717, Folio 0, Page 12, Schedule 62.
5. ↑ "Find a Grave," database with images, (Find A Grave: Memorial #205342483 : accessed 1 January 2024), Memorial page for Janet Hepburn Hunter (1826-3 Aug 1898), citing Prestonkirk Parish Church Graveyard, East Linton, East Lothian, Scotland (plot: G303).
6. ↑ "Statutory Register of Deaths," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 2 January 2024), George Hunter death registered 1895 in Prestonkirk (age 79, mother's maiden name Ross); citing Ref 717/10.

• McNicoll, Diane D. Prestonkirk: The people of 1851 (1999) ISBN# 1 900444 03 8