Mary (Lammie) Smith (1931 - 2008)

Born 17 Dec 1931 in Lamlash, Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Wife of Robert Anderson Smith — married 23 Oct 1953 in Shiskine, Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 7 Jan 2008 at age 76 in Blackwaterfoot, North Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Biography

Mary was born at Clauchlands Farm, Lamlash, Isle of Arran, Scotland on 17 Dec 1931.^[1] She was the daughter of George Lammie and Marion Paton. Shortly after her birth, the family moved to Monyquil Farm, String Road, Isle of Arran where Mary was raised with her four brothers and one sister.

Mary completed her primary schooling at Shiskine Primary School, then went on to Lamlash Junior Secondary School for a couple of years. To further her education, she went to live with her aunt Lilias McKeggan’s family in Prestwick, Ayrshire. Her ambition was to go on to tertiary education and qualify as a domestic science teacher. However, after a few months at secondary school in Prestwick, Mary’s brother. George, fell ill on Arran and she had to return home to help her mother.

The young men and women on the island mainly socialised through the Young Farmers Association which held regular dances and social events. One young man in particular, Robert Anderson Smith, seemed to become increasingly friendly with Mary’s brothers and often visited the farm for a yarn with the boys and her father.

It was soon evident that the object of this young man’s visits was to court Mary and they married in Shiskine, Isle of Arran on 23 Oct 1953.^[2] The young couple settled into farming and raising a family at Ashlar Farm, Machrie, Isle of Arran. Mary and Robert had four children - Marion, Janette, Angus and Robert.

About 1966, Mary opened a village shop and post office in a little cottage in the farm yard at Ashlar. Eventually, after several years of running between her domestic duties in the farmhouse and the customers at the shop, she built an addition to the farm house in 1970 and moved the business into the main building. Mary closed the business on 8 Oct 1977 and there has never been a shop and post office in Machrie since then.

Mary was a lifelong member of the Scottish Women’s Rural Institute (SWRI) and won several prizes for her baking and crafts in the Arran Agricultural Show’s SWRI section.

In 1994, Mary and Robert retired from the farm to a house they named ‘Soval’ which they built in Blackwaterfoot, Isle of Arran. They could not stay idle for long and for several years , they operated a business importing and selling eggs to shops and hotels around the island.

In later years, Mary suffered some health issues and passed away in her home in Blackwaterfoot on 7 Jan 2008 at the age of 76.^[3] Her remains are interred at Clachan Glen Cemetery, Shiskine, Isle of Arran.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Scotland Statutory Registers - Births" database, Scotlands People (https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk : accessed 19 Feb 2024). Lammie, Mary. Female. 1932. Reference number: 553/2/1. Registration District: Kilbride (Bute).
2. ↑ ”Scotland Statutory Registers - Marriages” database online. (https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk : accessed 18 March 2024) SMITH, ROBERT ANDERSON and LAMMIE, MARY. 1953. Reference number: 554 / 2 / 2. Registration district: SHISKINE.
3. ↑ "Scotland Statutory Registers - Deaths” database, Scotlands People. (https://scotlandspeople.gov.uk : accessed 25 Feb 2024) SMITH, MARY. Age at death: 76. Mother’s maiden name: PATON. Female. 2008. Reference number: 553 / 3. Registration district: ISLE OF ARRAN.
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/252259274/mary-smith: accessed February 25, 2024), memorial page for Mary Lammie Smith (17 Dec 1931–7 Jan 2008), Find a Grave Memorial ID 252259274, citing Clachan Glen Cemetery, Isle of Arran, North Ayrshire, Scotland; Maintained by Kerry Hudson (contributor 50181059).

Research Notes

Mary’s birth record shows the registration date (1932) not birth year (1931).