James Craw (abt. 1719)

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret (Clark) Craw — married about 10 Aug 1746 in Fordoun, Kincardineshire, Scotland

Descendants

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Introduction

Details in the biography of James are a little unclear, due to lack of information in parish records. Explanations of what is correct and what is unknown should be noted as appropriate.

Biography

Birth

James Craw was baptised on 22nd Dec 1719 in Fordoun, and was probably born only a few days earlier.^[1]

His birth entry in the parish records only gives his baptism date, place as Fordoun, and his father's name as 'Alexr', no mother's name.

Marriage

James married Margaret Clerk on either the 3rd^[2] or 10th Aug 1746.

"Fordoun, Parish No 259/1 Proclamation (very poor writing) August 10, 1746 James Crow and Margaret Clerk gave up their names to be proclaimed in order to marriage. _______ Willie in Auchenblae cautioner for man and David Andrew in Drumillie for the woman for their performance and abstinence."

Residence

From the baptism entry for the birth of James' son Alexander, we see that James was living in 'Kirkside' in 1751.^[3]

'Kirkside' was apparently used in the past as a rather loose term meaning somewhere close to the church or 'kirk'. Presumably the church in question is the Fordoun Parish church, located just a few hundred yards south of the modern village of Auchenblae (note: modern online maps tend to show 'Fordoun' as where the current railway station is, which is 2 or 3 miles SE of old Fordoun church & village).

At the risk of adding more confusion, when you see 'Fordoun' in an old document, it could, then, refer to Fordoun Parish Church (i.e. the actual church itself), Fordoun (as in the village of Fordoun), or Fordoun Parish (i.e. a region of approx. 10 miles sq, with the church roughly in the middle).

Sources

1. ↑ "Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," index, FamilySearch : accessed 02 Mar 2013, James Craw, 22 Dec 1719.
2. ↑ "Scotland, Marriages, 1561-1910," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XT55-SM2 : accessed 02 Mar 2013), James Crow and Margaret Clerk, 03 Aug 1746.
3. ↑ Bapt Memo: Fordoun, Parish 259/1, births page 70: April 21st 1751 James Crow in Kirkside had a son baptised called Alexander. Witnesses were Alexr Clerk in Kirkside and William Stuart in Reidmire.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Steven C for starting this profile.

Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Steven and others.