Thread: Clark Family of Midlothian Scotland

Silverfox2306

Hello,

I have been researching my family history CLARK for a short time and I have managed to put together the bones of a family tree. I have received some additional help from Starlight to get through a brick wall in the mid 1700s.

I thought at this stage I would make part of my family tree available to anyone who might be interested. The reason is two-fold, one, to give others the opportunity to help me fill in the gaps or correct errors and two, to give fellow ancestor hunters the opportunity to have a look and see if any of my ancestors are theirs too?

The area of the tree where I have the biggest problem is William Clark 1776 and Helen Begbie 1775 Lanark. I am trying to validate them as the definate Father and Mother of William Clark born 24th May 1801 in Newbattle. The were the only William and Helen in Scotland that would fit the bill around that time. The alternative would be that they were married outside Scotland, England perhaps?

The other area of interest for me is ultimately finding the resting places of some of my ancestors.

I hope this link works....?

regards,

John CLARK

http://hometown.aol.co.uk/johnclark0...age/hobby.html

billhall

Hi John
any connections with Clarks in Linlithgow, West Lothian?
I have extensive records for Clarks there.
regards
Bill

Silverfox2306

Hi Bill,

Sorry most of my Clark's were in Midlothian, and then Lanarkshire.
I was surprised to see just how many Clark's there are in Scotland.

Best of luck with your research. I've found www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk to be very good for tracing your scottish ancestors. I can also recommend spending some time at New Register House in Edinburgh. I'ts now only £10 per day with unlimited access to their records. If you get stuck you will not beat Ancestryaid for helping you get past a brick wall.

regards and all the best,

John.

billhall

Hi John
with the greatest respect could I make a suggestion?
You probably have gone down this road and I apologise if i am teaching 'my Grandfather to suck eggs' so to speak.
Wm Clark and Helen Begbie's children were all born or christened in either East or Midlothian (Tranent or Newbattle). The two on the IGI (Andrew & David) shown as born in Newton, Lanark have been submitted by LDS member and are not verified by official records, I have found these unreliable in the past. I suggest that Newton has been put in instead of Newbattle, David and Andrew were both christened there, David under the Mothers name spelt 'BIGBIE'.
Another leap.......
Using the 'Scottish Naming System' which I have found works in many cases, William's Father could be Andrew and his Mother Isobel, I looked for this combination and found an Andrew Clerk and Isobel Lyon having a son William Apr 1765 in Ratho, Midlothian.

Helen's Father could be William or David and her Mother Katherine, again looking for this combination found a William begbie and Katherine Forrest having a daughter Helen 11 Apr 1767 in Gladsmuir, East Lothian which is a mile from Tranent where Wm & Helen had their first 3 children.
Hope this helps, and again if you have tried all this I apologise.
Regards
Bill

billhall

HI John
How did you know I had an 'Honest sonsie face' I could look more like a 'Great puddin o' the chieften race??????? or is it......................
However, "A man's a man for aw' that"
Best regards
Bill

Silverfox2306

Thanks for the information Bill. I will need to get back to the Clark side a little later. I,m currently engrossed in my mothers side just now. Aitken of Newbattle, Currie and Uphall (so far?)

regards,

John.