Irvines & Bonshaw Tower

[margrace]

Yes I have that Irving and Carruthers listed. They had a few more children including a son who I have no information on. Probably they were Janet Carruthers, My great great gandmothers cousins.

The Carruthers are well researched and go back to 1400 but I can't find much about the Irvings back beyone my Great Great Grandfather Robert who was born in 1793. I too a photo of his toombstone when I was over in Scotland.

[Peter_Martin]

I would start by trying to find a definite link to the family that you are referring to at the start of this post. It was not uncommon in the past for surnames to reflect the job, place of family origin or former employer.

Use the family legend as something to verify by your research, rather than believe as being true beyond reasonable doubt. It is possible that the 'legend' has become scewed over the generations simply as a result of one or two generations not remembering what they were told correctly.

[BonshawScout]

Originally posted by Peter_Martin
I would start by trying to find a definite link to the family that you are referring to at the start of this post. It was not uncommon in the past for surnames to reflect the job, place of family origin or former employer.

Use the family legend as something to verify by your research, rather than believe as being true beyond reasonable doubt. It is possible that the 'legend' has become scewed over the generations simply as a result of one or two generations not remembering what they were told correctly.

Well, thanks, but I think that's what I'm already doing.

[Peter_Martin]

My point is that you need to verify the links with your own research of the original registers or microfiche copies of them.

The books that you are referring to are quite elderly. The quality of research used by some of these family lines books published before 1925 can be a little shaky. Some researchers simply made up links in the family tree to prove what their patrons wanted to hear. Others did not take much care to copy the registers properly. Uncomfortable facts such as suicide and illegitimacy are either covered up or glossed over.

The General Register Office for Scotland hold the Church of Scotland Baptism, Marriage and Burial Registers until 1855. From 1855 they hold the Statutory Registers of Births, Deaths and Burials. It is possible to use their website Scotlands People to search digital images of the original entries. The Old Parish Registers will be available for viewing digitally from around August this year.

[margrace]

Hi Peter,

Your advice is timely but just because we live in North America does not mean we have the money to pay for that research. It is far too costly for me.

But I do have a contact over there who does it for me and I have contacted family memebers so am pretty sure most of my information is correct.

I was just over to Dumfries and saw where my great great grandfather Robert Irving was born, where his wife Janet Carruthers was born and where their farm was. I also saw where they were buried.

I do have the advantage of having a lot of relatives still living in the area. Whereas it is a little more complicated with Stephanie. Her people came over here at least 60 years before mine and before there were the records of today.

It would be adventages if the records were a little easier to get at. I have looked at the cost several times and since my husband and I are on a fixed income it would be far too costly for us.

[margrace]

I now know that my Irvings came from the Middlebie area and lived at Stockbridgehall farm. Whether they owned it or not I do not know. Have you found any more information on your Irvings?

Margaret

[gurwin]

Originally Posted by BonshawScout

Hi everyone,

I'm researching my Irvine/Ervin line and legend has it that our ancestors lived at Bonshaw Tower in Dumfriesshire, Annandale. Our Ervin family did emigrate with (to America), live amongst, and inter-marry with the Corrie/Curry family and the Bells, two families who lived near Bonshaw and were connected with the Irving clan. But I'm somewhat skeptical that we have a strong tie to the tower itself (which is why I'm scouting). Does anyone out there have any information on the Irvines or the Bonshaw Tower? It would be greatly appreciated.

Stephanie

Is this thread still going?
I am studying the Bonshaw Irvings etc.
If interested email me direct graeme.urwin@rwplc.co.uk

Thanks

Graeme