THE SCOTTISH CROCKET AND MCKILL FAMILIES
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For a report on the early Crockets and McKills: http://www.lendingtheway.com/Crocket/earlyMcKillCrocket.html James was sometimes thought to be born at Holywood. Or was he? The 1841 Terregles Census, page 1, shows James and his family at Seeside Farm. James was then 50, 'not born in the county' (or was this a reference to being born outside the parish, but mindful of the family story that the family came from Kirkudbright, perhaps this is right?). There were already 4 children, the two oldest on the census form being twin girls, Jessie and Margaret. There were two other women in the house: Janet Martin, not born in the county, aged 73 (could this be mother-in-law?), and Agnes McKimtie, 23, agricultural labourer, born in Ireland. Three other labourers lived in the Seeside Stable, the youngest 14, and two men of 22 and 23. Could Janet Martin have been Jessie McKill's mother? The 1851 Census, page 3 of 4, shows an entry for Seeside Farmhouse. The farm was of 130 acres, employing 2 men and 2 girls. By now there were 2 other older children who did not appear in the 1851 census, Agnes and John, aged 19 and 17, and 4 more children born after Mary, including Ellenora. A farm servant lived in the house. The 1861 census shows no sign of Agnes and John, but the twins Margaret and Jessie were still living at home, aged 24, working on the farm and in the house, as were all the younger children, including Ellenora, who were not still at school. A ploughman lived in at the farm. James's daughter Mary was present at his death. The confusion about James's origins might be illuminated by an entry in the 1851 census for a John Crocket, farming in Holywood, one of the claimed origins for James. Could John be a son of James's from an earlier marriage? However, there is a strong family story that the Crockets came from Kirkudbrightshire. In the 1851 census for Kirkmahoe, one of the places where James in his dotage same he came from, there is an individual listed as Crockett, Agnes 33 needleworker, umarhead Kircudbright, TroqVill of Kirkton. As James's mother was Agnes, this is probably his sister. Her statement is very precise, and she too came from out of Dumfriesshire, specifically at TroqVill of Kirkton. By the time of the 1871 census much had changed. James was now '80', claiming to have been born in Kirkmahoe. Jean (called Jane) was still, unmarried at home, as was William. Margaret was visiting and now married, her surname being Dutton and her husband a 'master mariner'. She had brought her baby Helen Jessie Dutton, born in England, with her. It seems likely that Mary was living close by since she was on hand when both of her parents died. Her sisters were traced in the 1881 census (CD version) to Union Bank House at 8 English Street, Dumfries. Perhaps she was at Castlewood Cottage or at one of the other family homes. His death: James's death was registered in the Parish of Caerlaverock by his daughter, Mary J Crocket. The registry entry gives his father's name as John Crocket, Farmer (deceased) and his mother as Agnes Crocket, m.s. [maiden surname] Smith (deceased). The cause of death was 'natural decay', at 3.30 pm with 'no medical attendant', although his daughter Mary was present. The nearby graveyard in Holywood, a village right beside Terregles, has Crocket memorial stones. Number 54 shows: James Crocket, late farmer, Seeside, Terregles. Died at Castlewood Cottage, Caerlaverock, 6th September 1875, aged 85 years His son, John, who died 22nd August, 1864 in Ceylon, aged 30. His wife Jessie McKill, who died at the Union Bank House, Dumfries, 2nd June 1888, aged 76. His daughter Jane died a spinster at 32 Buccleuch Street, Dumfries, 11th September 1916, aged 78. His daughter Jessie, died a spinster 26th January 1929. The March 2003 Dumfries and Galloway Family History Society Newsletter, compiled by Margaret Wright, shows on pages 6 and 7 a summary of items drawn from local publications over the years. On page 6 there is a reference to local musical activities, including the performance of dance music and compositions by local musicians. Thomas Bell made himself a violin and became accomplished in the style of the 'up-bow'. He liked to share music and founded the Dumfries Violin Club, from whose members grew the Dumfries Strathspey Band. Thomas Bell was leader and the group included five farmers, James Crocket from Seeside, Terregles among them. Local papers carried snippets about the members of the Club, including a short one on James Crocket, stating that he had a large family, and that his oldest son John died of sunstroke in Ceylon in 1864, aged 30. Seeside Farm sits on the west side of the country road that acts as a western route to cut round Dumfries. It can be access from the run south on the A76 and allows the driver to cut across to the A75 that heads west from Dumfries. The farm sits beyond the fork off to Bonerick, facing east towards the White Hill of Terregles and Bra Croft. To the south east is a small loch, and a rather larger one beyond. It appears a remote location to raise a family of children, with the Terregles church on the far side of the hills to the East alongside Terregles park, and the school alongside it. |