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From: Bruce McDowall <>
Subject: Samuel GARDENER - Whithorn
Date: Mon, 7 Nov 2005 17:28:42 +1100


Ian, (under subject [WIG LIST] new member), wrote:

Hello all - I'm returning to genealogy after a few years away. In
reviving my research I am following a line of the family tree that
goes to Whithorn. The Gardners lived there in 1851. Samuel Gardner
was a clockmaker who gave his birthplace as Glasserton. Some of his
children were born in Aberdeen but the family then returned to
Wigtownshire. No births are listed on the IGI for this household in
either region. I suppose that means this may have been a Catholic
family.

I am interested in hearing from anyone who has information or links
with this family, and anyone who can suggest why they would have gone
to Aberdeen for several years circa 1835 - 45

Ian Sale

- - - - -

Hi Ian,

They were not necessarily catholics. There were other Presbyterian churches
beside the established Church of Scotland. Many families were secessionists
of one or other type. One of the better known secessions was in 1843 when
the Free Church was formed. Based on key baptisms not recorded in the OPR
records, my McDOWALLs seem to have been seceders.
Not all parishes were served by churches of each group, so some folk went
some distance to worship at the place of their choice. Thus, the parish
boundaries only applied to the Church of Scotland. Whithorn had a
Secessionist Church prior to the formation of the Free Church. The LDS
catalogue lists the Whithorn Associated Congregation Church, and says this
church changed names from time to time. FHL film no 1886484 has various
records, but baptisms are only from 1852 to 1912.

Slaters 1852 directory, under Whithorn & Glasserton, Watch Makers, lists
Gardiner Samuel, Whithorn.
He is not listed in Pigot & Co directory of 1837/38.

It looks like your Samuel GARDNER arrived in Whithorn between 1838 and
1841, according to the 1841 census. From the D&GFHS booklet for the Burgh
of Whithorn, at ED 1, Page 23, MainSt, there are:
Samuel, 40, watchmaker, born WIG
Jessie, 35, born other county
John, 9, born other county
Jane, 7, born other county
Jessie, 5, born other county
Maryann, 4, born other county
Margaret, 3, born other county
Georgina, 2 months, born WIG

The 1841 census was taken on the night of Sun 6th June.

Regards,
Bruce


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