THE TURNBULL FAMILY FROM CASTLETON PARISH, ROXBURGHSHIRE

My Turnbull family line, which stems from my maternal grandmother Agnes TURNBULL, all originate from Castleton parish in Roxburghshire, and go back to George TURNBULL, my 7xgreat grandfather, (born 1644 and died 1729 at Greens in Castleton). Funnily enough, my granny Agnes, was the first Turnbull to be born outside the parish - she was born near Canonbie, Dumfriesshire.

George Turnbull had married Jean BEATTIE (1669-1739) sometime prior to 1701 and they had two children I am aware of - Elizabeth and Francis, my 6xgreat grandfather (1701-1772).

Francis TURNBULL married Agnes ROBSON and three children were born, namely John, my 5xgreat grandfather (1723-1804), Hannah (1733-1802) and Thomas (1744-1804). Francis and Agnes both died in Yethouse, Castleton.

John TURNBULL married Esther NIXON (1729-1800) in 1750, in Roan, Castleton. They had 8 children between 1752 and 1768, including James, my 4xgreat grandfather, who was third born in 1759. Both John and Esther died in Dastonburn, Castleton.

James TURNBULL married Elizabeth OLIVER (1768-1809) and they had four children between 1802 and 1807. My 3xgreat grandfather, John, was born second, in 1803. James died in 1847 at Floriday in Castleton, a farm that the Turnbull's would occupy for quite a few decades. Elizabeth had died much earlier, in 1809, at Hudhouse, Castleton, aged only 40.

John TURNBULL married Jane ARMSTRONG on 4th January 1835 in Hobkirk, Roxburghshire and had 9 children between 1831 and 1847. My great great grandfather, Andrew Stavert, was the youngest and was born at Floriday in 1847. John and Jane both died at Floriday in 1872 and 1878 respectively.

Andrew Stavert TURNBULL married Jane MURRAY on 15th April 1869 in Newcastleton, Roxburghshire.

Andrew Stavert Turnbull

Jane Murray (at Middleholm)

Andrew and Jane had 10 children, with my great grandfather, James, being eighth born in 1883. Jane, the eldest was born in 1869 in Newcastleton. Then Elizabeth born 1871 at Floriday, but Janet, Isabella and Euphemia were all born in Kershopehead, before Margaret, John, James and Janet again born at Floriday.

From the 1851 Census, and indeed up until the 1891 Census, Andrew lived and worked at the farm of Floriday, latterly as a shepherd. However by the time of 1901 Census, Andrew and family were at Middleholm Farm, near Langholm, Dumfriesshire and his occupation is stated as Farmer on his own account. The 1911 Census has Andrew and Jane still at Middleholm, with daughters Margaret, aged 32, and Janet, aged  25, grandson James, aged 16, son James, aged 28, daughter-in-law Agnes, aged 26, and granddaughters Jane, aged 3 and Agnes, aged 1.

I have photographs of some of Andrew and Jane's children -

Isabella Turnbull (1874-1955)

Euphemia Turnbull (on the left) (at Middleholm) (1876-1934)

Janet Turnbull (1885-1920)

Janet lived with her parents at Middleholm, near Langholm at the time of the 1911 Census, but she emigrated to the United States of America in 1914 and gave birth to a daughter, May Jane, in Wyoming in 1916. She had married an Andrew SCOTT although I cannot yet find any evidence of marriage. It appears he emigrated to the U.S. in 1893, so they may have married over there. In late 1917, she gave birth to a son, John, in Nebraska, USA. Per the 1920 United States Census, Andrew and Janet, with their 2 children lived in New York (Lebanon, Maddison district). Janet died later that year and in the "U.S. Find A Grave" Index, there is mention of a "Mrs Andrew Scott", born 1884 and who died in 1920, being buried in Earlville Cemetery, Madison County, New York. Per the US Social Security Index, John Scott died in 1997.

Violet Turnbull (centre, with Janet Turnbull and nephew Jimmy Turnbull, at Middleholm) (1888-1950)

James Turnbull (my great grandfather) (1883-1962)

I also have a photograph of the Turnbull family at Gorrenberry Farm Steading, taken in 1912, not long before Andrew Stavert Turnbull died. My great great grandfather farmed in Dumfriesshire, but his brother, William, had died at Gorrenberry in 1909, so there must have been some Turnbull connection to that farm.

James TURNBULL, a game keeper, married Agnes McGLASSON on 5th March 1908 in Langholm, Dumfriesshire. Five days earlier, their daughter Jane had been born at Glentarras, near Langholm and in 1910, my grandmother, Agnes, was born at Andrews Knowes, near Canonbie.

Jean Turnbull, Agnes McGlasson and Agnes Turnbull

Me and my great grandmother, Agnes McGlasson circa 1957