James
BROWN [ 002 ]
.
. . . COCHRAN [ 003 ]
===========================
These are the parents of the Jean Wilson
Brown who emigrated to Aust and married George Skinner at Braidwood NSW in
1861.
There’s very little data on this particular
James Brown, and all of this below may, or may not, be relevant.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
KNOWN
FACTS on Jean Wilson Brown ...
Jean was aged “75” on her July 1916 death certificate
A James Brown was her father, and was
called a “Gamekeeper” on her DC
Jean’s mothers maiden name was “Cockran”
on same DC
Jean’s middle name was “Wilson” on same DC
Jean was born in “Coatbridge New Glasgow”
on same DC
Jean was described as “Jean W. Brown,
the third daughter of James Brown, of Glasgow, Scotland” on her Golden Wedding
notice in 1911
NOTE - The “Scotlands People” website
(that’s been used extensively below) admit that the early parish church records
in their database are patchy and at times unreliable. This is born out when
looking for a very specific person, even with an odd name, and find that they
only exist in say one Census – NO birth, NO death, NO marriage. And even when
there IS an entry, it’s so brief that some don’t say more than the Index
itself.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
?/4/1792
- Thomas Braidwood Wilson born at Uphall, West Lothian (10kms west of
Edinburgh) to a James Wilson and Catherine Boak, and mar a Jane Thompson in
Durham in 1826, and pioneered the Braidwood area from about 1836, and was said
to have brought out Scots settlers. [f]
This may have NO relevance at all, as
Wilson died before George Skinner’s and Jean Brown’s time in Braidwood.
1797
to 1801 – The James Brown living in Dundyvan Row, Old Monkland in the 1841
Census, was born in Lanarkshire [q]
Old
Monklands is a parish in the Middle ward of the county of Lanark(shire), SW of
Airdrie, containing the parishes of Crosshill and Gartsherrie, and numerous
populous villages including Coatbridge.
31/3/1798
to 30/3/1799 – The James Brown who was living in Motherwell, Dalzeil parish,
Lnkshire in the 1851 census, was born in Kilpatrick Dunbartonshire. [q]
New or “East” Kilpatrick Dunbarton(shire)
is abt 7 kms NW of Glasgow CBD.
22/12/1799
– A James Brown was bapt at New (or “East”) Kilpatrick Dunbarton, father James
Brown (“of Culloch” ?) and mother Agnes Allen
[g]
There’s nothing obvious on the births of
these parents, and no marriage of them 1788-1795 anywhere in ScotlandsPeople
website, but they appear to also had Agnes 2/12/1792, Mary 11/5/1794, Janet
28/2/1796, Janet 17/9/1797, and James above 1799, all born in Kilpatrick
Dunbartonshire.
“Culloch” was possibly in what was farm
area near today’s Windyhill Golf Course, abt 1km NW of New Kilpatrick parish
church at Bearsden.
31/3/1801
to 30/3/1802 – The Jane Cochrane, wife of James Brown, who was living in
Motherwell, Dalzeil parish, Lnkshire in the 1851 census, was born in “Calford”,
(says “County Unknown” in index, but no County on actual form) [q]
“Calford” can’t be found in any current
day placenames of any County.
5/12/1802
– A Janet Cochran was born in Neilston Renfrewshire to James Cochran and
Margaret Wilson [g] [r]
Looking for the “WILSON” connection - this
is the ONLY Cochran (all spellings) male & Wilson female couple who had a
dau starting with “J” 1795-1815 in all of Scotland.
These two look like they had 7 kids,
1790-1802, in Neilston and nearby Abbey in Renfrewshire, abt 8 kms SSW of
Glasgow CBD.
The age of Janet is about right for the
‘51 Census, but the places don’t match either ’41 or ’51, nor her name
spelling, although “Janet”, “Jane”, and Jean” are fairly evenly represented in
the 1795-1815 extract above.
6/8/1804
- A James Brown was born at Cambuslang Lanarkshire, to John Brown and Mary
Wilson (who mar 30/6/1791 and also at least had Andrew 1794, Margaret 1802,
David 1807, Angus 1809). [g]
Looking for “WILSON” connection - this is
the ONLY Brown/Wilson parents of a James Brown 1795-1805, and it only shows as
such on the IGI.
Cambuslang Lanarkshire is abt 6 kms SE of
Glasgow.
Lanarkshire Co takes in a large area immed
east and southeast of Glasgow, once inc Glasgow.
1807
to 1811 – The Jean Cochran, who was living with a James Brown in Dundyvan Row,
Old Monkland in the 1841 Census, was born in Lanarkshire. [q]
---------------------
MARRIED -------------------
4/8/1821
– A James Brown, a “Coalier”, married a Jean Cochran, “both in this parish”
(implying address?), in Barony Lanarkshire
[g]
Barony, Lanarkshire is in the inner E
suburbs of Glasgow. Today, what was Barony parish has long been eaten up by the
city of Glasgow. In the past it represented lands which were to the north of
the city and which were, in those days, more rural - they included Maryhill,
Lambhill, Bishopbriggs, Kelvinside, Possil, Balornock, Springburn, Provanmill,
Millerston, Dennistoun, Garthamlock, Carntyne, Calton, Barlanark, Shettleston,
Tollcross and Barrachnie.
31/7/1822
– A James Brown was born to a James Brown (“Coalier”, “Gaishead”?) and a Jean
Cochran (no ‘e’) in Barony, Lanarkshire, bapt 18/8/1822, descr as “1st
child”, witn William Dyer and Andrew Walker [g] [r]
Can’t see anything interesting regards
witnesses.
Can’t find anything that looks like
“Gaisbread” in Lanarkshire.
20/3/1824
– A William Brown was born to a James Brown and a Jean Cochran in Barony,
Lanarkshire, bapt 12/4/1824, descr as “Child 2” (on index), [g] [r]
The parish entry for this has NOT been
sighted.
2/1/1826
– A Sarah Brown was born to a James Brown (“Coalier”, “Gaishead”?) and a Jean
Cochran in Barony, Lanarkshire, bapt 15/1/1826, descr as “3rd child,
witns William Dyer and William Siddell [g] [r]
These three above – James, William and
Sarah - are clearly the one family, and probably of the couple married 4/8/1821
in the same parish, but the “numbering” of them looks like a Barony Parish
thing only and not used elsewhere.
There are NO MORE kids 1826-1845 to this
couple in Barony.
17/1/1828
– A John Brown was born to a James Brown and a Jean Cochran of “Hirst” in Cumbernauld,
Dunbarton, bapt 10/2/1828 [g] [r]
This is the ONLY child of this couple in
the existing records in Cumbernauld 1822-1840.
The timing fits well, but this may or may
not be the 4th child of the couple above.
Cumbernauld, Dunbarton is abt 12 kms NE of
Glasgow CBD, but can’t find “Hirst”.
22/3/1830
– A Robert Brown was born to a James Brown and a Jean Cochran in New Kilpatrick
parish, Dunbarton [g] [r]
This is the ONLY child of this couple in
the existing records in New Kilpatrick 1822-1840.
The timing fits well, but this may or may
not be the 5th child of the couple above.
The parish is the same as where the
22/12/1799 James (the father?) was bapt.
4/1/1833
– A Margaret Lee Brown was born to a James Brown (of “Chryston”) and a Jean
Cochran in Cadder parish, Lanarkshire [g] [r]
There are NO OTHER kids born IN CADDER to
what looks like this couple, from 1820-1845.
“Lee” is a common surname in marriages
1750-1833 in the Glasgow & Barony area of Lanarkshire, a few in Old
Monkland, but none in Cadder.
Chryston is in Cadder parish in Nth
Lanarkshire, abt 6 kms NW of Coatbridge.
The timing fits well, but this may or may
not be the 6th child AND therefore the 2nd daughter,
of the couple above.
26/11/1837
to 25/11/1838 – The Jane Brown, age 21, Domestic Servant, Native County
Lanarkshire, who arrived in Moreton Bay on the “Shackmaxon” on 25/11/1859, was
born [p]
23/6/1839
– A John Brown (born 21/5/1839) was bapt to a James Brown and Jean Cochrane
(spelt with the ‘e’), in the Dunbeth Relief Church in Coatbridge, while they
were living in “Buchanans Row” [g] [r]
This is the ONLY child of this couple in
the existing records in Coatbridge 1822-1845.
The timing fits well, but this may or may
not be the 6th child of the couple above.
Coatbridge is abt 10 kms east of Glasgow
CBD, and there is a “Buchanans Road” in the parish.
Dunbeth Relief Church is in the middle of
Coatbridge, built in 1839 (cnr Albert and Weir Sts), a replacement church built
1872.
[Wiki]
7/6/1841
– Living in one house in “Dundyvan Row” in parish of Old Monkland is James
Brown, a Coal Miner (“40”, = 40 to 44, = bn 1797 to 1801), Jean Cochran (with
no “e”), (“30”, = 30 to 34, = bn 1807 to 1811) Coal Miner, William Brown (“15”,
= bn 1826) Coal Miner, Laura Brown (“12”, = bn 1828/9), and Margaret Brown
(“8”, = bn 1833), and for county of birth all given a “Yes”, that is, born
Lanarkshire, Scotland [q]
In the 1841 census, there is no
Relationship stated. It is NOT common for wives to use their maiden names in
this area in this Census, but in 1851 she IS stated as “Wife”, but still uses
the name “Cochran”.
The PLACE OF BIRTH is just – “yes” if the
person was born in the county, “no” if born elsewhere in Scotland, “E” if born
in England, “I” if born in Ireland, and “F” if foreign born.
With AGE, the age of persons over 15
was supposed to be rounded down to the nearest multiple of 5. For example, a
person aged 17 would be listed as 15, a person aged 22 would be listed as age
20, and a person age 59 would be listed as 55.
Based on this, the William in this Census
could be the 1824 William above, and also Margaret is right. BUT ...
Where is James, who would’ve been 18-19,
away working?
Where is Sarah, who would’ve been about 15,
away working?
Where is John, who would’ve been 13? IF
this is all one family, then the name John was “reused” in 1839, suggesting
John #1 died between 1828 and 1839.
But who is 12 yo Laura Brown? Presumably a
relative, and she could’ve fitted in the 2 yrs 2 mnths between John and Robert,
but there is NO female child starting with “L” born to a James Brown anywhere
in all of Scotlands People 1825-1832! And no other searches of the databases
comes up with any hits on a possible Laura.
Dundyvan is just SW of the heart of
Coatbridge.
“Dundyvan” was the name of an Iron Works
(abt 1835-75) in the Coatbridge area, part owned by a John Wilson.
The Lanaks Names Book 1858-61 states
“Dundyvan ROWS - Four rows of miner's cottages one story high erected by the
late Mr John Wilson of Dundyvan”, and also “This Name applies to Several Rows
of dwelling houses which are Occupied by Pitmen And other persons Connected
with Dundyvan Iron Works.”
Also says “Dundyvan ROAD - This Street or
Road extends from Bank Street at Union Bank in a Southerly direction
intersecting Buchanan Street to Dundyvan”.
John Wilson (1787-1851) was one of
Scotland's most accomplished iron masters. According to his obituary notice
(below), he purchased the estate of Arden, near Airdrie, consisting of about
700 acres, where he extracted the minerals for use at his various works,
reserving a portion of the surface for the establishment of a large dairy farm.
Here he built a "country village" for the habitation of the workmen,
with a school so endowed as to afford their children education at a very small
expense. Wilson family members lived in a nearby mansion house.
Following John Wilson's death, Arden
remained in the ownership of John Wilson's trustees, however valuation rolls
show William Wilson as occupier and presumably the proprietor of the
short-lived oil works. There are no clues as to the precise location of the
works, but these seem likely to have been associated with the surface buildings
of one of the Arden pits.
John Wilson also purchased from Sir James Colquhoun, Bart. of Luss, the
mansion and estate of Ardenconnel (nr Rhu, 15 kms NW of Dunbarton), where he
principally resided and where his decease occurred suddenly, from disease of
the heart, on the 9th November 1851, in his sixty-first year.
11/7/1840
to 10/7/1841 - The Jane Wilson Brown, who married a George Skinner in Braidwood
NSW in 1861, and died in Perth in 1916, was born in Coatbridge New Glasgow, to
a James Brown and his wife (unknown) “Cockran”
[b]
If this one is of the 1822-1839 family
above, she would be abt two years after John, AND it would make her the “third
daughter” of the Golden Wedding entry of 1911.
Coatbridge is abt 10 kms east of Glasgow
CBD
14/7/1841
to 13/7/1842 – The Jane Brown, age 18 (= bn 1842), Nurse, Native County
Argyllshire, who arr in Port Jackson on the “Chance” on 13/7/1860, was
born [p]
Here, “Native County” implies place of
birth?
22/10/1841
- A Jean Brown bapt to James Brown in Glasgow
[g]
This does NOT come up in Scotland’s People
Index, and there is NO Jean (and variants) born to a James Brown and anyone
Cochran in Lanarkshire 1838-1845. And there’s NO kids in the existing records
born to a James Brown and a Cochran in Coatbridge, or either Monklands,
1838-1845.
8/3/1843
– A Jane Wilson Brown born in Coatbridge to James Brown and .......
Cockran [n]
The source of this is uncertain, and does
not come up on the Scotlands People Index, but possibly came from Skinner
descendants in WA. The birth-DAY of 8/3 could be factual, handed down orally
from grandchildren who knew her, but not necessarily the year?
8/8/1843
– A Jane Wilson Brown was born to a James Brown and an Isabella Gibson in Govan
LKS [r]
While her name is the only one on record,
and the father is right, Govan is too far from Coatbridge, and nothing else of
this family’s data fits.
30/3/1851
– Living together in “Village of Motherwell” in Dalziel parish was James Brown
(Head, 52, = bn 1798/9) a Miner, born Kilpatrick Dunbartonshire, Jane Cochrane
his wife (49, = bn 1801/2) born “Calford” (County not stated), and their
daughter Jane (9, = bn 1842) born Old Monkland Lnrkshire. [q]
Motherwell is abt 4 kms S of Coatbridge.
Kilpatrick is just north of Glasgow, can’t
find a relevant “Calford”, and Coatbridge is just east of Glasgow, a was a big
coal mining and industrial area at that time. Their neighbours in the Census
are mostly miners or industrial workers.
In the 1851 Census the ages are meant to
be actual ages.
30/3/1851
– Also possible older children in the 1851 Census ... [q]
- James Brown 31 Coal Miner, bn Old
Monkland, living in Gortsherrie OM with wife Helen 27 bn Ardrie, and kids
Margaret 7, Janet 5, Thomas 1, all bn OM
- William Brown 27 (right age) Weaver, Unm, bn
Barony LKS, Lodger in Park household in Camlachie LKS... or...
- William Brown 24 (bit young but right
occ?) Coal miner, Unm, bn Barony LKS, Visitor to Scott household in Holytown
Bothwell
=============
So, what of James and his family? ===========
IF the 1851 Census at Motherwell is this
family, and as Jean the dau emigrated before say Dec 1860 at the latest (to
marry in Braidwood in March 1861), and assuming Jean emigrated because she had
no parents left alive, then only records from March 1851 to Dec 1860 are worth
searching.
1855
VALUATION (Houses)
Searched “James Brown, Tenant,
Lanarkshire” – 195 hits. This is a hugely common name.
Needing anything that looks like a tied
cottage on an estate large enough to warrant a “Gamekeeper” - very hard to pick
the type of property from the index and too many to check all of them. Viewed
some, not many show occupations.
“Blackwell” was a large estate just south
of Motherwell (1851 Census), viewed several James Browns but can’t find one
that looks like him in or around its parish.
There’s NO James Browns in Dalziel parish,
and of the immed attached parishes, only Hamilton and Bothwell have a few, some
of these viewed but there’s nothing that looks like him.
1861
CENSUS
1861 Census seems pointless, but there are
several James Brown 1861 Census entries that could be him, IF he was still
alive. [r]
DEATHS
Searched James Brown bn 1799 +/- 5 yrs, in
Lanarkshire, from 1851 to 1860. Lots of death entries for James Browns and Jane
Browns, but could be any one of them. Big problem is the really common
names. [r]
NO response to James Brown bn 1799 +/- 5
yrs, mother’s mdn name Alla(e)n, in all of Scotland [r]
CONCLUSIONS...
Jean’s death certificate says her mother
is nee “Cockran” (spelt wrong), that Jean was born in “Coatbridge”, and her
father was a “Gamekeeper”.
IF – these three things are correct, then
NONE of the above fits together. A “Gamekeeper” suggests a long-term connection
to a large estate and there was none of those in the Glasgow area where both
Jean and her father James were said to have come from. In her time there was
only mining and industry and close settlement towns.
IF - Jean’s death certificate had said her
father was a “Miner”, or even something vaguely industrial, there’d be no
problem believing the data above is of one family and is Jean’s parents and
siblings. And it’s hard to accept that James somehow might have retired onto a
landed estate and became a “Gamekeeper” in his latter years after a lifetime of
digging coal!
The most likely conclusion is that all of
the above IS James and his family, and that the “Gamekeeper” is wrong for some
reason.
=================================
SOURCES...
[a] Jane Wilson Brown (nee Skinner) marriage
certif
[b] Jane Wilson Brown (nee Skinner) death certif
[c] Harriet Skinner (dau of Jane & George)
birth certificate
[d] Immigrant Index NSW 1844-1859 (online)
[e] Braidwood cemetery headstones
[f] A history of Braidwood (online)
[g] LDS website (IGI)
[h] Hogg Family Hist website
[i] NSW BD&M online
[j] Advertised obits (SAGHS)
[k] 1862 Directory of Braidwood
[m] Canberra Dist Lives - Ad Lib
[n] Old Family Group form (in Jan's handwriting –
source unsure)
[p] NSW Records online - Shipping
[q] FreeCen Online
[r] ScotlandsPeople online