The Ancestry of Lilly Melrose.


These are notes and could be wrong. Please contact me if you are thinking of using them. I am also interested to hear from anyone with any ideas or questions about this family.

Lilly Melrose married the founder of my Australian Livingstone family not long before they left Scotland. His ancestry is the subject of another webpage.

Concerning her ancestry, I’ll start by quoting my distant relative Malcolm Gain (copied in):
“Lily gave William Melrose, coachman in a private family, deceased pre 1838, as the name of her father on the parish register [at her wedding] and ship's records, but Adam was the name given on Lily's death record. It is more than likely that William Melrose, maybe Adam's brother, who had raised 8 or 9 children of his own in Temple, Midlothian (including a James, a William and a Robert) was foster father to Lily perhaps after her parents' early death.”

The marriage register, for the record, said:
--26th July 1838--
Living & Milrose
David Peter, Domestic Servant, Davies Lodgins, No. 309 Canongate Leith [*Wynd?] Parish, and Lilley Milrose, Kemlo's Lodgings No.241 Canongate, New Street Parish, and both in the Original Parish of Canongate, Daughter of the late William Milrose, Coachman, EdinBurgh, gave up their names for Proclamation of Marriage certified by William Kemlo, No.241 Canongate, Andrew Davie, Spirit Dealer, No.309, there, Mr David Allan, one of the Elders, of Leith [*Wynd?] parish and Mr David Arthur, one of the Elders of New Street, the above named Parties were three times regularly proclaimed in the Parish Churches of Canongate, Leith [*Wynd?], and New Street, on Sabbath the 29th Current, and no objections being offered.

[It seems the 2 parishes of Leith were North and South so I do not know the word Wynd, at type of street, might be inserted. Furthermore, although others have read "Wynd" I find this only the most likely reading of the word.]

If I do a baptism search for LIL* MELROSE(soundex) on www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk, which is a relatively complete index of all parish registers in Scotland for this period,  I find only a few...
1    10/05/1718    MELROSE    LILLIAS    ROBERT MELROSE/LILLIAS BOID FR732    F    Dalkeith    /MIDLOTHIAN
2    18/02/1848    MELROSE    LILLIAS    JAMES MELROSE/ISABELLA HUME FR1643    F    Stow    /MIDLOTHIAN   
3    14/03/1815    MELROSE    LILLY    ADAM MELROSE/BETTY STIRLING FR2262    F    Temple    /MIDLOTHIAN 
4    19/05/1773    MELROSS    LILLIES    WILLIAM MELROSS/JEAN BALLANTYNE FR315    U    Tweedsmuir    /PEEBLES

Note that they are all in the same area. It is number 3 which has always been identified as our Lilly, and I see no reason to doubt that.

Looking at the original is interesting because there are two baptisms next to each other:

"Alison Melrose.
Adam Melrose & Betty Stirling his wife had a Daughter born 15 March 1813 and baptized shortly after named Alison Lilly Melrose.
They had a Daughter born on the 14 March 1815 & baptized in April named Lilly."

Why are these two far-apart baptisms together in the register and why do they have no exact baptismal dates?

There is at least one more sibling, William:
24/02/1817    MELROSS    WILLIAM    ADAM MELROSS/BETTY STERLING FR292    M    Borthwick    /MIDLOTHIAN

"Melross. William Melross lawful son of Adam Melross servan[scan stops] Middleton and Betty Stirling was born 4th Feb. and Baptised 24th. Feb 1817 before witnesses Mr Allan and Mr Thirr(?)"

On the other hand, there appears to be more to this family! Not only is there the strange confusions about Lilly's father's name, but I have also been contacted by Sue Harvey, a descendant of Elizabeth Melrose who married Robert McGlashan 2/6/1831 in St Cuthbert's parish in Edinburgh, and came out to Australia in the same year as Lilly. As Sue says: "Interestingly her marriage certificate suggests that Adam is alive in 1831:
 
"Robert McGlashan, coach wright, residing in No. 18 William St, and Eliza Melrose, also residing in same place, both in this parish, daughter of Adam Melrose, Gentleman's servant there, have been three times proclaimed in order to marriage in the Parish Chrich of St. Cuthbert's and no objections have been offered.
Married on the second day of June thereafter by the Reverend Robert Renwick Minister of the United Associate secession Congregation, Dean Street Stockbridge."

Elizabeth died in Lockwood in 1857 and her death certificate information would put her date of birth at about 1810.

The wedding of the parents of Lilly is
01/06/1806    MELROSE    ADAM    BETTY STIRLING/FR2518    M    Temple    /MIDLOTHIAN    700/ 0030 0277

"Adam Melrose & Betty Stirling. Intimation of a purpose of marriage between Adam Melrose in this parish & Betty Stirling in the parish of Dalkeith was made the 1 June 1806, and after due Proclamation were married."

So who is William, presumed step father of Lilly mentioned by Malcolm Gain above? Everyone presumes that Adam and William were brothers. I find this family, also in Temple parish, and also using the name Adam for one child:

1    15/08/1809    MELROSE    ADAM    WILLIAM MELROSE/ELISABETH HARPER FR505    U    Penicuik    /MIDLOTHIAN
2    09/07/1807    MELROSE    ALEXANDER    WILLIAM MELROSE/ELIZABETH HARPER FR2160    M    Temple    /MIDLOTHIAN
3    27/02/1803    MELROSE    ELIZABETH    WILLIAM MELROSE/ELIZABETH HARPER FR2144    F    Temple    /MIDLOTHIAN
4    01/01/1793    MELROSE    JAMES    WILLIAM MELROSE/BARBARA HARPER FR397    M    Penicuik    /MIDLOTHIAN
5    05/07/1805    MELROSE    ROBERT    WILLIAM MELROSE/ELIZABETH HARPER FR2152    M    Temple    /MIDLOTHIAN
6    28/01/1800    MELROSE    WILLIAM    WILLIAM MELROSE/ELIZABETH HARPER FR2137    M    Temple    /MIDLOTHIAN
7    04/06/1799    MELROSS    JAMES    WILLIAM MELROSS/ELIZABETH HARPER FR2131    M    Temple    /MIDLOTHIAN
8    28/03/1797    MELROSS    MARGARET    WILLIAM MELROSS/ELIZABETH HARPER FR2131    F    Temple    /MIDLOTHIAN

...notice how one (but only one) of the Penicuik baptisms gives the mother's name as Barbara. Is it is the same family? I have my doubts about the two baptisms in Penicuik. Looking for a marriage I find two, making it clear that these were two Melrose/Harper couples, but at a very similar time...
1    02/02/1792    MELROSE    WILLIAM    BARBARY HARPER/FR724    M    Penicuik    /MIDLOTHIAN
2    08/04/1792    MILROSS    WILLIAM    ELIZABETH HARPER/FR2494    M    Temple    /MIDLOTHIAN

Both records, when examined, say that both participants were of the parish where the marriage occured.

I went looking for wills on the same website mentioned above. I found some later members of this family, who can also be identified in censuses.
Melrose    William    20/04/1874    Coachman at No.115 Rose Street in Edinburgh    Inventory    Edinburgh Sheriff Court Inventories    SC70/1/167
The executor is named Adam Melrose, groom, of 33 Russell Street Glasgow.

Going back beyond Lilly's parents is a little tricky, because it is possible to make wrong guesses, but one baptism stands out for her father:

14/11/1779    MELROSS    ADAM    WILLIAM MELROSS/HENARTTA SMITH FR196    M    West Linton    /PEEBLES
(Born October 25 and baptised November 14)

These seem to be the siblings, Adam and William included...
22/03/1777    MELROSE    JAMES    WILLIAM MELROSE/HENNY SMITH FR187    M    West Linton    /PEEBLES 
14/11/1779    MELROSS    ADAM    WILLIAM MELROSS/HENARTTA SMITH FR196    M    West Linton    /PEEBLES
30/07/1763    MELROSS    ROBERT    WILLIAM MELROSS/HENRIETTA SMYTH FR153    M    West Linton    /PEEBLES 
21/04/1765    MELROSS    WILLIAM    WILLIAM MELROSS/HENRIETTA SMYTH FR154    M    West Linton    /PEEBLES

I don't find the marriage.

Peebles seems to have been a big centre for this family. But in West Linton, there were two Williams having children there at the same time and two born about the same time. Here are the parish baptisms...

10/04/1659    MELROSE    JOHNE    WILLIAM MELROSE/AGNES WILSONE FR10

15/05/1659    MELROS    WILLIAME    JOHNE MELROS/

12/03/1665    MELLROS    JOHN    JOHN MELLROS/
19/03/1665    MELLROS    JONET    JOHN MELLROS/
01/02/1657    MELROSE    AGNES    JOHN MELROSE/

18/09/1698    MELROSS    ANDREU    ANDREU MELROSS/
15/12/1700    MELROSS    BESSIE    ANDREU MELROSS/

20/05/1673    MELLROS    WILLIAM    THOMAS MELLROS/CHRISTIAN TAIT FR21
10/08/1679    MELROS    JEAN    THOMAS MELROS/CHRISTIAN TAIT FR30
17/02/1678    MELROS    JOHN    THOMAS MELROS/CHRISTIANE TAIT FR28

16/02/1673    MELLROS    AGNES    ANDREW MELLROS/JEAN SCOTT FR23
17/06/1671    MELLROS    ISOBELL    ANDREW MELLROS/JEAN SCOTTE FR19
28/02/1686    MELROSS    ANDREW    ANDREW MELROSS/JEAN SCOT FR36
20/09/1676    MELROSS    MARGARET    ANDREW MELROSS/JEAN SCOTT FR26
11/08/1678    MELROSS    JENET    ANDREW MELROSS/JEAN SCOTT FR29
13/02/1681    MELROSS    HELEN    ANDREW MELROSS/JEAN SCOTT FR33
24/02/1684    MELROSS    JAMES    ANDREW MELROSS/JEAN SCOTT FR34

31/01/1703    MELROSSE    WILIAM    ANDREW MELROSSE/HELEN SHARP FR51
20/02/1704    MELROSSE    THOMAS    ANDREW MELROSSE/HELEN SHARP FR53
16/02/1707    MELROSSE    ROBERT    ANDREW MELROSSE/HELEN SHARP FR57

22/05/1670    MELLROS    WILLIAM    JAMES MELLROS/BESSIE PURDIE FR19
06/07/1672    MELLROS    JAMES    JAMES MELLROS/BESSIE PURDIE FR21
12/02/1667    MELLROS    AGNES    JAMES MELLROS/ELIZABETH PURDIE FR14
07/05/1678    MELROSS    AGNES    JAMES MELROSS/BESSIE PURDIE FR28
11/04/1686    MELROSS    ARCHBALD    JAMES MELROSS/BESSIE PURDIE FR37
14/04/1668    MELLROS    GEORGE    JAMES MELLROS/ELIZABETH PURDIE FR17
09/05/1680    MELROS    JOHN    JAMES MELROS/BESSIE PURDIE FR30
20/08/1676    MELROSSE    ANDREW    JAMES MELROSSE/BESSIE PURDIE FR26
03/06/1683    MELROS    ROBERT    JAMES MELROS/BESSIE PURDIE FR34

30/03/1673    MELLROS    ISOBELL    JOHN MELLROS/BESSIE RANKINE FR21
20/07/1675    MELROSE    JAMES    JOHN MELROSE/BESSIE RANKINE FR24
16/01/1670    MELLROS    MARGARET    JON MELLROS/BESSIE RANKINE FR17
09/06/1667    MELLROS    JONET    JON MELLROS/ELIZABETH RANKINE FR15

30/08/1668    MELLROS    JAMES    JON MELLROS/MARION PORTEOUS FR17
29/03/1671    MELROS    HELEN    JON MELROS/MARION PORTEOUS FR19

19/01/1697    MELROSS    JAMES    JAMES MELROSS/
15/09/1700    MELROSS    JAMES    JAMES MELROSS/
30/12/1711    MELROSS    RICHARD    JAMES MELROSS/BESSIE GOULDIE FR62
21/09/1701    MELROSSE    AGNES    JAMES MELROSSE/
21/02/1703    MELROSSE    ELIZABETH    JAMES MELROSSE/BESSIE GOULDIE FR51
02/07/1704    MELROSSE    ISOBELL    JAMES MELROSSE/BESSIE GOULDIE FR53
30/03/1706    MELROSSE    WILLIAM    JAMES MELROSSE/BESSIE GOULDIE FR56
14/04/1708    MELROSSE    MARGRAT    JAMES MELROSSE/BESSIE GOULDIE FR59

18/01/1728    MELROSS    JOHN    ANDREW MELROSS/... ALEXANDER FR81
06/06/1725    MELROSS    AGNES    ANDREW MELROSS/JANE ALEXANDER FR77

11/08/1741    MELROSS    JEAN    ROBERT MELROSS/HELEN WALLACE FR103
27/11/1743    MELROSS    ANDREW    ROBERT MELROSS/HELEN WALLACE FR106
09/11/1746    MELROSS    JAMES    ROBERT MELROSS/HELEN WALLACE FR111
15/01/1749    MELROSS    MARGARET    ROBERT MELROSS/HELEN WALLACE FR115
03/10/1751    MELROSS    ELISABETH    ROBERT MELROSS/HELEN WALLACE FR125
15/04/1740    MELROSS    HELEN    ROBERT MELROSS/HELEN WALLACE FR97
07/09/1735    MELROSS    JOHN    ROBERT MELROSS/HELLEN WALLACE FR91
11/09/1737    MELROSS    WILLIAM    ROBERT MELROSS/HELLEN WALLACE FR94

04/12/1747    MELROSS    ANDREW    WILLIAM MELROSS/ISABEL ALEXANDER FR113
14/04/1734    MELROSS    BESSIE    WILLIAM MELROSS/ISABEL ALEXANDER FR89
12/07/1741    MELROSS    JAMES    WILLIAM MELROSS/ISOBEL ALEXANDER FR103
03/07/1743    MELROSS    WILLIAM    WILLIAM MELROSS/ISOBEL ALEXANDER FR105
06/08/1732    MELROSS    JEAN    WILLIAM MELROSS/ISOBEL ALEXANDER FR87

24/07/1748    MELROSS    ADAM    /AGNES MELROSS FR115

29/07/1770    MELROSS    JEAN    JOHN MELROSS/JANET KECHEN FR169
05/07/1767    MELROSS    MARGARET    JOHN MELROSS/JANET KETCHEN FR160
12/05/1776    MELROSS    JAMES    JOHN MELROSS/JANET KETCHEN FR185
09/06/1765    MELROSS    HELEN    JOHN MELROSS/JANET KETCHING FR155

22/03/1777    MELROSE    JAMES    WILLIAM MELROSE/HENNY SMITH FR187
14/11/1779    MELROSS    ADAM    WILLIAM MELROSS/HENARTTA SMITH FR196
30/07/1763    MELROSS    ROBERT    WILLIAM MELROSS/HENRIETTA SMYTH FR153
21/04/1765    MELROSS    WILLIAM    WILLIAM MELROSS/HENRIETTA SMYTH FR154

17/12/1775    MELROSE    ELIZABETH    WILLIAM MELROSE/AGNES PATERSON FR183
10/11/1776    MELROSE    ISOBEL    WILLIAM MELROSE/AGNES PATERSON FR187
25/01/1778    MELROSE    JEAN    WILLIAM MELROSE/AGNES PATERSON FR191
12/09/1779    MELROSE    JOHN    WILLIAM MELROSE/AGNES PATERSON FR197

Notice how the name Adam was used in this family. I believe that one way or another the West Linton Melrose's are the ancestor of Lilly, though this can not currently be considered proven.

Concerning Betty Stirling, I had long thought that I knew who she was until I found a family who also claim the baptism I found in Dalkeith. To quote a member of the Falconer family who contacted me:
"The Elizabeth Stirling I have was married to Andrew Falconer on the 20th June 1795. According to the OPR records they married in the Cannongate in Edinburgh however the marriage is also recorded in Dalkeith on the same date. The only relative listed for Elizabeth is her father James Stirling a Weaver in Dalkeith.
Census information in 1841confirms that Elizabeth was born in Midlothian.
The only Elizabeth Stirling born in Midlothian with a father called James was born in Dalkeith in about 1776. (20th March 1776), parents James Stirling and Ann Witherspoon."

The marriage register 01/06/1806 in Temple for Adam and Betty, transcribed fully above, mentions that Betty was from Dalkeith. That certainly seems to be the daughter of James Stirling and Anne Witherspoons. But I notice that indeed the other Elizabeth's marriage to Andrew Falconer in 1795 also says she is from Dalkeith! I also see that this marriage in was recorded in the registers at both Dalkeith and Canongate, and the one in Canongate says her father was James Stirling, weaver.
 
The marriage of James and Anne was 15/07/1773 in Dalkeith, but does not say if James was a weaver. At the baptism of his youngest children, the twins Ann and Jean, he is called a woolen manufacturer. In summary I'd say that the Falconers have a slightly stronger claim on daughter of James Stirling and Anne Witherspoons.