Rothhead or Pathhead

The History and Geography of Auld Scotia

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Brian Turnbull
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2006 9:22 am
Location: Orange, Australia

Rothhead or Pathhead

Post by Brian Turnbull » Sat Jul 07, 2007 7:21 am

In the 1851 census for Northumberland I have a Daniel Turnbull, age 30, a potter, lodger in East Denton. The place of birth looks like Rothead, but I have not been able to find a place of theat name in Scotland. On another forum it was suggested that the place could be Pathead in Midlothian. I have since found a Pathhead in Fife where there were potteries in the early 1800's.
Does anyone know if there is a place called Rothead? Also were there potteries in Pathead, Midlothian?
Brian

AndrewP
Site Admin
Posts: 6189
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2004 1:36 am
Location: Edinburgh

Post by AndrewP » Sat Jul 07, 2007 8:31 am

Hi Brian,

A search on Google for Pathhead pottery gives many results, mostly for Pathhead, Fife. I didn't find any that referred directly to a pottery in Pathhead, but they refer to potteries in the Kirkcaldy area, and that Pathhead was included in the Royal burgh of Kirkcaldy.

On that basis, I would put Pathhead, Fife as the first choice of location from the ones that you suggest. It doesn't prove it is the right place, but it is a high probability. I didn't see any references to potteries in Pathhead, Midlothian. Roth(h)ead didn't produce any useful results.

All the best,

AndrewP

Brian Turnbull
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2006 9:22 am
Location: Orange, Australia

Rothhead or Pathhead

Post by Brian Turnbull » Sat Jul 07, 2007 9:13 am

Thanks AndrewP for your reply. You have pretty much confirmed my results. I will have to assume that this Daniel Turnbull left Pathhead, Fife and went south to work in the potteries in Newcastle. It is probably coincidence that he was working at a pottery where my gggrandfather was working and needed a place to live.Pity his family name wasn't Smith or Jones and I wouldn't have needed this exercise.
I am not able to find anything on him in 1841 Scotland or England, not the 1861/1871 for either place. He just seems to have disappeared.
Brian