Haliburton/Nicolson: anyone like a challenge?.....

Post by **Liz Turner** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:24 pm

This one has had me stumped for ages. Any help, suggestions or will be most gratefully received! I've been ignoring this lot for a while now, but hope some fresh eyes might help.

James Nicolson married Janet Haliburton on 11 Nov 1741 - she was his first wife. James was born on 26/1/1718 in Cameron, Fife. James died on 4/6/1772. He was minister at Banchory Devenick and was ordained 13/9/1737. (I have his parents - James Nicolson and Isabel Fairbairn).

Janet and James had four children that I know of: Alexander N (b 20/1/1744), Charles N (b 21/1/1747), George Haliburton N (b17/4/1745) and Cadogana N (b7/10/1742). These children were all born in Banchory-Devenick, Kincardine. [This information came from a printed copy of some of the Fasti, which I found in the library at work].

I estimate that Janet Haliburton was born around 1720 +/-2 given that James was born 1718. Janet died on 22/3/1749. She was from Edinburgh and I believe her father to have been George Haliburton and that he became Lord Provost of Edinburgh in 1740. Janet died on 22/3/1749 and James remarried some 31 years later on 15/5/1772 around 3 weeks before he died!! His second wife was Helen Thom.

I would like to find out who George Haliburton married, ie who was Janet's mother??? I am guessing that if Janet was born around 1720, and she was say the youngest child, that her parents could have married anytime between around 1700 and 1719. If they married in 1700, they would have been born around 1665 or so, but if they married in 1719 they would have been born around 1698/1700 or so.

I'd also like to find out more about George Haliburton, ie when he was born and when he died. Before he became Lord Provost (if indeed this is the correct man) - he was reported to have been a Writer to the Signet (a solicitor).

I've done some hunting on the IGI, but can't identify any definites, so any help would be appreciated. Does anyone have any suggestions about where I could look for this elusive pair? This is way too early for any Census ....

In hope!

Liz

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:13 am

Hi Liz

With a name like Haliburton I wouldn't imagine great mobs of them springing up even in such a cosmopolitan place as Edinburgh.
Have you done an OPR search on scotlandspeople ?

Do an OPR Births search.
Key in the 'Haliburton' surname
put in 'George' as father's name
Leave wife's name blank (most likely was not recorded anyway)
Put in a span of years from about 1700 to 1745
Try 'all parishes' first
Then try Edinburgh
Let us know if you get results.

If George Haliburton was Lord Provost he must have been a burgess of the town and would live in the city. His children would be registered since he was an important personage and there is a higher than usual chance that his wife's name would be included. Giving you a handle on the next part of the search (cost 1 credit so far) Next his will then his wife's if he pre-deceased her.
Oooh ! I feel an exciting search coming on

This could be a good one!

You could take your camp bed to the archives and live there for a week!!!!

Russell

Post by **Liz Turner** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:43 am

Morning Russell

I think this will be a job for the weekend! It's so long since I looked at this stuff that I'll need to go over all my notes again.

Thanks for your suggestions - will let you know what progress, if any, I manage.

I was playing about with Google last night and searched for Haliburton. Found someone else in Canada looking for the name but the web site no longer exists (second time that's happened to me!). They are looking in Fife for Haliburton (various spellings). The name seems to originate in the Borders, with a sprinkling throughout the centre and east of the country. "My" ones seem to be based in Edinburgh and up round the northeast - which is somewhat the same areas as "my" Nicolsons - Edinburgh, Pittenweem, Kilconquhar, Wick and Banchory.

I see you're searching in Kilrenny - it's a small world!

Will update this post after my weekend searches ....

Liz

Post by **Liz Turner** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 7:17 pm

OK Russell - here's what I got from my parent search on SP:-

There are 37 children who have various George Haliburton's as father. Interestingly, none of them called Janet are born around the time I'm looking for! I've copied the list here - hope that doesn't break any rules (??) (sorted by area, then by first name of child).

Here's the list.

03/06/1707 GEORGE GEORGE HALIBURTON/HELEN BAYNS U CRAIL
19/03/1714 GEORGE GEORGE HALIBURTON/HELEN BAYN U CRAIL
18/02/1716 ISOBELL GEORGE HALIBURTON/HELEN BAYNE U CRAIL
06/04/1717 ISOBELL GEORGE HALIBURTON/EUPHAM HENDERSON U CRAIL
01/07/1725 JAMES GEORGE HALIBURTON/EUPHAM HENDERSON U CRAIL
01/07/1725 JAMES GEORGE HALIBURTON/EUPHAM HENDERSON U CRAIL
14/05/1730 JAMES GEORGE HALIBURTON/EUPHAM HENDERSON U CRAIL
19/02/1709 JOHN GEORGE HALIBURTON/HELEN BAYNE U CRAIL

12/01/1720 ANDREW GEORGE HALIBURTON/JEAN CLARK M EDINBURGH
18/04/1727 ANN GEORGE HALIBURTON/ELIZABETH RUTHERFOORD F EDINBURGH
16/05/1721 BARBARA GEORGE HALIBURTON/JEAN CLARK F EDINBURGH
05/06/1728 DAVIDINA GEORGE HALIBURTON/ELIZABETH RUTHERFORD F EDINBURGH
22/03/1726 ELIZABETH GEORGE HALIBURTON/ELIZABETH RUTHERFOORD F EDINBURGH
13/06/1715 GEORGE GEORGE HALIBURTON/JEAN CLARK M EDINBURGH
09/01/1724 GEORGE GEORGE HALIBURTON/ELIZABETH RUTHERFOORD M EDINBURGH
09/01/1724 GEORGE GEORGE HALIBURTON/ELIZABETH RUTHERFOORD M EDINBURGH
10/09/1729 HELEN GEORGE HALIBURTON/ELIZABETH RUTHERFOORD U EDINBURGH
25/11/1717 MARGARET GEORGE HALIBURTON/JEAN CLARK F EDINBURGH
14/01/1725 MARGARET GEORGE HALIBURTON/ELIZABETH RUTHERFURD F EDINBURGH
10/05/1731 THOMAS GEORGE HALIBURTON/ELIZABETH RUTHERFORD U EDINBURGH

16/04/1704 BENJAMIN GEORGE HALIBURTON/MARGARET SCOTT U HAWICK
16/04/1704 BENJAMIN GEORGE HALIBURTON/ M HAWICK
01/06/1707 BESSIE GEORGE HALIBURTON/MARGARET SCOTT U HAWICK
01/06/1707 BESSIE GEORGE HALIBURTON/ F HAWICK
14/11/1708 HENRIE GEORGE HALIBURTON/ M HAWICK
14/11/1708 HENRIE GEORGE HALIBURTON/MARGARET SCOTT U HAWICK
11/05/1701 MARY GEORGE HALIBURTON/ U HAWICK
31/01/1703 WALTER GEORGE HALIBURTON/ M HAWICK

13/05/1744 JANET GEORGE HALIBURTON/ F JEDBURGH
08/05/1743 THOMAS GEORGE HALIBURTON/ M JEDBURGH

27/08/1704 GEORGE GEORGE HALIBURTON/JEAN GRAY M KETTINS
04/12/1702 ISABELL GEORGE HALIBURTON/JEAN GRAY F KETTINS
28/02/1735 ANN GEORGE HALIBURTON/JANET BUIST F NEWBURGH
14/08/1737 JAMES GEORGE HALIBURTON/JANET BUIST M NEWBURGH
28/09/1718 JEAN GEORGE HALIBURTON/JANNET BUIST F NEWBURGH
16/01/1726 JOHN GEORGE HALIBURTON/JANNET BUIST M NEWBURGH
26/03/1721 MARGARET GEORGE HALIBURTON/JANNET BUIST F NEWBURGH

What do you think? Another point I've noted is that the names all seem to centre on three areas, Borders, Edinburgh and Fife ...

Janet Haliburton marriages:-

04/07/1686 HALIBURTON JANET PATRICK MEIK/FR431 F DIRLETON 705/00 0002
28/08/1697 HALIBURTON JANET JOHN MARK FR5222 F ST ANDREWS AND ST LEONAR 453/00 0008
26/04/1716 HALIBURTON JANET DONALD COUL/ F MARKINCH 447/00 0001
16/11/1735 HALIBURTON JANET ROBERT NICOLSON/FR1687 F EDINBURGH 685/01 0047
08/11/1741 HALIBURTON JANET JAMES NICOLSON/FR1751 U EDINBURGH 685/01 0047
24/06/1808 HALIBURTON JANET JOHN MARSHALL/FR1980 F ST NINIANS 488/00 0005
02/11/1823 HALIBURTON JANET JOSEPH MASON/FR945 U WESTRUTHER 756/00 0002
06/10/1842 HALIBURTON JANET ROBERT WALKER/ F NEWBURGH 450/00 0002

George Haliburton marriages:-
19/08/1694 HALIBURTON GEORGE JEAN GRAY/FR1244 M KETTINS 294/00 0005
19/11/1702 HALIBURTON GEORGE HELEN BAYNES/ M CRAIL 417/00 0001
06/12/1723 HALIBURTON GEORGE JANNET BUIST/FR76 M NEWBURGH 450/00 0001
19/12/1755 HALIBURTON GEORGE JANET GOURLIE/FR131 M NEWBURGH 450/00 0001
02/02/1758 HALIBURTON GEORGE JEAN BROWN/FR134 M NEWBURGH 450/00 0001
28/08/1765 HALIBURTON GEORGE MARGARET SMALL/FR198 M ABERNYTE 327/00 0001
16/12/1781 HALIBURTON GEORGE BARBARA JOHNSTONE/FR1015 M LASSWADE 691/00 0004

Am off now to compile wee groups on bits of paper to see if anything makes sense .... [-o<

I've looked at this for so long that I'm probably missing something really obvious!!

Liz

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 7:33 pm

Hi Liz
How about
28/08/1726 HALYBURTON JANNET GEORGE HALYBURTON/ F JEDBURGH 792/00 0003 ?

And there is this will which you may have seen:

Halyburton George 23/01/1747 merchant and late provost of Edinburgh Testament Dative and Inventory; includes Eik dated 19/04/1749 Edinburgh Commissary Court CC8/8/111 (5 pages)

Now, if you could confirm that provost Halyburton hailed frae Jedburgh...we might be onto something !

Best wishes
Lesley

p.s. expect you've seen thsi but on this page
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/scot/Fife/ ... ries3.html
(no.83) there seems to be someone else researching the same family.

Post by **Liz Turner** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 7:39 pm

Hi Lesley

Long time no see!

Your suggestion is eminently reasonable, but Janet Haliburton married James Nicolson 11/11/1741 - that would make this one barely 15. Not impossible, but since James was minister he might have been accused of cradle snatching!! I won't dismiss this, because as we both know, the unlikeliest things happen in families .....

Somewhere in the depths of my cupboards I've got (whisper it) photocopies I made years ago, with info about the ministers. I'll see if I can find it over the weekend - how I wish my house was bigger to store all this stuff

Am almost tempted to put all my info into a carrier bag, get a couple of bottles of vino and nip down to Russells with the whole lot!!

PS - NO I haven't seen the Will - when I get paid next week, I might chance my luck on SP ....

Liz

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 7:49 pm

Hi Liz
Gosh that was quick!!

Just added an extra bit, and you'd replied already!!

Post by **Liz Turner** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 7:51 pm

Lesley

The person on the FHS web site is my distant cousin - we've both been sniffing around the edges of the haliburton thing for years - having both started out on Nicolsons.

I need to find somewhere that gives info about Provosts of Edinburgh. I did confirm on a web site last night that he was Provost from 1740 to 1742.

Liz

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 7:54 pm

Looks like the Provost had a daughter Jean (not a great deal of help so far...)
http://www.libraries.psu.edu/do/digital ... rt_009.pdf

Post by **Liz Turner** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 7:55 pm

Lesley

Could Jean possibly be Janet do you think? George (the Provost) had a sister called Jean and two brothers - Alexander and James, that I know about.

Liz

OK - I've just looked at the site above and no Jean can't be Janet!