52 Ancestors: #3 - Eliza Hamilton Burnett (1897-1943)

My maternal grandmother was Eliza Hamilton Burnett.  Unfortunately, I don’t know a lot about my grandmother as she died when my mom was only 10 years old.

Eliza was born July 16, 1897 in Dundee, Scotland.  She was the youngest of six children of John and Helen Leighton (Marshall) Burnett.  At the time of her birth, the family was living at 36 Carmichael Street in the Hilltown area of Dundee.  Her father, John Burnett, was a police constable for the Dundee police force.  At the time of the 1901 census, Eliza was 3 years old and the family had moved to 37 Stirling Street. 

Hilltown leads up a steep hill from the city centre. It is an older mixed tenement and industrial part of the City which had many jute mills, which was the main industry of Dundee in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.   It is a true inner city location and is one of the oldest parts of the city.  Until it was sold to Dundee in 1697, Hilltown was outside the burgh of Dundee’s boundary and had itself been created a burgh of barony in 1643.

When Eliza was 17 years old she had “taken up” with her much older (26 yrs.) first cousin Robert Burn Marshall, who at that time was still married to his first wife, Margaret (Weir) Marshall.  Robert, at that time, was living at 65 Main Street, Hilltown, Dundee.  When Eliza was just 18 years old, she gave birth to my Aunt Helene (Nell), in December 1915.  Margaret passed away on April 30, 1917 and on July 23, 1917 Robert and Eliza finally married, which was a good thing as she was pregnant again with my Uncle Dave, who was born that October.  Robert was working as a ticket writer and Eliza was a housekeeper.  They were married at

Clepington Church, which was just across the street from where Robert lived at 65 Main Street.  This was the same church where Eliza’s parents were married.

Robert and Eliza had eight children together:  Helen Burnett (1915-2007), David Hume (1917-1978), Robert (1919-1989), Rachel (1922-2009), Albert Ferrier (1925-1927), Norman Wilson (1929-1987?), Ludivina Mary (1931) and my mother Rhona MacDonald (1933-2003).  The family continued to live at 65 Main Street until Robert’s death on September 12, 1935.

After Robert’s death, Eliza and the children moved to a bigger house at 50 Glenconner Drive, Linlathen, on the edge of the city.

When Eliza became ill, her son in law, William (Harry) Crossman made a death bed promise to look after her 3 youngest children, Norman, Vina and Rhona, promising to take them to Canada with him and Nell after the war ended.  Only Vina and Rhona ended up going (along with Harry and Nell) as Norman was to turn 18 and had to remain in Scotland to serve 2 years mandatory military service.

Eliza passed away on March 29, 1943 at the Maryfield Hospital in Dundee from carcinoma of the breast and acute gastritis.

©2014, copyright Alana Farrell

The Face of Genealogy

LA Weekly posted a very offensive and tasteless picture to accompagny an article about the upcoming 42nd Annual Southern California Genealogy Society Jamboree in California, taking place this month.  Needless to say, the genealogy community was in an uproar over this picture and flooded LA Weekly with their comments.  Within a very short time, the offensive picture was removed.

In response to a post on Geneabloggers on June 5th, I am posting the Face of My Genealogy.

This is a picture of my Great Grandfather, John Burnett, taken in 1889 - a highly respected police detective in Dundee, Scotland.  If it wasn't for genealogy, I would never have known what he looked like.

For more Faces of Genealogy on Facebook, click here.

©2011, copyright Alana Farrell

Surname Saturday - Burnett

Each Saturday I will be posting one of my surnames. I will be starting with the 4 main lines – my paternal line of Farrell and Devlin and my maternal line of Marshall and Burnett, after which I will post most likely in alphabetical order using the Ahnentafel numbering system.

This week’s surname is Burnett, my maternal grandmother's paternal line.

1. Me (Alana Farrell)

2. Robert Allan Farrell (1927-1962)
3. Rhona MacDonald Marshall (1933-2003)

6. Robert Burn Marshall (1872-1935)
7. Eliza Hamilton Burnett (see information on Eliza and her children here)

14. John Burnett, born 29 July 1863 in Fettercairn, Kincardineshire, Scotland and died 2 March 1923 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland. John was the son of John Burnett and Elizabeth Smith. He married Helen Leighton Marshall on 24 Apr. 1885 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland.

15. Helen Leighton Marshall, born 11 Feb. 1863 in Kirrimuir, Angus, Scotland and died 19 Jan. 1929 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland. Helen was the daughter of Robert Marshall (abt. 1819-1891) and Ann Kynoch (1820-1885).

The children of John Burnett and Helen Leighton Marshall were:

Isabella Balfour Drever Burnett (1886-1911)
Charles Cowan Burnett (1888-??)
John Marshall Burnett (1889-??)
Margaret Arbuthnott Burnett (1891-??)
James Alexander Burnett (1896-??)
Eliza Hamilton Burnett (1897-1943)

28. John Burnett, b. 1 Mar. 1838 in Fettercairn, Kincardineshire, Scotland. John was the son of Alexander Burnett and Margaret Crabb. He married Elizabeth Smith on the 28 May 1859 in Glenbervie, Kincardineshire, Scotland.

29. Elizabeth Smith, b. abt 1836 in Glenbervie, Kincardineshire, Scotland. Elizabeth was the daughter of Charles Smith and Helen Longmuir.

The known children of John Burnett and Elizabeth Smith are:

Alexander Burnet (1859 - ?)
Charles Burnett (1861 - ?)
John Burnett (1863-1923)
James Burnett (1870 - ?)

56. Alexander Burnett (no further information known at this time)
57. Margaret Crabb(no further information known at this time)

If you think we may be related, please contact me either at alana dot farrell at sympatico dot ca or by using the "contact" button.

Robert Burn Marshall (1871 - 1935) Part 2

Robert Burn Marshall (1871 - 1935) Part 1

When last we left off, my 43 year old grandfather, Robert Burn Marshall, had just become a widower when his wife Maggie (née Weir) passed away on April 13, 1914. I can’t begin to imagine how he was feeling. This was another devastating event after already losing three children.

Fortunately for Robert, he could take solace in the fact that his grandfather (Robert Marshall) and an aunt (Helen Leighton Burnett – née Marshall) lived in Dundee and were able to help him grieve.

Also there to help him grieve was Helen’s very lovely youngest daughter, Eliza Hamilton Burnett. Eliza was 26 years younger than Robert, being only 17 years old at the time and was also his first cousin. If teenage girls in 1914 were anything like they are today, Eliza must have been extremely flattered by the attention paid to her by a good looking older man and I’m sure the thought of him being her cousin didn’t even cross her mind! And I’m sure the grieving widow didn’t mind the attention of such a lovely young lady either.

It wasn't long before their relationship showed results. On December 19, 1915 my aunt Helen was born. It wasn’t until July 23, 1917, however, that Robert finally made an honest woman out of Eliza, probably because she was six months pregnant with their second child. Was it love, guilt or pressure from Eliza’s parents, Helen and John Burnett that made him finally marry her? The romantic in me is going with love, however I’m sure there was a wee bit of pressure from Eliza’s father, the Police Constable!

Robert and Eliza were married for 18 years and had eight children together:

Helen Burnett Marshall, born December 19, 1915, died April 12, 2007
David Hume Marshall, born October 8, 1917, died July 16, 1978
Robert Marshall, born September 20, 1919, died December 1989
Rachel Margaret Marshall, born January 15, 1922, died May 2009
Albert Ferrier Marshall, born November 6, 1924, died November 6, 1926
Norman Wilson Marshall, born May 16, 1929, about 1990
My Auntie Vina (as she is still living, I won’t give her full name and birth date)
Rhona MacDonald Marshall, born February 21, 1933, died September 8, 2003 (my mother)

At the age of 64, Robert suffered from chronic rheumatism of the heart and passed away on September 12, 1935.

Saturday Night Fun - My 16 Great Great Grandparents

Randy Seaver’s Saturday Night Genealogy Fun this week is to list your 16 great great grandparents in pedigree order. The assignment is:

1) List your 16 great-great-grandparents in pedigree chart order. List their birth and death years and places.

2) Figure out the dominant ethnicity or nationality of each of them.

3) Calculate your ancestral ethnicity or nationality by adding them up for the 16 - 6.25% for each (obviously, this is approximate).

4) If you don't know all 16 of your great-great-grandparents, then do it for the last full generation you have.

5) Write your own blog post, or make a comment on Facebook or in this post.

Here are mine:

Paternal Line:

1. William FARRELL was born about 1834 in Brookeborough, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. He married Eliza Peters on May 6, 1856 in Brookeborough, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Date of death unknown. (Irish)

2. Eliza PETERS was born about 1834 in Brookeborough, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Date of death unknown. (Irish)

3. James MAZE, son of James Maze (mother unknown) about 1835 in Drumoris, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. He married Catherine Fair in 1868 in Drumoris, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. He died on August 25, 1878 in Ballyreagh, Brookeborough, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. (Irish).

4. Cathering FAIR was born about 1843 in Drumoris, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. She died on July 14, 1916 in Ballyreagh, Brookeborough, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. (Irish)

5. Arthur DEVLIN, son of Peter Devlin and Catherine McConnell, was born on January 19, 1840 in New Cumnock, Ayreshire, Scotland. He married Ann Andrew on November 12, 1858 in Auchinleck, Ayrshire, Scotland. He died on September 2, 1902 in Auchinleck, Ayrshire, Scotland. (Scottish)

6. Ann ANDREW, daughter of William Andrew and Eliza Douglas Goldie, was born about 1831in Auchinleck, Ayrshire, Scotland. She died on October 23, 1902 in Auchinleck, Ayrshire, Scotland. (Scottish)

7. Alexander ANDERSON, son of Robert Anderson and Helen McClarin (?) was born about 1837 in Hulford, District of Riccarton, Ayrshire, Scotland. He married Jane Dunlop on March 20, 1857 in Hulford, District of Riccarton, Ayrshire, Scotland. He died on December 21, 1909 in Auchinleck, Ayrshire, Scotland. (Scottish).

8. Jane DUNLOP, daughter of James Dunlop ad Margaret Ferguson, was born on January 26, 1835 in Hulford, District of Riccarton, Ayrshire, Scotland. She died on September 24, 1921 in Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland. (Scottish).

Maternal Line:

9. Robert MARSHALL, son of George Marshall and Isabella Mitchell was born about 1819 in Alyth, Perthshire, Scotland. He married Ann Kynoch on September 26, 1841 in Alyth, Pershire, Scotland. He died on June 18, 1891 in Dundee, Scotland. (Scottish).

10. Ann KYNOCH, daughter of John Kynoch and Christine Hay was born about 1819 in Dallas, Morrayshire, Scotland. She died on March 13, 1885 in Dundee, Scotland. (Scottish)

11. Hugh HUME was born August 5, 1817 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. He married Agnes Reid on November 11, 1842 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. He died on March 15, 1899 in the District of Canongate, Edinburgh, Scotland. (Scottish).

12. Agnes REID, was born September 22, 1823 in Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland. She died on December 19, 1889 in the District of Canongate, Edinburgh, Scotland. (Scottish).

13. John BURNETT, son of Alexander Burnett and Margaret Crabb, was born on March 1, 1838 in Fetterncairn, Kincardineshire, Scotland. He married Elizabeth Smith on May 28, 1859 in Glenbervie, Kincardineshire, Scotland. He died on August 16, 1900 in Dundee, Scotland. (Scottish).

14. Elizabeth SMITH, daughter of Charles Smith and Helen Longmuir was born about 1836 in Glenbervie, Kincardineshire, Scotland. She died on August 13, 1872 in Logie Pert, Forfar, Scotland. (Scottish).

15. Robert MARSHALL, son of George Marshall and Isabella Mitchell was born about 1819 in Alyth, Perthshire, Scotland. He married Ann Kynoch on September 26, 1841 in Alyth, Pershire, Scotland. He died on June 18, 1891 in Dundee, Scotland. (Scottish).

16. Ann KYNOCH, daughter of John Kynoch and Christine Hay was born about 1819 in Dallas, Morrayshire, Scotland. She died on March 13, 1885 in Dundee, Scotland. (Scottish)

Nos. 15 and 16 are duplicates of Nos. 9 and 10 due to the fact that my mother’s parents were first cousins.

The predominant ethnicity is Scottish with a sprinkling of Irish.

I think this was an excellent exercise as it helps me to know where I still have lots work to do.

Constable John Burnett (1863 - 1923)

On a previous post I mentioned how I contacted the Tayside Police Department’s Museum in Dundee, Scotland to see if they might have my great grandfather’s work record, which they did and were able to send to me. They also mentioned that they should have a picture of him in his uniform. On July 28th, I received an email saying that they were able to get a picture of him taken off and they were putting it in the mail that day. Just 4 days later on July 31st, I received the picture in the mail (I can’t believe it only took 4 days from Scotland when it takes nearly a week and a half for local mail!). This was very exciting as this is the first picture I have of any of my great grandparents. They actually sent two copies of the picture so I will be sending one to my Aunt in Saskatchewan.

Constable John Burnett was born on July 29, 1863 in Fettercairn, Kincardineshire, Scotland to John Burnett and Elizabeth Smith. He married Helen Leighton Marshall on April 24, 1885 in Dundee, Scotland and died on March 2, 1923 in Dundee, Scotland.

Mailing Lists and How They Helped Me

I have seen recommendations from other GeneaBloggers about joining mailing lists to help in their research. I decided to check them out so I went over to RootsWeb to see what they had. I found one pertaining to one of my areas of research, the Scotland-Angus list so I decided to join. I haven’t posted anything as yet and so far the messages received, although very interesting, don’t pertain to any of my family. However, I did check out the archived messages and there was a very interesting post regarding the Dundee police force saying that if you had an ancestor who was a member of the force you can contact the Tayside Police force’s museum and they might have your ancestor’s work records.

The Tayside Police was formed on the 16th of May 1975 and is made up of a number of smaller City, Burgh and County Constabularies (namely Angus, Dundee City and Perth and Kinross), which over the course of more than 150 years have successfully merged together to form the present Tayside Police Force.

My great grandfather, Robert Burnett (my mother’s maternal grandfather), was a member of the Dundee Police force in the late 1890’s and early 1900’s. The 1891 Scottish Census lists him as a Police Constable and according to his death record he retired as a Detective Inspector. Unfortunately, I don’t have any record of when he joined the force.

Fortunately, the person who posted the message on the mailing list also gave the website to the Tayside Police Force. I logged on and found their History and Museum section, which gives a brief history. You can contact the museum by filling out an online form with your request. There is a warning on the site that the email is not monitored 24 hours a day. The form is only for contacting the Force Museum and comments will be sent directly to museum staff. I filled out the form with the details that I knew of John Burnett and hoped for the best. That was on May 23rd.

On May 30th I received a reply from the website co-ordinator saying that they had received my email and that it had been forwarded to the Museum Curator who may be able to help. So far so good – at least I got a response! The same day I got another email from the curator himself, Mr. Willie MacFarlane, saying that with the information I had provided he was fairly sure that they should have some record of my great grandfather and unless it had been removed from the file, there should be a black and white photograph of him when he joined the Force. He mentioned that he would attend to the matter on his next visit to the Museum. I was very excited to learn that there might be a picture of him as I don’t have any pictures at all of any of my great grandparents.

Today, not two weeks since my original request, I received a very exciting email from Mr. MacFarlane. He found my great grandfathers work record – a very detailed one at that. Here is what he provided:

Dear Alana:- Further to our emails to each other I now have some information on your great grandfather.

John Burnett PC No. 128 was 22 years of age when he joined the former Dundee City Police on 24th November 1884. Formerly he had been employed as a warehouseman. He was single and lived at 37, Stirling Street, Dundee. He stood at 5ft 9 and1/2 inches in height and was born in Kincardine-shire.

On 19th May 1898 he was promoted to Sergeant, and then on 3rd June 1908 he was promoted to Det Officer and then on 16th May 1914 he was promoted to Det. Inspector. On 24th November 1920 he resigned from the Force on medical grounds and was awarded a pension of £198 3/- pa. He died at Dundee Royal Infirmary on 2nd March 1923. His widow Helen Marshall or Burnett received a widow's pension of £40 pa.

John Burnett was clearly well thought of and in fact he received a reward of 5/- for his part in the arrest of a Sarah Milne who had stolen jewellery on 13th February 1896.

You will be pleased to know that we do have a photograph of John Burnett in uniform and once this has been developed I will sent it to you by land mail.

Best wishes

Willie MacFarlane Hon. Museum Curator.¹

How exciting is that! I can’t wait to get the picture and will post it as soon as it arrives.

According to the 1891 Scottish Census Robert Burnett and his family were living at 5 Stirling St. and in 1901 were living at 36 Carmichael. However, they must have moved back to 37 Stirling Street, as that was his residence at the time of his death.

So, I’m going to join those other GeneaBloggers and recommend joining a mailing list. 95% of the time the messages may be irrelevant, but that 5% could just be the missing link you are looking for.

Source 1: Willie MacFarlane , " Constable John Burnett". e-mail to Alana Farrell, sent 04 June 2009.