William Brown **

   Cause of his death was Disease of the Heart, 3 years.

  General Notes:

Although he was baptised 29 Sep 1799, it is possible he was actually born in 1798, and that his mother died as a result of childbirth. His mother is buried in the Larbert cemetery, her death year is recorded as 1798.

Sponsors/Witnesses at his birth were John Anderson & John Walker, both of whom acted in the same capacity for several other births around that time.

At the time of the 1841 Census William was living at Keadles Cross, Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, he was an Iron Miner, aged 41. Living with him were his wife Elizabeth, aged 40, son John, aged 17, also an Iron Miner, son Robert aged 15, daughter Isobel aged 13, daughter Elisabeth aged 11, son Alexander, aged 10, daughter Euphemia, aged 8, daughter Janet aged 6, and daughter Margaret aged 3.

When Janet and Margaret were born in 1835 and 1838 respectively William was recorded as a "Coalier" in Newarthill at that time. Janet was born at the Shotts Iron Works, however, but Margaret was born in Newarthill and baptised in Shotts.

At the time of the 1851 Census William & Elizabeth were living at Sheephousehill in Whitburn, West Lothian. William was 52, an Iron Miner, birthplace Larbert, Stirlingshire. Elisabeth was 55, birthplace Carnwath, Lanark. Also living with them were their children Elisabeth, 22, Dressmaker, born in Shotts; Alexander, 20, an Iron Miner, born Shotts; Janet, 15, a Scholar, born Midlothian; and Margaret, 13, a Scholar, born Shotts. This is the house that William was living in when he died in 1859.

On the Census page, and the following page there are several Brown families including one Alexander Brown, aged 35, who was born in Larbert like William, a Robert and a James born in Shotts. It is possible they are all related but I have no evidence yet to support this. Alexander appears to have been born to John Brown and Helen Brown in Larbert in 1815. William had brothers named Alexander and James so it is possible these are his nephews - their ages would support this.

William is buried in the Whitburn Churchyard with his wife Elizabeth. The inscription on their headstone reads:

"ERECTED BY JOHN BROWN CROFTHEAD IN MEMORY OF HIS PARENTS WILLIAM BROWN WHO DIED APRIL 17 1859 AGED 59 YEARS AND ELIZABETH FORSYTH WHO DIED AUGUST 3 1857 AGED 61 YEARS"

  Noted events in his life were:

• He worked as a Coalier on 17 Jul 1821 in Shotts Iron Works, Shotts, Lanark, Scotland.

• He worked as a Coalier at the Shotts Iron Works at the time of Euphemia's birth on 10 Jan 1832 in Shotts, Lanark, Scotland.

• He worked as a Collier at the time of Jane's Birth on 5 Dec 1835 in Newarthill, Lanark, Scotland.

• He worked as a Collier at the time of Margaret's birth on 25 Mar 1838 in Newarthill, Lanark, Scotland.

• He worked as an Iron Miner at the time of the Census in 1841 in Lanark, Scotland.

• He worked as a Coal Miner at the time of daughter Janet's marriage on 16 Jan 1858.

• He worked as an Iron Miner at the time of his death on 17 Apr 1859 in Whitburn, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland.

• He resided at the time of Janet's birth on 5 Dec 1835 in Newarthill, Lanark, Scotland.

• He resided at the time of Margaret's birth on 25 Mar 1838 in Newarthill, Lanark, Scotland.

• He resided at the time of the Census in 1841 in Keadles Cross, Cambusnethan, Lanark, Scotland.

William married Elizabeth Forsyth **, daughter of John Forsyth ** and Agnes Isobel Laird **, on 16 Jul 1820 in Shotts, Lanark, Scotland. (Elizabeth Forsyth ** was born on 12 Mar 1796 in Carnwath, Lanark, Scotland, christened on 20 Mar 1796 in Carnwath, Lanark, Scotland, died on 3 Aug 1857 in Shepherd Hill, Whitburn, West Lothian, Scotland and was buried in Whitburn Churchyard, Whitburn, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland.). The cause of her death was Malignant enlargement of the Thyroid Gland/4 months.

  Marriage Notes:

It appears that a fee of 2 shillings 6 pence was charged. Beneath their names appears to be the words "Wardrobe ???nal" - perhaps an occupation?