James CARRUTHERS (was a shoemaker) b. bett. 1791/96 – d. 2 Nov 1848 in Quarrelwood, Kirkmahoe, Dumfriesshire, Scotland ~ he married 27 June 1820 to Sarah McDONALD b.1794 Lochrutton, Kirkcudbright, Scotland d.26 Oct 1864 Dalswinton, Nithsdale, Scotland
The 1841 Census of Guillyburn farm, Kirkmahoe has James the shoemaker born about 1796
LDS C19524-1 film have him born 15 May 1795
The marriage proclamation of James CARRUTHERS & Sarah McDONALD in Urr, Kirkcudbright reads:
[27th June 1820] By token from James CARRUTHERS of Applegarth and John McDONALD in Cronie representing his daughter Sarah McDONALD requesting the banns of marriage be duly proclaimed between the said James CARRUTHERS and Sarah McDONALD on Thursday and Saturday next and being………. “last two words are unreadable.”
Sarah’s mother was Martha LIVINGSTONE b.Abt.1767
James and Sarah are buried in Kirkmahoe Churchyard, in a grave right beside the church wall. According to the memorial inscription James died at Quarrelwood (Kirkmahoe) on 2nd November 1848 aged 57 years although that might read 51 years (difficult to make out) Sarah died at Dalswinton village on 26th October 1864, aged 74 years. Also mentioned are their daughter, Elizabeth Carruthers, spouse to William JARDINE (Gardine) who died at Quarrelwood on 28th June 1851 aged 30 years. Their son, John CARRUTHERS who died at Dumfries on 2nd November 1892, aged 66 years and his wife, Jane SWAN who died at Cassalands terrace, Maxwelltown on 28th February 1901 aged 65 years. The stone was erected by the son John CARRUTHERS.
By the 1841 census , James (45) and Sarah (45) were living at Guillyburn farm in Kirkmahoe parish. Living with them were children: Elizabeth (20) John (15) Martha (10) Janet (9) James (6) Robert (3 months). Guillyburn farm in Kirkmahoe, not to be confused with Gyleburn (<any spelling) in Sorrysyke/stMungo. Note: Adult ages over 15 in the 1841 census were rounded down to the nearest 5 or 10.
Elder children of James & Sarah: As a Shoemaker, James travelled a lot as we know his children’s birth places were all over Dumfriesshire.
1st Born; Lochmaben b. 17th Dec. 1820 Elizabeth daughter to James CARRUTHERS and Sarah McDONALD & baptised the 19th day of the same month
Janet b. Kirkmichael 22nd March 1832.
James lawful son to James CARRUTHERS & Sarah McDONALD in Guillyburn, Kirkmahoe b. 6th May 1835, baptised 24th May 1835 etc etc
CARRUTHERS between 1200’s – 1600’s were land owners, this made it reasonably simple to locate/transcribe and interlink the CARRUTHERS families prior to 1700. (15000 Carruthers all interlinked, this does not include their spouses) one is now left with a blank space of about two generations where I can only draw assumptions.
James CARRUTHERS “the shoemaker” was perhaps the son of either of the two families below or another set of parents entirely?????
James CARRUTHERS (of Gyleburn/Sorrysyke) x Mary CARLYLE Abt 1752-1828 had a son Thomas CARRUTHERS b. Abt. 1773 in St Mungo x Sarah HIDDLESTONE. This Thomas and Sarah had a son James b 1793 ** this James had an unknown sibling born in Closeburn, Kirkmahoe (a village to the Left of Guillyburn farm) James the shoemaker had descendents living in Closeburn. I have the Dumfries & Galloway cemetery transcripts for both Closeburn & neighbouring Thornhill (Dalgarnock) and still cannot shine any more light on this. ~ THE NAME THOMAS was not carried on through my ancestors!
The second possible/likely parental connection may be :
James CARRUTHERS (of Raffles/Dalton)b. Abt 1743 – 1805 x Elizabeth TWEEDIE (Tweedy) (of Tinwald)b. Abt.1759-1850………They had a son James b.Abt.1772 ** (of Mouswald) who possibly married also an Elizabeth TWEEDIE b.1775 (detail on this family is sketchy and differing on the net)
Just to thicken the confusion the ancestors of this James of Raffles I cannot trace either, his father may have been Thomas of Tinwald. I have tried to lay this out in the least confusing way and welcome any guidance on the way forward. I will gladly share my CARRUTHERS research with folk on this platform in the hope it may at least assist others. Ian Carruthers – Zimbabwe email: rivertailfriction@gmail.com
