I identified James Andrew as being Marion Andrew's father through Marion's birth record. That record also identified Marion's mother as being Margaret Cranstoune - a very distinct name. From that I was able to find James and Margaret's marriage record which, incidentally, took place only two months before Marion's birth; (phew, just made it).

James and his wife, Margaret, were fecund, in that there are records of five children being born to them, including Margaret. Four of these children were born between 1679 and 1684, with the fifth in 1695. I wonder if this is a genuine gap, or if others of their children's births were not recorded.

I have been unable to find a birth record for James. I did find one for a "James Andro" in Peebles for around an appropriate date, but I really can't claim that to be for my James Andrew. I have also found a death record for a James Andrew in 1720 in West Linton. While the entry is sparse for detail, the death was recorded in West Linton and 1720 is in an appropriate period for our James. So, for now, I am happy to claim it is the correct James.

That, though, appears to make it the end of this line.

KEY EVENTS AND DATES

3rd July 1679

James married Margaret Cranstoune in West Linton, Peeblesshire. Unusually for a parish record, there appears to be quite a lot of detail in the entry. However, the writing is dreadful and if it was not for my friend, Diana Hemphill's help, I would not have been able to decipher it. Diana is also a keen genealogist and has a network of genealogical friends who, through their experience, were able to decipher the record. The full entry is shown below - it should be noted that the letters in brackets were added to show the full words that had been abbreviated by the recorder of the entry.

"James Andrew albeit not summoned was waiting on & being called (com)peired and being asked if he was father to Marg(are)t Cranstones child (con)fest that he was & th(a)t he intended to marry her they being removed it was agreed unanimously (con)descended in Sessio(n) that they should appear in public for taking away the scandal on a week day & to be received after sermone th(i)s course was taken in respect of the troubles of the tyme & several oth(e)r (con)siderations here is to be observed tha(a)t the sess(ion) will not have th(i)s to be a prevale(nce) for tymes to come for such delinquencies."

View record.

View record extract.

14th September 1679

James's daughter, Marion Andrew, was born on this day in West Linton. Her parents were recorded as James Andrew and Margaret Cranstoune.

View record.

View record extract.

22nd August 1680

James's daughter, Margaret, was born in West Linton, Peeblesshire. At this stage I have not acquired the actual record, but have this information from ScotlandsPeople.

10th November 1682

James's son, John, was born in West Linton, Peeblesshire. At this stage I have not acquired the actual record, but have this information from ScotlandsPeople.

20th December 1684

James's son, William, was born in West Linton, Peeblesshire. At this stage I have not acquired the actual record, but have this information from ScotlandsPeople.

29th September 1695

James's son, James, was born in West Linton, Peeblesshire. At this stage I have not acquired the actual record, but have this information from ScotlandsPeople.

15th November 1716

James's daughter, Marion Andrew, married James Broun (sic) in West Linton, Peeblesshire. The entry itself is quite difficult to decipher. It appears to record that proclamation to intend to marriage took place on 21st July 2016, but that the actual marriage took place on 15th November 1716. See for yourself by reading the actual record.

View record.

View record extract.

6th August 1720

I have a record for a James Andrew dying on this date in West Linton, Peeblesshire. The entry records that "£2 - 0 - 0" was paid for a "Mortcloath".

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View record extract.

23rd January 1724

James's daughter, Marion Andrew, died where she lived her life, in West Linton, Peeblesshire. There is very little detail in the entry, but it does note that there was a charge of £5.00.00 for a horse and what looks like a "mortclath",which, from referring to a Scots dictionary, I think means 'a pall covering a coffin'. See for yourself and see what you think.

View record.

View record extract.

30th January 1727

James's wife, Margaret Cranston, died in West Linton. The parish record states that they collected £2 - 0 - 0 for a 'mortclath'.

View record.

View record extract.