D6: Black family

D6: Black family (Blacksmiths)

D6_00_headstone

Inscription

THIS IS THE
BURIAL PLACE
OF JAMES BLA
CK SMITH & AG
NES GILMOUR
HIS SPOUSE ER
ECTD BY HIS SON
1775

Inscription

Erected by
JOHN BLACK

IN MEMORY OF
HIS FATHER
HUGH BLACK
DIED 9TH JUNE 1889, AGED 91 YEARS.
HIS WIFE ELSPETH TEMPLETON,
WHO DIED 23RD DECR 1890, AGED 36 YEARS.
HIS DAUGHTER GEORGINA,
DIED 9TH NOVR 1891, AGED 21 MONTHS.
HIS MOTHER ELIZABETH HERBERT.
DIED 3RD FEBY 1897, AGED 91 YEARS,
HIS BROTHER JAMES BLACK
DIED 13TH MAY 1900, AGED 52 YEARS.
ALSO THE ABOVE JOHN BLACK
DIED 12TH OCTR 1919, AGED 75 YEARS

John Black (d.1664)

The earliest recorded smith (blacksmith) we can find in our parish dates back to 1664 in the Will and Testimony of “John Black, smith in Polquheys, new parish of Cumnock”.  This was fourteen years after the parish of Cumnock had been divided into the two new parishes of Old Cumnock and New Cumnock in 1650, when the term ‘new parish of Cumnock’ was common on legal documents. John died on 1st April 1664, and may well lie in an unmarked grave in the kirkyard aside the kirk that had been built five years beforehand.

d6_01_johnblack_will
Will and Testimony of John Black (National Records of Scotland)

 I. James Black (c.1708-1774) and Agnes Gilmour (c.1713-1775)

Children: James (b.1734), Margaret (b.1736), Margaret (b.1738), Cathrine (b/1740), John (b.1742), Cathrine (b.1744), Hugh (b.1747), Mary (b.1749), James (b.1751), Agnes (b.1756), James (b.1756)

It’s not known if James Black is a descendant of John Black of Polquheys but not only did they share the same surname they were both smiths. He married Agnes Gilmour (possibly daughter of John Gilmour and Margaret Campbell of Mains) and together they had 11 children – several whom died in infancy. Five children were born at Mains / Meiklemains (Castlemains) , one at Gatleochside, one at Scaurhead (?), one at Littlemerk and three at Dalleagles, including Hugh and twins James and Agnes.

James Smith was a journeyman blacksmith moving around the parish for work. Blacksmiths were in great demand serving in particular the large farming population. Goods were transported by pack-horse or by a cart where maintenance was always necessary.  Horse shoes and farm implements such as sickles for bringing in the sheaves were made by the smiths.

II. Hugh Black (1747- ) and Catherine Smith

Children: William (b.1780), Kathrine (b.1791), Thomas (b.1793), Ann (b.1795), Hugh (b.1798), John (b.1800) and Daniel (b.1803)

This is presumed to be Hugh the son of the above James Black, born in 1747 at Mains. (Hugh was also a blacksmith and his son, also called Hugh, is buried alongside James Black). He married Catherine Smith and together they had six children including son Hugh born at Lowes and John born at Dalleagles, suggesting their father had returned to work as a smith there.

d6_02_map_dalleagles
Dalleagles Smithy

III. Hugh Black (b. 1798 d. 1889) and Elizabeth Herbert (b. 1806 d. 1897)

Children: Hugh (b.1837)), Hugh (b.1839), George(b.1841), Catherine (b.1843), John (b.1845) & James (b.1848)

Hugh Black married Elizabeth Herbert and together they had six children including son John, all born at Connelburn, where stood Smithfield Cottage.   A master blacksmith he was listed as one of the four in New Cumnock in the 1837 Ayrshire Directory – the others being Hugh Baird (Afton Bridgend), Andrew Brown and Archibald Campbell (Dalleagles); while Robert Boyle was at Benston Smith.  Hugh was the last of the line of Black – smiths!

d6_03_map_connelburn
Connelburn Smithy

IV. John Black (b. 1844 d 1919) and Elspeth Templeton (b. 1864 d. 1890)

Children: Jane (b.1877) , Elizabeth (b.1879), Janet (b.1882), Elspeth (b.1884), Catherine (b.1887), Georgina (b.1890)

John married Elspeth Templeton and together they had six daughters and lived at Mossmark Cottages. John initially worked as a miner in the developing New Cumnock coalfield and later became an insurance agent.

Gallery

d6_07_connelburn_smithy
Connelburn Smithy front right

—

D6_06_CastleSmithy.jpg
Smith at the Castle , fromt right

Auld Kirkyard Map

mapkirkyard_upper_template_black

Acknowledgements

National Records of Scotland CC9/7/33

  • Will & Testimony of John Black (1664)

Maps

12 thoughts on “D6: Black family”

  1. Michelle McMillan's avatarMichelle McMillan

    James Black (1708-1774) and Agnes Gilmour (1713-1775) are my 6th Great-Grandfather and Great-Grandmother and their son John (1742-1836) and his wife Janet McCledeston (1742-1843) my 5th Great-Grandfather and Great-Grandmother. Thank you for this wonderful acknowledgement!
    Michelle McMillan, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

    Reply ↓
    1. flowgently's avatarflowgently Post author

      Thank you very much Michelle and sorry for not getting back sooner. Your comments encouraged me to review the research that was carried out and I note that your 5th GG John was born at Gatelochside in the parish of New Cumnock and I have updated the page. Thanks too for the birth years of James Balck and Agnes and I have updated these too. I am aware of the strong Scots connection with Guelph . Thank you again for visiting and the kind remarks. all thes best, Bobby

      Reply ↓
    2. C. Houlihan's avatarC. Houlihan

      Hello.

      I’m not sure I have the right person, but I am wondering if you are the M. McMillan who has researched the Spicer family of Manitoba. If so, we are cousins through the Duggan family, and I would be interested in communicating with you.

      I can be reached at choulihan100@gmail.com

      Thank you.

      C. Houlihan

      Reply ↓
    3. Karen O'Donnell's avatarKaren O'Donnell

      Hi Michelle, my name is Karen O’Donnell. James Black and Agnes Gilmour were my 6th great grandparents as well. Could I ask you if you have any info on them, that you would share with me? Thank you very much, Michelle My email is odiecody@yahoo.com

      Reply ↓
  2. Margaret White's avatarMargaret White

    I was born Margaret Black. My Grandfather was Hugh Black solicitor in Cumnock. I believe James Black and Agnes Gilmour are my ancestors.

    Reply ↓
  4. Steve Black's avatarSteve Black

    Hi

    My name is Steve Black, and am the great grandson of William Black who left New Cummnock to emmigrate to Australia.

    There is a gravestone in the old cemetery at New Cummnock noting his death in Australia.

    James Black (1708-1774) and Agnes Gilmour (1713-1775) are my 6th Great-Grandfather and Great-Grandmother through their son Hugh and his son Thomas and his son William.

    Reply ↓
  5. flowgently's avatarflowgently Post author

    Hi Steve,
    Thank you for getting in touch. Iwill try and get a photo during my next visit to the Auld Kirkyards. I hae the lair location, kind regards Bobby

    Reply ↓
  6. Steve Black's avatarSteve Black

    Hi Bobby

    I have a photo of the headstone from the Auld Kirkyard that I could send you, as there is no upoad ability on your site.

    Steve

    Reply ↓
  7. Alan Kinnaird Black's avatarAlan Kinnaird Black

    Good afternoon. My g-grandfather was Robert Black, watchmaker and jeweler, who had a shop in the Square at Cumnock. His first wife, Elizabeth Young, died soon after childbirth, having given birth to ELIZABETH YOUNG BLACK (EYB) in 1861. EYB lived with her father, his second wife and their family. Then my direct trail hits a blank wall. EYB emigrated to Ontario, Canada after the 1881 census, and died in Toronto in 1936 after being in Ontario “for 50 years”. She moved to the Toronto area “from Carluke area” about 1908. Guelph (west of Carluke) is the area where the Rev James Black who died in 1886 had a farm. We have been unable to find passenger list records or Canadian immigration records for EYB, or where she was in Canada from census records, nor the connection between Rev James Black, Cumnock, and EYB. Does anyone have any clues to add?

    Reply ↓
    1. flowgently's avatarflowgently Post author

      Hello Alan
      Thank you for getting in touch. I’am afraid I cannot be of much assistance.

      There is a family tree in Ancestry https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/105348538/person/242036452204/facts Bregg-Black-Spragg-Tracy Tree that gives Elizabeth Young Black’s spouse as David Andrew Kyle Williams. It also gives 1911 Census (Toronto West)and 1921 (Parkdale Toronto), I don’t have access to Canadian Census Records. There is a alsoa link to Find A Grave.

      Reverend James Black http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/black_james_11E.html

      BLACK, JAMES, a founder of the Disciples of Christ in Upper Canada; b. 15 Aug. 1797 in the parish of Kilmartin (Strathclyde), Scotland, son of John Black and Janet Campbell; m. 15 Feb. 1828 Lois Humphrey of Grimsby Township, Upper Canada, and they had nine children; d. 21 April 1886 in Eramosa Township, Ont.

      Born in Kilmartin in 1797, this is 90 mile as the crow-flies, north-west of Cumnock and well over 100mile as the crow flies. He’s married in Upper Canada in 1828 and there is no record I can find associated with the Cumnock area during< 31 years in Scotland. Black is a very common surname and it may just be a coincidence and there is no relationship with EYB

      hope this helps,
      Bobby

      Reply ↓

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