A Brief History of the MacBeth/Kirk Family
Introduction
The history of the Archibald MacBeth/Helen Kirk family begins in the ancient royal burgh of Dunfermline, Fife, where both Archibald and Helen were born in the late 18th century, and where they were married on the 5th of December 1806. In earlier centuries, Dunfermline was the capital of Scotland and the residence of the Scottish royalty, but the burgh went into a decline after the "Union of the Crowns" in 1603. By Archibald and Helen's time, however, Dunfermline had been reborn as a center of the weaving industry, which was Archibald's trade.
The first six children of the MacBeth family were born in Dunfermline, but sometime around 1817-1819, the family departed Fife for the eastern suburbs of Glasgow. At that time, Glasgow was just beginning to take off with the industrial revolution on its path to becoming the "Second City of the Empire". For the most part, the MacBeth children stayed in eastern Glasgow for the remainder of the nineteenth century and all four sons went on to work in the region's iron and coal mines.
Through my research, I have discovered that the MacBeth/Kirk children were a tightly knit family. In census records, the children of Archibald and Helen were often living in the same "neighborhood" as one or more of their siblings, sometimes just a few doors away from each other. In 1851, my 3rd great grandfather, Robert, was a visitor at the home of his sister, Euphan, while his children were staying with his other sister, Elisabeth. Later, in 1873, when Robert's son, Archibald, died in a heart-wrenching mining accident, it was Robert's brother, Archibald, who registered the death. Further, when William died without children in 1896, his will named his grand-nephew, Robert MacBeth, as the executor and contained instructions to divide his assets amongst his siblings and their children.
I have standardized the spelling of their surname in this history to "MacBeth", as this is how it was passed down to my family.1 However, the surname was nearly always spelled "McBeath" in the earliest records I have located (although I've been told it was still pronounced "McBeth"). In records from the mid-1800s, "McBeath" was used interchangeably with "McBeth" and the spelling "MacBeth" finally made its appearance in the late 1800s.
Archibald MacBeth (1771-[1841-1851?])
Archibald MacBeth was born 20 March 1771 in Dunfermline, Fife, to Archibald MacBeth, "a labourer in Craig of Pitliver"2, and his wife, Janet Adie. He was baptized 25 April 1771 with John Currie, a farmer in Craigs, and Thomas Anderson, a wright in Crossford, as witnesses.
On 5 December 1806, Archibald married Helen Kirk in Dunfermline Parish, where both resided. The marriage OPR entry states that Archibald was a "weaver in Dunfermline". According to the OPR, Archibald and Helen "gave their names for proclamation in order to marriage [sic] and being regularly proclaimed and no objections made they were married." Archibald and Helen went on to be the parents of at least eight children.
Sometime between 1817, when his twin children, William and Elisabeth, were born in Dunfermline, and 1819, when his son, Robert, was born, Archibald and his family left Fife for Camlachie, a weaver's village about two miles east of Glasgow. Archibald continued as a weaver in Lanarkshire, but possibly became a coal miner at some point, as the death records for all but one of his children give his occupation as coal miner.3
At the time of the 1841 census, Archibald was 70 years old, and was living with his daughter, Euphan ("Fanny") Hamilton, and her family at no. 19 Mud Engine Row, Clyde Ironworks, Old Monkland, Lanarkshire. Listed directly below Archibald in the census was Agnes MacBeth, age 12. Her relation to Archibald is unclear.4 Sons Robert and William, and William's wife, Marion (nee McKay), lived just down the block at no. 22 Mud Engine Row. I have been unable to locate Archibald in the 1851 census, so I believe that he died sometime between 1841 and 1851.
Using the traditional Scottish naming patterns as a guide, I have traced Archibald's ancestry back to his paternal grandparents, Archibald MacBeth and Christian Smith, who were married in Dunfermline on the 14th of June, 1728, but more work is needed to determine Archibald's maternal ancestry.
Helen Kirk (1788-[bef 1841?])
Helen Kirk was born 27 August 1788 in Dunfermline, Fife, to Charles Kirk, a smith in Dunfermline, and his wife, Euphan Pennie (or Penny), and was baptized 7 September 1788. Witnesses were Henry Kirk and John Penny, weavers in Dunfermline, who were likely Helen's paternal and maternal uncles, respectively.5 The death register entry for her son, Robert, lists her name as "Nellie", possibly her nickname. I have been unable to locate Helen in the 1841 census and I believe she may have died before this time. I have also been unable to locate any record of her death.
Helen's ancestry is a work in progress, but I believe her paternal grandparents are likely Dougal Kirk and Agnes Halliwell, married the 24th of November 1736 in Dunfermline. Her maternal grandparents are probably John Penny and Margaret Ker, married the 18th of November 1741 in Dunfermline.
Children of Archibald MacBeth and Helen Kirk:6
Euphan MacBeth (1808-1876)
Euphan was the eldest child of Archibald and Helen Kirk, born 3 January 1808 in Dunfermline, Fife. She was baptized on 31 January 1808 in Dunfermline. Witnesses to the baptism were John Dallas and Charles Kirk. While her birth entry records her name as "Euphan", she also went by the names "Euphemia" and "Fanny".
Euphan married James Hamilton in Old Monkland, Lanark, on 15 March 1835. They were the parents of at least five daughters. In 1841, Euphan and James were living at 19 Mud Engine Row, Clyde Iron Works, and James was employed as a collier. Sometime between 1841 and 1848, Euphan and James moved to Carnock, Fife, where their daughter, Margaret, was born. In the 1851 census, Euphan was a widow living with her five daughters at 82 Blair Row, Forth Iron Works in Carnock, Fife. They had two visitors: Euphan's brother, Robert MacBeth, and James Gorman, both coal miners. The three eldest daughters were attending school at the time of the census and no occupation was given for Euphan.
By 1861, Euphan had returned to Lanark and was living at 1 Helen Vale Street in Bridgeton, Glasgow, with daughters, Susan and Margaret, and 2 boarders. Euphan's occupation at that time was as a midwife. In 1871, Euphan was living with her daughter and son-in-law, Euphemia and Robert Merry, and their 1-year-old son, James, at 8 William Street, Calton, Glasgow. Under occupation, Euphan was said to be a "former milliner."7
Euphan was staying with Euphemia and Robert at their home at 162 James Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow, when she died on 20 March 1879 at age 67. Her daughter, Euphemia, was the informant of her death.
Children of Euphan MacBeth and James Hamilton:8
Archibald MacBeth (1809-1881)
Archibald was born to Archibald and Helen on 29 November 1809 in Dunfermline, Fife, and was baptized 10 December 1809 in Dunfermline. The baptism was witnessed by Thos. Dick and James Law, "residenters in Bothwellhaugh."9
Archibald was married to Elisabeth Miller on 25 March 1832 in Barony, Lanark, and they had at least six children. From 1841 to 1871, Archibald, Elisabeth, and various of their children lived in Shettleston, Lanark, where Archibald was employed as a coal miner. In 1851, Archibald and his family were living at 41 Path Road. His daughters, Helen and Euphemia, were employed as bleachers, while his children Janet and William were both scholars. In 1861, Archibald and Elisabeth were living at 6 Gray's Square with daughter, Euphemia, still employed as a bleacher, and son, Archibald, who was employed as a coal miner.
In 1873, Archibald registered the death of his nephew, also named Archibald, who died in a mining accident in Tollcross, Shettleston.
Elisabeth died in 1879 and in 1881 Archibald was living by himself as a pauper at 148 Main Street, Shettleston.10 On 17 June 1881, Archibald died of heart and kidney disease in Tollcross, Shettleston, Lanark, at age 71. His death was registered by his son-in-law, James Wilson.
Children of Archibald MacBeth and Elisabeth Miller:11
Janet MacBeth (1812-1892)
Janet MacBeth was born 6 June 1812 in Dunfermline, Fife, and was baptized on 21 June 1812 in Dunfermline. Her baptism was witnessed by Charles Kirk, senior and Charles Kirk, junior, most likely the father and brother of Janet's mother, Helen Kirk.
Janet was married to Robert Gardner but I have not located an OPR entry for their marriage. Throughout their marriage, Robert and Janet lived in Paisley, Renfrew, where Robert was a weaver. In the 1851 and 1861 censuses, Janet was employed as a "winder",12 which was a textile mill worker who wound the thread on weaving looms. Robert and Janet were parents to at least seven children.
Janet died on 26 June 1892 at her home on 28 Great Hamilton Street in Paisley, Renfrew. She was survived by her husband, who was the informant of her death.
Children of Robert Gardner and Janet MacBeth:13
Charles MacBeth (1814-1885)
Charles was born to Archibald and Helen on 14 December 1814 at Rumblingwell,14 Dunfermline, and was baptized 15 January 1815 in Dunfermline. Witnesses of the baptism were David Adie and Alexander Pierson.
Charles married Bethea (or "Betsy") Brown on 4 September 1836 in Old Monkland, Lanark, and they were the parents of at least ten children.
In 1841, Charles and Bethea were living in Merrystone Square in Old Monkland, Lanark.15 By 1851 they had moved to the Forth Iron Works, in Carnock, Fife, where Charles was a coal miner. Their home at 99 Blair Row was just down the block from Charles' eldest sister, Euphan. In 1861, they were living at 35 Blair Row at the Forth Iron Works, but by 1871, Charles and Bethea had returned to Lanarkshire, and were living at 35 Muir Street in Hamilton. Bethea died in 1873 and in 1881, Charles was living with his grandson, also Charles, and his family in Hamilton, Lanark.
Charles died 9 August 1885 in Cowdenbeath, Beath, Fife. His death record gives his parents as "Archibald McBeath, coal miner" and "Alison Kirk", both deceased. His death was registered by his son, Archibald.
Children of Charles MacBeth and Bethea Brown:
William MacBeth (1817-1896)
William was born 6 April 1817, the first of twins, at Rumblingwell, Dunfermline. He and his twin sister, Elisabeth, were baptized on the 20th of April 1817 with witnesses Robert Hunter and William Burt, "both at Rumblingwell".
William was married to Marion McKay 31 October 1840 in Old Monkland, Lanark. They had no children. In 1841, William, Marion and his brother, Robert, were living in Old Monkland, Lanark, at 22 Mud Engine Row, just down the block from his sister, Euphan, and father, Archibald. William was working as a coal miner in both 1841 and 1851, although by 1851, he and Marion had moved to nearby Barony.
In 1861, William and Marion were living in the town of Tollcross, Shettleston, and William's occupation was listed as a "cow-feeder", meaning the tenant of small farm with dairy cows. By 1871, William and Marion had moved to 63 Easterhill Street, Tollcross, where they lived for the rest of their lives. Both the 1871 and 1881 censuses give William's occupation as "carter", which was someone who worked with horse and cart on farms or in towns, but in 1891, William was listed as a "portioner", meaning he was the owner of land, previously divided amongst co-heirs.
William outlived his wife, Marion, who died in 1884, by twelve years and died 20 January 1896 at his home on Easterhill street. His death was registered by his grand-nephew, Robert MacBeth, who had been staying with William at his home. William's will and inventory were filed at the Glasgow Sheriff Court on February 28, 1896. It directed that his assets were to be divided among his siblings and their children. William is the only child of Archibald and Helen for which I have located a will.
Elisabeth MacBeth (1817-1873)
Elisabeth was born shortly after her twin brother, William, on 6 April 1817. She married Neil McKay but I have not found a record of this marriage.16 They were the parents of at least nine children. According to the 1851 and 1861 censuses, Neil and Elisabeth's eldest daughter was born in England in about 1844, but I have been thus far unable to locate any record of Elisabeth and Neil in England.
I have not been able to definitively identify Elisabeth or Neil in the 1841 census but in 1851 they and their children were living at Auchenshuggle, Tollcross, Shettleston, Lanark. Also at their home were Archibald and Margaret, the children of Elisabeth's brother, Robert. Neil's occupation was given as "Chelsea Pensioner Lab Iron Works".
In 1861, the family was living in Barony, Lanark, where Neil was employed at a confection shop. Neil and Elisabeth's eldest daughter, "Ellen" (i.e. Helen), was employed as a cotton weaver, while their sons, Archibald and Neil, were both listed in the census as scholars. By 1871, Elisabeth was a widow and was living in Bridgeton, Glasgow, with five her children. Her occupation was listed as a housekeeper. Son, Archibald, was at that time employed as a van driver, son, Neil, as a brass finisher, and son, William, was unemployed. Daughters, Barbara and Euphemia, were both scholars. Also listed in the household was Elisabeth's grandson, Andrew Kinloch, age 3, the son of her daughter, Elizabeth.
Elisabeth died 22 October 1873 at age 56, at her home, 55 Oswald Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow. The informant of her death was her son, Neil.
Children of Neil McKay and Elizabeth MacBeth:
Robert MacBeth (1819-1897)
Robert was the seventh child born to Archibald MacBeth and Helen Kirk. He was born 8 April 1819 in Camlachie, Lanark, and was baptized 23 May 1819 in Barony, Glasgow. Witnesses of his baptism were J.L. Campbell and John Hunt.
In 1841, Robert was living with his elder brother, William, and William's wife, Marion McKay, in Old Monkland, Lanark. Their father, Archibald, and sister, Euphan, were living nearby and are listed on the same page of the census.
Robert was first married to Margaret Love sometime around 1841 to 1843. I have been unable to locate a marriage OPR entry for this marriage but I presume it took place in Lanarkshire, probably in Old Monkland or nearby Barony. Robert and Margaret had 3 children.
Margaret Love died sometime prior to the census of 1851 as Robert was denoted as a widower in that census. At the time of the 1851 census, Robert was visiting his sister Euphan at Forth Iron Works, in Carnock, Fife, where his future wife, Georgina Knox, was living with her father and sister.
In April of 1853, Robert married Georgina Knox at Carnock, Fife.17 The OPR entry for the marriage indicates that Robert was employed as a miner at Forth Iron Works in Carnock. Robert and Georgina had at least 8 children.
Tragedy struck Robert's family in early February, 1873, when his eldest son, Archibald, died in a mining accident at Kenmuir no. 2 coal pit in Old Monkland, Lanark. Archibald and another miner, James Moodie, were working on a water course in the coal pit when the water suddenly rose, cutting the miners off from the mine's exit. When the bodies of the 2 miners were recovered on April 4, it was discovered that they had survived in the mine for at least 2 weeks after the accident. The bodies of James and Archibald, "were found lying together, with one of their jackets partly covering both of them" at a location in the mine where "the water could not have abated in less than 14 days." A note from Archibald was found attached to a flask used for carrying tea which read, "My dear wife, long after you and all other people thought we were dead I had great hopes of seeing you. I bid you farewell, hoping God will comfort and take care of you and them."18 "Them" was supposed to have referred to their children.
In 1886, Robert, his wife Georgina, their son William, William's wife and children, and their daughter, Jean (i.e. Georgina),19 traveled to Australia. Their son, John Knox MacBeth, had immigrated to Australia the previous year. The MacBeths departed from the port of Bremen, Germany, aboard the ship Hohenstaufen and arrived in Sydney, New South Wales, 2 November, 1886. I don't know if this was intended to be a permanent relocation, but, whatever the case, after a few years all but two of the MacBeths returned to the UK. They arrived 7 May 1891 in Southampton, England. Robert and Georgina's son, John Knox, and daughter, Georgina, remained in Australia.
On April 20, 1897, at the age of 77, Robert died of "natural causes" in Hamilton, Lanark. His wife, Georgina, had died two years earlier. His death was registered by his son, William.
Children of Robert MacBeth and Margaret Love:
Children of Robert MacBeth and Georgina Knox.
Helen MacBeth (1823-1896?)
Helen is the youngest confirmed (and most recently uncovered) child of Archibald MacBeth and Helen Kirk. I have not found an OPR entry for her birth, but, according to census records, Helen was born about 1823 in Tollcross, Shettleston, Lanark. Her nickname appears to have been "Ellen".
In 1841, Helen was a servant living in Coatbridge, Old Monkland, Lanark. Helen married John Duncan, a seaman, on 8 August 1847, in Glasgow. Helen and John were the parents of at least five children. Helen and John were living in Barony, Glasgow, in 1851 with their eldest three children and John was employed as a seaman, jr., merchant service. Helen was a widow in the 1861 census, employed as a housekeeper and living with her four youngest children in St. John, Glasgow.
Helen married her second husband, a widower named John McLeod Stewart, on 13 November 1865 in High Church, Glasgow, "according to the forms of the Free Church of Scotland." Helen's profession at that time was as a washerwoman, and her new husband was a handloom weaver.
Helen was still living in St. John, Glasgow, in 1871 but it is unclear if her second husband had died by that time. While the census states that Helen was married, her husband was not listed in her household and her name was given as "Helen Duncan". She was employed as a "washer & dresser" and was living at 76 Whitevale Street with three of her children, a 1 year-old grandson and a boarder.
I have not found Helen in either the 1881 or 1891 census. I also have been unable to locate a death record for Helen, but she is mentioned on a memorial stone erected by her son, Archibald McBeth Duncan, at Tollcross Churchyard and Cemetery. The stone states that "Ellen McBeth died 29th May 1896 aged 73 years."
Children of Helen MacBeth and John Duncan:
It is here that this brief history of the MacBeth/Kirk family comes to an end. However, it is not the end of the family's history, which continues today through their descendants in Scotland and around the world.