William Henderson 1787- 1863

Born to a Weaver around Kirkcaldy, Fife . Linen Weaver and a Joiner

Map1

- could have been a joiner 1800-1850, then changing to weaving, or, could have been a weaver up to 1851 and then became a joiner!

~1787. William Henderson was born to William Henderson, weaver, and Mary Syme around Abbottshall, Fife .. No baptism on SP, but a possibility that the entry of William Henderson baptised to William Henderson & Rachel Burt on 20/8/1787 was either entered incorrectly or has been mistranscribed

William Henderson had married Mary Syme in Abbottshall 23/2/1771 - SP .

According to the Family History he lived in the Linktown part of Kirkcaldy, was a handloom weaver and had a "Wag at the Wa'" clock- a clock which hangs on a wall with a pendulum hanging free beneath it. Someone- picture please?? - in the family still has this clock

William snr & Mary had the following children baptised in Abbottshall: David Henderson 1771; Jannet Henderson 1774; Robert Henderson 1776

William Henderson married Janet Burton~1805 - but no such marriage on SP , FS, FMP, Ancestry anywhere in Scotland 1795-1807!!. or anywhere in the world for the last 2 sites!!! Thus seemingly a common law marriage

1806. William Henderson was baptised on 23/7/1806 in Abbottshall , Fife to William Henderson, journeyman joiner, and Janet Burton- names from his 1887 dc & also from 1863 dc of William Henderson 1787.

Children to William and Janet [Jennat] baptised in Abbottshall were : William 1806; Alexander 1808; David 1810; May 1813 ; Robert 1817; Janet 1820; Margaret 1827;

Janet 1820 married Phinehas McIntosh and they were the 4 x Great Grandparents of Aaron Cowen .
Phineas was a bleacher at Tyrie Bleachfield and later became a Foreman and manager their, so it would appear Williams connection with Swan probably got him the job there.

 

According to the Family History, William 1787 followed his father's occupation of weaving and appears to have extended it considerably: in fact it became what was then known as a manufacturing business. That is to say it developed from one in which the customer brought his yarn to be woven, took the cloth and paid the weaver, into one in which the waever bought yarn, wove it, or had it woven for him, and then sold the cloth. Anyhow, he seems to have thriven and been able to bring up a big family of sons and daughters[ at least 7], all of whom did well, most of them living to a good old age. No mention is made in this of him also being a joiner, as shown in 1861C & on his 1863 d.c.

1841C. William Henderson, 55, is living Linktown, High Street, Abbottshall with his wife and 2 daughters. May Burton likely a sister or sister in law of Janet . Occupation unknown unless I purchase the original entry from SP

May Burton Female 53 1788 Fife, Scotland  
May Greig Female 26 1815 Fife, Scotland  
Ann Greig Female 16 1825 Fife, Scotland  
May Greig Female 1 1840 Fife, Scotland  
Margt Henderson Female 14 1827 Fife, Scotland  
William Henderson Male 55 1786 Fife, Scotland  
Janet Henderson Female 57 1784 Fife, Scotland  
Janet Henderson Female 22 1819 Fife, Scotland

1851C. William Henderson , 63, linen weaver, is living Newtown 23, Abbottshall, Fife

William Henderson Head Married Male 63 1788 Linen Weaver Abbotshall, Fife, Scotland
Janet Henderson Wife Married Female 63 1788 - Liberton, Midlothian, Scotland

1851-1861. William Henderson seems to have changed from being a weaver and become a joiner - this a bit ODD!. Maybe his fingers had ceased being dextrous

1858. His wife, Janet Henderson, 74, dies Kirkcaldy - this indicates a 1784 birth

1861C. William Henderson, 74, formerly joiner, widower, is living High Street, Abbottshall, Kirkcaldy, Fife with son, Robert, & his family

Robert Henderson Head Married Male 43 1818 Labourer At Blacksmith Abbotshall, Fife, Scotland  
Jane Henderson Wife Married Female 43 1818 - Perth, Perthshire, Scotland  
Robert Henderson Son - Male 9 1852 Scholar Perth, Perthshire, Scotland  
Margaret Henderson Daughter - Female 3 1858 - Abbotshall, Fife, Scotland  
Janet Henderson Daughter - Female 1 1860 - Abbotshall, Fife, Scotland  
Isabella Duncan Step Daughter Unmarried Female 15 1846 Linen Yarn Bleacher Fife, Scotland  
William Henderson Father Widower Male 74 1787 Formerly Joiner Abbotshall, Fife, Scotland  
William H Ireland Nephew Unmarried Male 19 1842 Ap Engine Smith Turner Abbotshall, Fife, Scotland

1863. William Henderson, 78, joiner, widow of Janet Burton, dies, of Influenza 11 days, ?? Place, Kirkcaldy 29/6/1863-SP . Bought this d.c and his parents were William Henderson, weaver, and Mary Syme

Seemingly no mention of his death in FMP Newspapers . No probate

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