The Old Family
and how we got here
If ever you want proof of the variations in spelling in family history research look no further. James Paterson or Patterson, a forester or forrester, lived most of his life in Philpstoun or Philipston or Philipstoun or Philpston although he was born in Frinlaymire or Trinlaymire. This one is more due to the way the letters are written in the old hand, which has led to the texts being transcribed wrongly in more than one document. Otherwise, there is just variation in spelling which, although it doesn't lead to misunderstandings, does cause problems in searching. One particular line "James Patterson, 25, Forrester, b Dalmanie" neatly illustrates the free hand in spelling.
It has been pointed out elsewhere that Philpstoun Mills housed a cluster of our family with different generations and sides of the family living very close together. 1901 was something else though. Alongside James and his wife there is a widow(er)ed son, three unmarried adult sons, a married daughter and her husband and their two children. That's not all though. There were also two grandchildren born in the USA but with British nationality and another two grandchildren, presumably siblings but born in Dundee and Abercorn. After drawing breath that makes fourteen. It's a good job they had three rooms!
James died of periostitis as well as other causes. This can be the result of an accident or repeated use of a limb or other part of the body and I feel sure that being a forester must have contributed to this painful condition. Although it doesn't state it anywhere there is a good chance that he could have been employed in one of the big estates around Philpstoun such as Dalmeny or the Binns as there enough trees around to keep a few foresters busy. Indeed, his son Joseph, also a forester, is listed as an estate worker in the 1911 census.
Thanks to Cara Swanson from the USA, we have a photograph of James.
