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I wonder if anyone can throw any light on the origins of this young woman, please.


*******PLEASE NOTE - I know all about her husband George and his family (from Fife), so please don't spend time on him. It's only Agnes I want to know about.



In 1912, aged 27, a domestic servant, she married George Braid, surfaceman, bachelor:

BRAID
GEORGE
LEMON
AGNES
1912
331/ 3
Balquhidder

Her parents are stated to be Daniel Lemon, coachman, and Kathleen Lemon nee Cowan. Presumably they were alive, as not stated to be deceased.

The witnesses are Duncan Macnab and Maggie Macgregor - not known to be relatives of either George or Agnes; probably just work colleagues or friends.

At the time of her marriage her address was The Hotel, Lochearnhead. I assume she was a hotel employee, and therefore she could have been born anywhere.
George at that time was a surfaceman (railways), and I imagine they met when he went to the hotel public bar after work.


George was killed in WW1, in 1916.

Agnes died in Duror, Argyll, in 1923.

BRAID
AGNES
35
1923
525/5 1
Duror

Death cert says:

Agnes Braid, widow of George Braid, Private, 1st Black Watch.
Age 35.
Died April 11th 1923, at 11am, at Duror Post Office.
Usual residence: Railway Cottage, Duror.
Father: Daniel Lemon, coachman, deceased.
Mother: Kathleen Lemon, ms Cowan, deceased.
Cause of death: Sudden death. No medical attendant.
Informant: Margaret A Thornton, sister-in-law, 22 Queen Street, Edinburgh.


Margaret Thornton is George's sister Margaret Ann Braid - as already said, I know all about the Braid family, so please ignore Margaret.

George's name is on the Duror War Memorial, so they must have been living there before he died - so they moved there between 1912 and 1916.
As Agnes's address was Railway Cottage, George had probably still been working on the railways until he joined up.

[ EDIT: Yes, I've found he was employed by the Callander & Oban Railway.]

I can't find any sign of Agnes's parents - not marriage or deaths, nor in censuses.

I wondered if Agnes might have been Irish. There's this one:

Agnes Lemon
in the Web: Ireland, Census, 1911
Name: Agnes Lemon
Gender: Female
Age: 23
Birth Year: abt 1888
Relation to Head: Head
Residence Date: 2 Apr 1911
Townland/Street: Mossvale Street
District: Shankill
County: Antrim
Household Members:
Name Age
Agnes Lemon 23 - head, single , Antrim.
Bella Lemon 21 - sister, single, Antrim

However, I think this is probably that Agnes's birth - though I don't see her sister's birth:

SR District/Reg Area - Belfast
Birth of AGNES LEMON in 1888
Name AGNES LEMON
Date of Birth 1888
Group Registration ID 8945043
SR District/Reg Area Belfast

Parents: James and Eliza.


Any bright ideas welcome!
I'll look back later.

Thanks in advance.

Haven't much time but wondered if you'd looked into this family -I know father is Hugh, but some details fit:- Hugh was a coachman. Kathleen/ Catherine often interchangeable and Catherine's maiden name was Cowan.

1881
Name: Hugh Lemon
Age: 27
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1854
Relationship: Head
Spouse's name : Catherine Lemon
Gender: Male
Where born: ??Illiam, Wigtonshire
Registration Number: 478
Registration district: Dunipace
Civil Parish: Dunipace
County: Stirlingshire
Address: Denovan Offices
Occupation: Coachman, Domes Serv
ED: 3
Household schedule number: 6
LINE: 23
Roll: cssct1881_133
Household Members:
Name Age
Hugh Lemon 27
Catherine Lemon 28
John Lemon 5
James Lemon 4
Agnes Lemon 3
Samuel Lemon 1
-----------------------------

Marriage:

HUGH LEMON
CATHERINE PLEND COWAN
Year: 1875
Ref:768/ 15
Peebles
-------------------------------

Father not with family in 1891:

Name: Catherine Lemon
Age: 35
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1856
Relationship: Head
Gender: Female
Where born: Temple, Edinburghshire
Registration Number: 644/8
Registration district: Milton
Civil Parish: Glasgow St George
County: Lanarkshire
Address: 19 Kelvin St
Occupation: Washerwoman
ED: 8
Household schedule number: 29
LINE: 24
Roll: CSSCT1891_270
Household Members:
Name Age
Catherine Lemon 35
Agnes Lemon 13
Samuel Lemon 11

I'm thinking it is the correct family. In 1911 an Agnes Lemon aged 28 is a domestic servant in the Robertson household in Townhead, Glasgow. She was born Denny Stirling.

AGNES LEMON
1911 census
F
Age: 28
Ref: 644/8 21/ 1
St Rollox
Lanark

It looks like she knocked a few years off her age :)

Birth:

AGNES ANDERSON LEMON
F
Year: 1877
Ref: 478/ 63
Dunipace

Record Transcription:
1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census

Glasgow, Blythswood, Lanarkshire, Scotland
What can I do with this record?
Attach this record as a source to a person on your tree. Also update people and relatives with details from this record
First name(s) Agnes Anderson
Last name Lemon
Relationship Servant
Marital status Single
Sex Female
Age 22
Birth year 1879
Birth town Denny
Birth town as transcribed DENNY
Birth place Scotland
Birth place other as transcribed SCOTLAND
Birth county Stirlingshire
Birth county as transcribed STIRLINGSHIRE
Occupation Housemaid (Domestic)
House name -

It could be a possibility, AQ, though she certainly did make herself quite a bit younger, if so.

This is the only Agnes Lemon birth in Stirlingshire, so I suppose this is Hugh and Catherine's daughter:

LEMON
AGNES ANDERSON
F
1877
478/ 63
Dunipace

Thanks for your help. I'll look into that.

EDIT:
And thanks to you too, safc - just noticed your post!

Record Transcription:
1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census

Fountainbridge, St Cuthbert Edinburgh, St George, Midlothian, Scotland

Hugh Lemon

Record: Census Record

Location: Stirlingshire, Scotland


Hugh Lemon's Household Members
Members that resided in the household at the time of the census.
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
James Marjoribanks Head Married Male 44 1847 Malt Miller Lanarkshire, Scotland
Mary L Marjoribanks Wife Married Female 45 1846 - Sutherland, Scotland
Helen S Marjoribanks Daughter Unmarried Female 16 1875 Dressmaker Midlothian, Scotland
William Miller Boarder Unmarried Male 41 1850 Coachman (Domestic Serv) Berwickshire, Scotland
Hugh Lemon Boarder Widower Male 37 1854 Coachman (Domestic Serv) Wigtownshire, Scotland xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Frank Mitchell Boarder Unmarried Male 44 1847 Coachman (Domestic Serv) Ross & Cromarty, Scotland
John McAra Boarder Unmarried Male 21 1870 Cooper Midlothian, Scotland

In 1901 the son Samuel is in jail:

Samuel Lemon
in the 1901 Scotland Census
Name: Samuel Lemon
Age: 21
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1880
Relationship: Prisoner
Gender: Male
Where born: Denny, stirlingshire
Registration Number: 622/2
Registration district: Shettleston
Civil Parish: Shettleston
County: Lanarkshire
Address: Off Cumbernanld Road Glasgow
Occupation: Painters Labourer
ED: H M General Prison
Household schedule number: 1
LINE: 12
Roll: CSSCT1901_245



Hugh and Catherine must have split up 1881-91, as Hugh's calling himself a widower in 1891, but Catherine's still with the children.
Of course, it could be a mistranscription.

I don't see Hugh's birth.

???

Hugh Lemond
in the 1861 Scotland Census
Name: Hugh Lemond
Age: 7
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1854
Relationship: Son
Father's name: Samuel Lemond
Mother's name: Margaret Lemond
Gender: Male
Where born: Glasserton, Wigtownshire
Registration Number: 892
Registration district: Mochrum
Civil Parish: Mochrum
County: Wigtownshire
Address: Myrton
Occupation: Scholar
ED: 1
Household schedule number: 55
LINE: 18
Roll: CSSCT1861_148
Household Members:
Name Age
Samuel Lemond 63
Margaret Lemond 45
Mary Ann Lemond 15
Margaret Lemond 11
Hugh Lemond 7
Margaret Jane Lemond 3
Martha Lucas 51


Hugh Lamont
in the 1871 Scotland Census
Name: Hugh Lamont
Age: 17
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1854
Relationship: Servant
Gender: Male
Where born: Glasserton, Wigtownshire
Registration Number: 842
Registration district: Moffat
Civil Parish: Moffat
County: Dumfriesshire
Address: Fairfield
Occupation: Groom Domestic <<<<<<<<<
ED: 3
Household schedule number: 75
LINE: 15
Roll: CSSCT1871_185

it all looks a distinct possibility.

But Hugh and Catherine are never called Daniel and Kathleen anywhere other than in Agnes's marriage and death records.

The death record info could be just what Margaret had taken from the marriage cert, of course, or what she'd been told.

????

Record Transcription:
Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms
What can I do with this record?
View an image of this record
Attach this record as a source to a person on your tree. Also update people and relatives with details from this record
Report a transcription error.
First name(s) Daniel
Last name Lenon
Sex Male
Birth year 1852
Birth date 08 Aug 1852
Baptism year 1852
Baptism date 23 Aug 1852
Denomination Roman Catholic
Baptism place Newton Stewart
Parish Our Lady & St Ninian
Diocese Galloway
County Wigtownshire
Country Scotland
Father's first name(s) Henry
Father's last name Lenon
Mother's first name(s) Agnes
Mother's last name Keane
Volume 03
Archive The Scottish Catholic Archives
Reference MP/59
Year range 1825-1915
Section 01
Sub section 02
Record set Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Parish Baptisms
Collections from Great Britain, Scotland

I think probably not that one, safc.

Agnes and George married in the Church of Scotland.

Ancestry's version of the 1891 census showing Hugh in Edinburgh, gives his birthplace as Port William, which matches 1881. Ancestry's transcription doesn't say he's a widower, but I haven't looked at the image.

Port William is about 6 or 7 miles from Glasserton, so the 1861 and 1871 census posted will be the right ones


Re 1891 in Edinburgh, though - there's a Hugh Lemon, coachman, on Glasgow ER's 1884-1895

The family AQ found, and we've been following, seems to be the best bet.

It does leave a lot of unanswered questions - can't find births or deaths for either Hugh/Daniel or Catherine/Kathleen, nor any sign of them after 1891.

I can accept that Agnes chopped 10 years off her age, so as not to be older than George (born 1882), but the names Daniel and Kathleen instead of Hugh and Catherine are a stumbling block.

However, I don't suppose we'll find the exact truth!
Many thanks for all your help.

Hope this helps ArgyllGran.

This is Samuel's death and the informant was his mother. Her address is Railway Cottages, Druror!

Will try to Pm you the image :-)


LEMON
SAMUEL
34
1914
644/13 221
Kelvin
View image (paid)

Catherine's death

COWAN
CATHERINE
68
1916
523/ 56
Kilmore and Kilbride
View image (6 credits)
LEMON
CATHERINE
68
1916
523/ 56
Kilmore and Kilbride
View image (6 credits)


Haven't worked out how to get the image of Samuel's death to you. Not too clever with iPad lol :-)

Ooh! Interesting, RG!

I had wondered about that death for Catherine, just because it's Argyll, but hadn't looked at the image, and stupidly hadn't looked for her as Cowan.

Many thanks for using your credits - but don't worry about sending the image of Samuel's death - I'll have a look myself.

The Duror address certainly proves it's the right family.

My pleasure ArgyllGran. At least you know now that Agnes's father was Hugh not Daniel.

Sorry, was away last night- off to bed but did spot this- I don't have access to newspapers (I think there could also be snippets re Samuel).

Published: Thursday 15 July 1875
Newspaper: Southern Reporter
MARRIAGES
At High Street, Peebles, on the 6th inst, Hugh Lemon, to Catherine, fourth daughter of the late John Cowan

I have seen Catherine and Kathleen used for the same person in other families.

Thanks, AQ.

Hugh is stated to be deceased, on Samuel's death cert.

On Catherine's death cert, it gives her parents as John Cowan, toll-keeper, deceased, and Agnes Cowan, ms Anderson, deceased.
Which explains young Agnes's name.

But it also says "Married to Hugh Lemon, coachman" - not "Widow of . . "

She died at the Lorn Combination Poorhouse, Oban.
The informant was the governor of the poorhouse. Maybe he didn't know Hugh had died (if he had!)

Poor Agnes, losing her husband and her mother in the same week - though she wouldn't have know that until late, when she got word from the Army.
Catherine died 6th May 1916, and George died 11th May 1916 .

?????

Glasses ton/ Mochrum /Kirkinner are all close by. (my ancestors came from that area)


1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census
33, Kirkinner, Wigtownshire, Scotland

James Cowan Head Married Male 38 1813 Plantation Lab Ag L Kirkinner, Wigtownshire, Scotland
Elizabeth Cowan Wife Married Female 39 1812 - Whithorn, Wigtownshire, Scotland
Catherine Cowan Daughter Unmarried Female 15 1836 Employed At Home Ballantrae, Ayrshire, Scotland
Andrew Cowan Son - Male 13 1838 Scholar Kirkinner, Wigtownshire, Scotland
Charles B Cowan Son - Male 11 1840 Scholar Kirkinner, Wigtownshire, Scotland
James Cowan Son - Male 9 1842 Scholar Kirkinner, Wigtownshire, Scotland
John Cowan Son - Male 6 1845 Scholar Kirkinner, Wigtownshire, Scotland
Thomas Cowan Son - Male 3 1848 - Kirkinner, Wigtownshire, Scotland
Robert K Cowan Son - Male 1 1850 - Kirkinner, Wigtownshire, Scotland

Oops! Didn't refresh, so ignore the above :-)