Walter Fairbairn

     
     Walter Fairbairn was born cir. 1784 in Swinton, BEW, SCT, 1851 census implies 1784/5,which agrees with the age on the h/stone, and provides place (which disagrees with that from the 1841 census).^2,1,3 Some sources believe Walter Fairbairn was born cir. 1787 as dth cert says 72 in 1859, which is contradicted by both the 1851 census and the h/stone.¹ Other sources indicate Walter Fairbairn was born cir. 1791 in ENG but as ages were rounded to the nearest 5 years, the actual age could be 46 thru 54 in 1841, giving 1787 thru 1795 as a possible range. Given that the 1851 census and dth cert both agree, c 1784 is the more likely date.⁴
     Walter Fairbairn married Agnes Robertson, daughter of John Robertson and Ann UnknownSurname, on 22 Nov 1806 at Morebattle, ROX, SCT, OPR entry reads: "Walter Fairbairn and Agnes Robinson, date of irregular marriage 22 Nov 1806, date of confirmation 3 Jan 1808.⁵'
     Walter Fairbairn died on 19 Jan 1859 in Morebattle, ROX, SCT; Dist (Morebatttle) cert #2 reads: Walter Fairbairn, pauper formerly ag lab, married, died 10:30am at Morebattle, aged 72 (sic MIs, and h/stone, say 75), s/o Archibald Fairbairn ag lab, dec, ad Alison m.s. Crosser, dec; of natural causes, body seen by Henry ?Best? surgeon Kelso as certified by ??, bur. Morebattle Churchyard; Inf. Mary Fairbairn, dtr, present.¹ He was buried with Agnes Robertson in the Churchyard, Morebattle, ROX, SCT, Described in the MI booklet as "Ivy covered stone leaning against enclosure wall" entry reads: "IMO Walter Fairbairn who died at Morebattle 19.1.1959 (sic, should be 1859!!) aged 75 yrs and Agnes Robison his wife died 1.4.1863 aged 77 yrs also Peter Holiday died Oct 1883 aged 62 yrs also Mary Fairbairn wife of Peter Holiday died 28.11.1902 aged 76 yrs and of Ann Fairbairn their dtr who died 8.11.???? (now known to be 1891) aged 81 yrs". I managed to visit this cemetery, and find the stone with the help of the kindly couple who lived on the corner of Teapot Lane (or similar name). They also opened the church and showed me the interior, which post dated my Fairbairn ancestors' stay in Morebattle. The cemetery has a lovely outlook over rolling fields.^6,7
     Walter is a potential duplicate of Walter Fairbairn; father of a John in the USA, born c 1812, ROX who would fit into a gap in known children of Walter/Agnes, and fits naming pattern in that if he is the 2nd son he should be named after Agnes' father, John. Seems to fit just fine, but no proof. I have to add however, that there is another candidate, yet another Walter born c 1787 Swinton (marr. Agnes Renton), who just has to be related too.^8,9 Walter Fairbairn was a labourer when son Archibald born in Mar 1808 in Morebattle, ROX, SCT.¹⁰
     From the naming pattern of existing children I expected a daughter called Alison to eventually surface to complete the Scottish naming pattern and fill in the gap in the known children of Walter and Agnes. She has now (Jan 2008) surfaced! All as a side effect of being found by a descendant of an unexpected dtr of Peter Sinton. I went looking for other Mabon researchers, picked one who happened to live in NZ, and instead of finding a related set of Sinton/Mabon Jedburgh families, I found a descendant of the missing Alison Fairbairn. All I need now is confirmation that the John in New York of an age to be the expected John in the family, is actually related. Still looking for a Fairbairn surnamed descendant of the New York John to join the dna project.¹¹
     Walter appeared on the census of 7 Jun 1841 in Morebattle, ROX, SCT, with Agnes Fairbairn, as FAIRBAIRN: Walter, 50, b ENG; Agnes, 50, born ENG, no occupation stated; Mary 14, b. county (NB instructions to the enumerators for this census were to round ages to the nearest multiple of 5, children tended to have their ages accurately recorded - or at least as accurate as such things can be. These instructions were not always followed).⁴
     Walter and Agnes Fairbairn appeared on the census of 30 Mar 1851 in Morebattle, ROX, SCT, as FAIRBAIRN: Walter, 66 b Swinton, BEW, pauper, street cleaner; Agnes, 65 b ENG, pauper's wife; dtr Mary, 23 b Morebattle, emp. in house.² Walter Fairbairn was described as a pauper, formerly an ag. labourer on his dth cert in Jan 1859 in Morebattle, ROX, SCT.¹ He was shown as a general labourer on his son's dth cert in Nov 1867.¹² He was shown as a labourer (dec) on dtr Agnes' dth cert in May 1884.¹³