Walter Fairbairn1,2

(14 November 1837 - 5 December 1904)
FatherArchibald Fairbairn3 (Mar 1808 - Nov 1867)
MotherElizabeth Hood (cir. 1812 - Feb 1890); dth cert erroneously gives mother's maiden name as Henderson, not Hood3
Relationship1st cousin 3 times removed of Lorna Henderson

BMDB data

     Walter Fairbairn was born on 14 Nov 1837 Dalton, DFS, SCT, (place from 1861 & 1901 census which agree year.)4,5,1,6 He was christened on 22 Nov 1837 in the Par. of Ecclefachan, DFS, SCT; s/o Archibald Fairbairn, born 14 Nov.5 Some sources believe Walter Fairbairn was born cir. 1838 ROX, SCT, but this is only on two census records (1841 and 1881), all the rest show Dumfries, or just Scotland.2
     Walter Fairbairn married Elizabeth Chappel on 25 Dec 1867 West Ham, London, ENG, date from dtr Agnes' birth cert, where the place was transcribed as Louden. (The only Louden that came up on a search on streetmap.co.uk was in hill in Cornwall.) A guess that it might be London was confirmed by searching St Cath's marriages, where it was indexed as Folio 4a Page 40, Walter Fairbairn to Eliza. Chappel.7,1,8,2
     Walter Fairbairn died on 5 Dec 1904 New Bongate, Jedburgh, ROX, SCT, at age 67; Dist 792 #60 cert reads: Walter Fairbairn widower of Eliz Chappel, died aged 67 at New Bongate, Jedburgh, of bronchial pthisis of 6 mths duration, s/o Archibald Fairbairn, shepherd, dec, and Elizabeth m.s. Henderson (sic, should be Howd or Hood) Inf. son Walter Fairbairn.3

Census/Where lived/Occupations

     Walter Fairbairn appeared on the census of 7 Jun 1841 Walkersknow, Par. of Jedburgh, ROX, SCT, in the household of Archibald Fairbairn and Betty Fairbairn and is assumed to be a son.9 Walter Fairbairn appeared on the census of 30 Mar 1851 Walkersnow, Par. of Jedburgh, ROX, SCT, in the household of Archibald and Elizabeth Fairbairn as son of Archibald.6
     The census of 7 Apr 1861 showed Walter, John, Andrew and Archibald and their sister Helen in the household of their parents Archibald and Betty Fairbairn Bongate (10), Jedburgh, ROX, SCT, enumerated as entry reads: FAIRBAIRN: Archibald, head, 53, ag. lab. b Morebattle, ROX; wife Betty, 48, b Minto, ROX. Children: Walter, 23, carpenter, journeyman, b Dalton, DFS; John, 22, woollen mill worker machine cleaner. b Cavers, ROX; Andrew, 15, lab (garden), b Jedburgh; Archibald, 13, woollen mill worker piecer, b Jedburgh; Helen, 11, scholar, b Jedburgh.4
     Bet. 1868 - 1874 Walter and Eliza Fairbairn were living Sidney Sq, Stepney, MDX, ENG, with Walter's occupation variously shown on the baptism certs of their children as joiner, jeweller and carpenter, and the house number changing from 13 to 16. I'm assuming that jeweller is a parish clerk's mistake!10,11,12
     The census of 7 Apr 1871 showed Walter with his wife Eliza, their sons Archibald and Walter 13 Sidney Sq, Mile End Old Town, London, LND, ENG, household enumerated as FAIRBURN: Walter head, 33 joiner b SCT; wife Eliza 24 b Benden(?) Essex; Sons: Archibald C 2 ; Walter 1mth, both b Stepney, MDX.13 By 1876 they were living 69 Maplin St, Mile End Old Town, Par. of Stepney, MDX, ENG, with Walter described as a joiner, becoming a "general dealer" by 1876 (same address.)14,15
     Walter and Elizabeth Fairbairn appeared on the census of 3 Apr 1881 69 Maplin St, Mile End Old Town, London, MDX, ENG, as FAIRBAIRN: Walter, 43, grocer and cheesemonger, wife Elizabeth, 34 both b Roxburgh SCT with children: Archibald, 12; Walter, 10; both b ROX, SCT; Henry, 7 b Stepney, MDX; all scholars; Elizabeth 2 b Bow, MDX. Serv: Emily Lewis 16 b Bow, MDX. (Which is an intersting blend of fact and fiction. Walter should show as b. Dumfries, and the occupation is rather a drastic change from the joiner he was in 1861 and 1901, but naming pattern of children, and proximity to what looks like brother Archibald fits, and the 1891 census clinches the id.)2,16
     Walter Fairbairn appeared on the census of 5 Apr 1891 New Bongate (21), Jedburgh, ROX, SCT, with Eliza Fairbairn, enumerated as FAIRBAIRN: Walter, 53 head mar, joiner and cartwright (employer) b Dalton, Dumfrieshire; wife Eliza b ENG; Children: Henry ?17? joiner apprentice (worker) b ENG; Agnes H 7 scholar b Jedburgh.17
     Walter Fairbairn appeared on the census of 31 Mar 1901 Jedburgh, ROX, enumerated as Walter F. 63 (index has 63, looks more like 68 but 63 matches birth info), widower, head, joiner and cartwright, working on own acc., b Dalton, DFS. Dtr Agnes Hannah F, 17, unm, b Jedburgh, ROX, housekeeper, working at home.1 He was shown as a cartwright, deceased in Jan 1905 when dtr Agnes married.18

All the other info

     Walter Fairbairn was the informant for the death of Archibald Fairbairn on 4 Nov 1867 Hartrigge Lodge, Jedburgh, ROX, SCT.19
     Walter Fairbairn was the informant for the death of his child Elizabeth Fairbairn on 6 Oct 1883 New Bongate (72), Jedburgh, ROX, SCT.20,21
     Walter Fairbairn was the informant for the death of his mother Betty Fairbairn on 24 Feb 1890 Old Bongate (9), Jedburgh, ROX, SCT.22,3,23

Family

Elizabeth Chappel (cir. 1847 - bet. 1891 - 1901)
Children
  • Archibald Charles Fairbairn21,10 (cir. Nov 1868 - 1887)
  • Walter Edward Fairbairn+3,2,24 (cir. Mar 1871 - Mar 1930)
  • Henry Fairbairn21 (cir. Jan 1874 - say 1924)
  • Helen Fairbairn25,14 (Jan 1876 - bet. Jun 1876 - Sep 1876)
  • Elizabeth Fairbairn21,15,20 (Mar 1879 - Oct 1883)
  • Agnes Hannah Fairbairn1 (Jul 1883 - aft. 1905)
ChartsFAIRBAIRN
John & Bessie (FFLINT) FAIRBAIRN
Last Edited21 Jul 2020

Citations

  1. Scottish BMDB entries (from 1855), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, 1901 Census FAIRBAIRN ROX Dist 792 page 1 #12 printed Apr 2002.
  2. 1881 Census transcripts, UK, via Family Search/LDS CDs, FHL Film 1341107 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 0485 Folio 52 Page 15, extracted c 2000.
  3. GRO, SCT, BDM searches at GRO SCT: Dth cert 1904 Walter FAIRBAIRN, trans. Stuart H Jul 2003.
  4. CENSUS 1861: Borders ROX/BEW, Jedburgh Dist 792, Enum Dist 5, entry 40.
  5. LDS, BDM: UK Vital Records Index, Associate Session, Ecclefechan, Dumfries, Scotland, FHL Number 1484432.
  6. 1851 census, Borders, ROX, Maxton, Melrose, Jedburgh, Southdean, Book 13 p13 via published transcription available NZ National Library, extracted Nov 2003.
  7. GRO, SCT, BDM searches at GRO SCT: Birth cert. 1883 (Jedburgh #76) Agnes Hannah FAIRBAIRN trans. Stuart H Oct 2002.
  8. MARR. INDEX: St Caths:, Dec Qtr 1867, FAIRBAIRN/CHAPPEL, searched Aug 2003.
  9. FreeCensus, UK online at http://www.freecen.org.uk/, 1841 Jedburgh ROX: Piece: SCT1841/792 EnumDist 6 Folio 6 Page 9, extracted Dec 2004.
  10. Ancestry.com online at http://search.ancestry.com, Bap. 29 Nov 1868 Archibald Charles s/o Walter (jeweller) & Eliza FAIRBAIRN, Christchurch, St George's East, MDX, from London Metropolitan Archives, Christ Church, Watney Street, Register of baptisms, P93/CTC2, Item 006, extracted May 2010.
  11. Ancestry.com online at http://search.ancestry.com, Bap. 4 Jan 1874 Henry s/o Walter (joiner) & Eliza FAIRBAIRN, Christchurch, St George's East, MDX, from London Metropolitan Archives, Christ Church, Watney Street, Register of baptisms, P93/CTC2, Item 007, extracted May 2010.
  12. Ancestry.com online at http://search.ancestry.com, Bap. 26 Mar 1871 Walter Edward s/o Walter (joiner) & Eliza FAIRBAIRN, Christchurch, St George's East, MDX, from London Metropolitan Archives, Christ Church, Watney Street, Register of baptisms, P93/CTC2, Item 007, extracted May 2010.
  13. 1871 Census, ENG, Ancestry: Mile End Old Town, Western, London, ENG Dist 16 RG10/556 Folio 119 Page 13 Schedule #79, copy d/loaded May 2005.
  14. Ancestry.com online at http://search.ancestry.com, Birth 31 Jan Bap. 19 Mar 1876 Helen d/o Walter (joiner) & Eliza FAIRBAIRN, St Thomas, Stepney, MDX, from London Metropolitan Archives, Saint Thomas, Stepney, Register of baptisms, P93/TMS, Item 004, extracted May 2010.
  15. Ancestry.com online at http://search.ancestry.com, Birth 25 Mar Bap. 11 May 1876 Elizabeth d/o Walter (general dealer) & Eliza FAIRBAIRN, Frimley, Stepney, MDX, from London Metropolitan Archives, Holy Trinity, Mile End Old Town, Register of baptisms, P93/TRI, Item 003, extracted May 2010.
  16. 1881 Census transcripts, UK, via Family Search/LDS CDs, Ancestry images d/loaded May 2005.
  17. Scottish BMDB entries (from 1855), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, 1891 Census Jedburgh, ROX SCT (Dist 792 00 001 000 2 Page 5 Schedule #29), d/loaded May 2005.
  18. GRO, SCT, BDM searches at GRO SCT: Mar. 1905 Agnes Hannah FAIRBAIRN and William ALLAN, transcr. Robert McC, rcvd May 2005.
  19. Archibald FAIRBAIRN (13611), DC FAIRBAIRN, Archibald 1867, p/copy held.
  20. Scottish BMDB entries (from 1855), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Dth 6 Oct 1883 Elizabeth aged 4 1/2yr, d/o Walter FAIRBAIRN & Eliza CHAPPEL, reg. Jedburgh, ROX,792/66, copy d/loaded (for James MURRAY) Jul 2020.
  21. 1881 Census transcripts, UK, via Family Search/LDS CDs, FHL Film 1341107 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 0485 Folio 52 Page 15.
  22. 1881 Census transcripts, UK, via Family Search/LDS CDs, FHL Film 0224041 GRO Ref Volume 792 EnumDist 1 Page 2.
  23. Scottish BMDB entries (from 1855), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Dth 1890 Betty HOUD nee FAIRBAIRN, printed Sep 2004.
  24. GRO, SCT, BDM searches at GRO SCT: Mar. 1890 Walter E FAIRBAIRN and Davinia McDONALD, transcr. Robert McC, rcvd May 2005.
  25. "Lorna's Family History Musings", Aug 2003.

E. & O. E. Some/most parish records are rather hard to read and names, places hard to interpret, particularly if you are unfamiliar with an area.