Helen Sinton

     
     Helen Sinton was born cir. 1820 at Chesters, Par. of Southdean, ROX, SCT, The 1841 Census implies 1819, "born Cty"; the 1881 c 1820 b South Dean; dth cert in 1883 gives age as 62, which implies 1821 and family heresay provides the Chesters, as does the 1851 census. No birth or christening found on ROX Parish Registers.^3,2,4,5
     Helen Sinton married Walter Wight, son of William Wight and Elizabeth Richardson, on 20 Jun 1841 at Maxton, ROX, SCT, by banns, entry reads: "Pro.(clamation) of Walter Wight & Helen Sinton both of this parish."⁶
     Helen Sinton died on 12 Jan 1883 at Maxton, ROX, SCT; Dist 798 cert #1 reads: Helen Wight (married to Walter Wight, farmer), d. 1883 January 12th, 1hr 15min am Maxton, 62 yrs. Father Peter Sinton farm steward dec., Mother Helen m.s. Wight dec. Of head calculus 3 yrs, suppurating ulcer (illegible), informant Walter Wight, husband, present.
     Memorium card reads: In affectionate remembrance of Helen Sinton the beloved wife of Walter Wight, who died at Maxton on Fri 12th Jan 1883 aged 62 years. Interred in Maxton Churchyard. Her end was peace. Much we loved thee, much we mourn? Our joys on earth with thee are o'er. Oh why should we in anguish weep, Thou art not lost but gone before"
     Note: husband Walter gave her mother's name as Helen. I'm assuming Jane is indeed Helen's mother given a) Walter's known preference for the bottle b) the naming of 1st dtr c) the known Hownam and Chesterhouse connection. Daughter Helen Sinton Wight's note read "Helen Sinton my Mother 12th Jan 1883 aged 62."^2,7,1 She was buried with Walter Wight at Maxton, ROX, SCT, Their h/stone reads: IMO Helen Sinton wife of Walter Wight who died at Maxton 12.1.1883 aged 64 also the above Walter Wight who died 31.10.1886 aged 71 also their daughter Susan R. Wight who died 15.3.1860 aged 14 mths."⁸
     According to family rumour Helen Sinton lived at Chesterhouse, Hounam, Southdean, ROX, SCT, In 1995 this was a ruined farm cottage reachable only by foot half-way up the hillside directly opposite the gates for Hownam Mains. Family rumour (erroneously) also had Chester House, Hounam, as being in Jedburgh and where Helen and Walter married.⁹ She appeared on the census of 7 Jun 1841 at Maxton, ROX, SCT, in the household of William Wight as a servant.⁴
     Helen puts the lie to the oft quoted belief that our ancestors didn't travel (which they obviously did if they got from Scotland to NZ anyway). When I opened a photo frame to examine great great grannie more closely, I was amazed to find that it had been taken in Cleveland Ohio. I later found the likely connection being that son William was there, at least when Walter wrote his will in 1886. My estimated date of the photo was originally c 1865 and the absence of a marriage record in Scotland for said son, led me to jump to the conclusion that possibly she went to America when William and Margaret married. Subsequent research found that this marriage was 1894, several years after Helen had died, so much for that theory. And as William didn't arrive in Ohio until Aug 1872, the photo date is presumably after that.¹⁰
     Helen appeared on the census of 30 Mar 1851 with Walter Wight at Maxton, ROX, SCT, enumerated as Walter, 31, b Maxton, carter & farmer of 20 ac, wife Helen 31 b Chesters. Children: Elizabeth 7, Jane 9, William, 5 all scholars, Helen 3, Peter 10 mths, all b Maxton.⁵
     The census of 7 Apr 1861 showed Helen with her husband Walter, their sons William and Peter, their dtrs Hellen, Elisabeth, Margaret, Isabella and Beatrice at the West End Farmhouse, Maxton, ROX, SCT, household enumerated as Walter, 44 b Maxton, farmer 20 acres & carter, wife Helen 42 b Southdean. Children, all b Maxton: Elisabeth, 17, William 15 farmer's son ag lab, Helen 13, Peter 10, Margaret 8, Isabella 6, Beatrice T 4 (place detail from Harry, although he only implies this was from this census).^11,12
     The census of 7 Apr 1871 showed Helen with her husband Walter, their dtrs Elisabeth, Beatrice and Isabella, their son Peter on the Sth side of Kelso Rd, Maxton Village, ROX, SCT, household enumerated as WIGHT: Walter, head, mar, 53, farmer of 33 acres arable, b Maxton; wife Helen 49 farmer's wife b Southdean; Children (all b Maxton): Elizabeth 27 farmer's dtr; Peter S, farmer's son 20; Isabella, farmer's dtr 16; Beatrice T farmer's dtr 14; (entry before was for Walter's niece Mary with her husband John Thomson entry after a Peter & Grace Slater).¹³
     The census of 3 Apr 1881 showed Helen with her husband Walter, their son Peter, their dtr Beatrice in a Cottage, Maxton Village, ROX, SCT, household enumerated as WIGHT: Walter, 65, Farmer Of 33 Acres & Contractor Employing Two Men, b Maxton; wife Helen 61 b South Dean (sic). Children (both b Maxton and unm): Peter S. 29, farm servant; Beatrice T, 23. Also farm servant Thomas Hogg, unm, 58 b Stitchell. Neighbours were David & Mary Archibald in Maxton West End Old Farm House and George and Mary Learmond in a Cottage In Maxton Village.³