FRANCIS BEATTIE (1758-1817)
He married on January 31, 1786 at Langholm (Dumfries) to Mary ARMSTRONG (1745-1821)
Their son William was christened on October 19, 1786, and died on May 13, 1851.
William married the widow MARGARET TELFORD (nee HEWITSON) c.1825
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Margaret was born in c.1787-94 to Wm HEWITSON and Isabella nee GRAHAM.
Margaret HEWITSON married John TELFORD and their son Thomas TELFORD was born c.1820.
After John Telford died, she married William BEATTIE (1786-1851)
(This family was related to Lord BEATTIE, a well known commander at the Battle of Jutland)
Their daughter Mary (born c.1830-1907) married Thomas PORTEOUS (1827-1880).
(information regarding the PORTEOUS family is listed below)
William and Margaret BEATTIE also had a son William who died in Calcutta.
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The 1851 Dumfries Census recorded Margaret BEATTIE as married.
Her husband William BEATTIE was still alive at the time of the Census,
but not listed at their home.
We think it is possibly William BEATTIE was in hospital, as he died on May 13, 1851.
The 1851 DUMFRIES CENSUS lists: Household No: 3/47
Margaret BEATTIE, Address: Elizabeth Street(839): Parish: Langholm,
Relationship: head of household, married Age: 58
Born: Canonbie Dms (Dumfries ?)
Thomas TELFORD, Address: Elizabeth Street(839) Parish: Langholm
Relationship: son of Margaret Beattie Marital Status: unmarried
Occupation: LABOURER agricultural Age: 32
Born: Langholm Dms Household No: 3/47
Mary Jane ARMSTRONG, Address: Elizabeth Street(839): Parish: Langholm Relationship: lodger in household of Margaret Beattie
Occupation: Scholar Age: 11 Born: England,
Janet ARMSTRONG, Address: Elizabeth Street(839): Parish: Langholm, Relationship: lodger in household of Margaret Beattie
Occupation: Scholar Age: 9 Born: England
John ARMSTRONG, Address: Elizabeth Street(839): Parish: Langholm, Relationship: lodger in household of Margaret Beattie,
Occupation: Scholar, Age: 5 Born: England
From this we are able to ascertain that David Armstrong's children were staying
at the home of Margaret BEATTIE (possibly an aunt).
We know that their father David ARMSTRONG was working at Birkenhead (Manchester)
at the Railway yard. Canonbie and Langholm are nearby to each other.
The only likely listing is recorded below:
Household No: 7/55 David ARMSTRONG, Address: Townhead(820): Parish: Dryfesdale Relationship: head of Household Marital Status: married
Occupation: RAILWAY POLICEMAN Age: 35 Born: Canonbie Dms (Dumfries ?)
Mary ARMSTRONG, Address: Townhead(820) Parish: Dryfesdale
Relationship: wife of David Armstrong Marital Status: married, Age: 33,
Born: Dryfesdale Dms, Household No: 7/55
Samuel BECK, Address: Townhead(820) Parish: Dryfesdale
Relationship: stepson of David Armstrong Occupation: SCHOLAR Age: 9 (born c.1843)
Born: born Dryfesdale Dms Household No: 7/55
*This may not be our David ARMSTRONG. If it is - what a curious piece of our puzzle !!
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PLEASE NOTE: From here onwards most of the place names are all in Victoria, Australia
We understand Margaret Beattie came to Melbourne in 1853 on board the EDMOND.
The 1853 EDMOND Passenger Records list a MARY BATEY (40) - B.031/004.
It seems likely that this lady was Margaret (maybe the name and age is incorrect).
Margaret HEWITSON-TELFORD-BEATTIE died in 1881 aged 94 at BUNG BONG V.9640
and was buried at the Wareek-Bungbong Cemetery, Victoria (Australia).
Margaret's sons are both recorded on her headstone.
Thomas TELFORD died in 1886 aged 66 (V.8407) (Margaret's son born c.1820
by her first marriage),
and was buried at the Wareek-BungBong Cemetery.
William BEATTIE died in Calcutta in 1860 (see Memorial headstone below)
Click this HEADSTONE to see a larger image.
In the 1880s Mary PORTEOUS (nee Beattie, daughter of the above Margaret BEATTIE)
purchased a family plot at the Wareek/BungBong Cemetery (8ft long and 20ft broad). Prior to her death in 1881, Margaret BEATTIE had already instructed her daughter Mary as to the wording required on the headstone. |