Helen Fairbairn1,2

(8 Jan 1788 - 2 Aug 1867)
FatherWilliam Fairbairn (Schoolmaster, Bowden; m. Margaret SCOTT)2 (circa Apr 1756 - Mar 1810)
MotherMargaret Scott2 (say 1757 - )

BDMs

     Helen Fairbairn was born on 8 Jan 1788 Midlem, Par. of Bowden, ROX, SCT.2 She was baptized on 2 Mar 1788 Bowden, ROX, SCT; before congtn.2
     Helen Fairbairn died on 2 Aug 1867 18 Buccleuch St, Edinburgh, Dist of St Giles, MLN, SCT; cert. shows Helen as 79, single, d/o William FAIRBAIRN, surveyor, & Margaret m.s. SCOTT, both dec'd; d. 6:30am of chronic bronchitis exhaustion; Inf. nephew D F FAIRBAIRN (no address noted, so assumed at same address); Reg. 6th.1
Siblings Helen and Margaret FAIRBAIRN appear on census records as living together unmarried.
In 1841 and 1851 a third sister, widowed Isabella MILNE, also lived with them.
They both wrote their wills (practically identical) on the 22nd Sep 1865, making each other sole executor, but if the other had died, passing this task on jointly to three of their nieces, daughters of their deceased brother Peter FAIRBAIRN.
Bequests were made to another niece (daughter of Andrew) and to each of the children of their late brother John FAIRBAIRN.3
     
It has been suggested that Nelly, mother of Annie FAIRGRIEVE, is the dtr of schoolmaster William (marr. Margaret SCOTT) FAIRBAIRN of Galashiels.
This latter Nelly would have been 16 at the time Anne was conceived.
As Annie survived long after Helen/Nelly it would be seem unlikely that Helen's 1866 will would not mention a daughter still living.4,5,3

Census

     Helen Fairbairn appeared on the census of 1841 on Morningside Pl, Edinburgh St Cuthberts, MLN, SCT, as FAIRBAIRN: Helen 50, Margaret 45 ; MILNE: Isab 50 Jessie 20 ; Mary 20 ; All b SCT "M D" (?Ind?); Charlotte COTTON 8 b SCT; Margt BOYD 20 F S b SCT (NB enumerators were instructed to round ages down to the nearest multiple of 5.)6 She appeared on the census of 1851 on Park Pl, Elie, FIF, SCT, in the household of Margaret Fairbairn as sister of Margaret.7
     Helen Fairbairn was shown as the head of the household in the census of 1861 6 Park Pl, Elie, Par. of Elie, FIF, SCT, with Margaret enumerated as FAIRBAIRN: Helen b Bowden, ROX; sister Margaret b Galashiels, SEL, both "Stock Holder."8

Names

     As of 1788, Helen was also known as Nelly.2
ChartsLineage 2b1: John & Helen (ANDERSON) FAIRBAIRN
Last Edited13 Apr 2013

Citations

  1. [S56] Scottish BMDB entries (from 1855), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Dth 2 Aug 1867 Helen d/o Willam FAIRBAIRN & Margaret SCOTT, Edin. St Giles, MLN, 685/4 #507, copy d/loaded Apr 2013.
  2. [S1141] Cash book and Kirk Sessions Baptisms: Bowden, ROX, SCT, Birth 8 Jan Bap. 2 Mar 1788 Nelly d/o William FAIRBAIRN & Margaret SCOTT, of Midlem, Bowden, ROX, extracted Feb 1998 , Film 1067932.
  3. [S3256] Will/Inventory: Helen FAIRBAIRN d Edinburgh 1867 (Will (22 Sep 1865) Inventory (21 Aug 1867) Proved 21 Aug 1867) Edinburgh Sheriff Court SC70/4/111 and SC70/1/136: Will 22 Sep 1865 Helen FAIRBAIRN of 18 Buccleugh Place, Edin., SC70/4/111, copy d/loaded Apr 2013.
  4. [S1568] Barry SMITH, "EM FAIRBAIRN/SCOTT Bowden ex Barry & Catherine S," e-mail to L McIntosh (1), Bap. 8 Jan 1805 Anne d/o Robert FAIRGRIEVE (Legerwood) & Nelly FAIRBAIRN (Gordon), at Gordon "begotten in fornication", extract rcvd Aug 2004.
  5. [S2] Lorna Henderson, "FAIRBAIRN Analysis", Apr 2013.
  6. [S1599] Findmypast online at http://www.findmypast.com, 1841 Edinburgh St Cuthberts, MLN Piece: 6851 Book/Folio: 4 Page: 8, hsehold of Helen FAIRBAIRN, extracted Apr 2013.
  7. [S1599] Findmypast online at http://www.findmypast.com, 1851 Elie, FIF Piece: 427 Folio: 23 Page: 16, hsehold of Helen FAIRBAIRNE, extracted Apr 2013.
  8. [S205] 1861 Census transcripts, Scotland, via Ancestry.com, Elie, FIF Reg. 427 ED: 3; Page: 1; hsehold of Helen FAIRBAIRN, extracted Apr 2013.
 
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