Born -  2 February 1766 - Beath, Fife Scotland

Janet’s was born in Breahead. This was a farming area in Lassodie, which was part of Beath in Fife The first known use of the area “Braehead” was as the site of a mill in 1769 (3 years after Janet was born) and then in 1800 it is recorded as a farm belonging to the Dewar family, who held the Lairdship of Lassodie. These Mills would have been commonly used for grinding grain into flour from local farms.

I have found parish records for 8 of Jannet’s siblings. Therefore we know that David Beaveridge & Isabel Tod had at least 9 children in 16 years!

• Catherine being the first born in 18 February 1762.
• John born on 30 May 1763
• Janet (above) born 1766
• Margaret born on 19 November 1769
• David born on 13 November 1767
• Elizabeth born on 26 March 1772
• Helen born on 25 January 1774
• Isabel born 5 May 1776
• Sheswa – 12 April 1778

Interestingly the family name changed from Beaveridge, to Beveridge as the years passed. This is confirmed on the family gravestone in Kirkcaldy Old Kirk Churchyard which names at least 3 of the siblings. It also confirms that the family moved to Kirkcaldy. If you go forward a generation or so Beveridge Park was built. It got it’s name from a linen manufacturer who served as Provost in Kirkcaldy and dates back to 1892. Provost Michael Beveridge bequeathed 104 acres of Raith Estate to the people of Kirkcaldy before his death in 1890 and the park was named after him.

Michael Beveridge was from Kirkcaldy, his parents married in Kirkcaldy – I’m sure, if the records are around, I could find the family connection.

These are picture of Beveridge Park in September 1892 (This is 50 years after Jannet’s time)

It is difficult to find records of all the siblings but I have found the following information. Jannet’s sister Catherine married Walter Ness in Wemyss in 1784. She is buried in Kirkcaldy Old Kirk Churchyard as is Margaret and Isabel. Margaret married Henry Osward who is in the same plot. Catherine’s husband may have died years before and in Wemyss rather than Kirkcaldy hence they aren’t buried together.

Kirkcaldy Old Kirk Churchyard

When Jannet married Andrew in 1791 in Rosebank, Dunfermline they were living in a new coalmining area. Janet was from an agricultural background, they were not miners. I don’t believe many were – this is the beginning of the large scale coalmines. The development of the steam engine by James Watt in the 18th century began to increase demand for coal and many went from agricultural labourers to miners.

Janet and Andrew went onto have, at least, 9 children of their own. Many of which stayed and brought their own families up in Dunfermline, Aberdour, Burntisland, Kirkcaldy. I can not find any records of Janet’s death however there is a Janet Leitch on the census record below in 1841 which may well be her, living to a good old age and in the area where her family is

Husband – Andrew Leitch

Son – John Leitch