5th Great Grandfather
9th Generation
Born - 3 January 1777 - Burntisland, Fife Scotland
Died - 25 February 1854 - Burntisland, Fife ScotlandHugh Paxton was born and baptised in Burntisland to George Paxton and Helen McKenzie. His brother John followed in 1797 and Helen in 1782, then George followed in 1785 and again in 1791 leading us to believe that a child died in infancy.
This church, the one Hugh was Baptised in, was established in 1592 and was originally known as Burntisland Kirk. Its square plan, which is unique in Scotland, has people sitting in all four sides, with the pulpit and the communion table in the centre. This layout reflects the Reformers’ belief that that preaching the Bible, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper were all to be celebrated in the midst of the people of God.
Burntisland Parish Church is sometimes known as the Kirk of the Bible. As on the 12th May 1601 the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland met in Burntisland. At this time plague was rife in Edinburgh, among other places, and the meeting was moved to St. Andrews. However, King James VI injured himself in a hunting accident while staying at nearby Rossend Castle and as Burntisland had a clean bill of health, the assembly was called to meet in Burntisland Kirk. King James VI attended and took an active part in its work. During the course of the business the Scottish Presbyters proposed a new English translation of the Bible, as this would make the Scriptures more accessible to the people. When Queen Elizabeth of England died in 1603, King James VI of Scotland took the throne as King James I of England. Work began on the new Bible in 1607 and it was published in 1611 and so was born the King James or Authorised version of the Bible started in Burntisland Parish Church – The Kirk of the Bible.
Hugh’s brother John married and moved to Edinburgh some of his family moved to New South Wales. His sister Helen married and stayed in Burntisland and his brother George married Janet Dall and also stayed in Burntisland. George had 3 boys and named them Hugh, George and John! They definitely we’re imaginative with their names!
The next record I have is Hugh marrying Margaret Givans in 1805. This indicates they were both from Burntisland and were married in the church above. Other than the birth of his 3 children it is almost 20 years before the next record of him.
This newspaper article is from 1824. Hugh lost his father in 1821 and had inherited his father’s land. At the time of his father’s death Hugh was a Carter, however he had ambition as he sold his 11 acres and invested in more land and became a farmer himself.
The document below is from 1836 and states Hugh was a county Elector in the Parish of Burntisland. This would mean he was one of a group of men who come together to agree on poor laws, taxes etc within the parish. Hugh was at this point living at Little Couston Farm and is 60 years old.
This next document is from 1846 and shows that Hugh had the right to vote. In 1830s Scotland, the franchise (the people who had the right to vote) was restricted. Out of a population of around 2.3 million, fewer than 4,500 people, or about 0.19% could vote. On top of this, the processes for voting meant that elections were easily influenced and corruption was rife. The rules which dictated who could vote differed between constituencies, but generally only wealthy male landowners had the franchise. The first major reform of the voting system came in 1832, but it only increased the number of votes to around 10,000. It was not until 1867 that the franchise was extended to more men from different classes and areas. Women did not get the right to vote until the early 20th century!
Below is a copy of the 1851 census, Hugh has a farm of 110 acres and employs 4 farm servants plus an another. I have also been to see this farm as it still there today – and lived in and worked on! I have taken a Birdseye view of what 110 acres looks like – the tree line to the road. This farm is between Crossgates and Aberdour. It is beautiful and looks as though some of the original buildings are still there.
Hugh’s death notice was published in the local newspaper, he was 77 years old. He left his estate to his son John who lived on at Monziehall Farm until his own death.
Detailed below is an extract of what Hugh left in his will. This document is 10 pages long. What they classed as assets I found the most interesting within the pages so have shared below
Daughter – Janet Paxton
Marie's Genealogy 