5 x Great Grandfather
9th Generation
Born - 3 December 1805 - Carriden, Linlithgow
Died - 14 August 1877- Carriden, Linlithgow
William was born in Carriden to George Birnet and Elizabeth Boyd in 1805. He was the younger brother to Janet and Christian, also born in Carriden. William’s father George was an Engineman and William also became an Engineman
An Engineman that worked in the mining industry was responsible for operating the winding machinery at a colliery and was managed by a Bankman. The winding machinery were the engines that powered the lifting gear, or other machinery used in raising the coal from the mine. This would have been done my a steam engine back
The engineman shall, during work hours, remain continually in charge of and so near his engine as at all times to have it completely and entirely under his control ; he shall be careful that the engine and boiler are always in good working condition, and that the whole machinery and gearing, used about and in the shaft, are in a safe, and effective state ; he shall have charge of the furnaceman, where one is employed, and be responsible for the regularity with which steam is kept up, for the proper state of the boilers; he shall have steam raised, and the engine and machinery in working order, in time to allow the fireman to descend the pit to examine the condition of the Colliery,
William married Isabel Bell when he was 19 years old. Isobel was John Bell’s sister. Unfortunately we have no record of her after the 1851 census therefore I am unsure when she died
Derelict picture of North street where they lived in 1851 census
I believe William Burnett fathered a child with Marion Sharp whilst married to Isobel Bell. Although William and Isabel were married for approx 20 years I have found no record of the couple having children . I have written a time line below of the records I have for William
Timeline
- Isabell Bell – Born 1798
- William Burnett – Born 1805
- John Bell & Jean Robertson – Married 1818
- Janet Bell (1824-1909) – Born to John Bell & Jean Robertson
- Isabel Bell & William Burnett Married 1825
- William Burnett (1838-1887) – Born to William Burnet & Marion Sharp
- 1851 Census William living with his wife Isabel Bell
- William Burnett & Sarah Thornton Married 1861
- 1861 Census William is living with wife Sarah
- 1871 Census William a boarder
- 1877 died
- 1893 Jeanie McNeill was born thus joining the families and Janet Bell and William Burnet were her grandparents. Sadly William died before this all took place
Marion called the child William Burnett after his father therefore I doubt it was secret – not for long anyway! William also had his father’s name and occupation on his death certificate indicating that he always knew who his father was although he never lived with him on any of the census records so it’s unclear if they had any relationship.
William was 55 when he married for the second time (not 45 as the record suggests). This time to Sarah Thornton, 20 years his junior. Unfortunately the marriage only lasted a year as Sarah died aged 38 of endocarditis. William was certainly not lucky with relationships!
Although William was married twice in his 70 years, his only child was his illegitimate son, William. In the last census he wasn’t living with family but he was still working
Son – William Burnett
Marie's Genealogy 