Dobson Family Tree from 1590 to Date
6th great-grandfather Alexander Dobson (1667-?)
Born: Haddington, East Lothian
Marriage: Thursday, 22nd May 1692
Spouse: Isobell Logan (c.1667-?)
Monarch: William II, 1689-1702
Event: Philip van der Straten, a Fleming, was granted Scots naturalisation in 1672 and set up a factory in Kelso, thus starting the Border woollen industry.
Alexander was born on Friday, 29th April 1667 and christened on 5th May. Witnessed by Thomas Koddie and John Wood.
Aged 25 he married Isobell Logan from Tranent, East Lothian on Thursday, 22nd May 1692 at Stenton, East Lothian. Isobell’s parents were William Logan (1635-?) and Elizabeth Robertson (1647-?) both of Tranent. Her grandparents were William Logan (1608-?) and Janet Lyne (1612-?) also from Tranent.
Alexander and Isobell produced seven children, all born and/or baptised in Whittingehame.
James – 30th March 1695
Alison – 22nd November 1696
William – 30th January 1698
Patrick – 11th October 1701
Margaret – 27th February 1704
Alexander – 11th July 1708
Robert – 28th September 1712
5th great-grandfather William Dobson (1698-1761)
Born: Whittingehame
Marriage: 1717
Spouse: Isabel Veitch (1704-1747)
Monarch: William II, 1689-1702
Event: The Royal Bank of Scotland was formed (1727) from a company of debenture holders.
Aged 19 William married Isabel Veitch, aged 13, from Ashkirk, Roxburghshire in 1717 at Galashiels. Isabel’s parents were James Veitch (1660-?) and Elspeth Stuart or Stavert (1674-?).
In Scotland during these times females could marry from the age of 12 (yet 14 for boys).
He no longer had to worry about going to war against a neighbouring nation following the union of England and Scotland (Acts of Union 1706-1707).
William and Isabel produced eight children.
William was born on 22nd April in 1716 at Galashiels, Selkirkshire. He married Jane Pringle and they produced three children. William (1748-?), Elizabeth (1750-?) and George (1754-1755).
George was born on 22nd February in 1718 at Galashiels. He married Helen Blaikie (1713-?) from nearby Kelso on 20th October in 1738 at Galashiels. They had one son, William, who lived for just 6 months (1739-1740). Her parents were Thomas Blaikie (c.1680-?) and Helen Cornet (c. 1680-?).
John was born on 21st April 1720 at Galashiels. He married Janet Heslope (c.1714-?) at Dalkeith, Edinburgh on 19th April in 1735. She also was from Galashiels.
Unknown Dobson was born on 2nd September 1722 and as he was unnamed I assume he died in childbirth.
James Dobson was born on 22nd January in 1727 at Galashiels. He married Agnes Veitch at Traquair, Peeblesshire on 9th February 1750.
Now, here’s a tale: I spent hours on this Veitch/Veatch/Vetch puzzle as James’ father also married a Veitch. It turns out that James’s mother, Isabel, and Agnes’s father, Walter, were brother and sister making this a marriage of first cousins (and doubling all data for preceding generations).
4th great-grandfather Alexander Dobson (1732-?)
Born: Galashiels, Selkirkshire/Roxburghshire
Marriage: Friday, 2nd May 1760
Spouse: Elizabeth Aitchison (1731-?)
Monarch: George II, 1727-1760
Event: Jacobite rising of 1745: Charles Edward Stuart (“Bonnie Prince Charlie”) with his Jacobite forces occupies Stirling.
Alexander was born on Monday, 4th August in Galashiels and baptised there two days later.
He married Elizabeth also from Galashiels. Her parents were Simon Aitchison (1705-?) and Helen Tait (1701-?).
They produced three boys and a girl, all born and/or baptised in Galashiels.
William – 15th May 1761
Simon – 28th February 1763
George – 24th November 1765
Helen – 6th May 1770
He was born in the same year as when the British government was administered by Robert Walpole, the first prime minister. Alexander and Elizabeth would have witnessed England defeating the Scots in 1746 under Stuart Pretender Prince Charles at Culloden Moor. It was the last battle fought on British soil.
3rd great-grandfather George Dobson (1765-c.1862)
Born: Galashiels
Marriage: 1793
Spouse: Jane Jamieson (1777-1864)
Monarch: George III, 1760-1820
Event: Adam Smith publishes The Wealth of Nations.
George was born on Sunday, 24th November in 1765 at the same time as James Watt who invented the steam engine. George was a weaver.
He would have been aware of the news that in 1787 The Constitution of the United States was signed.
In Galashiels during 1793 George married Jean (Jane) Jamieson (1777-1855) from Darnick, Melrose, Roxburghshire. Her parents James Jamieson (1748-?) and Margaret Burn (1750-?). She had one brother and two sisters.
George and Jean had four children.
William was born in Galashiels in 1800 and died at Ladhope Bank on 15th July in 1864 of Apoplexy. He married Isabella Hardie (1802-1880). They produced ten children between 1826 and 1845.
James was born in Galashiels on 28th November in 1802. He married Isabella Purves (1801-1892) from Eckford. They produced four children. James died at Bank Street, Galashiels on 28th May in 1855. He was a woolen weaver.
Janet was born around 1805. She married Ewen Wanless (1806-1864) from Berwickshire in 1830. They produced five children. Janet died in Kelso on 22nd August in 1862.
George junior was born in 1807.
In 1841 the family lived at Dunsdale Haugh in Selkirk where he was working as a wool spinner possibly at Roberts of Selkirk, renowned for their fine Scottish tweeds.
By 1851 George and family have moved 5 miles away to Ladhope Bank, Galashiels where he is working as a Yarn/Wool Worker.
In 1861 he is a Foreman at a woollen factory and living at 4 Overhaugh Street a mere ½ mile from Ladhope Bank with his wife, daughter Jessie, aged 16 and her son James Dalgleish, 9 months.
George’s death certificate in 1864 records he is back at Ladhope Bank and his occupation is a Machine Manager. Five months later Jessie married James Freer (1841-1914) in Ladhope.