Person:William Runciman (27)
William Runciman
b.14 JUN 1717 Isle of May, Crail, Fife, Scotland
d.21 JAN 1765 Mouth of the Harbour, Crail, Fife, Scotland
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Spouse and Children
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m. 12 DEC 1748
  1. Janet Runciman1749 -
  2. Catherine Runciman1751 - 1752
  3. Catherine Runciman1753 -
Spouse and Children
(edit)
m. 30 DEC 1754
  1. Margaret Runciman1755 -
  2. Elizabeth Runciman1757 -
  3. Helen Runciman1760 -
  4. John Runciman1762 - 1852
Add another spouse & children
Facts and Events
Name[5][6][7] William Runciman
Gender Male
Alt Birth[8][9] ABT JUN 1717 Saltcoats, Par. of Dirleton, East Lothian, Scotland
Birth? 14 JUN 1717 Isle of May, Crail, Fife, Scotland
Christening[8][15] 14 JUN 1717 Par. of Dirleton, East Lothian, Scotland
Marriage 12 DEC 1748 Crail, Fife, Scotland, 56.25815581,-2.62800693contracted 30 NOV 1748
to Catherine Wishart
Marriage 30 DEC 1754 Crail, Fife, Scotlandto Elizabeth Jameson
Death[7][10] 21 JAN 1765 Mouth of the Harbour, Crail, Fife, ScotlandCause: "died in the mouth of the harbour" with 7 other fishermen. William was skipper of boat.
Occupation? Fishing boat skipper
Burial[10][16] Crail, Fife, Scotland
[edit]

Birth date

From both DNA evidence and the circumstantial evidence from documents held in the National Archives of Scotland S4 that show a Richard RUNCIMAN looking after William's orphaned children, it is highly likely that William is the baptism recorded 14 Jun 1717 in the Direlton Parish Registers which reads: 

"(Robert) Runseman Gardner in Saltcoats and his wife Janet Sinclair had a S: B: called William Wit. Ja: Heriot and Ja: Robeson" (parents indexed as Robert Runseman, but image only has tail end of the Robert)

The DNA evidence (See RUNCIMAN Surname DNA Project) is that excellent DNA matches have been found between the lines of Thomas & Alison (GRIEVE)RUNCIMAN, and William of Crail's descendants, where Thomas is likely to be the baptism 10 Apr 1720 at Prestonpans "Robert Runciman Gardner and Janet Sinclair had a Son born March 7th 1720 and baptized Thomas Apr: 10th Witnesses James Forrest sievewright and James Begbie weaver


For some further notes, see William's page in the RUNCIMAN One Name Study

--User:LornaHen Thurs 29 Dec 2011

Papers held in the National Archives of Scotland detail payments made to "Richard Runcieman" in respect of William's three orphan children (wife Elizabeth had died 1763). By 1768 the children, and presumably Richard, were living in North Berwick

So which Richard brought up William's orphaned children? It is highly likely that the Richard being paid to bring up William's orphaned children is some relation. One option is the Richard born 1722 to Robert and Katharein (Begbie), which makes them likely to be step-brothers. Another is the older candidate in North Berwick married to Jennet Gourlay.

The latter at least has a documented place connection, but little other information.

William belongs to a DNA tested line. Click here for further information

References
  1.   Jennifer Jelley and Diane Middleton. Scotland and Beyond, published 2004 (p34).
  2.   Lorna Henderson. Henderson Web Site, William Runciman, 26 MAY 2011, Primary quality.

    Added by confirming a Smart Match EVEN: Smart Matching
    ROLE: 11000249

  3.   Kevin Charles Runciman. Runciman Web Site, William Runciman, 9 OCT 2011, Primary quality.

    Added by confirming a Smart Match EVEN: Smart Matching
    ROLE: 1000013

  4.   Pay-outs to the widows and children of the Crail fishermen drowned on 21st January 1765, in National Archives of Scotland, GD/26/12/25, Primary quality.

    payments made to "Richard Runcieman" in respect of William's three orphan children (wife Elizabeth had died 1763). By 1768 the children, and presumably Richard, were living in North Berwick

  5. ↑ Lorna Henderson. RUNCIMAN Conclusions, Author Address: Runciman.lornahen.com, Apr 2010.
  6. ↑ Ros Runciman. RUNCIMAN Corres., Recipient: Lorna Henderson, Address: New South Wales, Australia, Author E-mail:, Birth 22 Jun 1762 John s/o William RUNCIMAN & Elizabeth JAMIESON, Crail, Fife, from Outline family tree from William & Catherine (WISHART) RUNCIMAN, and emails, rcvd Jan 2010.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Ros Runciman. RUNCIMAN Corres., Recipient: Lorna Henderson, Address: New South Wales, Australia, Author E-mail:, Birth (Crail) Dth 1765 (mouth of harbour) William RUNCIMAN, from Outline family tree from William & Catherine (WISHART) RUNCIMAN, and emails, rcvd Jan 2010.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Scottish Birth, Marriage, Burial entries (to 1854), Record Type: Scottish BMDB entries (to 1854), File Number:, Bap. 14 Jun 1717 William s/o RUNSEMAN (gardner in Saltcoats) & Janet SINCLAIR, Dirleton, ELN 705/0020 0046, copy d/loaded Feb 2010.
  9. ↑ Scotlands People Index. OPR East Lothian, Scotland RUNCIMAN Births, Author Address: scotlandspeople.gov.uk, Recipient Address: East Lo. (1538-1854), Birth 1717 William s/o Robert RUNSEMAN & Janet SINCLAIR, Dirleton, 705/ 0020 0047, extracted from index Feb 2010.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 H D W. RUNCIMAN Correspondence, Recipient: L Henderson (1), Address: Edinburgh, Scotland, Author E-mail:, H/stone (& info) William RUNSHEMAN/RUNSYMAN and family, Crail, Fife, from pre 1855 transcriptions, rcvd Jan 2010.
  11.   H D W. RUNCIMAN Correspondence, Recipient: L Henderson (1), Address: Edinburgh, Scotland, Author E-mail:, Pay-outs to the widows and children of the Crail fishermen drowned on 21st January 1765, extracted Feb 2010 from photocopies taken 1980s, from GD/26/12/25 held National Archives of Scotland (NAS), rcvd Feb 2010.
  12.   Lorna Henderson. RUNCIMAN Analysis, Author Address: Runciman.lornahen.com, Feb 2010.
  13.   Scotlands People Index. OPR East Lothian Scotlands People RUNCIMAN Marriages, Author Address: scotlandspeople.gov.uk, Recipient Addres. (1538-1854), Marr. 29 Apr 1743 Richard RUNCIMAN & Jean CLAWSON, Dunbar, 706/ 0050 0014, extracted from index Feb 2010.
  14.   RUNCIMAN ( variants) Surname DNA Project, Url: dnasurnames.info/lineages/spRUNCIMANLineages.htm, Jan 2012.
  15. ↑ entry reads: "(Robert) Runseman Gardner in Saltcoats and his wife Janet Sinclair had a S: B: called William Wit. Ja: Heriot and Ja: Robeson" (parents indexed as Robert Runseman, but image only has tail end of the Robert)
  16. ↑ Wm Runsheman mariner here, w Catharine Wishart 24.7.1753 31, 2da Catharine 15.7.1752 1, 2w Eliz Iameson 24.1.1763 34 (see Beveridge 32 254 [Erskine Beveridge Churchyard Memorials of Crail ]; Wm Runsyman on the May & w Cath Wishart married 12.12.1743, da Cath b. .8.1751, da Cath b. 15.7.1753; Wm Runsheman & w Eliz Jamieson married 30.12.1754, at least 3 chn 1755-62; he was drowned when going fishing 21.1.1765.
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