Person:Alexander Scott (18)

Alexander Scott was baptised on 10th January 1820 at Fowlis Wester in Perthshire. He was the son of Margaret McIntosh and her husband William Scott, who was the gamekeeper on the Abercairny estate at Fowlis Wester. He was the ninth of ten children. It is not known when Alexander’s father died, although it seems likely that he died sometime between 1833 and 1841; deaths and burials were not being recorded in Fowlis Wester at the time.

By the time of the 1841 census Alexander had left Fowlis Wester and he was working as a gardener at the Blythswood estate in Renfrew. Alexander’s mother and some of his siblings had also left Fowlis Wester by that time and were living at Kinnoull, immediately adjoining Perth. Alexander’s mother died at Kinnoull in 1843.

By 1848 Alexander had moved to work at Ladykirk House in Berwickshire, on the banks of the River Tweed.

On 5th November 1848, aged 28, Alexander married a woman called Mary Robson from Kelso in Roxburghshire. They married irregularly, as was then allowed under Scottish law, at Lamberton Toll. This was the last building in Scotland before the English border on the main road into Berwick. It was a popular destination for English couples wishing to marry under the more lenient Scottish marriage laws, although it is not clear why Scottish couple Alexander and Mary should have chosen to marry there.

Alexander and Mary lived for many years in the Gardener’s House on the Ladykirk estate, appearing there in each census from 1851 to 1881. The Gardener’s House was described as having six rooms with windows, so the family was fairly comfortably accommodated for the time. In both the 1851 and 1861 censuses Mary’s younger sister Margaret was living with them.

Alexander and Mary appear to have had eleven children, although their first two children (a boy and a girl) died in infancy - their existence is only known from Alexander and Mary’s fourth child’s birth certificate of 1855, which says that the couple had one daughter still living and had had one son and one daughter who had died.

Ladykirk House was the home of David and Marianne-Sarah Robertson. The house had belonged to her mother’s family, and David had changed his name from Marjoribanks to Marianne’s mother’s maiden name of Robertson when they married so that she would be allowed to inherit the house. David worked as a stockbroker. In 1857 he was the Whig candidate for Berwickshire at the general election, but he lost to his Conservative rival. Two years later, at the 1859 general election, David successfully won the seat for the Liberal party.

Alexander was clearly well respected as a gardener in the area. From 1849 onwards he was associated with the Borders Horticultural Society, which held two annual exhibitions each year around July and September in the town of Coldstream, about five miles from Ladykirk. The gardeners at the big estates in the area all seem to have competed each year for various prizes, with Alexander frequently being listed alongside the gardeners at The Hirsel estate as alternately winners and runners up for various prizes. Alexander won many prizes for his flowers, vegetables and fruits. Some years he also served as a judge, and from at least 1865 he was a member of the society’s committee. The shows were a major local attraction; in 1865 the committee is recorded as thanking the North Eastern Railway for having offered special train tickets for the event.

Alexander was also involved with the smaller Norham Horticultural show and occasionally exhibited at the Eastern Borders show in Berwick. He also served as a judge for the Pallinsburn Horticultural Society’s show at Branxton.

Alexander’s eldest daughter married at the Gardener’s House at Ladykirk in 1871, and Alexander’s first grandchild was born the following year.

In June 1873 Alexander’s employer, David Robertson was made a lord, becoming Baron Marjoribanks. He was ennobled on 13th June, but six days later he was knocked down by a horse-drawn bus outside his club in Newcastle and died.

In 1881 Alexander stood down from the committee of the Borders Horticultural Society.

In 1883 Alexander’s daughter Margaret died, aged 26.

On 2nd August 1889, Alexander’s youngest daughter was married at Ladykirk Gardens. A couple of weeks later, on 19th August 1889, Ladykirk’s owner, Lady Marjoribanks, died. The Ladykirk estate passed to her daughters, who promptly set about letting out the gardens. Notices were placed in local newspapers on 30th August advertising the gardens and various servants’ cottages to let, including the Gardener’s House. Alexander’s name was given as the person who would show the estate to prospective tenants. Alexander and Mary therefore left the Ladykirk estate after living and working there for over forty years.

In 1890 Alexander’s youngest daughter, who had married the previous year, died aged 24.

The 1891 census finds Alexander and Mary living in a two roomed cottage at Norham in Northumberland, England, just over the River Tweed from Ladykirk. Alexander died at Norham on 19th March 1893, aged 73. His estate was valued at just over £200. Mary survived him by six years.

1. ↑ Church of Scotland. Old Parochial Registers, Fowlis Wester, Perthshire.

   Baptisms 1820 / Jan[uar]y 10 / Alexander L[awful] S[on] to W[illia]m Scott & Marg[are]t McIntosh

   Whilst no named connection has been found, this baptism has been linked to the Alexander Scott who married Mary Robson on the basis that in the censuses after their marriage Alexander consistently claimed to have been born at Fowlis Wester around 1820.

2. ↑ General Register Office for Scotland. 1841 Scotland Census. (Edinburgh)
   575/00 005/00 009, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Blythswood Lodge, Renfrew, Renfrewshire
   William Farquhar, male, 20 [1816-21], Gardener J[ourneyman], not born in county
   James Littlejohn, male, 20 [1816-21], Gardener J[ourneyman], not born in county
   Alexander Scott, male, 20 [1816-21], Gardener J[ourneyman], not born in county

3. ↑ General Register Office for Scotland. 1851 Scotland Census. (Edinburgh)
   746/00 001/00 005, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: Gardeners house of Ladykirk house, Ladykirk, Berwickshire
   Alexander Scott, head, married, male, 30 [1820/1], Gardener Master employing 4 men, b. Fowlis Wester, Perthshire
   Mary Scott, wife, married, female, 24 [1826/7], b. Kelso, Roxburghshire
   Margaret Robson, sister in law, unmarried, female, 15 [1835/6], House servant, b. Kelso, Roxburghshire

4. ↑ General Register Office for Scotland. 1861 Scotland Census. (Edinburgh)
   746/00 001/00 024, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: Ladykirk Gardens, Ladykirk, Berwickshire
   6 rooms with one or more windows
   1 child in this household attending school
   Alexander Scott, head, married, male, 41 [1819/20], Master gardener, b. Fowlis Wester, Perthshire
   Mary Scott, wife, married, female, 34 [1826/7], Gardener’s wife, b. Kelso, Roxburghshire
   Sidney Scott, daughter, female, 8 [1852/3], Scholar, b. Ladykirk, Berwickshire
   William Scott, son, male, 6 [1854/5], Gardener’s son, b. Ladykirk, Berwickshire
   Margaret Scott, daughter, female, 4 [1856/7], Gardener’s dau[ghte]r, b. Ladykirk, Berwickshire
   Mary Ann Scott, daughter, female, 2 [1858/9], Gardeners’ dau[ghte]r, b. Ladykirk, Berwickshire
   James R. Scott, son, male, 1m [1861], Gardener’s son, b. Ladykirk, Berwickshire
   Margaret Robson, sister in law, unmarried, female, 25 [1835/6], Dressmaker, b. Kelso, Roxburghshire

5. ↑ General Register Office for Scotland. 1871 Scotland Census. (Edinburgh)
   746/00 001/00 005, 2 Apr 1871.

   Address: Ladykirk, Berwickshire
   3 children in household in education
   6 rooms with one or more windows
   Alexander Scott, head, married, male, 51 [1819/20], Master gardener, b. Fowlis Wester, Perthshire
   Mary Scott, wife, married, female, 44 [1826/7], Gardeners wife, b. Kelso, Roxburghshire
   William Scott, son, unmarried, male, 16 [1854/5], Apprentice gardener, b. Ladykirk, Berwickshire
   Margaret Scott, daughter, unmarried, female, 14 [1856/7], Gardeners daughter, b. Ladykirk, Berwickshire
   Maryan Scott, daughter, unmarried, female, 12 [1858/9], Scholar, b. Ladykirk, Berwickshire
   James Scott, son, unmarried, male, 10 [1860/1], Scholar, b. Ladykirk, Berwickshire
   Charles Scott, son, unmarried, male, 8 [1862/3], Scholar, b. Ladykirk, Berwickshire
   Elisabeth Scott, daughter, unmarried, female, 5 [1865/6], Gardeners dau[ghter], b. Ladykirk, Berwickshire
   John Scott, son, unmarried, male, 4 [1866/7], Gardeners son, b. Ladykirk, Berwickshire
   Robert Scott, son, unmarried, male, 11m [1870], Gardeners son, b. Ladykirk, Berwickshire

6. ↑ General Register Office for Scotland. 1881 Scotland Census. (Edinburgh)
   746/00 001/00 018, 3 Apr 1881.

   Address: Private House, Ladykirk, Berwickshire
   6 rooms with one or more windows
   Alexander Scott, head, married, male, 61 [1819/20], Gardener (domestic serv[ant]), b. Fowlis Wester, Perthshire
   Mary Scott, wife, married, female, 53 [1827/8], Gardener wife, b. Kelso, Roxburghshire
   Margaret Scott, daughter, unmarried, female, 24 [1856/7], Gardener dau[ghte]r, b. Ladykirk, Berwickshire
   John Scott, son, male, 13 [1867/8], Gardener apprentice, b. Ladykirk, Berwickshire
   Robert Scott, son, male, 10 [1870/1], Scholar, b. Ladykirk, Berwickshire

7. ↑ England. 1891 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG12; Piece 4269; Folio 112; Page 5, 5 Apr 1891.

   Address: Norham, Northumberland
   2 rooms occupied
   Alexander Scott, head, married, male, 71 [1819/20], Retired gardener, b. Scotland
   Mary Scott, wife, married, female, 64 [1826/7], b. Scotland

8. ↑ Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   d. Alexander SCOTT, March Quarter 1893, Berwick Registration District, Volume 10b, page 254, aged 73 [1819/20]

9. ↑ England. National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations),1858 onwards. (Ancestry.com).

   1896
   SCOTT Alexander of Norham-on-Tweed Northumberland died 19 March 1893 Administration London 11 May to Mary Robson Scott widow Effects £200 18s. 10d.

10.   North British Agriculturalist (Edinburgh), in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 13, Wed 18 Jul 1849.

    BORDER HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
    The summer exhibition, under the auspices of this Society, took place at Coldstream, on the 6th inst., and the specimens of flowers, fruits, and vegetables exhibited, were of a very superior description…
    CLASS I.
    …12 Roses – 1st, Alex. Scott, Ladykirk… Vegetables. – Brace of Cucumbers – 1st, George Smith; 2d, Alex.Scott… 3 Round Lettuces – 1st, Alex. Scott; 2d, George Smith…

11.   North British Agriculturalist (Edinburgh), in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 11, Thu 18 Jul 1850.

    THE BORDER HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
    The first show of the season in connection with this Society was held in the New Assembly Room, Coldstream, on Thursday last, the 11th inst., at which there was an admirable exhibition of every description of Horticultural produce…
    FLOWERS… 18 Roses – 1st, Mr William Renwick; 2d, Mr Alex. Scott, gr. to David Robertson, Esq., Ladykirk (2 competitors)… 6 German 10-week Stocks – 1st Mr George Smith; 2d, Mr Alex. Scott (6 competitors). 6 Antirhinnums [sic] – 1st, Mr William Renwick; 2d, Mr Alex. Scott (6 competitors)…
    VEGETABLES. – Brace of Cucumbers – 1st, Mr Alex Scott; 2d, Mr George Smith (2 competitors). Quart of Peas – 1st, Mr George Smith; 2d, Mr Alex. Scott (9 competitors)… 3 Cauliflowers – 1st, Mr Alex. Scott; 2d, Mr James Stevenson (5 competitors)…
    …Prize of 5s. given by Mr R.M. Stark, Seedsman, Edinburgh for the best 12 Garden Roses – Mr Alexander Scott, Ladykirk…

12.   Kelso Chronicle, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 6, Fri 18 Jul 1851.

    BORDER HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY – COLDSTREAM.
    The first exhibition of the season took place on Thursday the 10th curt. in the New Assembly Room, and surpassed in beauty and excellence of articles any previous show at the same time of the year, notwithstanding the heavy rains which had fallen on several preceding days… In almost all the articles exhibited, the competition was spirited and close, and gave no small amount of trouble to the following gentlemen, who kindly officiated as judges… Mr. Alex. Scott, gardener to David Robertson, Esq., of Ladykirk…
    CLASS 1ST.
    FLOWERS.
    For the best 3 Calceolarias – 1st, Mr. Alex. Scott, gardener to David Robertson, Esq., Ladykirk, for The Fairy, Star, and Margaret: 1 competitor… For the best 6 Antirrhinums – 1st, Mr. Francis Somner, Kelso; 2d, Mr. Alex. Scott: 7 competitors…
    VEGETABLES.
    …For the best Quart of Peas – 1st, Mr. Lewis Patterson, gardener to the Hon. Henry Coventry, Lennel House; 2d, Mr. Alex. Scott: 6 competitors… For the best 3 Cauliflowers – 1st, Mr. Alex. Scott…

13.   Kelso Chronicle, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 3, Fri 21 Sep 1860.

    BORDER HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, COLDSTREAM.
    The autumn exhibition of flowers, fruits, and vegetables in connection with this society was held on Thursday the 13th inst., in the New Assembly Rooms. Notwithstanding the lateness of the season, the show was one of great beauty and excellence, the last few days of sunshine having brought out the varied hues of the flowers to greater perfection than could have been anticipated. The store and greenhouse plants exhibited were very fine. Of cut flowers there was a large and gorgeous display, and Hollyhocks and Dahlias were prominent features in the exhibition. As usual the rooms were beautifully decorated with a great variety of plants, supplied from the Lees and Hirsel, consisting of choice specimens of Hume elegans from Hirsel gardens (the Earl of Home’s), and a beautiful one of Hoye-belle from the Lees, which was greatly admired for its rich wax like appearance. A rustic device, very tastefully formed of branches and roots and trees, peeled and varnished, and twisted so as to represent the Milne Graden coat of arms, was exhibited by Mr Crooks, land-steward at Sunnyside, and attracted much attention. The bouquets, of which there was a larger show than usual, were got up with great care, and the floral device, exhibited by Mr Scott of Ladykirk, from its beauty of design, was admired by all who visited the room. The show of vegetables was very good, and required no small discrimination on the part of the judges to make the awards. The day being fine, a great number visited the show…
    [Long list of prizes – Alexander Scott won prizes for dahlias, anemones, hollyhocks, phloxes, lobelias, verbenas, annual flowers, hardy herbaceous plants, a device of flowers, celery, German greens, grapes, peaches, apricots, greengage plums, gooseberries, and currants.]

14.   Kelso Chronicle, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 3, Fri 3 Feb 1865.

    BORDER HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
    The annual general meeting of the subscribers to the Border Horticultural Society, of which the Earl of Home is patron, was held in the Town-Hall, Coldstream, on Friday evening…
    The following office-bearers were then elected for 1865… Committee… Alex. Scott, Ladykirk Gardens…
    It was resolved to hold the Summer Exhibition of the Society on the 11th day of July next; and the Autumn on of the 5th of September, provided the 5th September did not interfere with Edinburgh and Alnwick Shows, which the Secretary was instructed to ascertain before definitely fixing the day…
    The prize list was then gone over, and carefully revised…
    A vote of thanks was awarded by the meeting to the Garden Committee for the interest shown by them in thus offering these prizes; and a similar vote was given to the North Eastern Railway Company for the courteous manner in which they have hitherto received any application from the Committee for the Company to issue return tickets from any station on the Kelso branch on the days of exhibition…

15.   Berwickshire News & General Advertiser (Berwick), in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 4, Tue 31 Jan 1871.

    BORDER HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY – The Earl of Home, patron. – The annual meeting of the members of the Border Horticultural Society was held on Friday evening, the 27th inst., in the New Court Room, Coldstream… The election of office-bearers was then proceeded with, and the following gentlemen were unanimously appointed… GENERAL COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT… Alexander Scott, Ladykirk Gardens…

16.   Berwick Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 3, Fri 31 Mar 1871.

    MARRIAGES.
    At the house of the bride’s father, Ladykirk, by the Rev. W. Dobie, John Hamond, gardener, to Sidney, eldest daughter of Alexander Scott, gardener.

17.   Kelso Chronicle, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 3, Fri 7 Apr 1871.

    Marriages.
    At Ladykirk, on the 21st ult., by the Rev. W. Dobie, at the house of the bride’s father, Sidney, eldest daughter of Mr Alexander Scott, gardener to Mr John Leamond, gardener.

18.   Berwick Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 2, Fri 25 Aug 1871.

    PALLINSBURN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
    The annual show of flowers, fruits, and vegetables, by members belonging to this society, was held on Wednesday last, in the schoolroom at Branxton… The judges were – Mr Alexander Scott, gardener to D. Robertson, Esq., Ladykirk…

19.   Berwick Journal, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 3, Fri 25 Aug 1871.

    NORHAM HORTICULTURAL SHOW.
    THE seventh annual exhibition of the Norham Horticultural Society was held within the Castle Grounds, yesterday. The weather was as unfavourable as it could possibly be – rain coming down, almost without intermission, in torrents during the afternoon. Notwithstanding this drawback, there was a large assemblage of ladies and gentlemen belonging to Norham and surrounding district. As to the show, it was very inferior to that of former years. There were fewer competitors and less stuff exhibited, and a great quantity of that exhibited was not of such a quality as is generally found at shows of this kind. Vegetables were a good show, but fruit was very poor. There was a good collection of cut flowers; but a great deficiency in pot plants. There was a pretty good display of hand bouquets. A large collection of stove and green house plants were exhibited from the gardens of D. Robertson, Esq., M.P., of Ladykirk… The judges were:- Alexander Scott, gardener to D. Robertson, Esq., of Ladykirk…

20.   Berwickshire News & General Advertiser (Berwick), in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 6, Tue 22 Feb 1881.

    COLDSTREAM.
    BORDER HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. – The annual general meeting of this Society was held in the Court room here on Friday night…The office-bearers were re-elected. Mr Munro, Hirsel Law, being chosen a member of committee in room of Mr Alex. Scott, Ladykirk…

21.   Berwickshire News & General Advertiser (Berwick), in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 3, Tue 13 Aug 1889.

    MARRIAGES.
    At Ladykirk Gardens, on the 2nd inst., by the Rev. Wm. Dobie, minister of Ladykirk, John Cockburn, Ladykirk, to Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Alexander Scott, gardener, Ladykirk.

22.   Berwick Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 1, Fri 30 Aug 1889.

    LADYKIRK GARDENS TO LET.
    TO LET for such term as may be agreed on, the GARDENS at LADYKIRK, County of Berwick; with 4 VINERIES, PEACH HOUSE, MELON HOUSE, &c.; PLANT STORE, GREENHOUSE, and FRUIT and TOOL HOUSE; together with the excellent GARDENER’S HOUSE and WORKMEN’S HOUSE.
    The Garden and Walls are well stocked with Fruit Trees of all kinds, full bearing; and a very large quantity of Grapes and Peaches in the Glass Houses; and Vegetables in the Garden.
    HOTHOUSE PLANTS, &c.
    Estimates will be received for the large and valuable collection of removable Hothouse Plants in the above houses and Conservatory adjoining the Mansion House.
    Mr ALEXANDER SCOTT, Gardener at Ladykirk, will show the place.
    On suitable offers being received by Messrs MELROSE & PORTEOUS, Coldstream, arrangements will be made.

23.   United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive.

    Many other articles have been found in which Alexander Scott of Ladykirk is listed being a prize-winning exhibitor at the Border Horticultural Society's shows in Coldstream or at the Eastern Border Horticultural Society's shows in Berwick, which have not all been transcribed here, including:
    Kelso Chronicle, 23 Jul 1852, page 4
    Kelso Chronicle, 25 Jul 1856, page 2
    Kelso Chronicle, 18 Sep 1857, page 4
    Berwick Journal, 20 Jul 1861, page 3
    Kelso Chronicle, 11 Jul 1862, page 3
    Kelso Chronicle, 15 Jul 1864, page 3
    Kelso Chronicle, 9 Sep 1864, page 3
    Berwick Journal, 21 Jul 1865, page 2
    Kelso Chronicle, 21 Jul 1865, page 2
    Kelso Chronicle, 8 Sep 1865, page 4
    Kelso Chronicle, 13 Jul 1866, page 3
    Edinburgh Evening Courant, 17 Sep 1866, page 2
    Kelso Chronicle, 21 Sep 1866, page 4
    Berwick Journal, 21 Sep 1866, page 4
    Berwick Journal, 12 Jul 1867, page 3
    Berwick Journal, 6 Sep 1867, page 4
    Berwick Journal, 13 Sep 1867, page 4
    Kelso Chronicle, 4 Sep 1868, page 3
    Berwickshire News, 30 Aug 1870, page 4
    Berwick Journal, 30 Aug 1870, page 4
    Berwickshire News, 5 Sep 1871, page 5
    Berwickshire News, 3 Sep 1872, page 5
    Berwickshire News, 22 Aug 1876, page 6
    Berwickshire News, 29 Aug 1876, page 5
    Berwick Advertiser, 31 Aug 1877, page 2
    Berwickshire News, 6 Sep 1881, page 4