I have not had a whole lot of time recently to spend on family history although I have my sights set on a number of people that are interesting and that I want to delve into.
Hopefully I’ll be able to spend more time on that shortly but have a few projects that need to be completed and some personal business to attend to – but a big thanks to my cousin Elinor who sent a long some photos of documents, notes, and a couple of old photos that are related to our family history.
One document was very interesting to me and I assumed there must have been an original at some point but thought over time it had probably been lost. There is likely a similar document for the Carnmoney Cemetery, Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland where our Great-Grandfather and his relatives are buried. This document that Elinor sent however, is entitled “Exclusive Right Of Burial” and was signed by Alexander Greig and representatives of the Eastern Necropolis in Dundee, on the 1st of September, 1971.
For anyone knew to the “Scott Family Stories,” Alexander Greig was my Great-great-great Grandfather, and who’s daughter, Jane Greig married John Scott.
Alexander spent most of his working life as a Seaman and eventually earned his “Master’s Certificate” and would go on to part own and Captain his own ship.
He was married twice; first to Ann(e) McLaren and after she passed away, to Ann Scott. It was with Ann Scott that Jane was born. There were also a number of children with Ann McLaren – which when I first began my research, caused much confusion to me in understanding Alex Greig’s life, at first.
Burial Contract – Eastern Necropolis, Dundee
I don’t have time at this moment to fully transcribe the above document but thought I would make it available to others who might want to have a look (or even spend the time transcribing it).
But basically, on the 1st of September, 1871, Alexander Greig purchased the right of burial at the Eastern Necropolis in Dundee, for three “lairs” at a cost of Three Pounds, Seven Shillings and sixpence. To put this in perspective, according to this inflation calculator, £3 in 1871 would be worth about £359.96 in 2020.
From Elinor, we get another handwritten record that hints at the reason for the purchase of the burial plots on the 1st of September, 1871. While it appears that a cup of tea may have been spilled at some point on this record, in 1956, someone (possibly Hugh Scott) visited the Registrar’s Council Office in Dundee and handwrote the records of burials up to that time in the lairs or plots that Alexander Greig had purchased:
From other research, we can be certain that the first name, Elizabeth Greig, was a daughter of Alexander Greig and his first wife, Anne McLaren. She had married Francis Low, but passed away on August 31st, 1871 at 26 years of age, after suffering from Typhoid Fever for 12 days at the Greig/Scott residence at 47 Princes Street, in Dundee.
Elizabeth Greig Low
Her death registration:
From other records, we know that Elizabeth Greig married Francis Low in 1865. They had a daughter named Mary Ann Rollo Low – and I believe Mary Ann would lose both of her parents within a short time.
Francis Low would pass away himself (initial death registration says 27 years of age, burial notes say 26) on December 29th, 1872 due to Asphyxiation While Under the Influence of Drink (Alcohol poisoning). It appears that between the time of Elizabeth’s death and his own, he had also remarried – to a Mary Dailly, (Widow of Peter Phillip) 15 April 1872.
However, there was a correction made in March, 1873.
On the notice of correction, Francis’ age is noted as 28 years old, and his cause of death is now only listed as “Asphyxiation.” Also, his date of death was moved up by one day to December 28th, 1872.
So we do see a few wee discrepancies between these and the handwritten notes from 1956, which listed Francis as 26 years old, and possibly last name of Greig at the burial office.
Other Interesting Names
There are other interesting names on the sheet of handwritten notes that I’m not entirely sure at this point who they were and how they fit in, but we do can see that Alexander Greig himself was buried here in 1888, as was wee Joseph Laurenson Scott (son of John Scott and Jane Greig) after he passed away as a young toddler, just before the age of 2.
Our great-great-grandfather John Scott is also buried here under the same contract, in 1925, and his wife Jane, in 1910.
I’ll make notes of the other names when time permits.
Is There Room For More?
According to the hand-written notes made in 1956, one of the burial plots or lairs is filled up, but the other two that were purchased by Alexander Greig seem to still have some room left for more. I’m not sure how this works as far as inheritance; I had a quick look at updated regulations (can’t find the link at the moment), but from what I recall, one has 100 years to prove a right of inheritance in order to be buried here under the original agreement. At least after a very quick reading, that’s what it appeared.
Might make for some interesting research to find out though!