Rhona Johnson shared this photo. This is William Russell and Elizabeth Steven of Blantyre pictured in 1903 or so. The couple married in 1881 and William was a baker. With them are their children left to right James, Robert, Alexander, Jane Walker Russell (Rhona’s great grandmother b1882-d1932) and Mary.
Rhona told me, “I met both James and Mary when I was very young and they very old!”
This family lived in Burnside Cottages in Springwells during the early 20th Century.
Hi Rhona, I was born in Hamilton and grew up in Blantyre, I believe our families are connected. The parents of the William Russell who married Elizabeth Stevens, were Alexander Russell b. Abt 1826 – d. 23 Jun 1863 and Marion Barr b. Abt 1828 – d. 11 Apr 1878. Alexander’s parents were Thomas Russell b. Abt 1796 – d. 21 Sept 1884 and Margaret Lambie b Abt 1801 – d. prior to 1841 (she’s not on the 1841 census), Alexander had 3 other siblings, Thomas b. Abt 1820 – d. 30 Mar 1909 who married Christina Maxwell b. Abt 1820 – d. 17 Jan 1903 (Thomas was a childhood friend of David Livingstone (this info was taken off his obituary), Mary b. Abt 1821 – d. 21 Dec 1909, she never married and Robert Russell (MY 3x great grandfather) b. Abt 1824 – d. 27 Aug 1856 who married Sarah Dalrymple. I believe that makes us 5th Cousins.
Thank you Paul. It would be great to hear if there are any other descendants of the Russell or Steven families still around Blantyre.
Hello Rhona,
My name is Stewart Walker-McClimens & have just come across your web posting.
My father was Samuel McClimens who’s father & namesake was married to Jane Walker Russell so I guess we share a family link. I never knew my paternal grandmother having been born in 1944, several years after her death. Would love to hear from you and perhaps fill in more details of my family history. I actually “inherited” some Sunday School prizes when my parents died which included some of Jane’s which I still have.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Very best wishes to you.
Stewart.