Recently found g/g/g/grandma's death in 1857 under her maiden name of Margaret SYMINGTON at High Town, Galashiels. Her late husband described as a "woollen manufacturer" and although not named I know he was a John GRAY. Her mother was noted as Sarah Symington but born with the wonderful-sounding surname of MARJORIBANKS. Can anyone please advise me whether "woollen manufacturer" in 18th/19th century meant a man employing others in his woollen business or whether he alone would have made goods to sell? Or am I looking at this stated occupation too simply? Would also be very pleased to know if others are looking at these surnames in the Borders - one of Margaret's children was born at Greenlaw, BEW Regards to you all, Eileen in Hampshire, UK
Marjoribanks is pronounced and often spelt as Marchbanks. There is a Marjoribanks mailing list at rootsweb. You may want to consider joining as there are some very knowledgeable folks on the list' Sheila I Hale elnalexjoe wrote: > > Recently found g/g/g/grandma's death in 1857 under her maiden name of > Margaret SYMINGTON at High Town, Galashiels. Her late husband described as > a "woollen manufacturer" and although not named I know he was a John GRAY. > Her mother was noted as Sarah Symington but born with the wonderful-sounding > surname of MARJORIBANKS. Can anyone please advise me whether "woollen > manufacturer" in 18th/19th century meant a man employing others in his > woollen business or whether he alone would have made goods to sell? Or am I > looking at this stated occupation too simply? Would > also be very pleased to know if others are looking at these surnames in the > Borders - one of Margaret's children was born at Greenlaw, BEW > > Regards to you all, Eileen in Hampshire, UK
Hi Eileen, Marjoribanks was an important Borders family around Coldstream and Ladykirk among others. See their clan page at http://www.tartans.com/clans/Marjoribanks/marjoribanks.html Best regards - Mike Simpson, Penrith, NSW, Australia Email: agene@bigfoot.com HomePage: http://www.bigfoot.com/~agene