In a message dated 03/02/2004 17:49:24 GMT Standard Time, > my gg gf, john mcletchie, lived at hillside, serpentine, rothesay for some > years around 1881...his employment was gardener > >a family story has emerged that he was employed on the above estate, > perhaps even as head gardener...but i have no proof of this > >can anyone point me in the right direction? ...i have lots of other info if > needed Hmmm I looked on the 1881 census for Hillside at the top of the Serpentine and found this Dwelling: Hillside House Census Place: Rothesay, Bute, Scotland Source: FHL Film 0203565 GRO Ref Volume 558 EnumDist 18 Page 20 Marr Age Sex Birthplace Isabella DAVIDSON U 65 F Ayr, Ayr, Scotland Rel: Head Occ: Cook but there was another Hillside out towards Mountstuart which had Dwelling: Hillside Census Place: Rothesay, Bute, Scotland Source: FHL Film 0203565 GRO Ref Volume 558 EnumDist 23 Page 10 Marr Age Sex Birthplace Jessie ANDREWS W 57 F Crieff, Perth, Scotland Rel: Head Margaret HUNTER U 45 F Crieff, Perth, Scotland Rel: Sis Occ: Houses and the previous entry was Dwelling: Glendermott Lodge Census Place: Rothesay, Bute, Scotland Source: FHL Film 0203565 GRO Ref Volume 558 EnumDist 23 Page 10 Marr Age Sex Birthplace William MC NEIL M 48 M Dalry, Ayr, Scotland Rel: Head Occ: Gardener Jane MC NEILL M 46 F Dalry, Ayr, Scotland Rel: Wife Occ: Gardeners Wife James MC NEILL 14 M Chryston, Lanark, Scotland Rel: Son Occ: Scholar William MC NEILL 12 M Chryston, Lanark, Scotland Rel: Son Occ: Scholar John MC NEILL 11 M Chryston, Lanark, Scotland Rel: Son Occ: Scholar There was no John McL* anywhere in the index on Bute Irene