Val Re Robert Ballantyne who married Helen Stevenson. Do you have his birth/death dates? I do not have access to my research notes at the present time but I had noted some 8 years back when looking at various Robert B's that he was born about 1799 and died in 1886. Helen Stevenson was born about 1802 and died in 1876. They had a daughter Helen Ballantyne who married a William Rae. Helen was born about 1839 and died 20/3/1893 in Cottage Hospital Kelso, aged 54. Her home address was Sprouston.She was survived by William. I had Robert's (1799-1886) parents as John Ballantyne and Mary Murray. I am presuming at this stage that I had obtained the details of Robert's parents from his DC as he died after 1856. Also, the "James Ballantyne who married ? in Selkirk" appears from the issue to be James Ballantyne of Dryhope and later Newbie/Newby who married Helen WIlliamson of Cardrona. Their son James was a cloth merchant in Edinburgh for a while, never married and went to the West Indies where he died not long after without issue. The only Walter in this line was back in 1631. Peter

Peter, I have not been able to track down any information on Robert Ballantyne and Helen Stevenson. I found the children of their son John and Janet/Jannet nee Riddle, through the IGI site, all appear to have been born in Sprouston and Kelso. Am currently corresponding with another Ballantyne researcher in Victoria. Australia, who has gratefully given me the lineage of Walter Ballantyne,Yair 1806, James, 1777. Dryhope, James, 1748, ?. I have since found updates; James, 1777 BVR- b. 1 Aug, -ch. 9 Aug - recorded in Yarrow, as are all siblings.(I have not been able to track any info on this line - perhaps I have the spouses name wrong). James, 1748 BVR- ch. 19 Jan - recorded in Yarrow, as are all siblings - fathers name George(is this ?) Walter BALLANTYNE and Margaret RIDDELL.m. 21st May 1831. Selkirk.(1881 Scottish Census - Fawseley Cottage, St Boswells, - Walter 75, - Merchant, Margaret 78. BVR - Children - James- Oct 1831-Bowden.m. Jane Officer. 1857-Australia.; John- Jul 1834-Bowden.m. Jane Davidson.(1881 British Census- 39 Albert Pl, Galashiels- 1 Child) ; Robert- May 1837-Bowden.m. Jane Johnston.(emigrated-NZ- 1874); Walter- Jul 1842-St Boswell.m. Jane Kerr;-(1881 British Census - Alma Cottage, St Boswells-3 children) Thomas- Aug 1845- St Boswell.m. Ellen Lyall.-(1881 British Census - Cathcart, Renfrew-5 children). Val Riddell, Australia.