I don't know if you will read this as it is now 5.11.11 and your original posting was 2008 but, like your husband, I too am a descendent of Betty (Beaty) Freer who married James Whitson of Bardmony.

Their first son was James, of Bardmony Bank, born 23 September 1787. He married very late in life at the ripe old age of 62 years to a very young lady, Jean Reid, and it is this line from which I am descended. Jean or Jeannie as she is often referred to, was just 23 years old and came from the Crocket family of the Boat of Bardmomy with whom the family had connections going back many years. James and Jeannie were married for 21 years and had 4 children before James died in 1871 at 83 years old. Jeannie was just 43 years old when he died. It seems that as a result of the will, Jeannie and the children had to sell Bardmony Bank which had been in the family for generations. Her oldest son, James, moved the family to another farm in the valley (the Whitsons occupied a number of farms derived from the monks at Coupargrange.) Sadness followed Jeannie, who having lost her husband, lost her son aged 16 years to comsuption and her daughter in childbirth. Her oldest son, James, emigrated to Australia or New Zealand, bought a sheep farm, lost all his money and returned to marry Elizabeth Farquharson in Dundee. They are my great grandparents.

I am fascinated by all your information about James and Beaty's children. I knew that John became a minister at Easter Essendy but I did not know that the house was now a holiday let - Bardmony House is too and I hope to go and stay there one day! Also I did not know they had a child called Helen I would be very interested to hear of your sources for this information.

I would be happy to share any information which is of interest to you and I can be contacted on gardner.angie@googlemail.com