Sound recording (below) made in 1997 by John Stevenson ( born about1968), High Trees, High Roding, Dunmow, Essex of his 90 yr old grandfather George Stevenson recalling the family's move from Carbieston Mains, Coylton to Essex in 1902.
George's father Alex was born at Hillhead of Sorn in October 1866 with a twin brother Robert (who became a doctor and went to South Africa). The twins were the eldest born of John Stevenson's second family to his wife Agnes Sloan.
John Stevenson (1828-1893) had moved to Garrallan, Cumnock in 1850 with his first wife Mary Strawhorn and a year old son Allan ( later an architect and County Road Surveyor for Ayr ). After another 6 children the family moved to Sorn where Mary died on 4th January 1864, possibly from typhus.
John married again on Christmas Day 1865 and eventually moved his whole family to Changue in 1872 ( having farmed it from November 1867). He ended up with nine sons but three of his five daughters died young
First Family (to Mary Strawhorn, Mossbog Tarbolton)
Allan - Architect ( Bute Hospital, New Cumnock Town Hall , restoration of Burns Cottage etc ) ,County Road Surveyor and Estate Factor. Lent Alex the money to move south. Probably boarded Alex's son John , while John finished at Ayr Academy. This is poignant as that John and Allan's only son John were both killed in 1918 within three weeks of each other.
John - Estate Factor at Rozelle. Took Balig Farm Ballantrae. ( George says a farm down by Willie's = William Stevenson , Auchenflower , Ballantrae = George's cousin from Changue)
Andrew - ended up farming at Anstruther , Fife by way of Strathaven and Dumbarton.
James - first into Carbieston, then to Callander Park estate, then to Canada. Not mentioned by George though James's son, J Bryden Stevenson was a frequent visitor to .High Trees , Essex. James's wife Margaret Bryden was related to Robert Bryden, the artist and sculptor
Sarah - married a Mair relation and went to Co Fermanagh, died in her 40s
Christina - married John Mair, died aged 21 after childbirth complications
Margaret- died in childhood ( January 1873 , same month as her baby sister)
Second family ( to Agnes Sloan, Baltersan Mains, Kirkoswald - the strict granny )
Alex - Carbieston then moved to the Bury, High Roding, Essex. His son George took the nearby High Trees farm when he got married, leaving his brother Roden at the Bury.
Robert - Doctor in South Africa
David - farmed Changue
Jessie - died at 6m ( in January 1873 - first family event at Changue that we know of )
Agnes - married her mother's cousin ( Sloan) . Lived between Edinburgh and a farm at Westerkirk, Langholm. Son was a film producer.
George - Exide Batteries, Essex. George was called for him. Died in France in 1920s
William - farmed Carbieston, then had a dairy business in Glasgow.
Wedding picture of George C Stevenson and Margaret Butcher. George's parents are on the extreme left ( Alexander Stevenson and Bertha Owers) Best man is George's brother Alex , who died young.
The wedding photograph is of George Stevenson (1907- 2001, the speaker in the clip)and Margaret( Butcher). His parents Alex and Bertha (Owers) are on the extreme left of picture. George's brother Alex is best man - died young, married but no family.
George talks about the family of John Stevenson born 1828!
From left: John Stevenson (Changue), Stanley Taylor ( cine film maker), George Stevenson and an unknown, at High Trees farm, High Roding, Dunmow.
