CHRISTOPHER•ALLEN•SMITH•WINTON Family Tree - Person Sheet
CHRISTOPHER•ALLEN•SMITH•WINTON Family Tree - Person Sheet
NamePeter WANTEN 
[6105], GGG Grandfather
[6105], GGG GrandfatherBirth Date1797 [6105]
Birth PlaceWestfordle [Wester Fordel], Perthshire, Scotland
MemoInferred from date of baptism
Bapt Date27 Aug 1797 [6105]
Bapt PlaceArngask, Perthshire, Scotland
Death Datebef 6 Jun 1841 [1286]
Death PlaceScotland
MemoPeter is not in the 1841 census. Death year is probably in the range 1834-41.
OccupationFarm Servant [1263]
FatherHugh WANTON (~1766-ca1799)
MotherChristian FERGUSON (ca1764-ca1844)
Research
Ancestry.com: ”Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950” lists a Peter WANTEN baptized 27 AUG 1797. Arngask, Fife, Scotland, son of Hugh WANTEN. Also listed there are other sons of apparently the same Hugh WANTEN (unfortunately none of the records name the mother):
David WANTEN, bapt. 30 OCT 1791, dwelling @ Newton of Balcanquhal
Thomas WANTEN, bapt. 10 JUN 1793, dwelling @ Old Fargie (a farm)
James WANTEN, bapt. 26 APR 1795, dwelling @ Old Fargie
Peter WANTEN, bapt. 27 AUG 1797, dwelling @ Westfordle [Wester Fordel]. [1037]
Those were also found with this search at ScotlandsPeople:
Church registers: Old Parish Registers: You searched for: Event: '(B OR C OR S)', Church_type: 'Old Parish Registers', Surname: 'W?nt?n', Surname Option: 'Wild', From_year: '1785', To_year: '1803', County: 'PERTH'
Extending that search to 1815 did not find any more births.
David & Thomas were on the same register page.
Searching for a marriage of a Hugh W?NT?N in the years prior to the above births (starting 1785) found one: Hugh WANTON m. Chris[tian] FERGUSON, 8 Dec 1787,
parish 457, Strathmiglo, Fife (straight east of Glenfarg). The original document recorded the bride’s first name as just “Chris” and “Christian” is an assumption made by the ScotlandsPeople website. Certainly it could have been Christine. Other records would have to be found to see if this is correct.
Learning that the marriage was in county Fife, and noting the gap between the marriage and the first of the sons born in Arngask, I searched again for W?NT?N births in Fife.
John WANTON, b. 26 Oct 1788, parish Collessie (#416) to Hugh Wanton, mother not named.
William WANTON, bapt. 3 Jan 1790, parish Abdie (#400) to Hugh Wanton & Chirstian [sic] Fergusson [sic]
There was another Peter WINTON, same generation, but living alternately in counties Clackmannan and Sterling, married to a Janet LOW (or LOWE [1289]). Their children, Mary, Agnes, Alexander, Peter, James, were born in the range 1823-37. [1268], [1292]
Searched OPR deaths for Peter Winton (with Soundex On) died 1830-1854, all counties, but no matches found. [1260] (recording of deaths in those years was very incomplete).
According to the marriage record, [1266] both Peter and Helen lived in or near Edinburgh, an area called “Water of Leith.” Why did they then move to Arngask parish?
David WANTEN, bapt. 30 OCT 1791, dwelling @ Newton of Balcanquhal
Thomas WANTEN, bapt. 10 JUN 1793, dwelling @ Old Fargie (a farm)
James WANTEN, bapt. 26 APR 1795, dwelling @ Old Fargie
Peter WANTEN, bapt. 27 AUG 1797, dwelling @ Westfordle [Wester Fordel]. [1037]
Those were also found with this search at ScotlandsPeople:
Church registers: Old Parish Registers: You searched for: Event: '(B OR C OR S)', Church_type: 'Old Parish Registers', Surname: 'W?nt?n', Surname Option: 'Wild', From_year: '1785', To_year: '1803', County: 'PERTH'
Extending that search to 1815 did not find any more births.
David & Thomas were on the same register page.
Searching for a marriage of a Hugh W?NT?N in the years prior to the above births (starting 1785) found one: Hugh WANTON m. Chris[tian] FERGUSON, 8 Dec 1787,
parish 457, Strathmiglo, Fife (straight east of Glenfarg). The original document recorded the bride’s first name as just “Chris” and “Christian” is an assumption made by the ScotlandsPeople website. Certainly it could have been Christine. Other records would have to be found to see if this is correct.
Learning that the marriage was in county Fife, and noting the gap between the marriage and the first of the sons born in Arngask, I searched again for W?NT?N births in Fife.
John WANTON, b. 26 Oct 1788, parish Collessie (#416) to Hugh Wanton, mother not named.
William WANTON, bapt. 3 Jan 1790, parish Abdie (#400) to Hugh Wanton & Chirstian [sic] Fergusson [sic]
There was another Peter WINTON, same generation, but living alternately in counties Clackmannan and Sterling, married to a Janet LOW (or LOWE [1289]). Their children, Mary, Agnes, Alexander, Peter, James, were born in the range 1823-37. [1268], [1292]
Searched OPR deaths for Peter Winton (with Soundex On) died 1830-1854, all counties, but no matches found. [1260] (recording of deaths in those years was very incomplete).
According to the marriage record, [1266] both Peter and Helen lived in or near Edinburgh, an area called “Water of Leith.” Why did they then move to Arngask parish?
Spouses
1Helen FERGUSON [637], [1263], GGG Grandmother
[637], [1263], GGG GrandmotherBirth PlaceStrathmiglo, Fifeshire, Scotland
MemoSee Notes for more discussion of birth date.
Census Date6 Jun 1841 [1286] Age: 47
Census PlaceLustilaw [Lustylaw], Arngask, Perthshire, Scotland
Census Date30 Mar 1851 [4706] Age: 56
Census PlaceLustylaw, Arngask, Perthshire, Scotland
Census Date8 Apr 1861 [4707] Age: 66
Census PlaceFordel Hill, Arngask, Perthshire, Scotland
Census Date3 Apr 1871 [5058] Age: 76
Census PlaceWest Fordel, Arngask Parish, Perthshire, Scotland
Death Date5 Apr 1878 [661] Age: 83
Death PlacePitillock, Arngask, Fife, Scotland
Memoage 80
Alias/AKAHellen [4706]
Alt.SpellingHelen WANTON [1286]
OccupationOutdoor laborer, agriculture. [4707]
FatherDavid FERGUSON (~1768-)
MotherHelen SCOTT (~1770-)
Misc. Notes
Birth/baptism notes:
The Strathmiglo parish register gives a date of 11-MAY-1794 but it is unclear if that is the birth date or the baptism date. And unfortunately that record does not name her mother. Her age at death, 80, implies a birth year of 1798. Her rounded-off age in the 1841 census implies 1797-1801; the 1851 & 1861 censuses imply 1800. And the 1861 census changes the birthplace to Orwell, Kinross. It does appear that her siblings, Thomas and Janet, were born in Orwell.
The only thing the 1841 census tells us about Helen’s birthplace is that it was not in Perthshire. [1286]
Lustylaw is located west and slightly north of Glenfarg.
See https://canmore.org.uk/site/28104/lustylaw
As of 1843, “Lustilaw” was reported as having Damhead (now Glenfarg) as its post office. [4705, p. 92]
Note that the same Margaret CROMBIE (apparently not a relative) is living with Helen in both 1851 & 1861.
According to the 1861 census [4707], Helen had a nephew named George W. WATSON, born ca. 1856 in Arngask parish, Perthshire, and a niece named Elizabeth W. PETER, born ca. 1857 in Arngask.
Searches at ScotlandsPeople and Ancestry have identified the following George WATSONs born in the region from 1855-1857:
George WATSON born 15 Jan 1856 in Dunbog, Fife, to George WATSON and Helen HASTIE; but that George was with his parents in 1861.
George WATSON born in Scone, Perthshire, 22 Mar 1857; parents were George WATSON & Ann BIRREL; but that George was with his parents in 1861.
George David WATSON born 22 Jun 1856, Blairgowrie, Perthshire; parents were James WATSON & Mary DONALDSON. 1861 census status unknown.
George WATSON born 22 Aug 1855 in Wemyss, Fife; parents as John WATSON & Catharine MONRO. 1861 census status unknown.
George WATSON born 27 Apr 1856, in St. Andrews and St. Leonards, Fife; son of Thomas WATSON and Helen BALSILLIE, however, he was with his parents for the 1861 census.
George WATSON born 12 Jan 1856 in Orwell, Kinross, to Peter WATSON and Janet SPEEDY; but that George was with his parents in 1861.
But to be Helen’s nephew, one of his parents would have to be a WINTON/WANTON or a FERGUSON, so none of these seem like matches. Perhaps he was really a great-nephew, considering the age difference.
The Strathmiglo parish register gives a date of 11-MAY-1794 but it is unclear if that is the birth date or the baptism date. And unfortunately that record does not name her mother. Her age at death, 80, implies a birth year of 1798. Her rounded-off age in the 1841 census implies 1797-1801; the 1851 & 1861 censuses imply 1800. And the 1861 census changes the birthplace to Orwell, Kinross. It does appear that her siblings, Thomas and Janet, were born in Orwell.
The only thing the 1841 census tells us about Helen’s birthplace is that it was not in Perthshire. [1286]
Lustylaw is located west and slightly north of Glenfarg.
See https://canmore.org.uk/site/28104/lustylaw
As of 1843, “Lustilaw” was reported as having Damhead (now Glenfarg) as its post office. [4705, p. 92]
Note that the same Margaret CROMBIE (apparently not a relative) is living with Helen in both 1851 & 1861.
According to the 1861 census [4707], Helen had a nephew named George W. WATSON, born ca. 1856 in Arngask parish, Perthshire, and a niece named Elizabeth W. PETER, born ca. 1857 in Arngask.
Searches at ScotlandsPeople and Ancestry have identified the following George WATSONs born in the region from 1855-1857:
George WATSON born 15 Jan 1856 in Dunbog, Fife, to George WATSON and Helen HASTIE; but that George was with his parents in 1861.
George WATSON born in Scone, Perthshire, 22 Mar 1857; parents were George WATSON & Ann BIRREL; but that George was with his parents in 1861.
George David WATSON born 22 Jun 1856, Blairgowrie, Perthshire; parents were James WATSON & Mary DONALDSON. 1861 census status unknown.
George WATSON born 22 Aug 1855 in Wemyss, Fife; parents as John WATSON & Catharine MONRO. 1861 census status unknown.
George WATSON born 27 Apr 1856, in St. Andrews and St. Leonards, Fife; son of Thomas WATSON and Helen BALSILLIE, however, he was with his parents for the 1861 census.
George WATSON born 12 Jan 1856 in Orwell, Kinross, to Peter WATSON and Janet SPEEDY; but that George was with his parents in 1861.
But to be Helen’s nephew, one of his parents would have to be a WINTON/WANTON or a FERGUSON, so none of these seem like matches. Perhaps he was really a great-nephew, considering the age difference.
Research
The only Helen Ferguson found at ScotlandsPeople.com born in the range 1795-1800, anywhere in Scotland, with a father named David, was one born 15 MAR 1797, in Eastwood Parish, Renfrewshire. Her mother was Jean STRUTHERS. [1474] The biggest reason to be skeptical about this record is the mother’s name. A search using Soundex on “Ferguson” and specifying father David and mother Helen, from 1790-1805, gave no results for all of Scotland. Same results when specifying ‘SCOTT’ for mother’s name. Omitting mother’s name from search gave 4 hits, none with mother’s name matching Helen SCOTT and one with no mother’s name dated 11-MAY-1794.
Found Helen in a family tree on FamilySearch:
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/HJ1P-WFJ
Found Helen in a family tree on FamilySearch:
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/HJ1P-WFJ
Marr Date20 Oct 1815 [1266]
Marr PlaceSt. Cuthbert’s Parish, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
Misc. Notes
Marriage record states that both Peter and Helen were from “Water of Leith” which is a reference to the river that flows through Edinburgh to the Firth of Forth. Peter was from Water of Leith No.70 and Helen was from Water of Leith No. 31. [1266] Historical maps of the area show various mills and distilleries along that river, so perhaps Peter and Helen’s father were employed at one of those facilities and lived nearby along the river.
But the real question is, why were they in Edinburgh and then returned to Arngask parish after marriage?
But the real question is, why were they in Edinburgh and then returned to Arngask parish after marriage?
ChildrenHugh (1816-1895)
Helen (1818-)
David (1820->1901)
Christian (1822-)
John (1824-)
Catharine Stewart (1827-)
Elisabeth Drummond (1829-)
Peter (1833-)
Janet (ca1837-)