Elizabeth Stewart was the oldest of the children of JBS and was born in Galston in 1881. The family moved to New Cumnock around 1890. Assuming that Elizabeth left school in 1895 I do not know where she went to work but her marriage certificate gives her employment as dressmaker. She married James Brown at the Baptist Church New Cumnock in 1906. James and Elizabeth then moved to Cowdenbeath in Fife which was a mining area.
They had five? children the oldest being James Brown who was the oldest grandchild of JBS and Elizabeth. Jack Brown was the second son and the daughters were Nan, Ella and Elizabeth.
Elizabeth with her son Jack Brown on her right side and brother John Stewart on her left.
The photo was taken at her home in Cowdenbeath circa 1955-1960.
This photo is similar to the previous one and I have no information on it. I can only guess that John Stewart was on a visit to Cowdenbeath to see his sister.
A similar photo taken at the same time with Elizabeth and brother john and including her daughters. The only one I know for sure is Elizabeth’s daughter Nan Gibb on the left of the photo. She was married to Tom Gibb.
I was always aware from an early age that there were relations called Brown who would visit from time to time but I had no idea who they were. It was only later in life that I became aware of the Brown side of the Stewart family.
Although there was a significant age gap between Elizabeth (1881-1961) and her youngest sibling Agnes (1901-1999), the two families were incredibly close. It was Julia Glendinning who would speak about the Browns coming to stay over the summer and as that made about 14 or 15 in all, having to be ‘farmed out’ to neighbours to accommodate everyone!
Stewart Brown and sister Bunty, who were the children of James Brown, visited Julia some 8 or nine years ago. I did not think Stewart would know that much about New Cumnock but he surprised me by saying that he used to come over and stay with his Aunt Nan(Agnes) and work on the farms.
Jack Brown, younger son of Elizabeth Brown, at his wedding to Annie Traill in 1943. Best man is his cousin Jim Glendinning who was 18 at the time. Flower girl is Margaret Legge.
Photo taken in New Cumnock of the Cowdenbeath Browns on a visit. L to R back: Ella Legge(nee Brown), Jim Glendinning, Agnes Glendinning
L to R front: Jim Legge, Annie Brown(nee Traill), Jean Glendinning. Julia Glendinning, Alec Legge, Nan Gibb(nee Brown) 1940 or 1941.
Nan Brown married Mr Tom Gibb on 3rd May 1940. The Bridesmaid is Elma Glendinning and flowergirl on the right looks like Margaret Legge.
Tom Gibb holding Julia Paterson at the door of the bakehouse at 75 Castle. The milk churn contains sour milk for making scones. You can see that Agnes has literally just stepped out of her work in the bakehouse. Circa 1962
James Brown was the oldest of Elizabeth Brown’s children. I believe he may have been the oldest grandson of JBS and Elizabeth Millar Martin.
I understand he was an engineer and in 1930 moved to Newcastle to take up a new job. Julia told me that he actually stayed with his grandparents the night she was born in February 1930.
I first met him in the 1950’s when my parents and I visited him , his wife and two children Stewart and Bunty where they lived in Saltburn by the Sea.
It seems that James being only a few years older that my grandparents Agnes and Jim Glendinning were particularly close and socialised often.