I am happy to do pre 1855 MI lookups for Ayton, Mordington, and several other East Berwickshire cemeteries , also 1841,51,61,71,81,91 and 1901 census lookups.
Feel free to contact me through my email address, writing LOOKUP in uppercase at beginning of the subject bar

Lib Windram

I have held back from adding Family History comments, simply to have time to assess the way the site might evolve. First may I add that the Community site as a whole is a gem for we expatriates of Burnmouth, it keeps us up to date with day to day events and that makes it an excellent site. The Family History addition triggered a thousand thoughts for we family historians living in distant parts and I welcomed it, but was unsure of it’s usefulness if it was only to consist of limbs of trees, without some explanation or additional comment to introduce interesting family history background. After all, family history is not simply a summation of names and dates, it is much, much more and is an attempt to recreate how our ancestors and relatives lived in years gone by. When the word ‘forum’ was added to the site, it became more realistic and informative and the article about James Johnston and Alice Kerr was the an excellent example of what I would look for in The Family History Forum. I learnt several facts from it, as well as much confirmatory detail of my previous knowledge.
I would therefore like to suggest that we use the site as a forum to seek one to one contact from like minded people across the world and to exchange anecdotes of happenings in Partanhall, Burnmouth (Upper and Lower), Stonefaulds, Cowdrate, Ross and Mordington, 50, 100 and more years ago. Let me start off by stating that Picture No. 36 depicted my Great Grandfather Peter Martin, with his Granddaughter Margaret Spouse Martin. My mother was Matron of Honour at that “Maggie Martin’s wedding on 26Jun1925 to George Martin, her 2nd. Cousin (Once Removed ). I am related to them both. There are many more of those old B & W pictures (including those on walls in the “First and Last” ) that would be more meaningful, if we could only attach names to them, our ancestors were as guilty in failing to annotate their photos as we are today!
My long term interest in Burnmouth, starting from when I was born there 81 years ago, means I will be using your forum quite a lot, so expect to see my name again. Congratulations to those who created the site. W.V. Holden

Thanks for the information. Very useful.
My interest stems from the fact that my maternal grandmother was a Mary Paulin (born 1884). She lived at Berwick but hailed from Burnmouth. According her marriage certificate her father was James Paulin, a deceased fisherman. According to the 1851 Scotland census there was a James Paulin (born approx 1848 at Ayton) living at Burnmouth Proper. His mother’s name is recorded as Rachel (born approx 1819) and his father, Abram (Abraham?) (born approx 1824). There is no other James Paulin recorded locally in that census. The 1861census records a James Paulin (born approx 1847 at Ayton), fisherman, residing at 16 Burnmouth.
If you have any further information about the family or village I would be very grateful.

I congratulate the author of the Ross Mordington articles recently appearing in the Forum pages. They were compelling reading for anybody connected with Burnmouth, more so for any who are family historians. Scanning census records every decade can be rather dull, until they are cleverly presented in the way the author has melded an excellent knowledge of Burnmouth and Burnmouth families, into census enumerators tabulations. The 1901 instalment was even more interesting because some of us can relate to many of the families and individuals mentioned; the paragraphs almost brought them back to life. What a pity we will have to wait another 3 years before the next instalment!
I commend readers to note the appeal mentioned in the last paragraph and to come forward with any pictures, stories or anecdotes to add to the overall account presented by the author.

Thanks are due to Pam Dixon for suggesting the family section in her e mail dated 20/6/2007 [see guestbook]. I agree with Walter Holden that anyone researching their family history is impatient for the 2011 census records to be pulished. I read somewhere that we were going to be able to see our ancestors handwring when these records come out. Has anyone any information about this?

I have been watching this site for some time now, and find the photographs particularly interesting; it is a great pity that very few of the people depicted have been identified. Surely the identity of most of the people is known?
I have shown most to my parents, George & Isa Spratt (living in Eyemouth) and append below their suggestions as to the identity of some of the subjects. Bearing in mind that memories play tricks over the years, there is no guarantee as to the accuracy, but I suspect that they won't be far wrong! Here goes.
Slide Show 1.
31/42 32.jpg - back, l. to r: Alexander "Eck" Craig, Pete Johnson, unknown, unknown. Front, l. to r: William "Auld Haugh" Aitchison (father of Jenny, Kate & Andrew), unknown, James "Burnmouth Jimmy" Martin, Jim Paulin, Alexander "Elick o' the Pub" Martin (father of Nelly Aitchison), William "Squirrel" Anderson.
20/42 21.jpg - unknown, William "Squirrel" Andersn, unknown, Alexander "Elick o' the Pub" Martin, James "Burnmouth Jimmy" Martin.
23/42 24.jpg - Abe Spouse & Duncan Anderson (The photograph on the slide show is labelled Duncan Anderson & Abe Spouse, but my parents think it should be the other way around.)
24/42 25.jpg - back row l. to r: Maisie Spouse, unknown, unknown, John Mackay (Primary School Headmaster), Ian "Tud" Wood, Dave Redden & Margaret Johnson(Driscoll). Front row l. to r: Phamie Dickson, probably Joe Bell (but possibly his brother Andy), unknown, unknown.
25/42 26.jpg - back row l. to r: unknown, Alexander "Ecky Fleck" Affleck, Betty Crombie (Martin), William Starrett (Primary School Headmaster), unknown, Walter Fairbairn.
Front row l. to r: Ian "Tud" Wood, Mary "Mary Towser" Tozer, Maggie Swanston (Wilson), Jean Anderson ("Squirrel's" daughter), Andy Bell.
36/42 38.jpg - 3rd from left: Mark "Marky Neil" Anderson, father of William "Willie Neil" (who married Ina Shiel), Stuart & Jim.
4/42 4.jpg - front, 5th from left - Mary Tozer. Back, 9 & 10 from left - Bessie Fairbairn & brother Walter.
7/42 8.jpg - 3rd from left - Johnny Aitchison (father of Joseph and grandfather of John "Sconie" Aitchison), 4th from left -possibly Pete Johnson.

Album26
10/50 - l. to r: William "Squirrel" Anderson, James "Jimmy Scott" Lindores, James "Burnmouth Jimmy" Martin, unknown. None of the women are known.

Album40
13/50 - William "Willie Mottie" Lindores, married to "Katie Connie" and father of William & Norman.

Album41
14/50 - James "Jimmy Dores" Lindores.

Folk2 46/50 - l. to r: Arthur Collin, brothers Alexander "Ecky Dole", John "Keeker" & Robin "Faither Robin" Aitchison, with their father Alexander "Shiner" Aitchison in the wheelhouse. The boat may be the "Provider."

Folk5 49/50 - on the left is "The Bummy". A brother of Mark "Knackem" Anderson, his forename is not known. The man on the right is not known.

Folk1 45/50 - Mark "Knackem" Anderson & Jimmy Lauder. "Knackem" was also known as "Canada Mark."

I hope that this information is of some interest and use; I would very much like to see as many of the others identified as is possible.

Please feel free to email me if you so wish.

Doug. Spratt

My comments of yesterday regarding identification of some of the photographs appear to have caused some confusion - or at least my numbering system has! I have checked and amended it so what follows should sort it out - the order is the same as in the original.

Slide Show 1 by Barbara Dickson.
Photographs 31/42, 20/42, 23/42, 24/42, 25/42, 36/42, 4/42, 7/42.

Album 26 by Barbara Dickson.
Photographs 10/50, 13/50, 14/50, 46/50, 49/50, 45/50.

Sorry. I hope that clears it up!

Doug. Spratt

Congratulation to all of those who worked long and hard to bring this information together in such an interesting format. It is a fabulous website full of family history for those of us who have roots to this area.

My great, great, great grandfather was Thomas SPOUSE, born 1788 in Coldingham to William SPOUSE & Mary MARTIN. Within two years William, Mary and their family moved to Ross where three more sons were born. Thomas married Appalina PURVES of Ayton and they later moved to Eyemouth.

My grandfather, John SPOUSE, was born 1871 in Eyemouth to William SPOUSE & Sarah GRAY. In 1910 my grandparents and family emigrated to Canada. Lt. John SPOUSE enlisted with the Canadian Engineers and was KIA in Arras, France, 21 July 1918. To read more about his life you may access his story on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial website.

Ninety years to the day of his death, 21 July 2008, my grandfather's name will be unveiled on the Eyemouth War Memorial and I plan to be there for this special occasion. Look forward to meeting family and friends at this time.

Joan (nee Spouse) McGiveron