Harkness – MacGillivray Stories

This is the family tree of Paul Harkness whose father was James Whitecross Harkness.

On a trip home in August 2002, I did some more research and have now gone as far back as I can go using the Scottish Records Office. The next step is to wander round some of the local grave years – maybe next time. Meanwhile I’ve got back 6 generations, (counting Paul as generation I), with a few in generations 7 & one in 8. The earliest record is a marriage in 1806.

Paul’s family hail mainly from around the Edinburgh area of Scotland, all the way back to the 6th generation, with the exception of the Sulters, who cam originally from England. Earlier, they migrated to Edinburgh from Kelso, Dingwall, and the Cadder distract.

Unusually for the earlier generations, most of Paul’s ancestors were literate (at least enough to sign their own name on their marriage certificate in a legible hand). Given the education system in Scotland in the 1800’s, it’s really unusual not to have some people “sign their mark-X”.