Dick Family of Ayr, Scotland

This web page is part of A Family Reunion of Douglas J. Graham. There is a search page for finding specific information. Last update of page: 22 January 2007.

The Dick family enters into Douglas J. Graham's Family Reunion through Janet Dick, the grandmother of Bill Maxwell, b. 1855, my great-grandfather.

 

 

William Dick, b. ca. 1720

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William Dick, b. 1751 --- m. --- Janet Ross (12 children; link through her to Baird and McCaull)

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Robert Dick, b. ca. 1780 --- m. --- Elizabeth Rowan (11 children; link through her to McGowan)

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Hugh Coulter, b. 1797 --- m. --- Janet Dick (10 children)

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Hamilton Maxwell of Ontario, b. 1832 --- m. --- Margaret Coulter (5 children)

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Bill Maxwell, b. 1855 --- m. --- Martha Smyth (10 children)

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Paul Graham, b. 1894 --- m. --- Mildred Maxwell (4 children)

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William Graham, b.1929 --- m. --- Margaret Barclay (3 children)

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Douglas J. Graham, b. 1958 --- m. --- France Marcoux (2 children)

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Camille, b. 1992 and Stéphanie Graham, b. 1994

 

William Dick, b. ca. 1720

William Dick was born about 1720 in Ayr, Scotland but nothing else is known of him.

 

William Dick, b. 1751

The only known child of the above William Dick was the farmer William Dick, b. 27 June 1751 at Kirkoswald, Ayr. He m. 13 December 1770 to Janet Ross at Kirkoswald and he died on 13 February 1802 at Chapelton, Ayr (1).

Ross Family

Janet Ross' parents were Alexander Ross (2) and Marion Baird (3). They were m. 3 June 1746 at Kirkoswald, Ayr. Marion's parents were Gilbert Baird and Mary McCaull, and they were apparently married at Maybole, Ayr. Some brothers and sisters of Marion are known:

1) John Baird, d. 1762 at Ayr. (4).

2) Margaret (5).

3) Helen (6).

4) Marion, m. 3 June 1746 as noted above.

5) Samuell [sic, but probably intended to be Samuel]. He may have married Mary Harvie in 1760 (7).

 

Alexander Ross and Marion Baird had the following children:

1) Gilbert Ross.

2) Mary, d. before 29 May 1757 at Ayr.

3) Janet (see above) (8).

4) Margaret.

5) Jean.

6) Mary.

7) Thomas.

8) Alexander.

 

Robert Dick, b. ca. 1780, and his Siblings

The 12 children of William Dick and Janet Ross were:

1) Jean Dick. She died 19 April 1773 at Chapelton, Ayr.

2) Marion.

3) Robert Dick, m. 30 August 1797 at Dailly, Ayr to Elizabeth Rowan (16). He was a farmer and innkeeper and farmed for a period of time at Knockgerran on the Penwhallie River. The first of their eleven children was born in 1798 at Knockgerran but the following six from 1800 to 1810 were born at Kirkoswald. They must have then moved again for the next two (1813 and 1815) were born at Dundonald. Finally, the last two, born in 1818 and 1821, were born at Dailly, Ayr.

He died 20 June 1885 at Dailly, Ayr. His death date of 1885 is as given by Dickson but it seems highly unlikely as he would have been at least 105 if he married very young in 1797. She died 25 October 1846 at Dailly, Ayr.

Rowan Family

Elizabeth Rowan was possibly christened on 29 Mar 1778 at Colmonell, Ayr. If this is true, then her parents are Andrew Rowan and Margaret McGowan. She died 25 October 1846 at Dailly, Ayr. Margaret was the daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth McGowan (married at Ayr, but no other information on them and no other children recorded).

Andrew Rowan and Margaret McGowan were married about 1775 in Ayr. Their children are the following:

1) Andrew Rowan (18), m. at Ayr to Agnes McCutcheon, daughter (19) of Gilbert McCutcheon and Grizel McDowal. The recorded children of Andrew Rowan and Agnes McCutcheon are the following:

  1. Gilbert Rowan (20).
  2. Agness [sic, but likely a typo for Agnes] (21).
  3. Andrew (21).

2) Elizabeth (see above under her husband Robert Dick), b. at Barr, Ayr. (16).

3) Mary.

4) Alexander (22).

5) Jean (23).

6) John (24).

4) Alexander.

5) Jean.

6) Margaret, m. 28 June 1803 at Kirkoswald (9) to William Cochran, son of Hay Cochran and Janet McTyre [sic]. Their children were the following (10):

  1. Jannet Cochrane.
  2. William
  3. Margaret.
  4. Jean.
  5. Hay.

7) Hellen (11).

8) Thomas (12).

9) William (13).

10) Janet (14).

11) John (15).

12) Mary.

 

Janet Dick, b. 1800, and her Siblings

The eleven children of Robert Dick and Elizabeth Rowan were all born in Ayr, Scotland, at Knockgerran, Kirkoswald, Dundonald, or Dailly. All the known marriages of the children were in Scotland and it known that the parents died in Scotland. Four of the children (Janet, Alexander, Thomas, Robert) however died in southern Ontario so as young adults must have all emigrated to Canada, in several different recorded years but perhaps sometimes together.

The children are the following:

 

1) Margaret Dick, b. 14 June 1798 at Knockgerran, Ayr (25). She was m. on 5 February 1820 at Dailly, Ayr to Alexander Bryden, son of James Bryden and Catherine Gray. She died before 1855. The Brydens seem to have remained in Scotland. Their children (birth records in (26))were the following:

  1. James Bryden.
  2. Robert.
  3. Andrew, b. 10 January 1826 at Dailly, Ayr .
  4. Catherine.
  5. William, b. 19 January 1831 at Kirkoswald, Ayr. He died before 15 October 1836 at Ayr (27).
  6. Janet, b. 30 April 1834 at Kirkoswald, Ayr,.
  7. William, b. 15 October 1836 at Kirkoswald, Ayr.

 

2) Janet, b. March 1800 at Kirkoswald, Ayr. She was m. on 21 January 1823 at Dailly, Ayr to Hugh Coulter. They emigrated to Vaughan Township in York County Ontario and she died about 1875 at Owen Sound, Ontario (45). For further information on her, her husband Hugh Coulter, and on their 10 children, see the Maxwell chapter.

 

3) William, b. 4 February 1802 at Kirkoswald, Ayr (29). He married in Ayr to Jean Kennedy, daughter (28) of Alexander Kennedy and Martha McKissock. He died 29 November 1852. They have one known child,William Dick (26).

 

4) Andrew, b. 20 January 1804 at Kirkoswald, Ayr. He m. (30) on 11 February 1829 at Dundonald, Ayr to Elizabeth Currie. Their children (31) were the following:

  1. Elizabeth Dick.
  2. Margaret.
  3. Jean Speirs.
  4. Robert.

 

5) Alexander (32), b. 5 June 1806 at Kirkoswald, Ayr. He m. on 11 July 1828 at Dailly, Ayr to Janet McClanachan. Alexander seems to be the oldest of the children to have emigrated to Canada as he died 6 February 1873 at Albion, Ontario.

Like his older sister Janet, he emigrated to Vaughan Township in 1831 or 1832 (and thus possibly together). They apparently (32) had six children but I have notes on only two:

  1. Marion Dick (19).
  2. Robert, b. 5 April 1832 at Vaughan Township, York, Ontario.

6) Mary, b. 1 September 1808 at Kirkoswald, Ayr (33). She m. on 10 November 1833 to Andrew Templeton.

 

7) Thomas, b. 25 October 1810 at Kirkoswald, Ayr. He m. on Christmas Day, 1828 at Dailly, Ayr to Agnes Hamilton. He died in 1849 in Ontario (34). Known children were all born in Scotland (up until 1842) so he emigrated to Ontario well after his older siblings. His children (35) are:

  1. Jane Dick.
  2. Quintin.
  3. James, b. 19 March 1839 at Dailly, Ayr.
  4. Margaret Campbell, b. 8 May 1842 at Dailly, Ayr.

 

8) John, b. 5 March 1813 at Dundonald, Ayr (36). He m. on 7 December 1840 at Girvan, Ayr to Catherine Fitzpatrick, daughter of Hugh Fitzpatrick and Grizal McNish. She was born on 21 May 1808 at Dailly, Ayr. In 1841 he was living in Girvan (census data). They had four children but then she died on 3 June 1848 at Girvan.

He then remarried to Mary Gray and had a further four children with her. In 1861 (census data) he was still living in Girvan with his wife Mary. Sometime before 1871 and after Mary died he moved to a new location in Girvan where he would live till his death.

He was married a third time to Jane Muir (children by her in 1874 and about 1881). In the 1881 census he was listed as a watchmaker. He died on 24 July 1893.

The following are the ten children of John Dick, the first four by wife Catherine Fitzpatrick, the second four by wife Mary Gray, and the last two by Jane Muir:

  1. William Dick, b. 1839 at Dailly, Ayr.
  2. Robert, b. 1842 at Girvan, Ayr (37). He emigrated to Ireland where he m. 26 December 1862 at Cork, Cork, Ireland to Elizabeth Murphy, daughter of Simon Murphy and Sophia Marks, b. 1840 in Cork. He worked there in a sawmill and would later become a foreman. Elizabeth died 13 April 1877 at Youghal, Cork. They had nine children, two of whom are recorded dying in Québec and who must have emigrated to Canada. Robert later married to Gertrude (Ruth) Murphy, b. 1843, a younger sister of his first wife. They had one daughter. She died after 1891 in Scotland. He died 8 May 1910 in Glasgow, Scotland (see Dickson's web site for more details on Robert and and for his children; John Dickson himself is descended from one of his sons, Robert Peter Dick).
  3. Grace, b. 1844 at Dailly, m. 24 December 1872 at Anderston, Lanark, Scotland to Alexander McKay (39). He was employed as a Funeral Society's Collector. She d. 20 May 1894 at Govan, Lanark, Scotland (38). No children recorded.
  4. Thomas, b. 1846 at Dailly, died before 1880 in Ayr.
  5. James Gray, b. 14 December 1851 at Dailly (40).
  6. Andrew, b. 29 November 1858 at Girvan, Ayr (41).
  7. Alexander, b. 1 August 1861 at Girvan (41).
  8. Mary, b. 24 April 1864 at Girvan (41).
  9. Hugh, b. 24 October 1874 at Girvan.
  10. Thomas, b. about 1881 at Girvan (42).

 

9) Robert, b. 7 November 1815 at Dundonald, Ayr. He m. 16 July 1841 at Dailly, Ayr to Margaret Knox (43). Although Dickson's site had his death in Ontario, according to (46), who calls him "Thomas Robert Dick", he "died in Scotland at Dailly on 15 January, 1883 of chronic bronchitis. The Registrar General of Scotland R/D 585/100 provides the evidence. His daughter, Elizabeth Dalrymple was the witness". All their 7 children are recorded as being born at Dailly, Ayr (35 and sometimes 41) (except the first, no birth information recorded) with no further information on them. Their children were:

  1. Jane Dick.
  2. Margaret, b. 26 March 1842.
  3. Robert, b. 30 March 1845.
  4. Thomas, b. 10 June 1848.
  5. Elizabeth, b. 1 June 1851.
  6. James, b. 24 May 1854.
  7. Janet (twin of James), born in Colmonell, Ayr (46).
  8. Mary, b. 3 June 1858 (44).

 

10) Elisabeth, b. 3 August 1818 at Dailly, Ayr (33). She died 23 January 1846 aged 28.

 

11) Hugh, b. 17 January 1821 at Dailly, Ayr (33).

 

Sources

 

My only source of information on this family is the very helpful web site of Mr. John Dickson of Melbourne, Australia (http://www.alphalink.com.au/~dicksonj/homepage.htm). He originally contacted me in June 2000 and provided me this site address. In January 2007 I note that the web site of Mr. Dickson is no longer on-line (or has moved?); fortunately I originally copies relevant source notes from his site (see Footnotes below).

Unless otherwise noted, all information here comes from this site. The source (46) tells me of a publication by Heather Black, Ontario, Canada entitled "William Dick & Family (Ayrshire, Scotland 1770's to Canada and Beyond" Sept 1, 2002. I have not seen this resource but it sounds potentially interesting.

 

Footnotes

The following footnotes (1 to 45) were taken directly from Dickson's web site (in early 2001), to whom I am indebted for all this reasearch, and are only mentioned here for completeness of this site. His site should be checked for any more up-to-date information.

(1) William Dick, b. 1751: "Occupation - FARMER; !CHR: From IGI C116012/2059; !BIRTH: 27 jun 1751 from Scotish Parochial Records ????".
(2) Alexander Ross: "!MARR: From Scottish Church Records; !CHR: From Scottish Church Records (This record was chosen as the most likely because of the location being much closer to Maybole where his wife was born)".
(3) Marion Baird: "Temple data - 7224226/31; !CHR: From Scottish Church Records".
(4) John Baird: "Temple - 7224226/98".
(5) Margaret Baird: "Temple Data - 7224226/97".
(6) Helen Baird: "Temple Data - 7224226/96".
(7) Samuell Baird: Temple Data - 7224254/83. May have married Mary Harvie in Kirkoswald on 7 Feb 1760 (From Scottish Church Records)".
(8) Janet Ross: "CHR: From IGI 7312401/40. Other information suggests that CHR was 25 Aug 1751 at Kirkoswald".
(9) Margaret Dick: "!CHR: Temple Data - 7818030/20. One of the descendants of Margaret eventually migrated to New Zealand. Mrs J.E.Crooks of Christchurch New Zealand is a descendant".
(10) All Cochrane children from "Scottish Church Records".
(11) Helen Dick: "NOTES: Temple Data - 7818030/19. !BIRTH: Scotish OPR".
(12) Thomas Dick: "Temple Data - 7818030/19".
(13) William Dick: "Temple Data - 7818030/19".
(14) Janet Dick: "Temple data - T998181/0242".
(15) John Dick: "Temple Data - T998181/0243".
(16) Robert Dick: "!MARR: 29 Jul 1797 Robert Dick of Dailly and Elizabeth Rowan of this Parish (Barr) gave their names for proclamation in order to marriage and taken one day to proclaim".
(17) Elizabeth Rowan: "CHR: Possibly on 29 Mar 1778 at Colmonell, Ayr, Scotland (7618312/3). PARENTS: If the CHR is true then parents are Andrew ROWAN and Margaret McGovan".
(18) Andrew Rowan: "Temple Data - 7618311/89".
(19) Various: "!BIRTH: From Scottish Church Records".
(20) Gilbert Rowan: "!CHR: From Scottish OPR".
(21) Agness Rowan: "!CHR: From Scottish OPR. Surname spelt incorrectly as ROAN".
(22) Alexander Rowan: "Temple data - 7618312/77".
(23) Jean Rowan: "Temple Data - 7618312/79".
(24) John Rowan: 'Temple Data - 7618312/81".
(25) Margaret Dick: "!BIRTH: From Certificates and 1988 IGI".
(26) Various: "!BIRTH: From Scottish Church Records".
(27) William Bryden: "!DEATH: Based on the birth of a later William BRYDEN".
(28) Jane Kennedy: "!CHR: From Scottish Church Records".
(29) William Dick: "!BIRTH: From Certificates and 1988 IGI. !MARR: No entry found in Scottish Church records".
(30) Andrew Dick: "!BIRTH: From Scottish Church Records. !MARR: From Scottish Church Records".
(31) Andrew Dick's children: "!BIRTH: From Scottish Church Records (full locality given as "Relief Congregation, Irvine, Ayr, Scotland)".
(32) Alexander Dick: "!BIRTH: From Certificates and 1988 IGI. !MARR: From Scottish Curch Records. !DEATH: From Glenn Parker. HIST: Emigrated to Vaughan Township, York County, Ontario, Canada in 1831 or 1832. Possibly at the same time as his older sister Janet. Had 6 children."
(33) Various: "!From Certificates and 1988 IGI".
(34) Thomas Dick: "!BIRTH: From Certificates and 1988 IGI. !DEATH: From Glenn Parker".
(35) Various: "!CHR: Dailly Parish F.N. 102823".
(36) John Dick: "!BIRTH: From Certificates and 1988 IGI. !DEATH: From Glenn Parker. Died from "Gastric Catarrh". HIST: From 1881 Census- Age 62, Watchmaker, born in the Parish of Troon, living in Dalrymple St., Girvan, Wife Jane Dick aged 39, born in Parish of Kirkoswald. Children living in the house at the time of the Census were Hugh (aged 6, B. Girvan) and Thomas (aged 3m, B. Girvan). From 1841 Census was living at 13 Cobourg St, Girvan. In 1861 John and Mary were living at 116 Plumb St, Givan. Sometime before 1871 and after Mary died he moved to 112 Dalrymple St, Girvan where he lived until he died".
(37) Robert Dick: "HISTORY: Died from Bright's disease syncope. Was living at 136 Aitkenhead Rd, District of Govanhill, Glasgow at the time of his death. His son Hugh was present at his death. In 1871 were living in Brown St, Youghal. By 1875 had moved to Church St and in 1877, to Beau St, Cork. At the time of his 2nd Marriage was in Barrack St in Cork (Youghal?). OCC: Had taken up sawmilling by 1862 in Cork Ireland. By 1863 was a sawmiller foreman. Described as a sawmill manager at the time of his death in 1910. !MARR2: In Church of Ireland, Parish Church of St Nicolas, Cork, Cork, Ireland. Gertrude sometimes known as Ruth".
(38) Grace Dick: "DEATH: From Dick Family Bible. HISTORY: Was living at 18 Carmichael St, Govan at the time of death. Was living at 2 River St, Glasgow when she married Alexander".
(39) Alexander McKay: "!DEATH: From Dick Family Bible. !MARR: From Dick Family Bible. HISTORY: Employed as a Funeral Society's Collector".
(40) James Gray Dick: "From 1988 IGI. !BIRTH: Dailly Parish F.N. 102823".
(41) Various: "From 1988 IGI".
(42) Thomas Dick: "!BIRTH: 3mths old at 1881 Census".
(43) Robert Dick: "!From Certificates and 1988 IGI. !MARR: Dailly Parish F.N. 102823".
(44) Mary Dick: "!B: C115851/6035515/REGISTER 1992 IGI".
(45) Janet Dick: "!CHR: Information from IGI C116012/4079. !DEATH: From Ruth Wilkins in NZ. HIST: Emigrated from Ayrshire to Vaughan Township, York County, Ontario, Canada in 1832. In Sept. 1847 moved to Derby Township, Grey County (SW of Owen Sound), Ontario, Canada. Coulter Family is still farming at this location (Concession 4 Lot 10)".
(46) Pers. communication July 2006 and January 2007 with Gary MacDonald [ID-239], g-g-gson of Robert Dick, b. 1815.


 

Created by Douglas J. Graham. Comments or enquiries would be very welcome at: douglasjgraham@earthlink.net. The web address of the Family Reunion site is "http://home.earthlink.net/~douglasjgraham/DG_FM.htm".