Archibald Fairbairn

     Archibald Fairbairn was estimated to have been born s Mar 1783 in the Par. of Whitsome & Hilton, BEW, SCT, this date being taken from the Whitsome baptism, which may or may not be him.⁴ It is possible that Archibald Fairbairn was baptized on 16 Mar 1783 Par. of Whitsome & Hilton, BEW, father Archibald was a hynd, resident on the now extinct farm of Whitsome Vaults, no mother mentioned so it may not be this Archibald he belongs too, and although he is a tad earlier than I would expect for someone saying he was 50 in the 1841 census, Archibald and Alison (CROSSER) did have a son (my Walter) who said he was born in Swinton, which is very close. In addition, the 1841 shows that he wasn't born in Roxburghshire, which does add some weight to this theory So on balance, I believe it is highly likely to be this Archibald's baptism.^5,1,2 Some sources show Archibald as born bt 1787 - 1791 in BEW?, SCT, this being the likely age from the 1841 census, albeit not always accurate.⁴
     Archibald Fairbairn married Janet Scott on 1 Apr 1810 St Boswells, ROX, SCT, OPR and igi only give A., but subsequent children's christenings give Archibald as father, so I assume it was Archibald who married Janet.⁶
     Archibald Fairbairn died bt 1841 - 1851 ?St Boswells, ROX, SCT; (Janet shows up in 1851 as a widow living with son Walter).^7,8
     
     Another person (descendant Martin F) has (or once had) this Archibald as the son of Archibald Fairbairn and Mary Grierson. I believe he belongs with Archibald and Alison because of the naming pattern of the children of Archibald and Janet. Archibald and Mary would also have had rather a hard time fitting him in between their other children. This conjecture has had weight added from the dna testing which shows a close match, but not identical, with a descendant of Archibald and Mary. The families are therefore highly likely to be related.^9,10
     In Feb 1819 Archibald Fairbairn was a steward (place possibly Haspark?) at Howpark, Coldingham, BEW, SCT, when dtr Alison born.¹¹
     Archibald Fairbairn and Janet Fairbairn appeared on the census of 7 Jun 1841 at Greenwells Glenburney, Par. of Melrose, ROX, SCT, and are assumed to be husband and wife. They were enumerated as Archibald, ag. lab. 50, not b. cty, Janet 40, b cty. Assumed children: John 20, joiner; Helen 25, Walter 15, ag lab; Catharine 12, all but John b cty.⁴ He was shown as a land steward on dth cert of dtr Alison in 1876 ?Melrose, ROX, SCT,⁷ in Oct 1894 he was shown as a farm manager on son Walter's dth cert.¹²