Janet Stoddart 1829 - 1918

Janet Stoddart (1829 - 1918)

Janet Stoddart (also known as Jessie) was born on 29 September 1829 in Macmerry Gladsmuir to Christina Smith and David Bowman Stoddart. We are unable to find baptismal records for Janet, nor can we find any references in Kirk Session, however there are Sheriff Court Paternity Case Records - one in 1830 and one in 1834 between Christian Smith of Macmerry and David Stoddart/Stodhart, Collier, Blindwells, the child is not named in these documents, and subsequent marriage and census records her age would imply that her DOB is 1831, but we believe that the 1829 date is correct. Interestingly on Janets marriage certificate her father is recorded as David Stoddart (overseer of mines), but on her death certificate it is John Stoddart. 

On the 1841 Census Jessie is shown as being 10 and living in Macmerry, Gladsmuir with her mother Christian Smith (40) – a coal labourer – and her sister Christian Falconer. It was highly likely that by this age Jessie was already working in mines, but the census record does not show occupation for children. If she was working in the mines, then the 1843 Act which banned women from mine work would have been a relief.

On the 1851 Census Jessie is recorded as working as a house servant at Gateport an estate in Haddington to the Vert family, where she is recorded as their house servant. Despite the fact that the family were weavers, they must have been relatively affluent to have a servant. Her movements over the following 3 years are unknown but some time around 1854 her path crossed that of William Hardie who was at the time in farm service at Hind in Traprain.

Jessie must have moved back to Macmerry when she was pregnant as it is here on 12 February 1855 Jessie gave birth to William Stoddard - he is recorded as illegitimate and William Hardie is recorded as his father. Some time later in 1855 she submits to the Sheriff Court Process for paternity support. Despite the need to make this claim, the two must have continued their relationship because 22 months later, on 30 Dec 1857 she married William Hardie in the Free Church Manse, Ratho, Midlothian. The marriage was presided over by Hiram Watson (Minister of the Free Church, Ratho & Kirknewton). The marriage was witnessed by Andrew Jackson and Elizabeth Thomson. Jessie was about 3 months pregnant at the time. 

On the marriage certificate Jessie is noted as living in Macmerry, where she is likely to have returned to live with her mother when she fell pregnant with her first child. 

Jessie and William relocated to Gladsmuir where the remaining seven children were born:

• William Hardie - Born 12 February 1855, Gladsmuir, East Lothian. Died 1 May 1918.
• Christina Hardie - Born 18 June 1858, Gladsmuir, East Lothian.
• Euphemia Hardie(died as an infant) - Born 5 February 1860, Gladsmuir, East Lothian
• Euphemia Hardie - Born 9 October 1861. Died 2 February 1948
• Janet Hardie - Born 2 October 1863, Gladsmuir, East Lothian. Married John Alexander 25 September 1885
• David Hardie - Born 4 March 1866, Gladsmuir, East Lothian. Died 29 August 1918
• John Stoddard Hardie - Born 10 June 1869, Gladsmuir, East Lothian. Died 3 March 1939.
• George E Hardie - Born 3 November 1871, Gladsmuir, East Lothian. Married Joan Kitching Died 17 April 1945.

At the time of Euphemia's death in 1860, the family was living at Hoping Mains, Gladsmuir. In 1871 when George was born, the family was living in Penston and they were still there in 1875 when Williams mother Euphemia dies.

The family's two eldest children - William and Christina - emigrated to Australia around 1877.

In February 1878 the family are still living in Penston and William acts as the witness for Janets mothers death registration. 

Christina's death must have acted as the impetus for the families decision to follow the two eldest children to Australia, because in June 1879 - 15 months after her death - the family make their way to Greenock near Glasgow where they boarded the 'Oakland', for the journey to Australia. They were travelling under Free Immigration Certificate No 1168 and appear to be nominated by James Haslam. Free Immigration Certificates mean that they were selected by representatives of the government for assisted passage paid in full by the South Australian Government

The families arrival is included in a newspaper notice in the South Australian Register on 24 September 1879. Interestingly Euphemia (17) and Janet (15) are recorded as single women, and David (12) is recorded as a single man, whilst the youngest two children John (10) and George (7) are recorded in the families with William and Jessie

The family stayed in South Australia for several years before moving over 3000km to Maryborough QLD, and then on to the town of Howard, an old coal mining town, where coal was discovered in 1886. The exact time when the family moved is unknown, but it happened some time after 1881, but before 1885 (when their daughter Janet married in Maryborough) The family stayed in Howard until about 1904 when they moved another 300km from the Wide Bay Area to Ipswich, Queensland (40km from Brisbane) where they lived at Borehole Estate near Bundamba.

From 1908 both Jessie and her husband William recieved the Old Age Pension of 26 pounds per annum (10 shillings per week). At the time they were living at in a house on Borehole Estate. Criteria for receipt of the pension were quite strict, and apart from being over 65 they had to have lived in QLD for at least 20 years, of good moral character, having net capital value of property not exceeding 260 pounds (however the pension was simply reduced if the capital value criteria was exceeded)

In 1910 William & Jessie were visited by their granddaughter. At the time, they were over 80, but described as "a splendid old couple and still in good health, living by themselves in a comfortable house close to where their eldest son had a coal mine, of which he was the manager as well as owner." Borehole Estate held a number of houses, and as well as William & Jessie, their sons, William, John and George lived on the property with their families.

Jessie's date of death is recorded as died on 2 Sept 1917 and she is buried at Ipswich Cemetary

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