Moore Carfrae Cockburn abt 1787 - 1870

Moore Carfrae Cockburn (1787 - 1870)

Moore Carfrae Cockburn was born in Redheugh, Cockpen, Midlothian about 1787. Current research indicates that he was one of two know children of Alexander Cockburn and Ann Watson (AKA Marian Swantson). His only known sibling is John Cockburn, born about 1783.

He was lived in Midlothian for most of his life, and some time around 1819 he married Christian Duncan Anderson, most likely in Duddingston.

Christian Duncan Anderson was born on 22 Feb 1799 in Duddingston Midlothian, where she was christened on 3 March 1799. She is the eldest of five known children of Adam Anderson and Lillias Smith. Her siblings include Margaret (b. 1803) ; John (b. 1813) ; Isabel (b. 1816) ; and Adam (b. 1819). Given the dates of birth, it is highly likely that there are other unknown siblings).

Moore and Christian produced ten children (six sons and four daughters) between 1820 and 1845:

• Lily Cockburn Born 1820. Christened 7 May 1820. Married James Campbell on 19 Feb 1841.
• Ann Watson Cockburn Born 1821. Christened 29 Jul 1821. Married James Webster on 24 Apr 1846
• Alexander Cockburn Born 17 Apr 1823. Christened 4 May 1823. Married Mary Symington on 12 Dec 1847
• Adam Cockburn Born 13 Nov 1824. Christened 12 Dec 1824. Married Mary Spence Murray in Apr 1845
• John Cockburn Born 10 Jan 1827. Christened 11 Feb 1827. Married Margaret Allan 29 Nov 1850.
• Christian Cockburn Born 21 Dec 1830. Christened 18 Jan 1831. Married Walter Laidlaw 19 Dec 1858.
• William Cockburn Born 12 Aug 1833. Christened 25 Aug 1833. Married Agnes McKellar on 10 Dec 1857
• More Cockburn Born 28 Nov 1835. Christened 20 Dec 1835. Married Christina Hardie on 19 Dec 1856 and then Margaret King on 5 Jul 1859.
• James Cockburn Born 21 Jun 1841. Christened 1 Aug 1841.
• Jane Cockburn Born abt 1845. Married her cousin David Cockburn on 11 Jun 1869.

It is most likely there is another son born between 1824 and 1827 who would have been named More and would have died some time between 1833 and 1835. This would be consistent with the Scottish Naming convention.

He was primarily employed as a ploughman or agricultural labourer for most of his life. This may have been the reason why he and Christian appear to have moved a number of times during the birth of their children, living in Duddingston for the birth of their first child, Dalkeith for the second, Redheugh in Cockpen for the third before settling in Newbattle, Midlothian where their remaining children were born.

Christian died on 9th November 1864 in Whitelaw, Lauder Berwick, and in his later years - after Christians death - it appears that More lived with his daughter Ann Watson Cockburn and son-in-law James Webster in Lowholm, Newbattle, Midlothian. It is here he died on 3 March 1870. His death was registered by his son-in-law.

Associated Documents

• Birth Certificate of Moore Cockburn
• 1841 Census 
• 1851 Census
• 1861 Census
• 1864 Death Certificate of Christian Duncan Anderson 
• 1870 Death Certificate of Moore Cockburn