David Hardie 1798 - 1856

David Hardie (1798 - 1856)

David was born at "Broomie Knowe" in Saline Fife on 18 February 1798. He was the seventh child and fifth son of John Hardie and Isabella Cousin. He was christened on 25 February 1798, most likely at Dumferline.Very little is known about David's life between the time of his birth and 1830.

In August 1830 David purchased the lease of Markle Mains in Prestonkirk, East Lothian. He was 32 at the time. The lease for an initial period of 19 years - advertised on 14 August 1830 in the Edinburgh Evening Courant - , included the construction of a house at Markle Mains and was at a total cost of 365 2s 18p, and was for

"The FARM of MARKLE MAINS, including a part of the FARM of CRAUCHIE, and the FIELD termed the BOGPARK". See Advertisement here

The farm had previously been part of the Estate of Gimerton, and had been 'lately possessed' by John Rennie of Phantassie. The long term tenancy lease was managed by John and Alexander Smit of Edinburgh on behalf of the local landed proprietor, Lady Mary Hamilton who lived at the nearby Beil House. The property had been part of a sequestered. John Rennie was the son of George Rennie (who farmed at Phantassie, immediately beyond Houston Mill) and nephew of John Rennie, a renowned Civil Engineer.

In the period between 1830 and 1833 David was involved in a common-law marriage with Euphemia Jaffray who was 2 years older than him. Euphemia was a farm servant on the Marklemains property.

Euphemia gave birth to twins on 19 July 1833:

William Hardie. Born 19 July 1833. Christening 23 August 1833. Died 23 August 1918.
Euphan Hardie. Born 19 July 1833. Christening 23 August 1833.

Although David Hardie was not married to Euphemia, the twins were christened as Hardies and raised by Euphemia. The level of contact between the half siblings is unknown, however research indicates that

"Contrary to what is thought sometimes to be Victorian attitudes, unmarried Prestonkirk mothers and their children were clearly not abandoned or cast out. Children lived in the parish with their natural families, usually their mother."

On 1 October 1833, just over 3 months after the birth of the twins, David married Christian Black.

Christian was born on 10 June 1810 in Kinglassie, Saline, Fife the ninth child and third daughter of John Black and Catherine Inglis. John & Catherine lived in Kinglassie, Fife, where John farmed Bankhead of Inchdarnie. It is likely that the families knew each other prior to David's move to Prestonkirk. John Black & Catherine Inglis had a total of 10 children between 1892 and 1812.

Christina was a small plump woman. She had dark hair pinned tightly in a knot on the top of her head, brown eyes beneath heavy, dark brows and a thin straight nose over a thin bitter mouth. She dressed always in black with no relieving touch of colour or white. Christina worked hard herself and kept tight reins on both family and staff expecting everyone, including her children to work just as hard.

Given what we know of Christian, it is unlikely that she would have tolerated David's children from an earlier liasion. This is borne out by the fact that Euphemia had left the parish by 1841, but did return later, being registered as living in Crauchie (1km from Marklemains) during the 1851 census.

David and Christian had 8 children between 1834 and 1848:

Catherine Hardie. Born 21 September 1834. Died 18 March 1900
John Hardie. Born 9 June 1836. Died 7 June 1908. Married Jane Young on 5 Jun 1861 in Markinch, Fife
Isabella Hardie. Born 24 January 1838. Married Charles J Christie on 27 Sep 1860 in Prestonkirk, East Lothian
David Hardie. Born 26 May 1840. Died 19 September 1890. Married Alison Cunningham on 21 April 1894 in Edinburgh, Midlothian
James Hardie. Born 24 February 1842. Died 29 October 1915
Christiana Hardie. Born 30 November 1843. Died 19 February 1872
Joseph Hardie. Born 8 April 1845. Died 6 March 1919
Ann Hardie. Born 24 March 1848. Died 12 Jan 1915. Married Thomas John Dewar on 13 Jun 1876 in Prestonkirk, East Lothian

In this period, "Beil Estate" Markel Mains was a large and seemingly prosperous farm. It grew consistently under the management of David and Christian, employing large numbers of indoor and outdoor servants. The house a Markle Mains was described years later by Ann Hardies daughter as

"a big house, with two maids and a grieve, the cotters lived on it ... it was all set up in a 3 sided square."

At the time of the 1841 census, there are 11 cotters houses on the property with a total of 59 residents. David employed 2 domestic servants (Charles Wood - 14 and Christian Renton - 20). Interestingly neither Catherine nor John were at home at the time of the 1841 census. By 1851 the farm had grown to 301 acres and the family now had 3 household servants (Jean Nelson - 19, Ann Cockburn - 20 and Alexander Douglas - 16), with 10 men and 3 women working the property - a total of 69 people lived in the cotters residences.

By the 1850's David was obviously prosperous, lending William and Robert Brown of Halls Farm £600 in 1854 and his brother William £200 in February 1855. In this period David also acquired the lease on the Friardykes farm in Stenton, East Lothian, which was operated by George Blair at the time of the 1841 Census and according to family legend he also owned a highland sheep farm with a shepherd and resident family.

Family gossip has David as having had a relationship with a servant after the birth of his youngest daughter Ann and that a child was born to that relationship. Apparently (again according to family oral history), Christian kicked David out, and raised the child on the farm. This could account for his property at Friardykes, where there were personal effects located.

In March 1856, David lent his son John £940 pounds to set up his ironmongering business (hardware merchantile) in Haddington. One month later, in early April 1856 David contracted a fever from which he died 3 weeks later on 29 April 1856, and was buried in Prestonkirk Cemetary. (Stone No E192 - East Face)

David's will was lodged and read on 16 Jun 1856. Executors of the Will were his brothers William Hardie & James Hardie, his nephew David Sands, his brother-in-laws Roger Black & Alexander Black and a Charles Smith, a farmer of Gladsmuir.He left a total estate of £5756 15s 10p, a significant estate given the time. In his will he only recognised his "lawful children" with the full estate left in trust to his to be his children to be "shared and shared alike" upon reaching their majority. The only condition was that was that the heir to his farm leaseholding not recieving a share of the remaining 'portable & personal" assets, and any child owing money at his death have that amount deducted from their share of the dispersal. He left his wife Christian and the household effects (which reverted back to the trust at her death) a £70 annuity as long as she remained a widow.

The family continued to live at Markle Mains after David's death, and Christian took over the lease but his fourth child and second son, David took over the day to day management of Marklemains, and by 1861 the farm had grown to 309 acres and the family employed 9 men & 3 boys and 3 household servants (Elizabeth Doughlas - 21, Agnes Paxton - 18 and John Dudgeon groom - 17). However by 1861 only David and Ann were living at farm with their mother Christian, who assisted with the management given that David had yet to reach his majority.

By 1871 David Jnr was undertaking the full management of Markel Mains (now 388 acres), having assumed the lease when he reached 21 in lieu of a cash inheritance. The farm staff had grown to a total of 23 - 9 men, 2 boys & 10 women, and two domestic staff (Helen Spence - 22 kitchen maid & Marion Fisher housemaid). Davids two younger sisters Christina & Annie were living at home, but his brothers James and Joseph had both taken their share of the trust (approx. £1000) and emigrated to New Zealand.

David took over sole responsibility for the farm some time between 1871 and 1881 when Christian moved to Haddington where she lived at 38 Market St, Haddington (with one domestic servant), next door to her son John. In about 1880 David sold Marklemains to a W.Y. Davidson, and then took over the lease at Bielgrange from his brother-in-law James Hope Robertson.

It is not known where Christian lived for the last 10 years of her life, but when she died on 12 December 1891 she was living at 57 Fountainhall Rd, Edinburgh. She was buried with her husband in Prestonkirk Churchyard.

Hardie Family History

David Hardie 1798 - 1856

David Hardie (1798 - 1856)

Associated Documents