The Trotter Family

Ref. K8

Our interest in this family stems from Mary Trotter who married John Hunter (See Ref.K7) at Lasswade 12.2.1828, both being of the parish.  As the Hunter story recounts, we have seen an entry for her at every Census from 1841 to 1901, consistently indicating a birth around 1810 in St Cuthbert’s Parish, Edinburgh.  However, we have not found any baptism entry.

Trotter – Edgar Family

Mary died 14.11.1902 at Loanhead, Lasswade, and a published family tree very helpfully attached an image of her death certificate, on which it is stated that she was the daughter of Robert Trotter, tailor and clothier, and Mary nee Ramsay. Credibility is aided by the fact that she and her husband, John Hunter, named their sixth child Ramsay but slightly undermined by the certificate saying she was only 85, rather than, say 92!  (Incidentally, the above-mentioned published family tree nonetheless said that Mary Trotter’s parentage was “unknown”!)

Actually, we think the information Mary Trotter’s family supplied to the registrar of her death was correct as regards her father, i.e. Robert Trotter but more confused as to her mother. We found a marriage in Edinburgh Parish 6.10.1810 between Mr (sic) Robert Trotter, merchant of Bristow Street, and Mrs (sic) Ramsay Edgar, daughter of James Edgar, Accountant of Excise, residing in Ladyfield Place.  (See Ref. K81 for the Edgar family).  As well as Mary, Robert and Ramsay had six children recorded at St Cuthbert’s in the period 1813 to 1829 – per Appendix 1.  We think Ramsay became “Mary Ramsay” in the family, possibly to avoid gender ambiguity.  At any rate, she died 11.12.1873, aged 82, of old age (after 12 months paralysis) the death certificate referring to her simply as “Ramsay Trotter” and confirming her parents as John  & Mary Edgar.  We do not, as yet know when Robert Trotter died but he does not seem to be on the 1841 Census, i.e. some 30 years after his marriage.

June 2019

Ref. K8                                                                                   Appendix 1

 Robert and Ramsay Trotter Family

 Robert Trotter, merchant, and Ramsay Edgar married 6.10.1810 at Edinburgh and had children baptised at St Cuthberts as follows:

Mary                Born 1810-11 (she said in St Cuthberts).  No record seen – see main text.

Robert             Born 1.2.1813 baptised 11.8.1813 (when living in Cowgate).

Elizabeth Frances 17.5.1817

John                 4.6.1819

Francis Steele  28.2.1824

Ramsay Eliza  25.5.1826

Nancy Forsyth 20.2.1829. Named for Agnes Forsyth, her step-grandmother