The Youngson Family

S221

A grave in Ford churchyard belonging to the Youngson family lies between two others that relate to the Rule family (see Ref. S2.)  That is one proven link between the two families.  The other is the persistence, through several generations of Rules, of Youngson as a second Christian name.

The link is through the Anderson family (See Ref.221), in that the Mary Anderson who married John Rule at Ford 28.6.1759 was the daughter of Jean nee Youngson of Ford.

The “History of Northumberland” Vol XI by Kenneth Vicker MA, in the section “Ford Township” mentions the following:

10 inhabitants of Ford agreed to supply varying amounts of rye and barley “for ye encouragement of a Schoolmaster” (Ford Manorial Court Rolls – Ford Tithe Case, p.121)

Certainly he was an institution in 1717, when Sir Francis Blake’s third Will was executed.  In it he bequeathed… among numerous legacies to servants and others……40s to “William Youngson, clerk, teacher of the poor children of Ford” (Will of Sir Francis Blake – Lord Joicey’s Deeds Vol ii, pp14-16.)

The reference to “clerk” indicates that William Youngson was a clergyman. As Debretts reported to the late Brian Rule, a cousin of Sheena’s of Melbourne, Australia, he was not the Rector of Ford – he does not appear in the lists of Rectors in the Waterford Manuscripts or the County History.  One may assume, nevertheless, he officiated at the Church, particularly as in those days rectors and vicars were often absentees.  Indeed, in the “Guided Tour” document of Ford Church it is stated that in 1760 the younger George Marsh, on becoming Rector, had to agree not to be an absentee, the possible implication being that his predecessor, who was also called George Marsh had left others, e.g. William Youngson, to do the work.

The Youngson tombstone witnesses to the death 5.7.1724 of Christian, the wife of the Reverend Mr William Youngson, at the age of 63 and William’s own death 25.5.1740 at the age of 81. The Ford burial registers list Christian’s and William’s burials each two days after the above death dates.  They also have their son Alexander as buried on 10.12.1725 “in the 27th year of his age”, no doubt having died a couple of days before that.

A fellow family researcher had in her possession a book that was used as a diary by William Youngson. In one entry, on 21.9.1727, he observes that he entered his 77th year, which fixes his birth pretty definitely as 21.9.1651 and incidentally makes his age at death an even more remarkable 88.  Other diary entries refer to Henry Youngson as living locally and to a son Ralph.  With Alexander, this implies that William Youngson and his wife Christian had at least three (male) children, as well as Jean.  The fact that no one has noticed any marriage or baptism entries in Northumberland to support any of this may be due to the Youngsons being incomers.  We have been told that a directory of Scottish ministers, [follow up at SoG?] shows a number of Youngsons in Aberdeen with a clerical connection, including successive generations named William-Alexander-William and, for sure, Aberdeen abounds with index entries for Youngson, as do several other places in Scotland. The Act of Union of 1707 may have prompted a migration south and a move into teaching.

So far all we have come across that seems to be relevant is a marriage at Canongate Church, Edinburgh, 29.10.1686 of William Youngson and Christian Duncan, with a baptism of a Christian Duncan at the same church 29.10.1661, the daughter of Robert Duncan and Marie Penn.  This almost exactly fits with Christian Youngson’s age at death and has our William aged 35 at the date of the marriage, so we have accepted it.  Many years ago a respected fellow researcher of the family said that admissions to Aberdeen University included a William Youngson in 1674.  Our William would then have been 23, which would be quite credible, assuming “admission” meant graduating and there is no clash with the Edinburgh entries.

September 2017