Francis and Isabella lived initially with Thomas and Mary - 1891 census.

They had six children:

• Archibald (Archie) (1891)
• Thomas
• Alexander
• Francis
• Dora
• Ella

We have various addresses for Francis and Isabella at various times, all in the Corrie area.

The family lived at Craighousteads NY234854

This is also the address that Alexander (my grandfather) gave when he signed up for the first  world war.

Mum always thought that he learned to drive during the first world war, but his sign-up papers show his trade as "motor Driver".  So somehow he had learned before the war.

He also gave a forwarding address of Penlawbrae on hos discharge papers, so I don't know if his parents lived there at that time.  I remember visiting Uncle Tom and aunt Peggy at Penlawbrae and Dave Armstrong (their son) lived there after them.

Malcolm was told by his mother Dora that the children all walked to school in bare feet during the summer months.

The school at Corrie Common NY207854 is about 3.5km across the fields.

Latterly the widow Isabella lived at Scroggs Cottage NY165807.

Isabella had learned to read, mum thinks while she was a maid.

Looking back at Isabella's history I have found a census of 1881, with Isabella Buck age 13, working as a domestic servant for the Davidson family at the Goodhope School House in Johnston.

Isabella is also on the 1871 census, age 3, living with her grandparents Alexander and Mary Armstrong and a brother / half brother George Gibson.  The are at South Greyrigg Johnston.  Sadly Alexander's occupation is Ex Ag Lab Pauper.

Looking further back Alexander was born about 1798 and Mary Brown about 1804.  They were both born in Kirkpatrick Juxta.  The parish churchis at NT082009, just south of Beatock.

Alexander and Mary got married 21 Aug 1821 and had one daughter Isabella, born 23 Aug 1821.

In the 1851 census Isabella (now Buck aged 29) is living with her parents in Lochbrow Cottage, Johnston, along with three children Mary (5), Dorothy (3) and William (1).  All the children are born in Johnston and have birth certificates with George Buck as the father.

In the 1861 census Isabella Buck is still with her parents at Lochbrow Cottage and gives her occupation as Labourers Widow. Here she has one child George Buck.