My CORSBIE/CROSBY Family Story

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1000 - 1740

I am awed by the fact that our Crosby family has survived

NOTE: As a visual aid to myself I have enlarged and boldened the names of my direct Crosby Ancestors as - "John Crosby"
IF the name has turned orange,"John Crosby" clicking on it will take you to more information about that individual.

The CROSBY FAMILY began in Normandy France before 1000 AD.

The 1st Group -  Norman Crosby’s (Crosbj -I’s were then interchangeable with J) adopted their surname about 912 AD when Rollo and his Viking followers accepted Christianity and were baptized into the Catholic Church.

They carried a red shield with a gold cross into battle.

Crosby Family Group 3 Migrations from Picardi France to 2. Yorkshire, 3. Mersey and Lancashire, 4. Cumberland, 5. Annandale - Dumfries, 6. Berwick, 7. Isle of Man, and 8. Ireland



2nd Group: I suspect an early “Crosbi” family member followed after the Vikings that conquered Northeastern Briton in the 800's. It is possible that his name was Sir Odo de Crosbi as a descendant Odo was mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086 in relation to Crosby Place and Crosby Manor in Yorkshire. This is the line that leads to Brass Crosby, Lord Mayor of London, down through Simon the Immigrant - the first Crosby to enter America, and down to Bing Crosby.





3rd Group: The oldest Crosby that might be directly in our line I have found record of is Sir John de Crosbi of Norse descent. His ancestors settled in Normandy with Rollo, at a place named Corbie in Picardy. He came to England with William the Conqueror in 1,066AD and was granted lands at the mouth of the Mersey River, which he named Crosbie after himself. He had 4 sons:
1. Simon, founder of the Lancashire family.
2. Robert, founder of the Cumberland family.
3. Adam, of Annandale whose daughter Euphemia married Robert de Brus, Lord of Annandale. His genealogy has been kept.
4. Thomas, founder of the Berwickshire family that we appear to be descended from.

]

After living a while in Mersey and Lancashire, the younger sons moved north to Cumberland, Annandale - Dumfries, and Berwick

Hopefully we can connect to one of those lines.



The4th Group - Our family next appeared on a farm in Douglas Parish Lanarkshire a couple of miles south of Douglas Castle named Hazelside. The scribes spelled his name at least three different ways. Crosby, Korsbie, and Corsbe.
Edinburg parish records - 1602 Johnne Corsbe and Christiane Finlawsoune had a son named William. he apparently died because we next find -

Douglas parish Records:
12 Jan 1608 - Crosbie - William Korsbie son lawful to John corsbe in Hazelside (with Bessie?)

Next to appear in Hazelside was Gilbert Corsbie who died in May 1637, then John Corsbie who died in March 1638.



John Corsbie was a Presbyterian Yeoman farmer/soldier living in Hazelside, 3 miles southwest of Douglas, Lanark, Scotland.

He lived in troubling times as men plotted for power and succeeding kings had different ideas as to which should be the religion of Scotland: Catholicism, Episcopalian, or Presbyterianism.
King James I. Supported Protestantism, but with his death in 1625, his son Charles I. who wanted everyone to be Episcopalian, became King. Most Scotts resisted by signing the “National Covenant”in 1638 and became “Covenanters.” Cromwell was sent to drive out the church leaders and install his own. He killed anyone that resisted. In 1642 the Civil War began, ending with Charles’ execution in 1649.
Scots rejoiced when Charles II., the “Covenanting king,” came back to Scotland, but Charles II. soon showed that he meant to make Scotland Episcopalian once more. At first Charles allowed the Scottish Presbyterians to keep their own form of worship, but tried to bring the Church Courts under the Bishops.

(NOTE: In 1665 London was suffering from a terrible plague during which more than a hundred thousand people died. Next year a great fire broke out, destroying the whole center of London. The fire did some good however, for it cleared away the places where the plague still lingered.)

The two Covenants (the National Covenant and the Solemn League and Covenant) were declared unlawful. Anyone who preached or prayed against the Bishops was punished. Nearly three hundred ministers were driven from their parishes. Most of the records were lost. They were forbidden to meet their people for public worship, or live within twenty miles of their former homes. Such laws led in 1666 to a small rebellion known as the Pentland Rising, when a few thousand Covenanters from the south-west marched on Edinburgh. They were defeated in the skirmish of Rullion Green, on the southern slopes of the Pentland Hills. Thirty prisoners were executed and many were transported. In 1670 all Covenanters who prayed or preached at a field meeting or conventicle were made liable to death.
The Earl of Lauderdale, a brutal and merciless man, once a Presbyterian himself, was sent from London to enforce the laws against the Covenanters. The military leaders sent with him to enforce the law were Graham of Claverhouse and Sir Thomas Dalziel. Graham was not by nature a cruel man, but said he had to obey orders. Dalziel, on the other hand, was merciless. A small government force under John Graham was defeated at Drumclog in Ayrshire. Archbishop Sharp, who had taken a leading part in all this persecution was murdered on Magus Moor, outside St. Andrews. This was followed by a general rising of Covenanters in the west.

As Lauderdale had obviously failed to subdue the Covenanters, Charles sent his son, the Duke of Monmouth, to take command in Scotland. Monmouth defeated the rebels at Bothwell Bridge, outside Glasgow. He gave orders to spare the fugitives, but be was not obeyed. Four hundred were slain, and twelve hundred taken prisoners. Since no prison could hold such numbers, they were confined in Greyfriars' Churchyard in Edinburgh, and exposed for nearly five months to the damp and chill of Scottish winter weather. Some who submitted were then allowed to go home. Two hundred and fifty, who would not yield, were sent off as slaves to Barbados, but most of them perished in a shipwreck off the Orkney Islands.
James Renwick was now the leader of the extreme Covenanters. He said that Covenanters would not spare the lives of those who sought to kill them. This led to greater cruelties. Many of the Covenanters were shot or executed. Hundreds had an ear cut off and were sent to slavery in America. Two women drowned in the sea at Wigtown have been remembered ever since as the Wigtown Martyrs, and two hundred Covenanters were shut up for two months in a vault of Dunnottar Castle, where many died from want of food and air. Those who survived were sent as slaves to America.
As the government became more relentless, the Covenanters became more determined. The worst years of all (the Killing Times) were during the reign of The new king, James II.1685-88. He was fifty-two years old, an experienced soldier and sailor. Unfortunately for himself and his country, he was without tact or sympathy for the views of others. He believed strongly in Divine Right, and was determined to bring England back to the Roman Catholic Church.When James II. became king, the Earl of Argyll (a stern Presbyterian, and a son of that Marquis who was executed in 1661) tried to raise his clansmen against the government, but the Covenanters did not help him, and Argyll was caught at Inchinnan, near Renfrew, and executed at Edinburgh.

In this turmoil, John Corsbie died and left Hazelside to his son George. His will was recorded in Lanark in 1687.
As his estate was being settled, George met Marion Anderson who lived 7 miles away in Middingcoats, whose husband had also died. They were married and had 4 children:
1692 Grizel
1695 James
1705 Jean
November 17, 1699 John, our direct line was born and baptized a Presbyterian in Hazelside, Douglas, Lanark, Scotland.


George Crosby raised his family in Douglas which is 12 miles from Lanark (1 hour on horseback, 4 hours walking) and 8 miles from Lesmahagow.

1721 John and Marion Weir were wed in Lesmahagow, Lanark Scotland.
As a Yeoman in the service of Douglas Castle, he was given a grant of land known as Dykehead of Douglas about 4 miles south of Hazleside, long the family homestead that should now go to his older brother James.
He fell in love with Marion Weir, the daughter of William Weir, Who lived in Muirkirk, Ayre 7 miles West of Hazleside. They were married in the parish of Lesmahagow (8 miles north of Douglas) on the 27th of April, 1721.
There were many military skirmishes fought between the Covenanters and English soldiers during this period. The Corsbies somehow lost control of Hazelside. Dykehead of Douglas was abandoned. Nothing is known of George Corsbie, Marion Anderson, their oldest daughter Grizel, oldest son James, or daughter Jean; nor of John Crosby’s wife Marion Weir Crosby from this time onward.

OUR STORY moves in 1740 from Douglas to Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland

George and Marion Corsby Family

Grizell Corsbie

James Corsbie

John (Anderson) Crosby - Our Main Line Ancestor

Jean Corsbie

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Our Family Travels

1740 - 1840

LANARKSHIRE (now just Lanark) is one of the south-western counties in the “low lands”of Scotland, bounded on the WEST by Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and Dunbartonshire, on the NORTH by Stirlingshire and a detached portion of Dumbartonshire, NORTH EAST by Stirlingshire, Linlithgowshire (Westlothian), and Edinburghshire (Midlothian), EAST by Peebleshire, SOUTH EAST and SOUTH by Dumfriesshire, and on the SOUTH WEST by Dumfriesshire and Ayrshire.
It was at the beginning of our story, a land of farmers and herdsmen, living in small communities called “fermtouns” where groups of from two to as many as eight families worked their multiple tenancy farms. Lanarkshire ranks tenth among Scottish counties in area, but it was the most important county of the country by almost any other standard. It was by far the most populous, containing as many inhabitants as the closest three, nearly a quarter of the whole population of Scotland .
It was also the richest. It’s valuation, being greater than the total of the next two. Scottish coins were known for being honest in weight and content, part of an all Silver coin system used throughout Western Europe at the time. The largest coin was the libra (pound) weighing 410 grams of silver. Next was the solidi (Shilling) weighing 20.5 grams, and finally the denari (dime or silver penny) weighing 1.7 grams. 1 libra = 20 solidi = 240 denari. 12 denari = 1 solidi. The denari was the main coin minted, and is the source for the Spanish word “dinero,” or money.
The County was divided into 41 Parishes of the Church of Scotland

LANARK is a town and a parish in the Upper Ward of Lanarkshire. It is the capital of the county, a royal parliamentary, and a police burgh. The town is a pastoral scene of rolling hills, woods, and stone mansions 500 to 750 feet above sea level, built on a south-westward slope a half mile above the Clyde River, famous for it’s three Falls: the Bonnington, Corra and Stonebyres Linns. Nearby, the deep dark narrow chasm of Mouse Water churns beneath the Cartland Crags.

THE PARISH OF LESMAHAGOW (and town - also known as Abby Green) (of The Church of Scotland) was one of the largest in central Scotland. It was bordered on the SOUTH by Douglas, on the WEST by Muirkirk (Ayr county), on the NORTHWEST by Avondale, on the NORTH by Stonehouse, Hamilton, and Dalziel, on the NORTHEAST by Cambusnethan, Carluke, and Lanark, and on the SOUTHEAST by Carmichael. Wiston & Roberton is wedged away from Lesmahagow between Douglas and Carmichael. Dalserf (between Stonehouse and Carluke) became a Parish in 1738.
The parish priests traveled circuitous routes visiting over 300 small communities on a regular basis, then returned to record in somewhat haphazard order the births, deaths, and marriages they performed, in the Lesmahagow parish registry on both sides of pages about 4 inches wide and 16 inches long (SEE EXAMPLES in Photos) of poor grade paper that allowed the ink to bleed through, so they were difficult to read the day they were written. There has been a census every ten years since 1801, excluding 1941. From these we exhume our history.

In 1695 a “Poll Tax”preserved in the Annals of Lesmahagow was levied on every property, man, woman, child, and servant in the district of Lesmahagow. Ninety one WEIR’s were listed by name (the richest of all people by far was Mrs. Rachel Carmichael, “Relict” (Widow) of the deceased James WEIR, “Laird” of Stanebyres valued at 1505 Lib. The second richest was Lady Birkhill (Jean Bruce), Relict of Laird Robert Lockhart of Birkhills valued at 215 Lib.) Not one CROSBIE is mentioned in the 1695 Lesmahagow Poll Tax Record.

The Blackwood portion of the Lesmahagow pole tax is missing, so there may have been a Crosbie there, but we probably must look to other Parishes in Lanarkshire, or the surrounding Counties of Dumfrieshire, Wigtownshire, Ayr, Kirkudbright, Berwick, Renfrew), or perhaps Ireland or England to make our next connection.

— Scottish Historical events of the late 1600's and early 1700's:
1685 Battle of Bothwell Bridge. Charles II died. Earl of Argyll invaded Scotland and was executed in Edinburgh. James VII (James II of England) (ruled 1685-1688)
1688 Rebellion broke out in England and Scotland against the Roman Catholic King James II of England and VII of Scotland. The king fled and was deposed. His son-in-law and daughter., William and Mary (1688-1702), were crowned king and queen
1689 James VII died. Battle of Killiecrankie. Battle of Dunkel
1690 The Presbyterian Church was permanently restored as the Church of Scotland. Scattered NONCONFORMIST records were kept by other religious groups.
1692 Massacre of MacLans by government troops at Glencoe
1694 A POLL TAX was imposed on all persons over 16, except the destitute and the insane. Each town was listed with the names of all taxable individuals living there. Most tax rolls have been lost.
1702 Death of William II, Ann reigned (1702-1714) Also queen of England and Ireland after 1707.
1707 Union of Scotland with England. The countries were now known as Great Britain
1714 Death of Queen Anne
1715 The successor to Anne was a German Protestant who became known as “George I (1715- 1727) of the United Kingdom,” Immediately the son of the deposed King James II, called “the Old Pretender James III” started a rebellion in Scotland known as the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715. his army marched into England but was defeated. Some-of his army remained in England, but thousands fled for their lives to America. Battle of Sheriffmuir
1718 The first Glasgow owned ship sailed the Atlantic. By 1800 Glasgow merchants owned more than 500 vessels. People from all parts of Scotland traveled to Glasgow for work. It gradually became a great center for shipbuilding , glass, metal, weaving and other industries. BURGESS and GUILD- BRETHREN records were kept.
1719 More Jacobite Uprising. battle of Glenshiel
1725 Major Road Construction began in the highlands
1727 George I died
1734 Secession Church broke off from the Church of Scotland


1740. Returning to OUR STORY, On the 5th of April 1740 we find the record of John (Anderson) Crosbie marrying his second wife, Marion’s younger sister Margaret Weir. John and his Father-in-law William Weir were both tending sheep in an area just a mile South of the village of Abbygreen (AKA Lesmahagow) known then as Balgrey, which may have been owned by William Weir.

John was then a landless man working where he could. John and Margaret’s first child, John was born 7 Feb 1741 in Monkstable, about 3 miles South West of the Abbygreen Churchyard. The child soon died.

Their second child, also named John (called (Weir) by me, David L. Crosby, to distinguish from all the other John Corsbie/Crosbies in the family. This John is our direct ancestor) was born in Akertophead, 6 miles South West of Abbygreen on the 17th of October, 1742.

Their Third child, Grazil, was named after John’s sister. She was born in “Aughtool” about two miles East of Abbygreen, on the 21st of January 1753.

Auchtool was owned by Archibald Haddoch or Haddow, the son of Captain John Haddow , who had witnessed the baptism of John’s older brother James in Douglas on the 23rd of October 1698. Auchtool became a “home away from home” for the Crosbies for many years to come.

Their Fourth child, Margaret, was born in Boughtsland, as yet unidentified, 24 Dec 1754.

John (Anderson) Crosbie was living at Hill, overlooking Abygreen when he died 23 April, 1768 at the age of 69.
His death and burial in the Lesmahagow Churchyard was recorded in the Lesmahagow Death and Burial Records which were initiated in 1765.


(The record (Film# 1066588 Frame# 0023) shows that his older brother, James, was 4 years old when baptized, and that Captain (John from surrounding records) Haddow (or Haddock) witnessed for them.
John Haddock was born 23 April 1693 in Lesmahagow, the son of Tom Haddock. John’s son, Archibald Haddock was born 14 Oct 1722 in Carluke. Archibald married Marion Greenshields and had two children: James Haddock Chr. 10 Jul 1758 and Marion Haddock chr. 22 Oct 1761 both in Auchtool. John Weir Crosbie was working for him in Auchtool when his son John married Margaret Sadler)



1740. We DO KNOW that JOHN CORSBIE was living in Balgray (about 2 miles due south of Lesmahagow), when he married (5 Apr 1740) Margaret WEIR (born about 1717), the daughter of William Weir also of Balgray in Lesmahagow Parish. They moved around in the parish quite a bit. Their first child was a son, John, born in Monkstable chr. in Feb 1741. He apparently died within the year, because their second child was also named John, born in Akertophead, chr. 7 Feb 1742. Their third child, Grizel, born in “Aughtool” chr. 21 Jan 1753. A fourth, Margaret, born in Boughtslan chr. 24 Dec 1754. There may have been other children born between 1742 and 1753 as there are eight illegible pages in the Lesmahagow record book in that period. It is also possible that they left the parish and returned.
John died in Hill on the 23rd of April, 1768. A Margaret Weir died in Kirkmuirhill 15 Feb 1767, another died in Hawkland 7 Dec 1769. I believe Hill and Kirkmuirhill are the same place. Any Help?

The John (Anderson) & Margaret Weir Crosby Family

John Corsbie - died shortly after birth

John (Weir) Corsby - Our Direct Line Ancestor

Grizel Corsby

Margaret Crosby

1763 On the 23rd of February 1763, John “CORSBY” the 2nd (hereafter referred to as John Weir Crosbie), living and working in Auchtool (meaning the field of a flood) -about 3 miles due east of Lesmahagow, published “banns” and on 12 March 1763, married Margaret SADLER (a servant to William Weir in South Cumberhead) who was the daughter of William Sadler and Elizabeth Greenshields, chr. 13 Mar 1735. They had two sons and a daughter. The first child was James Crosbie, Born in Cumberhead and christened May 13, 1764. Their second son, John, born in Auldtown was born 23 Nov 1766. John Weir Crosbie died 29 Nov 1768 in Burn of Auchtool. Their daughter Marion was born 22 May 1769 in Auchtool after his death. Margaret Sadler died 8 Dec 1791 in Carmichael Parish.

The John (Weir) & Margaret Saddler Corsby Family

James Crosby

John (Saddler) Crosbie - Our Direct Line Ancestor

Marion Crosbie

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1763 On the 23rd of February 1763, John “CORSBY” the 2nd (hereafter referred to as John Weir Crosbie), living and working in Auchtool (meaning the field of a flood) -about 3 miles due east of Lesmahagow, published “banns” and on 12 March 1763, married Margaret SADLER (a servant to William Weir in South Cumberhead) who was the daughter of William Sadler and Elizabeth Greenshields, chr. 13 Mar 1735. They had two sons and a daughter. The first child was James Crosbie, Born in Cumberhead and christened May 13, 1764. Their second son, John, born in Auldtown was born 23 Nov 1766. John Weir Crosbie died 29 Nov 1768 in Burn of Auchtool. Their daughter Marion was born 22 May 1769 in Auchtool after his death. Margaret Sadler died 8 Dec 1791 in Carmichael Parish.

James Sadler CROSBIE was NEVER married to Margaret THOMSON as was previously reported. He married Margaret SLIMAN, who was born in 1768, in 1793. They had a daughter Janet, born in Lanark Bridgeend on 7 May 1794; a son John born in Lanark Bridgeend on 13 Apr 1797 and died 24 Jun 1802; James born in Lanark Bridgeend on 9 Mar 1800; and John born 25 Jul 1807 in Kirkfieldbank. Some members of this family immigrated to Canada. Marjorie knows the details, I do not.



1796 John Sadler CROSBIE married Margaret GRAY of Borland (2 miles North of Auchtool) chr. 18 May 1766, the daughter of John Gray and Janet Weir. They had eight or nine (the 2 Harriot’s may be just one person- the record may have been misplaced, and re-copied into the record the following year) children, Mary, born 7 Nov 1797 in Bridgeend and died 21 May 1819 at Kirkfield bank; Margaret born 13 Jan 1800 in Bridgeend and died 29 Dec 1871; John born 16 May 1803in Kirkfiekdbank; Jane born 30 Oct1805; Robert born 2 Dec 1807 and died 3 Aug 1885; the two Harriot’s 11 April 1810 and 11 April 1811 and died 19 Aug 1886; George born 30 May 1814 in Burnfoot; and Agness born 20 Nov 1816 in Burnfoot.



Robert married Helen Francis, and most of us are related through them.

George married Margaret Kennedy of Hamilton, Lanark, Scotland abt 1833. They had two children, John Crosbie born 22 Sep 1834 in Kirkfieldbank, and David Crosbie chr. 11 Dec 1836 in Hamilton.

George’s son John was the “mover” in the family. He married a girl named Margaret from Milingavie, Stirling and had seven children: Mary in Strathblane, Stirling abt 1861, George in Renfrew, Renfrew abt 1863, William in Bridge of Weir, Renfrew abt 1867, John in Bridge of Weir, Renfrew abt 1869, Bella in Campbelltown, Argyle abt 1871, David in Patrick, Dunbarton abt 1875. And James in Alloa, Clackman, Scotland. They were found in the 1881 British Census living at 29 Belfort St. Maryhill, Lanark, Scotland.

John Sadler Crosbie died 11 Jun 1833, His wife Margaret Gray died 23 Dec 1837. They are buried in the Lanark Cemetery with two of their daughters, Margaret and Harriot, and Harriot’s husband John Ballantyne.



The population of the Lesmahagow parish increased slowly during the 18th century. At the time of the first census in 1801, it stood at 3,070. As the industrial revolution sped up, the population of Lesmahagow grew in spectacular fashion. The first major influx of newcomers was of handloom weavers. By the 1830s the high earnings and profligate habits of the weavers attracted the disapproval of an author who wrote the weavers' young wives "indulged in dress and luxuries, and preserved no portion of their gains against poverty in less auspicious seasons," with reason. Just a few years later, the competition from water and steam-powered looms had practically killed off the handloom industry, causing great poverty in the parish in the late 1830's and 40's. Dr. John Gibson reported of the weavers in Crossford in 1842 "A weaver in the prime of life, possessing superior skill in his trade, cannot earn above 7s or 8s (40p) per week, to gain which he must work 14 to 16 hours per day".
The amazing growth of the coal industry changed that by providing solid employment to the mass of households in the area up to the 1870's.

The John (Saddler) & Margaret Gray Crosbie Family

Mary Crosbie

Margaret Crosbie

John Crosbie

Jane Crosbie

Robert (Gray) Crosbie - Our Direct Line Ancestor

Harriot Crosbie

Harriet Crosbie

George Crosbie

Agnes Crosbie

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The 1840s was a period of religious upheaval in Scotland. Not since the 17th century had Religion had such a profound effect on the social life of the country. “The Disruption” of 1843 was perhaps the most spectacular schism in British religious history: about one- third of the clergy and congregations left the Established CHURCH OF SCOTLAND to form the FREE CHURCH. The loss of members seriously affected the Established Church's ability to carry out its parochial responsibilities; and while the Free Church did not have these legal responsibilities, it nonetheless set about recreating the schools, Sabbath schools and charities of the Established Church. The split placed intolerable strains on the working of the old poor law and necessitated its revision in 1845. The separation of the Free Church was followed in 1847 by the ecumenical coalition which became the UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The potato famine of the 1840s, though affecting Scotland as well as Ireland, nevertheless gave fresh impetus to the immigration of Irish families into Scotland, especially the west central region, and this in turn encouraged the formation of ROMAN CATHOLIC congregations (though there was a shortage of priests at the time). Locally an EPISCOPALIAN congregation was started in Lanark.
the dissenting churches encouraged a growing sense of class difference which the industrialization of Scotland was bringing about. The working classes tended to associate with the Free or United Presbyterian Churches, while many of the professional or middle classes stayed with the "Parish" allegiances.



1833 Robert Married Helen FRANCIS in 1833, and died in 1885. She died in 1882. We have a lot of information on their lives, and the lives of their children, finding them in the Lanarkshire Census
of 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, and 1881, and the LDS Church Records of Lesmahagow Branch.
They were taking in and caring for their grand children and great grand children until their
deaths. Robert earned a living as a Damask Hand Loom Weaver, carrying his finished goods on his back every weekend to Strathhaven and other nearby markets on the weekends to sell.



The LDS Lanark Branch records show that Robert Crosby of Kirkfieldbank born 1 Oct 1807 was baptized on the 11 Nov 1844, cut off 4 Aug 1848, re-baptized 11 Nov 1848, ordained a Teacher 24 May 1845, and baptized again 18 May 1861.
Mrs Ellenar Crosby of Carlisle, Cumberland England was baptized 11 Nov 1844, and again (Helen this time) 27 Jan 1868 by Robert Crosby
Miss Eliza Crosby born 9 Aug 1828 in Kirkfieldbank was baptized 11 Nov 1844 cut off 2 Mar 1851
Robert Crosbie Jr born 22 July 1834 in Hazelbank was baptized 10 July 1845 and cut off in 1855
Miss Agnes Crosbie born 1 April 1832 was baptized 10 July 1845 cut off 8 Dec 1850
John Crosbie born 12 Nov 1830 was baptized 10 July 1845 re-baptized 8 Feb 1860
Josiah Crosby born 18 Jul 1843 was baptized 18 May 1861, cut off 20 Dec 1868
Harriet Crosby born 23 Dec 1848 in Hazelbank was baptized 18 May 1868
Gavin Crosby born 2 Feb 1857 in Hazelbank was baptized 27 Jan 1868 by Robert Crosby
Robert Crosby born 17 June 1858 in Hazelbank was baptized 3 Mar 1868 by Robert Crosby
George Crosbie born Dec 1843 in Kirkfieldbank was baptized 11 Mar 1868 by Robert Crosby
Catherine Crosbie born 24 Feb 1839 in Carluke was baptized 11 Mar 1868 by Robert Crosbie
John Neilson of Carmichael was baptized 12 Mar 1868 by Robert Crosbie
Agnes Neilson born 1 Apr 1832 in Lesmahagow was baptized 12 Mar 1868 by Robert Crosbie
Elizabeth Neilson baptized 17 May 1868 by Jas Craig
James Neilson baptized 17 May 1868 by Jas Craig.
Helen Crosbie born 20 Sep 1847 in Auchenheath was baptized 1878 by Nicol Hood.
William Nielson Riggside born Feb 1868, blessed 12 Mar 1868, died 15 Aug 1860 of bold hive.


By 1861 the population of the parish of Lesmahagow had reached 9258, of which over 40% were new comers; Lesmahagow was easily the most populous parish in Upperyard. At that time Kirkmuirhill was quite small (though it did count as a village in the census) with some 370 inhabitants; Auchenheath (or Auchinheath as it was usually written) on the other hand boasted well over 700.

Although the bulk- of the employment in the area was in industries such as mining, quarrying, tile making, and working on the newly arrived railway, the area was essentially agricultural. Farms ranged from small 10 acre holdings to large units of several hundred acres, all at this time highly labor intensive. There was also a good deal of fruit grown with it’s demand for seasonal workers The new railhead at Blackwood was a boon to local farmers and fruit growers who could supply more easily the seemingly inexhaustible demands of northern Lanarkshire and Glasgow with fresh milk, meat and fruit. Hiring Fairs were held twice a year in Lesmahagow, and some idea of the value placed on agricultural workers can be had from the bargains struck:
married ploughmen £ 26 - £ 29 per year plus perks
dairymaids £ 7 - £ 8 per year
outdoor workers or “wee women” £ 4/10 - £ 5/ 10

Robert and Helen Francis Crosbie’s Children are:
1. Elizabeth b. 9 Aug 1829 in Kirkfieldbank. Sp = John Roberton m. 1 Dec 1852
2. John Francis b. 12 Nov 1830 in Kirkfieldbank. Sp = Katherine Ludlow or Catherine Laidlow, m.
3 Dec 1857
3. Agnes b. 1 Apr 1833 in Kirkfieldbank, Sp = Robert Phillip, Gavin Andrew, John Nielson m.
3 Apr 1857
4. Robert b. 11 Jul 1835 in Kirkfieldbank, Sp = Jane Rose Baxter m. 1858
5. Margaret Gray b. 9 Feb 1837 in Kirkfieldbank, Sp = Thomas Jeffery m.
6. George Francis b. 11 May 1839 in Kirkfieldbank, Sp = Margaret Prentice
(NOTE: George’s baptismal date of 16 Apr 1843 has caused some to think there were 2 Georges.)
7. Josiah b. 4 Jun 1842 in Kirkfieldbank, Sp = Mary Waldie m. 22 Oct 1869
8. Harriot (twin) b. 4 Jun 1842 in Kirkfieldbank, died bef. 1849
9. James Francis b. 6 Dec 1847 in Hazelbank, Sp = Ellen (Helen) Aird m. 7 Mar 1867
10. Harriot b. 23 Dec 1849 in Hazelbank, Sp = John Baxter
11. Ellen (Helen) b. 31 Jan 1851 in Hazelbank, Sp = William Cleland

As 1873 drew to a close, concern was expressed at a new wave of cholera on the Continent. Holiday resorts in France were being evacuated by the wealthier families, and local news papers covered in depth the most recent visitations of the infection. The General Board of Supervision (which had control over the activities of parochial boards in Scotland) found sanitary conditions in the parish too great a risk factor to tolerate any longer. They appointed one of the local medical practitioners, Dr. A H Lindsay as their parish medical officer, and placed an advert in the local paper demanding the immediate removal of “all accumulations of manure, filth, stagnant water, and all nuisances whatever within the villages of said parish and the disinfection of the sites of these nuisances.” Carbolic acid and chloride of lime were available from Dr. Lindsay. With no sewage system, waste, human, animal, and household was simply piled up outside houses until some farmer requiring manure would take it away:

A drop in the price of coal led to unrest in the mining industry, causing concern in both employers and employees. The resulting reductions in wages were followed by strikes and lockouts. An estimated 15,000 to 20,000 miners were on strike in March of 1874, many from Lesmahagow’s Larkhall Union.

Page 21 - Josiah and Mary Waldie Crosbie:

Josiah left Glasgow three months before his family on 25th Aug 1874, on the S.S. Angelin. He wanted to have a home for them and earn enough money for their passage. He went to work in the coal mines in Almy, Wyoming. He brought with him his nephew Robert (Curly Bob) Crosbie, who was raised in his home like a brother, Curly Bob's wife Helen and baby Kate.

Josiah's wife, Mary Waldie, brought their children, Mary, Thomas, Elizabeth (called Betsy), and another nephew, Gavin (called Guy), sailing November 5, 1874 on the S.S. Victoria.

There were a few other family members who came in the next decade: Josiah's older brother, John Crosbie and wife Catherine Laidlow Crosbie, who came into Ogden, Utah possibly sometime in the 1880's. They had two son's John and Robert Laidlow Crosbie. The parents later went back to Scotland, but Robert Laidlow Crosbie stayed in Ogden, married and had several children there. I don't know about John.

In 1889 Josiah's younger brother, James (Francis) Crosbie, wife, Helen Aird Crosbie and their children came to Ogden, Utah. Three children had died in Scotland. They remained in Ogden for their lifetime, as did many of their children.

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With thirteen children of their own and the grandchildren and great grandchildren who lived with them also. It is possible that they could have helped raised eighteen children. They must of had great love and patience.

Robert was a hand loom weaver in cotton. He did work at home, as was common at that time. They must have had a fairly large home and he probably did very well to feed so many. The children did have to go out to work when quite young. The census records help to show this. The girls appear to have gone out as servants in homes around. The boys were farmers, weavers, general labours, and miners. All the Crosbie boys were miners.

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We only knew through Grandma Crosbie (Mary Waldie) that the Crosbie's were Mormon when she met Josiah.

The following event had a very far reaching effect on the Robert Crosbie family:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was organized at Kirkland, Ohio, 6 April 1830, by Joseph Smith. Seven years later, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Orson Hyde, Elder Godson, and James Fielding, from Canada arrived in Liverpool, England to open the British Mission. This marked the beginning of L.D.S. missionary work overseas.

Helen and Robert's Children:

Elizabeth Crosbie

John Francis Crosbie

Agnes Crosbie - My direct ancestor

Robert Francis Crosbie

Margaret Gray Crosbie

George Francis Crosbie

Harriet Crosbie - Died before age 2.

Josiah Rodger Crosbie

Harriot Crosbie - Died before age 7.

James Francis Crosbie

Harriet Crosbie

Ellen (Helen) Crosbie

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Agnes Crosbie's Families

Agnes was born April 1, 1833

Agnes Crosby Family Stories

Robert (Curly Bob) Phillips Crosbie

Gavin Andrew Crosbie

Helen Crosbie

James Nelson

Helen Nelson

Margaret Nelson

Robert Nelson

John Nelson

William Nelson

Alexander Nelson

George Nelson

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Essie Elvira Crosby

Guy LeRoy Crosby - My Grandfather.

Malinda Idona (Linda) Crosby

Anciel Robert Crosby

James McGarry (Vic) Crosby

Infant Girl Crosby

Juanita (Wanda) Crosby

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Isaac LeRoy Crosby

Elvira Narcissus Crosby

Allan Tanner Crosby

Murray Jacob Crosby - My Father
- His Story by Dave Crosby - Admin
- His Story by *Marjorie

Essie Idona Crosby

Effie Mathews Crosby

William Garth Crosby

Lew Aubrey Crosby

Gilbert Garnell Crosby - Marjorie's Father

Norman Guy Crosby Graff

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