Generation#1

Thomas Tod was born in St Andrews, Fife in 1790, son of Henry Tod and his wife Margaret. His marriage to Isabella Pearson was recorded at Kirkcaldy:

Thomas Tod, Ploughman, son of Henry Tod, Ploughman in the parish of Kilconquhar, & Isabella Pearson, daughter of Thomas Pearson, Farmer at Hayfield, both of this parish, married 8^th November 1815.

Isabella Pearson appears to have been born in 1797 at New Pilmuir, Largo, daughter of tenant farmer Thomas Pearson and his wife Isabel Watson.

Thomas and Isabella’s first son was born in Kilconquhar but they raised their family in Kirkcaldy – Thomas continued as a ploughman/farm labourer but was also recorded as a Carter. Their family included:

2:1 Henry Tod, 9 March 1816, Kilconquhar
2:2 Isobel Tod, 24 Dec 1817, Kirkcaldy
2:3 Thomas Tod, 19 Sept 1819, Kirkcaldy
2:4 Sophia Tod, c. 1825
2:5 Janet Tod, c. 1829, Kirkcaldy (My gtx2 grandmother)
2:6 Alexander Tod, c. 1830
2:7 Margaret Tod, c. 1832, Kirkcaldy
2:8 Ann Tod, c. 1836, Kirkcaldy

Burial records for Isabel Parson (sic), aged 51 years, wife of Thomas Tod were found at Kirkcaldy Old Churchyard. She died on 7 August 1848 and was buried 2 days later.

Thomas Tod died at his home Charlotte Street, Kirkcaldy on 13 May 1866, aged 76 years of general decay.

Generation#2:1

Henry Todd: Burial records were found for Henery Tod (sic), son of Thomas Tod, Carter, at Kirkcaldy Old Churchyard. He died 17 August 1836 aged 20 years.

Generation#2:2

Isabel(la) Tod married Robert Crichton on 12 Nov 1841 at Kirkcaldy. Robert was a Farm servant at Kinghorn and probably a widower with 3 young sons, Robert, Magnus and Andrew with his first wife, Alison Herd.
Isabella and Robert had a family of a further 11 children – the first 3 sons born at Kinghorn and the remainder of their family at Abbotshall. At 1881 census they were at Smeaton Road, Dysart and Robert was described as Retired – formerly Farm Grieve (farm overseer), their unmarried son Alexander, a Coachman and the 3 daughters still at home (Kate, Margaret and Sophia) were Linen factory workers.

Isabella Crichton (widow of Robert Crichton) died 18 January, 1907 at 26 Melville Street, Lochgelly. The informant was her son-in-law, William Wilson who had married daughter, Sophia in 1891.

The family of Isabella and Robert:

2:2:1 Thomas Crichton, 10 Oct 1842, Kinghorn
2:2:2 John Crichton, c. 1844, Kinghorn
2:2:3 Henry Crichton, c. 1846, Kinghorn
2:2:4 William Crichton, c. 1849, Abbotshall
2:2:5 Alexander Crichton, 4 Aug 1850, Abbotshall
2:2:6 Isabella Crichton, May 1852, Abbotshall
2:2:7 David Crichton, c. 1855, Abbotshall
2:2:8 Catherine Crichton, c. 1855, Abbotshall
2:2:9 Sophia Crichton, 10 Oct 1856, Abbotshall
2:2:10 Margaret Crichton, 1 June 1859, Abbotshall
2:2:11 James Crichton, 8 May 1861, Abbotshall

Generation#2:3

Thomas Tod was baptised in the “presence of the congregation” at Kirkcaldy on 17 October 1819, son of Thomas Tod, Farm servant at Hayfield and his spouse Isabel Pearson. He married Helen Lister of Leslie on 2 June 1843 at Kirkcaldy. At 1851 census Thomas, Journeyman cabinet maker, Helen and their 3 young daughters were living at 108 Charlotte Street, Kirkcaldy. A fourth daughter Johan was born in May 1857. Thomas Tod died at Abbotshall, 16 October 1857 aged 38 years. He was “found dead at his father’s house” and the informant was his sister Margaret Tod who was “not present” at the death. Helen and daughters appear to have returned to Prinlaws, Leslie and baby Johan died there in 1859.

The family of Thomas and Helen:

2:3:1 Janet Tod, c. 1845, Kirkcaldy
2:3:2 Isabella Pearson Tod, c. 1847, Kirkcaldy
2:3:3 Helen Tod, c. 1849, Kirkcaldy
2:3:4 Johan Lister Tod, 15 May 1857, Kirkcaldy; d. 1859, Leslie.

Generation#2:4

Sophia Todd (sic) died at midnight on 20 December 1875 of bronchitis at Nether Street, Pathhead, Dysart, aged 50 years. Her details were given as Single, Factory worker, daughter of Thomas Todd and Isabella Pearson. Her sister, Janet Wright of Falkland was present and signed the death certificate as Informant.

Generation#2:5 (GtX2 grandparents)

Janet Todd (sic) and David Briggs, a weaver of Dysart were married by Rev. I. Bain of Kirkcaldy on 9 March 1849. They lived at several addresses in Dysart - Relief Street, Croft Street, Cross Street. Three of their 11 children died in infancy.

David was found drowned on 31 January 1873 in a pond near Dysart. Reported in the Fife Free Press, Saturday February 1st,1873:
Briggs was a remarkably quiet, sober man ,and generally much respected by his fellow workers. He leaves a widow and family solely unprovided for. Much sympathy is expressed here for the widow and family.

Following her husband’s suicide and still with 5 children at home, Janet Todd, 45, married Henry Wright a widower of Dysart at Edinburgh in May 1874. Henry was 11 years her junior with 3 sons. The marriage did not work out as by 1881 Janet and her 5 youngest children were back in Dysart at 36 Rosslyn Street. Henry Wright, now a Sheriff Officer, was living in Leslie with his 3 sons and Margaret Ross, an unmarried domestic servant aged 39 years. With the family was Henry’s and the servant, Margaret Ross’ 2 year old illegitimate son, George Wright, who had been born at Falkland.

Janet died in 1890 and her details gave her as widow of David Briggs (Powerloom Harness Mounter). Henry Wright was not mentioned on the certificate.
Details: died 1890 January 13th 6h. 10m. a.m. at 52 Rosslyn Street, Gallatown, Dysart, aged 61 years. Cause of death: Asthma and Bronchitis (acute) 14 days. Informant: David Briggs, Son of 27 Nicol Street, Kirkcaldy. Parents: Thomas Todd, Ploughman (deceased); Isabella Todd m.s. Pearson (deceased)

David Briggs, illegitimate son of Rachel Hunter and David Briggs was born 13 March 1821. His baptism was registered in the Church of Scotland, Dysart on 29 March 1821.

In the 1841 census of Dysart Parish, David a weaver, was listed living with his mother, Rachel Hunter at Coalyard. Living with them were Alexander Thomson (15) and William Thomson (12), David’s half-brothers. Their father from records appears to have been Alexander Thomson. From census records it would seem Rachel Hunter never married.

Alexander Thomson, a linen handloom weaver married Mary Chalmers in 1849 at Dysart. They had 2 daughters: Catherine b. 1849 and Rachel b. 1853. By 1871 the family were living at Falkland and Alexander was a Spirit dealer. He died suddenly at 23 High Street, Falkland on 23 February 1885, “supposedly disease of the heart”.

William Thomson was employed as a Power Loom Factory Tenter in 1851. He was aged 20 years and living with mother Rachel Hunter at 99 Relief Street, Dysart – this was next door to his half-brother David Briggs and wife Janet (Todd) and their 2 young sons. No further records were found on William.

Family of David Briggs and Janet Todd:

2:5:1 David Briggs, 28 April 1849, Dysart
2:5:2 Thomas Briggs, 31 Sept 1850, Dysart (My great grandfather)
2:5:3 William Briggs, 16 Sept 1852, Dysart
2:5:4 Isabella Briggs, 27 Oct 1854, Dysart; d. 1856
2:5:5 Alexander Briggs, 17 Feb 1857, Dysart; d. 24 Jan 1860
2:5:6 Andrew Briggs, 21 April 1859, Dysart
2:5:7 Rachel Briggs, 24 Sept 1860, Dysart
2:5:8 Janet Todd Briggs, 14 May 1863, Dysart
2:5:9 Isabella Pearson Briggs, 28 April 1865, Dysart; d. 1868
2:5:10 Robert Briggs, 15 Dec 1867, Dysart
2:5:11 Mary Briggs, 27 March 1870, Dysart

2:5:1 David Briggs, the first child of David and Janet, married Elizabeth Spence in 1872 at Dysart. David, a rope spinner, and his young family were living at 24 Rosslyn Street, Dysart at census 1881. By 1890 when David was informant for his mother’s death the family was at 27 Nicol Street, Kirkcaldy and at 1901 census David, Elizabeth and younger children, Elizabeth and Alexander where living at Strathmiglo – David now employed in the linen industry. David died at Strathmiglo in 1919.

Family of David and Elizabeth:

            2:5:1:1 David Briggs, 11 March 1870, Dysart
            2:5:1:2 Janet Briggs, 4 Nov 1872, Dysart
            2:5:1:3 George Briggs, 1875, Dysart
            2:5:1:4 Isabella Pearson Briggs, 4 Feb 1878, Dysart; d. 21 March 1880
            2:5:1:5 Catherine Briggs, 1880, Dysart
            2:5:1:6 Elizabeth Briggs, 1885, Dysart
            2:5:1:7 Thomas Briggs, 10 April 1887, Dysart; d. 1888, Kirkcaldy
            2:5:1:8 Alexander Briggs, 1890, Kirkcaldy.

2:5:2 Thomas Briggs married Isabella Galloway on 3 January 1876 at her father’s house Overton Road, Sinclairtown, Dysart. Thomas was listed as Tenter in Powerloom Factory of Pathhead, Dysart and Isabella as Factory Worker. Witnesses were Peter Galloway, Isabella’s brother and Rachel Briggs, Thomas’ sister.

Of their offspring, daughter Margaret was the only surviving child:

            2:5:2:1 David Briggs, 1876, Dysart; d. 4 Oct 1877, Dysart
            2:5:2:2 Margaret Ford Briggs, 22 Oct 1877, Dysart (My grandmother)
            2:5:2:3 Peter Briggs, 1882; d. 1885, Dysart
           2:5:2:4 Janet Todd Briggs, 2 Nov 1887; d. 1887, Dysart

In 1891 Thomas was employed as a Jewellery Agent or Commission Agent presumably for Ford and Galloway (The Birmingham based business of Peter Galloway and cousin Peter Ford).

Isabella Briggs (Galloway) died 26 Jan 1914, at 24 Loughborough Road, Sinclairtown, Dysart, aged 58y, of a cerebral haemorrhage. Thomas Briggs remarried to widow Christina McLerie, on 6 July1915 but died a few months later on 17 November 1915 at 381 High Street, Kirkcaldy. The cause of death was Heart disease, Congestion of lungs, Cerebral haemorrhage. The Informant: Alex McLerie, stepson.

            2:5:2:2 Margaret Ford Briggs, my grandmother, was named after her maternal grandmother, Margaret Ford. She married Archibald Carmichael Penney, railway clerk, of Glasgow on 12 September 1907, at Dysart

Their first child Isabell Galloway Penney (Ella) arrived on 3 July 1908 at Loughborough Road, Dysart (Margaret’s parent’s home), although the Domicile
address was given as 405 Wellshot Road, Shettleston Glasgow. Their first son Robert Penney was born on 18 December 1909 at 320 Tollcross Road,                     Shettleston, Glasgow.

At 1911 Canadian census, Archibald was living with his brother, Robert Penney at 546 Jones Avenue, Toronto, Canada. He had arrived in 1910 but his wife                 and 2 children were not listed in the census. They arrived later in 1911 and the next daughter Margaret Sarah Penney (Peggy),was born on 7 August 1912 in Toronto. Archie was employed as clerk with Canadian Northern Railway and later as grocer at 195 Danford Avenue, Toronto. In the Spring of 1918 their son Archibald Carmichael Penney was born and the family sailed from Vancouver a few months later on 7 November aboard R.M.S. "Makura" for

New Zealand

. They settled in Taupiri where Archie was storekeeper with Percival Pugh Bynon Powell, a Welshman. Taupiri School records show that Isobel, Robert and Margaret Penney began school in February 1920 having transferred from Frankland School, Toronto. Younger son Archie died at Taupiri on 21 August 1919 aged 15 months after a month’s illness with broncho-pneumonia.

Margaret Ford Penney died in Hamilton, NZ in June 1955. She pre-deceased Archie by 13 days.

2:5:3 William Briggs married Ann Black in Auchtertool in 1874 - their family born and raised in Buckhaven. William’s occupations included coalminer, general labourer, scavenger (binman/rubbish collector) and several records report him as journeyman baker. He suffered epilepsy for the last 17 years of his life and at 1901 census he was an inmate at Springfield Asylum. He died of chronic nephritis at the asylum in 1910.   In 1901 Annie Briggs, his wife, was housekeeper at Buchanen Street, Kirkcaldy for Bernard Hughes, Gunner, Royal Field Artillery on furlough.

Family of William and Ann:

            2:5:3:1 David Briggs, 1875, Buckhaven
            2:5:3:2 Andrew Black Briggs, 1877, Buckhaven
            2:5:3:3 Janet Briggs, 1879, Buckhaven
            2:5:3:4 John Black Briggs, 8 Feb 1881, Buckhaven
            2:5:3:5 William Briggs, 1883; d. 23 Nov 1883, Buckhaven
            2:5:3:6 Jane Briggs, 1885, Buckhaven; d. 5 April 1892, East Wemyss
            2:5:3:7 Rachel Briggs, 1887, Buckhaven
            2:5:3:8 Thomas Morton Briggs, 1893, Buckhaven; d. 1901, Dunfermline
            2:5:3:9 Ann (Annie) Clark Black Briggs, 1895, Buckhaven; d. 1905, Dunfermline

2:5:4 Isabella Briggs, David and Janet’s first daughter died aged 1 year in 1856.

2:5:5 Alexander Briggs died 24 January 1860 aged 3 years of typhoid fever and was buried at the old churchyard Dysart.

2:5:6 Andrew Briggs a rope spinner married Isabella Baillie (nee Allan) a widow living nearby at 43 Rosslyn Street on 21 December 1883. By 1901 Andrew, now a shoemaker, Isabella, dressmaker and step daughter, Isabella Baillie, milliner were living at Byker, Newcastle on Tyne. They do not appear to have had any children.

2:5:7 Rachel Briggs, a linenweaver, married John Smith Anderson, a potter/ thrower in 1881 and lived in Kirkcaldy until her death in 1933 aged 73.

Family of Rachel and John:

            2:5:7:1 Janet Todd Briggs Anderson, 1882, Kirkcaldy
            2:5:7:2 John Smith Anderson, 1884, Kirkcaldy
            2:5:7:3 David Briggs Anderson, 1886, Kirkcaldy
            2:5:7:4 Robert Anderson, 1888, Kirkcaldy
            2:5:7:5 Emily Gray Anderson, 1891, Kirkcaldy
            2:5:7:6 Samuel Anderson,   1893, Kirkcaldy
            2:5:7: 7 Mary Anderson, c. 1895, Kirkcaldy
            2:5:7:8 Helen Anderson, 1897, Kirkcaldy
            2:5:7:9 Rachel Anderson, 1900, Kirkcaldy

2:5:8 Janet Todd Briggs, named after her mother was also a linen weaver and married James Hughes, a handler of Pottery on 13 November 1885 at 77 Rosslyn Street, Gallatown, Dysart. At 1901 census James, Janet and family were living at Byker, Newcastle on Tyne.

Family of Janet and James:

            2:5:8:1 Janet Todd Briggs Hughes, 1886, Dysart
            2:5:8:2 David Briggs Hughes, 1889, Dysart/Kirkcaldy
            2:5:8:3 John Hughes, c. 1891 Newcastle upon Tyne
            2:5:8:4 Andrew Briggs Hughes, 1893, Newcastle upon Tyne
            2:5:8:5 Sarah Annie Hughes, 1896, Newcastle upon Tyne
            2:5:8:6 Isabella Hughes, c. 1900, Newcastle upon Tyne

2:5:9 Isabella Pearson Briggs, named after her grandmother, died aged 2 years in 1868 at Dysart

2:5:10 Robert Briggs (potter) at 1891 census was living at Rosslyn Street, Dysart with his youngest sister Mary. Their mother, Janet, had died early the previous year. Robert married Janet Goodsir, a pottery worker on 1 April 1892 at Kirkcaldy. His sister Mary witnessed the marriage. In 1901 Robert, Janet and family were living at 45 Rosslyn Street but it would seem they possibly spent some years at Newcastle upon Tyne as 3 of their daughters (including twins Annie and Mary) were born there. Janet’s widowed mother Janet Goodsir was also living with them.

Family of Robert and Janet (until 1901):

            2:5:10:1 David Briggs, 1892, Dysart
            2:5:10:2 Janet Michie T(odd) Briggs, 1896, Newcastle upon Tyne; d. 1915, Kirkcaldy
            2:5:10:3 Annie Hughes Briggs, 1899, Newcastle upon Tyne (twin)
            2:5:10:4 Mary Briggs, 1899, Newcastle upon Tyne (twin)

2:5:11 Mary Briggs was recorded as a domestic servant in 1891 living with her brother Robert at 182 Rosslyn Street, Dysart. No further records of Mary have been uncovered.

Generation#2:6

Alexander Tod, son of Thomas Tod, Labourer, died 8 June 1835 aged 5 years and was buried at Kirkcaldy Old Churchyard.

Generation#2:7

Margaret Tod, aged 19, was living with her widowed father and sister Ann in 1851 – her occupation was given as Press woman. In 1861 the trio were living at Charlotte Street and Margaret was an Agricultural labourer, as was her father Thomas, aged 71 years. In 1866 Margaret was informant on her father death certificate. No further records found for Margaret.

Generation#2:8

Annie Tod aged 26 years at 1861 census was listed as a linen factory weaver. No further records have been found for her.

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