One of
the many interesting items held by the NSW Library’s Dixson Rooms is a family
tree titled ‘James Duncan and Helen Wardrope, Linlithgow, N.B.’ It is on a
‘broadside’ sheet of paper 58 x 76 cm, and was probably printed in the late
1890s. It is not known whether it was printed in Scotland or Australia. When I saw it for the first time I was speechless. It is
fantastic! It shows that even 100 years
ago, people were interested in their family tree and someone had the foresight
to put such a document together in some a beautiful way. Interestingly, one of the entries has been 'amended' by pencil.
Linlithgow
probably developed around a royal residence. It is 30 kilometres west of
Edinburgh and its heyday was during the times of the Stuart Kings. James V and
Mary, Queen of Scots were born in Linlithgow Palace which burnt in 1746 but is
still largely complete. All sorts of community events are held in the
grounds of the old Palace: it is quite a big tourist attraction. There were
many Duncans living in Linlithgow from the early to middle 1600s.
The
only known connection that Helen and James Duncan have to Linlithgow is the
family tree in the NSW Library. I have
not been able to find out any additional information about Helen and James
Duncan apart from what is on the broadside. There is no information about Helen and James themselves except for the names and date of births of their five children. In reality, the broadside focuses more on the eldest son of James and
Helen – also called James Duncan – and his wife Helen Gray. It states that James and Helen had eight children, three of whom died as infants. The remaining six all married and details of the births, deaths and children are all outlined.
I have
been able to verify many of the later details.
There are a few simple errors, but that is probably understandable in
anyone’s family history work.
 |
| The Family Tree of James Duncan and Helen Wardrope |
[Relationship to SNR - Great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandparents]
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