Barbara (Baxter)'s infancy

Barbara Baxter Wighton was born April 10th and baptized April 16, 1826 in Dundee. According to the Scots Ancestry Research Society Report, she was named after her aunt. I found a Barbara Baxter (b.1805) - her mother's only sister. There were two Barbaras in the Wighton side, but these were in Generation 2 and Generation 3 and not likely the source of the name.

Like her brother John, Barbara grew up in the Overgate area of Dundee and likely had a similar childhood as he did. Dundee was undergoing great change at this time due to rapid increases in population due to the Industrial Revolution. For a summary of the impact on Scottish life, here's an essay on Scotland's Industrial Revolution.

In 1850, while brother John was serving in the West Indies, Barbara Weighton married Alexander Lees on June 14th. Margaret Serzans conducted the research on Barbara, and determined that her husband Alexander was a brass finisher who had been born in 1826 (as per later census records) in Forfarshire (Angus). If you've read the biography for John Baxter Wighton, you'll know that Barbara's older brother also had a trade in brass before he enlisted in the army. That might have been the connection that introduced Alexander to Barbara but that's purely speculation.

Between 1851 and 1868, Barbara and Alexander would have 7 children as shown in the biographical table at the top of this page. There are two notable names: the first daughter was named Mary Ann presumably after Barbara's youngest sister; and, the second son, John Wighton Lees, presumably named after her older brother.

Barbara would have met JBW's wife in 1854/55 when Catherine moved to Dundee while John went on to serve in the Crimea. Catherine was staying with Barbara's and John's parents at the time. However, Catherine was living with Barbara and Alexander Lees when John Murray Wighton was born in 1857 (info. as per John Murray Wighton's birth certificate.) According to the 1861 census, the Lees lived at 61 Brown Street. Google map reveals that this was within easy walking distance of grandparents John Wighton and Ann Baxter's home in the Overgate.

By 1871, Barbara and Alexander had moved from Brown Street to Wallaces End. I couldn't find any reference to this in Google Map, but there is a Wallace Street, and that is also within reasonable walking distance of the Overgate. All seven children were living with Alexander and Barbara at the time although Mary Ann's name was shown as Morgan which was probably just a transcription error. The four oldest were working as a mechanic, millworker, millworker, and labourer.

By the 1881 census, the Lees were living on Daniel Street which remained close to Overgate but on the western side as opposed to the eastern side. The eldest son James Lees had married by then, as had the eldest daughter Mary Ann. Still living at home was 26 old Jessie (occupation reeler), 22 year old John (occupation feeder), 19 year old Helen (occupation feeder), 17 year old Alexander (occupation feeder), and 13 year old Daniel (scholar).

By 1891, Alexander was 65 and his wife Barbara was 64. Mary Ann (39), Jessie (35), and John (34) were living with them.

Margaret Serzans reported that Alexander died in 1894 and Barbara one year later in 1890. Margaret also researched Barbara's children a bit further and found:

• Eldest son John married Jane Adams in 1874 and had seven children: James A. (b.1876), Mary Ann (b.1878), Adam (b.1882), George (b.1884), Lizzie Jane (b. 1886), Jessie (b.1888), and Agnes (b.1891).
• Second born Mary Ann married John Robertson in 1879 but something must have happened because she was living with her parents again in 1891 and with no mention of a husband.
• Third born Jessie probably was unmarried. She was still with her parents in 1891 at the age of 35.
• Fourth born John Wighton Lees married Margaret Webster on December 31, 1900. He died January 4, 1924.
• Fifth born Helen Stewart Lees died a spinster November 30, 1926.
• Sixth born Alexander Lees Jr. died unmarried in June 1933.
• Seventh born Daniel Lees married Sarah Ann Christie on January 1, 1895.

Sources

Serzans, Margaret (generation 9)

ScotlandsPeople Database (http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/)

Scots Ancestry Research Society (March 26, 1971). Report to John L. Wighton

Where to now? To read more about Generation 5 John Baxter's immediate family, just click top to make a selection from Generation 5's genealogical table at the top of this page. The navigation buttons just below will give you quick access to biographies in other generations.