Andrew Sandilands, my 4 x great grandfather is my brick wall.
](./images/smilies/brick-wall.gif "Brick wall"){kind=small}
He was born c.1800 in Selkirkshire (according to the 1851 census).
I have never been able to find a baptism for him.
He died in Edinburgh in 1852 aged 52.
In 1820 Andrew married my 4 x great grandmother Margaret Johns(t)on(e) (b.c.1796 d.1848).
The marriage took place in Selkirk.
Cautioners were William Sandilands and Robert Orr (who a few years earlier had married a Janet Johnston).
On the 1851 Census, his son's marriage certificate, and a his own later marriage, my ancestor is recorded as a "Quarryman".
On my 3 x great grandfather's death certificate Andrew's occupation is recorded as Corn Merchant.
I once had the good fortune to stumble across a couple of documents in an archive which were quotes, my ancestor and one William Sandilands, also born in Sellkirkshire in 1800, a man I assume to be his brother (no parents recorded on his death certificate), had supplied to the town council of Selkirk for the building of stone dykes, which led me to conclude that Andrew was probably more than a labourer.
I also had the good fortunate to discover some trial papers; an excellent source of information.
It turned out, that in 1852, the final year of his life, my ancestor was a victual dealer with a shop on Hanover Street in Edinburgh.
Apparently, my ancestor and his 2nd wife had fallen victim to gang of con-merchants who operated quite an extensive scam ordering goods from merchants on behalf of their "employer", a well-connected lady, who it happens they were not in the employ of at all.
Between the date of the crime and the trial my ancestor had the misfortune to pop his clogs.
Luckily for me, the burial entry records his address as Hanover Street.
I was left without doubt that the quarryman and victual dealer were one and the same.
It will come as no suprise to those of us who have been doing this kind of thing for some time to learn that there is no victual shop listed at the address given in Hanover Street, Edinburgh! Apparently, the address was occupied by O'Donnell, Charles and Co., Furniture Dealers (also "Brokers" at Cowgate).
As my ancestor had died, his widow was called as a witness at the trial mentioned previously. There are two references to her in the trial papers:
andMary Wallace or Sandilands, wife of, and, then residing with, the said Andrew Sandilands,
Now Rodham was quite a well connected chap http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article ... rchLimits= He was also cousin to another branch of the Sandilands family who, according to the 1851 Census, were also living in Portobello.Mary Wallace or Sandilands, now or lately residing with Rodham Catherine Davison Home, in or near Windsor Terrace, in or near Portobello, in the said shire.
Assumptions:
That somehow my Sandilands and the cousins of Rodham Catherine Davison Home are connected. Although I've never been able to find anything other than the trial papers to support this. Am I putting 2 + 2 together and coming up with 13? What exactly does "residing with" mean at that time?
Sandy
