It is assumed Robert Mathison (husband of Jane Fairbairn, 1820-1885) and Janet Mathison (wife of David Fairbairn, 1847-1881) were brother and sister. This probably explains why David Fairbairn and his son Robert James Fairbairn are on the same gravestone as Jane Fairbairn. The blood relationship between David Fairbairn and Jane Fairbairn was 1st cousin, once reomved. David Fairbairn was also the husband of Jane Fairbairn's sister-in-law.
Medical Notes:
Death record details:
- When and where died: About 3pm in the sea. Supposed off the coast of Berwickshire.
- Cause of death: drowning.
- Informant: Christopher Fairbairn, Uncle
- Registered on October 24th 1881 at Cockburnspath 5
David married Janet Mathison, daughter of Unknown Mathison and Unknown Unknown. (Janet Mathison died after 14 Oct 1881 6.)
Marriage Notes:
It is assumed Robert Mathison (husband of Jane Fairbairn, 1820-1885) and Janet Mathison (wife of David Fairbairn, 1847-1881) were brother and sister. This probably explains why David Fairbairn and his son Robert James Fairbairn are on the same gravestone as Jane Fairbairn. The blood relationship between David Fairbairn and Jane Fairbairn was 1st cousin, once reomved. David Fairbairn was also the husband of Jane Fairbairn's sister-in-law.
Sources
1
Norman Peters, Norman Peters' family tree research (Supplied as a GEDCOM file to Martin Fairbairn on 26 July 2003. See also "Descendants of Thomas Fairbairne.doc" for more detail about Norman's sources.).
2Cockburnspath churchyard gravestone., GRAVESTONE FOR JAMES FAIRBAIRN AND JANE ANDERSON (PHOTOGRAPH AND TRANSCRIPTION).
3Cockburnspath churchyard gravestone., GRAVESTONE FOR JAMES FAIRBAIRN AND JANE ANDERSON (PHOTOGRAPH AND TRANSCRIPTION). Year of birth calculated as 1847 from age (34) in year of death.
4Cockburnspath churchyard gravestone., GRAVESTONE FOR JAMES FAIRBAIRN AND JANE ANDERSON (PHOTOGRAPH AND TRANSCRIPTION). Photograph of gravestone is not clear as to exact date of death. Since he was lost at sea, it could be the date of the Eyemouth Fishing Disaster which was 14 Oct 1881.
5
General Register Office for Scotland, Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths (Scotland), DEATHS 1881-731-15.
6
General Register Office for Scotland, Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths (Scotland), DEATHS 1881-731-15. Shown as alive as at 14 Oct 1881 on husband's (David Fairbairn's) death record.
Cause of his death was Lost at sea / drowning.