Looking for Kidds or Kydds of Pittenweem, Scotland
charlie282000
I believe an ancestor of my husband's, James Kidd/Kydd came from Pittenweem, Scotland. He was a gardener from Fifeshire, Scotland who became Superintendent of Sydney Botanic Gardens, Australia.
He was convicted of forgery of a one pound note and transported to Sydney, Australia in 1830 aboard the Burrell. He had a wife Mary Ross and several children who followed him out to Sydney, Australia three years later aboard the Drummore, from Leith, Scotland, via Van Diemans Land. I have found baptism records of three children, John, Alexander and George from St Andrews and St Leonards, Fife. I found records of another daughter Mary Ann who was baptised in Dundee, Scotland, on 21 Jun 1829, by Rev. Wm Browne, who was also mentioned in documents in Sydney. I did find a James Kidd who was baptised in St Andrews and St Leonards in 1800, the son of John Kidd and Elspeth Edie. However I have found a Botanical Garden journal in Australia stating that his birth date was 1 Aug 1801. I then found a Baptism from Pittenweem stating that a James Kidd was born on 1 Aug 1800 and his parents were John Kidd/Kydd and Robina Cupar. The journal in Australia might have his year date wrong, but it is intriguing that his birthday was correctly recorded. I am thinking that this might be 'our' James Kidd from Pittenweem. Pittenweem is only a small coastal village in Fife, and I thought it might be interesting to try and trace his Scottish family. Mary Ross died shortly after her arrival and James remarried a few years later to Mary Ann Must. They are buried in historic Camperdown Cemetery in Sydney.
I wondered also if there were old newspapers from Fifeshire or Perthshire that might have recorded his crime? He was convicted on 14 April 1830 in Perthshire.
I have recorded documentation regarding all the above information, plus much more.
by charlie282000
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6_shane on 2013-10-30 17:40:22I have been researching James Kidd's children in Australia and have had no luck with the 2 boys - John and James it appears that after Mary's[1] death they were sent to the Randwick Home for destitute children along with Mary Ann.
ruthflet55 on 2013-11-03 20:39:08I take it you are in Australia and don't need lookups there? I am also researching Kydd/Kidd in Scotland and Australia.
Ruth from Sawtell, NSW.
charlie282000 on 2013-11-03 21:56:34Hello Shane and Ruth,
Wonderful to get your responses. I would appreciate more information. Are you are descended from James Kidd, and if so can you let me know from which child? I have not found any marriage records in Australia for John and James Kidd, the two sons from James Kidd's first marriage to Mary Ross. I once saw a researcher looking online for information about Mary Ann Kidd, the only daughter from the first marriage. I wonder if there are any other descendants from this first marriage? My husband is a descendant from the second marriage of James Kidd to Mary Ann Must. Having recently visited Scotland I believe I can now establish that James was the son of Robina Cupar and John Kidd of Pittenweem. I have also viewed his conviction documents in Edinburgh and can see most conclusive evidence that he was framed by his brother in law, married to his wife's sister, who was an absolute cad who conned James, and then shot through, leaving James to take the wrap and conviction.
From the baptism records of James and Mary Kidd, I found on family search website, I presume that Alexander died young, and that George was actually later nicknamed James. Thus the children who were placed in the Randwick Home for destitute children all have ages directly corresponding with both their baptisms in Scotland and their placement into care in Sydney.
Regards Charlie, NSW
ruthflet55 on 2013-11-04 02:37:26As far as I know, my Kydds are not connected to your James Kydd but with the "porkies" that my grandfather, David Kydd/Kidd, told, who knows!!!(lol).
Have you checked the Kydd births on Scotlands People website? I find them to be the most reliable as they are the govt ones. I have credits with them and also a subscription for Ancestry so if you want, I will do some checking for you.
My grandfather, David Kydd/Kidd was born in Arbroath, Angus shire on 13 April 1883 and his brother Alexander Young Kydd was born on 26 May 1881. They were born at the same address but there was no father named on their birth certificates. Their mother, Ann Macintosh Kydd died in Dec 1883 and they were subsequently found on the streets of Montrose, 17 miles north and put into care at Dorward House, Montrose.
There is quite a large family in the Angus shire, I have gone back as far as great gr gr grandparents, William Kyd and Ann Tosh of Glamis.
Regards, Ruth.
ruthflet55 on 2013-11-04 02:44:20By the way, if you type in Scottish newspaper Archives, you will bring up some interesting sites with free info. I had a look at some earlier but would need to spend more time to find anything. Don't forget to look at the Angus Archives as they are all close by.
When were you in Scotland? I was there from 17 September till 1 October. I spent some of the time in Largs on the west coast looking for my "Leitch" family and the rest of the time with family in Broughty Ferry and Carluke near Paisley.
Ruth.
ruthflet55 on 2013-11-05 02:58:51As far as I know, my Kydds are not connected to your James Kydd but with the "porkies" that my grandfather, David Kydd/Kidd, told, who knows!!!(lol).
Have you checked the Kydd births on Scotlands People website? I find them to be the most reliable as they are the govt ones. I have credits with them and also a subscription for Ancestry so if you want, I will do some checking for you.
My grandfather, David Kydd/Kidd was born in Arbroath, Angus shire on 13 April 1883 and his brother Alexander Young Kydd was born on 26 May 1881. They were born at the same address but there was no father named on their birth certificates. Their mother, Ann Macintosh Kydd died in Dec 1883 and they were subsequently found on the streets of Montrose, 17 miles north and put into care at Dorward House, Montrose.
There is quite a large family in the Angus shire, I have gone back as far as great gr gr grandparents, William Kyd and Ann Tosh of Glamis.
Regards, Ruth.