1851 Census for St Abbs (Coldingham Shore)

The 1851 Census for Scotland was taken on the night of 30 March 1851. This list includes all households listed in St Abbs, then described as “the fishing village of Coldingham Shore”, which are on pages 11 to 19 of the census. I have purchased scans of pages 10 to 15 to date, and I have transcribed them below.

Note that in Ancestry all these listings have the address Milldown, but this is an error. They had continued filling in the last address given on page 10 of the census, which was the family of James Brown, a farmer in Milldown.

Households are listed below in alphabetical order by head of household’s name. I have corrected any obvious errors (e.g. spelling inconsisitencies such as Cormick and Cormack, William abbreviated to Willm etc). The relationships shown relate to the head of the household.

Occupations (highlighted in bold) include:

• 33 fishermen and one retired fisherman (all men)
• 12 house servants (all women)
• 4 coopers (all men)
• 1 fish curer and 1 retired fish curer (both men)
• 1 net mender (a woman)

David Aitchison's Household

David Aitchison, Fisherman, age 34, born in Coldingham Parish about 1817.
Jane Aitchison, wife, age 38, born in Coldingham Parish about 1813.
Jane Aitchison, Scholar, daughter, age 11, born in Coldingham Parish about 1840.
Hugh Aitchison, Scholar, son, age 8, born in Coldingham Parish about 1843.
Agnes Aitchison, daughter, age 5, born in Coldingham Parish about 1846.
Elisabeth Aitchison, daughter, age 3, born in Coldingham Parish about 1848.
Robert Aitchison, son, age 1, born in Coldingham Parish about 1850.

Hugh Aitchison junior's Household

Hugh Aitchison, Fisherman, age 35, born in Coldingham Parish about 1816.
Isabel Aitchison, wife, age 34, born in Dunse Parish about 1817.
Margaret Aitchison, daughter, age 12, born in Coldingham Parish about 1839.
Jane L Aitchison, Scholar, daughter, age 10, born in Coldingham Parish about 1841.
Isabel Aitchison, daughter, age 7, born in Coldingham Parish about 1844.
Andrew Aitchison, son, age 4, born in Coldingham Parish about 1847.
Agnes Aitchison, daughter, age 1, born in Coldingham Parish about 1850.

Hugh Aitchison senior's Household

Hugh Aitchison, Fisherman, age 66, born in Coldingham Parish about 1785.
Jannet Aitchison, wife, age 61, born in Coldingham Parish about 1790.

John Colven's Household

John Colven, Fisherman, age 41, born in Coldingham Parish about 1810.
Elisabeth Colven, wife, age 37, born in Coldingham Parish about 1814.
Jane Colven, Scholar, daughter, age 12, born in Coldingham Parish about 1839.
Peter Colven, Scholar, son, age possibly 11 (unclear scan, transcribed as 4), born in Coldingham Parish about 1840.
Margret Colven, daughter, age 8, born in Coldingham Parish about 1843.
Robert Colven, Scholar, son, age 6, born in Coldingham Parish about 1845.
Elisabeth Colven, daughter, age 4, born in Coldingham Parish about 1847.
John Colven, son, age 2, born in Coldingham Parish about 1849.

William Colvin's Household

William Colvin, Fisherman, age 54, born in Coldingham Parish about 1797.
Janet Colvin, wife, age 51, born in Coldingham Parish in about 1800.
Peter Colvin, Fisherman, son, age 24, born in Coldingham Parish about 1827.
Cathrine Colvin, House Servant, unmarried daughter, age 20, born in Coldingham Parish about 1831.
Janet Colvin, Scholar, age 14, born in Coldingham Parish about 1837.

Daniel Cormack's Household

Daniel Cormack, Cooper, age 21, born in Coldingham Parish about 1830.
Mary Cormack, wife, age 24, born in Eyemouth Parish about 1827.
Robert Cormack, son, age 6 months, born in Eyemouth Parish in 1850.

Robert Cormack's Household

Robert Cormack, Fisherman, age 53, born in Coldingham Parish about 1798.
Ann Cormack, wife, age 50, born in Coldingham Parish about 1801.
Alexander Cormack, Cooper, son, age 19, born in Coldingham Parish about 1832.
Jennet Cormack, daughter, age 12, born in Coldingham Parish about 1839.

Thomas Cormack's Household

Thomas Cormack, Fisherman, age 42, born in Coldingham Parish about 1809.
Catherine Cormack, wife, age 37, born in Coldingham Parish about 1814.
Helen Cormack, daughter, age 15, born in Coldingham Parish about 1836.
Elisabeth Cormack, daughter, age 14, born in Coldingham Parish about 1837.
Thomas Cormack, son, age 12, born in Coldingham Parish about 1839.
Peter J Cormack, son, age 10, born in Coldingham Parish about 1841.
Isabel Cormack, daughter, age 8, born in Coldingham Parish about 1843.
Catherine Cormack, daughter, age 6, born in Coldingham Parish about 1845.
Mary Cormack, daughter, age 5, born in Coldingham Parish about 1846.
Robert Cormack, son, age 3, born in Coldingham Parish about 1848.
Daniel Cormack, son, age 2, born in Coldingham Parish about 1849.

William Craig's Household

William Craig, Fisherman, age 35, born in Coldingham Parish about 1816.
Mary Craig, wife, age 38, born in Dunse Parish about 1813.
Margaret Craig, daughter, age 9, born in Coldingham Parish about 1842.
Isabel Craig, daughter, age 7, born in Coldingham Parish about 1844.
Peter Craig, son, age 2, born in Coldingham Parish about 1849.
Isabel Craig, House Servant, age 19, born in Coldingham Parish about 1832.

James Dickson's Household

James Dickson, Fisherman, age 25, born in Coldingham Parish about 1826.
Alison Dickson, wife, age 28, born in Coldingham Parish about 1823.
Janet Dickson, daughter, age 3 months, born in Coldingham Parish in 1851.
Isabella Colven, House Servant, age 16, born in Coldingham Parish about 1835.

Robert Dickson's Household

Robert Dickson, Fisherman, age 28, born in Coldingham Parish about 1823.
Cathern Dickson, wife, age 29, born in Coldingham Parish about 1822.
William Dickson, son, age 5, born in Coldingham Parish about 1846.
Helen Dickson, daughter, age 3, born in Coldingham Parish about 1848.
John Dickson, son, age 10 months, born in Coldingham Parish in 1850.
Margaret Spence, house servant, age 16, unmarried, born in Coldingham Parish about 1835.

William Dickson's Household

William Dickson, Cooper, age 20, born in Coldingham Parish about 1831.
Mary Dickson, House Servant, sister age 14, born in Coldingham Parish about 1837.
Peter Dickson, Cooper, brother, age 16, born in Coldingham Parish about 1835.

Alexander Hastie's Household

Alexander Hastie, Fisherman, age 41, born in Stainton, East Lothian, about 1810.
Grace Hastie, wife, age 34, born in Coldingham Parish about 1817.
William Hastie, Scholar, son, age 11, born in Coldingham Parish about 1840.
Joseph Hastie, Scholar, son, age 9, born in Coldingham Parish about 1842.
Robert Hastie, son, age 5, born in Coldingham Parish about 1846.
John D Hastie, son, age 3, born in Coldingham Parish about 1848.

Andrew Johnston's Household

Andrew Johnston, Fisherman, age 25, born in Coldingham Parish about 1826.
Mary Johnston, House Servant, stepmother, age 63, born in Dunse Parish about 1788.
Elisabeth Johnston, House Servant, sister, age 21, born in Coldingham Parish about 1830.

Archibald Johnston's Household

Archibald Johnston, Fisherman, age 64, born in Cockburnspath Parish about 1787.
Mary Johnston, wife, age 69, born in Coldingham Parish about 1782.
Margaret Johnston, Scholar, niece, age 11, born in Coldingham Parish about 1840.

Thomas Johnston's Household

Thomas Johnston, Retired Fisherman, age 73, born in Coldingham Parish about 1778.
Helen Johnston, wife, age 75, born in Coldingham Parish about 1776.
Frances Sindel, Fisherman, brother-in-law, age 71, born in Cockburnspath Parish about 1780.

Thomas Kerr's Household

Thomas Kerr, Fisherman, age 36, born in Coldingham Parish about 1815.
Agnes Kerr, wife, age 35, born in Coldingham Parish about 1816.
William Kerr, Scholar, son, age 8, born in Coldingham Parish about 1843.
Jane Kerr, daughter, age 7, born in Coldingham Parish about 1844.
Robert Kerr, son, age 5, born in Coldingham Parish about 1846.
Christinnia Kerr, daughter, age 3, born in Coldingham Parish about 1848.
Agnes Kerr, daughter, age 1, born in Coldingham Parish about 1850.
Thomas Kerr, son, age 1 month, born in Coldingham Parish in 1851.

Robert Nisbet's Household

Robert Nisbet, Fisherman, age 41, born in Coldingham Parish about 1810.
Alison Nisbet, wife, age 40, born in Dunse Parish about 1811.
Sarah Nisbet, House Servant, daughter, age 21, born in Coldingham Parish about 1830.
William Nisbet, Fisherman, son, age 18, born in Coldingham Parish about 1833.
Jacob Nisbet, Scholar, son, age 14, born in Coldingham Parish about 1837.
Cecilia Nisbet, Scholar, daughter, age 12, born in Coldingham Parish about 1839.
Helen Nisbet, Scholar, daughter, age 10, born in Coldingham Parish about 1841.
Alex Nisbet, Scholar, son, age 7, born in Coldingham Parish about 1844.
James Nisbet, son, age 5, born in Coldingham Parish about 1846.
Robert Nisbet, son, age 3, born in Coldingham Parish about 1848.

William Purves' Household

William Purves, Fisherman, age 50, born in Coldingham Parish about 1801.
Margaret Purves, wife, age 46, born in Coldingham Parish about 1805.
Isabella Purves, daughter, age 20, born in Coldingham Parish about 1831.
George Purves, age 15, born in Coldingham Parish about 1836.
Mary Purves, Scholar, daughter, age 13, born in Coldingham Parish about 1838.
Margret Purves, daughter, age 11, born in Coldingham Parish about 1840.
Francis (enumerator wrote Frances) Purves, Scholar, son, age 8, born in Coldingham Parish about 1843.
Elisabeth Purves, daughter, age 5, born in Coldingham Parish about 1846.

Helen Rae's Household

Helen Rae, Net Mender, age 48, born in Coldingham Parish about 1803.
Peter Rae, Scholar, son, age 12, born in Coldingham Parish about 1839.
John Rae, Scholar, son, age 8, born in Coldingham Parish about 1843.
Robert Cowe, Fisherman, son-in-law, age 23, born in Eyemouth Parish about 1828.
Catharine Cowe, daughter, age 25, born in Coldingham Parish about 1826.

John Rae's Household

John Rae, Fisherman, age 44, born in Coldingham Parish about 1807.
Margaret Rae, wife, age 44, born in Coldingham Parish about 1807.
John Rae, Fisherman, son, age 21, born in Coldingham Parish about 1830.
James Rae, Fisherman, son, age 19, born in Coldingham Parish about 1832.
Helen Rae, daughter, age 16, born in Coldingham Parish about 1835.
Robert Rae, son, probably 14 (listed as 64), born in Coldingham Parish about 1837 (listed as 1787).
Margaret Rae, daughter, age 12, born in Coldingham Parish about 1839.
Hugh Rae, Scholar, son, age 8, born in Coldingham Parish about 1843.
George Rae, son, age 5, born in Coldingham Parish about 1846.

Robert Renton's Household

Robert Renton, Fisherman, age 28, born in Coldingham Parish about 1823.
Jannet Renton, wife, age 34, born in Coldingham Parish about 1817.

William Scott's Household

William Scott, Fisherman, age 28, born in Coldingham Parish about 1823.
Jannet Scott, wife, age 29, born in Coldingham Parish about 1822.
William Scott, son, age 4, born in Coldingham Parish about 1847.
Mary Scott, daughter, age 2, born in Coldingham Parish about 1849.
Isabal Scott, daughter, age 1, born in Coldingham Parish about 1850.

George Thorburn' s Household

George Thorburn, Fisherman, age 32, born in Coldingham Parish about 1819.
Isabella Thorburn, wife, age 43, born in Coldingham Parish about 1808.
Jane Wilson, House Servant, daughter, age 15, born in Coldingham Parish about 1836.

Jane’s last name is to be confirmed – a user on Ancestry suggested that her name should be Thorburn, but given Isabella’s age, Jane may indeed be a Wilson, either born out of wedlock, or from a prvious marriage..

James Thorburn's Household

James Thorburn, Retired Fish Curer, age 64, born in Coldingham Parish about 1787.
William Thorburn, Fish Curer, son, unmarried, age 28, born in Coldingham Parish about 1823.
Margaret Thorburn, House Servant, daughter, unmarried, age 25, born in Coldingham Parish about 1826.

Robert Thorburn's Household

Robert Thorburn, Fisherman, age 41, born in Coldingham Parish about 1810.
Jannet Thorburn, wife, age 40, born in Mordington Parish about 1811.
Robert Thorburn, son, age 13, born in Coldingham Parish about 1838.
Jane Thorburn, Scholar, daughter, age 11, born in Coldingham Parish about 1840.
James Thorburn, Scholar, son, age 9, born in Coldingham Parish about 1842.
William Thorburn, Scholar, son, age 8, born in Coldingham Parish about 1843.
Christinnia Thorburn, daughter (twin), age 5, born in Coldingham Parish about 1846.
George Thorburn, son (twin), age 5, born in Coldingham Parish about 1846.
Alexander Thorburn, son, age 3, born in Coldingham Parish about 1848.

Beware – this family’s details are transcribed incorrectly on Ancestry. My transcription is from the original document. By 1861 the family were living in Skateraw, Robert was listed as a fisherman age 51n 1861, and he had a wife, Jannet.

James Wilson's Household

James Wilson, Fisherman, age 47, born in Coldingham Parish about 1804.
Margaret Wilson, wife, age 48, born in Coldingham Parish about 1803.
Isabella Wilson, daughter, age 19, born in Coldingham Parish about 1832.
William Wilson, son, age 16, born in Coldingham Parish about 1835.
Thomas Wilson, Scholar, son, age 9, born in Coldingham Parish about 1842.
Margaret Wilson, daughter, age 7, born in Coldingham Parish about 1844.
James Wilson, son, age 5, born in Coldingham Parish about 1846.

John Wilson's Household

John Wilson, Fisherman, age 71, born in Coldingham Parish about 1780.

Peter Wilson's Household

Peter Wilson, Fisherman, age 22, born in Coldingham Parish about 1829.
Ann Wilson, wife, age 30, born in Coldingham Parish about 1821.
Jane Wilson, daughter, age 4 months, born in Coldingham Parish in 1850.

Thomas Wilson's Household

Thomas Wilson, Fisherman, age 55, born in Coldingham Parish about 1796.
Jane Wilson, wife, age 45, born in Coldingham Parish about 1806.
Andrew Wilson, Fisherman, son, age 20, born in Eyemouth Parish about 1831.
James Wilson, son, age 18, born in Coldingham Parish about 1833.
Thomas Wilson, son, age 15, born in Coldingham Parish about 1836.
John Wilson, son, age 13, born in Coldingham Parish about 1838.
George Wilson, Scholar, son, age 9, born in Coldingham Parish about 1842.
Alexander Wilson, son, age 5, born in Coldingham Parish about 1846.
Jane Wilson, daughter, age 7 months, born in Coldingham Parish in 1850.
Elizabeth Wilson, House Servant, servant (not daughter), age 17, born in Coldingham Parish about 1834.