G1: Shiels, Micheal (1690) & Elizabeth (Bessie) Broun
And so it begins….
Family tradition states that Micheal Shiels was born in Kildare, Ireland about 1690 and went to Scotland for the harvest. He liked the country, the whiskey and the Scottish Lassies so well that he decided to stay. He came to an area close to Coulter.
When he arrived, his first job was working for Dan Scott, a relative of Francis Scott, 2nd Duke of Buccleuch. He received 10 pounds a year and before the year was up, Micheal had fallen in love with Dan’s niece Elizabeth (Bessie) Broun. They were married on Nov 24, 1716 in Coulter. We have a copy of the records.
In the early 1700’s, forthcoming marriages were supposed to be proclaimed on three successive Sundays, however, in practice, all three proclamations could be made on the same day on payment of a fee. Micheal Shiels paid fourteen shillings to have the wedding the same day.
Tradition says there was a big fight and Micheal and Bessie left although we do not know where they went. We expect that Micheal continued to work with horses around the Culter, Lanarkshire area.
Micheal and Bessie had one son Dan (1719), named after Bessie’s uncle, and seven daughters; Bridget (1717), Annie (1721), Margaret (1723-1794), Nora (1725), Betty (1727), Sarah (1729) and Susan (1731).
Dan’s details are listed below under G2: Shiels, Dan (1719) & Janet (Jessie) Scott
Bridget started training as a Nun, then changed her mind and joined the Church of Scotland. As a Presbyterian, she went to China as a Missionary for her church.
Nora was a teacher and a very successful governess.
Annie married a farmer named Jim Dunn, but they had no children.
The remaining girls worked on a farm and never married.
G2: Shiels, Dan (1719) & Janet (Jessie) Scott
Dan Shiels was born in 1719 and was the 2nd child of Micheal Shiels and Bessie Broun. He was the only son to carry on the family name.
Dan served a seven-year apprenticeship as a stone mason before he got a good job as Agent for the 2nd Duke of Buccleuch, Francis Scott, with a good salary for the 18th century.
Dan Shiels & Janet (Jessie) Scott were married on Jul 8, 1749 in South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland. Jessie was born Oct 20, 1730 in Kirkmichael, Perthshire.
In the 1750 census, Dan was listed as a Carter, which is a person who transports a load on a cart that is drawn by a “beast of burden”. Dan was also a good mechanic and lived to be nearly ninety years old. Jessie died in 1766.
Dan and Janet had two children, James (1750) and Elizabeth, born Mar 13, 1751 and christened on Mar 20, 1751 in South Leith, Midlothian. James and Elizabeth are the third generation, and their histories are detailed in the following pages.
James married Janet Younger and had two children, Robert & Thomas.
Elizabeth married John Kay and they had one child, Isabella Kay in 1781. Isabella married Alexander Ramsey in 1811 and they had one daughter, Elizabeth Ramsay in 1817. Elizabeth Ramsay married John Hardie in 1841 and they had 7 children. No other information is known about this line.
G3: Shiels, James (1750) & Janet Younger
James Shiels was born in 1750 in South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland. He was the 1st child of Dan Shiels and Janet Scott.
James married Janet Younger on Dec 2, 1768 in Peebles. Janet was born Aug 5, 1750 in South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland. Records show that both were living in Peebles on Oct 30, 1768 when their bans were published.
James and Janet had two children, Robert & Thomas.
Robert Shiels was born on Jan 16, 1769 in Skirling, Peebles, about 3 miles north-east of Biggar. Robert married Annie Dickson and raised a large family.
Thomas Shiels was born May 12, 1771 in Kilbucho, Peebles, about 5 miles south-east of Biggar. We have no verifiable information on Thomas currently.
G4: Shiels, Robert (1769-1840) & Annie Dickson
Robert Shiels was born 16 Jan, 1769 in Skirling, Peebles, Scotland. He was the 1st child of James Shiels and Janet Younger.
Skirling is a parish, community council area and village in Peeblesshire in the Scottish Borders situated 2.5 miles east of Biggar in Lanarkshire.
Robert married Annie Dickson on 9 Jul, 1790 in Drumelzier, Peebles, Scotland when he was 21 years old. Annie was born in Sept 1768 in Kilbucho, about 5 miles southeast of Biggar.
Robert & Annie lived their entire life in this area. Robert was a farmer.
Robert Shiels died in 1845 in Culter, Lanarkshire and his wife Annie passed away in 1840, also in Culter.
Robert & Annie had 7 children and a summary is shown below.
Alison Shiels was born Jun 3, 1791 and was christened on Jun 9, 1791 in Drummelzier, Peebleshire. She married Robert Wallace on Apr 14, 1815 in Peebles. They had 5 children.
Thomas Shiels was christened on Sept 27, 1795 at Traquair, Peebleshire. He married Barbara Jean Cranston on Apr 5, 1817 in Peebles. They had 8 children. The author of this document is a descendant of this line.
Isabella Shiels was born May 15, 1798 and christened May 20, 1798 in Stobo, Peebleshire. She married Thomas Goldburn on May 30, 1824 and they had only one child.
Jane Dickson Shiels was born in 1801 in Libberton, Midlothian. She married Ebenezer Grosset on Dec 26, 1828. They raised 9 children. The 1841 & 1851 Scotland census shows Jane born in Liberton, Midlothian, just outside Edinburgh while the 1861 census lists her birthplace as Eddlestone, Peebleshire where her sister & brother were born.
Robert Shiels was born Sept 28, 1802 and was christened Oct 3, 1802 in Broughton, Peebleshire. He married Margaret Purdie on Jun 5, 1825 and they had two children, James in 1825 and Ann in 1833.
Helen Shiels was born Aug 7, 1804 and was christened Aug 28, 1804 in Eddleston, Peebleshire. Helen never married and died in 1837
George Shiels was born Aug 9, 1810 and was christened Aug 19, 1810 in Peebles, Peebleshire. He married Mary White on Jun 5, 1840. They had 8 children.