Link to Father: Robert Shiels & Annie Dickson Link to Brother: Thomas Shiels & Barbara Jean Cranston
George Shiels
- 5th Generation
- Parents: Robert Shiels & Annie Dickson
- Born: Aug 9, 1810 in Eddlestone, Peebles, Scotland.
- Died: May 11, 1877 in Longstone, Midlothian
- Married: Mary White on Jun 5, 1840 in Penicuik, Midlothian
- Children: 8 – Robert 1841, Ebenezer 1842, William 1844, George 1846, David 1848, James 1853, John 1857 and Thomas 1861.
George Shiels was born on Aug 9, 1810 in Eddlestone, Peebles, Scotland. He was baptized 10 days later on Aug 19, 1810, in Peebles. George was the 7th & youngest child of Robert Shiels and Annie Dickson.
George joined the military on Apr 11, 1829, at the age of 19 and became part of the Scots Greys. The document shows that George had a fair complexion, had grey eyes and red hair and was 5 ft 10 ½ in tall. He was from Dalkeith Parish and had previously worked as a clerk.
George married Mary White on Jun 5, 1840 in Penicuik, Midlothian. Mary was born Feb 5, 1815, in West Linton, Peeblesshire.
In the 1851 census, George was listed as a Brewers Laborer living at Wilsons Court in Canongate Parish. In the 1861 census, the family had moved to Easter Kenleith Cottage in Currie Parish and was working as a Plowman. The family lived most of their lives in Midlothian.
George & Mary lost their second child Ebenezer in 1845 when he was only 3 years old. Their son Robert also died in 1869 when he was only 28 years.
George died May 11, 1877 and Mary died Sept 20, 1876, both in Longstone, Midlothian.
George & Mary had 8 children, Robert 1841, Ebenezer 1842, William 1844, George 1846, David 1848, James 1853, John 1857 and Thomas 1861.
Summary of George & Mary’s children:
Robert Shiels (1841-1869)& Jane Renwich
Robert Shiels was born in 1841 in Carrington, Midlothian Scotland. He was the 1st child of George Shiels and Mary White.
In the 1861 census, Robert was listed as a Plowman. On May 23, 1862, Robert married Jane Robina Renwick at Easter Kinleith, Currie, Midlothian.
Robert and Jane had 4 children, George Aitchison 1863, Andrew 1864, Janet 1866 and Robina in 1869.
Robert died suddenly on Jul 16, 1869 in New Mills, Currie, Midlothian, just 2 months before his youngest child was born. He was only 28 years old at the time. This left Jane to raise the children on her own.
Jane Robina died in 1911 and is buried in the family plot in Balerno, Currie, Midlothian.
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Ebenezer Shiels (1842-1845)
Ebenezer Shiels was born Sep 15, 1842 in Liberton Midlothian Scotland. He was the 2nd child of George Shiels and Mary White.
Ebenezer died when he was only 3 years old in 1845 in Liberton, Midlothian Scotland.
William Shiels (1844-1918) & Helen Henderson
William Shiels was born Mar 17, 1844 in Straiton, Liberton, Midlothian, Scotland. He was baptized on Apr 14, 1844. He was the 3rd child of George Shiels and Mary White.
William married Helen Henderson on Mar 3, 1865 in Currie, Midlothian, Scotland.
William and Helen had 8 children, George 1865, William 1867, George Kirkhope 1870, Elizabeth 1872, Mary 1876, Jessie 1878, Jane 1881 and Helen 1884.
The family lived in and around Currie all their lives. In the 1861 census, William was working as a Blacksmith.
By the 1871 census, William had gone to work in the Paper Mill and worked there the rest of his life.
William & Helen suffered a great loss when their first child, George died when he was only a year old. They also lost their son William when he was only 10 years old.
William died on Apr 27, 1918 in Balerno, Currie, Midlothian, Scotland with the cause of death listed as a malignant tumor. Helen passed away on Jul 31, 1930 at the age of 87.
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George Shiels (1846-1893) & Mary Skellie
George Shiels was born in 1846 at Canongate, Midlothian, Scotland. He was the 4th child of George Shiels and Mary White.
In the 1861 census, George was 15, living at home and was listed as an Ag Lab.
He married Mary Skellie on Dec 31, 1872, at St Thomas Manse, South Leith. They had 6 children, Mary 1873, Margaret 1875, James 1880, David 1882. Annie 1884 and Jane 1888.
In the 1891 census, the family lived at 8 Back of the Vaults, Leith South. Margaret had moved out on her own. George was listed as a Dock Laborer.
Their daughter Jane died in 1891 when she was only 3 years old. Their daughter May also died on Oct 22, 1892 when she was only 19. George died 9 months later when he was only 47 on Jun 18, 1893, at Leith Hospital, Leith, Midlothian. His youngest child was only 9 years old, and Mary Skellie died Sep 8, 1907, General Hospital, Leith.
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David Shiels (1848-1921) & Jean Bain
David Shiels was born about 1848 in Canongate Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the 5th child of George Shiels and Mary White.
In the 1861 census, David’s father George was listed as a Plowman and David was listed as an Ag Laborer.
On Nov 10, 1876, David married Jean Bain in St. Thomas Manse, Leith, Scotland.
In the 1881 census, George was listed as a Coal Carter. In 1891, he was a Quarryman and in 1901, he was a Stone Cutter.
David & Jean had 4 children, Jane Spowart Apr 2, 1877, Mary Ann Feb 1, 1879, Agnes Bain Jun 17, 1882 and David on Nov 16, 1884.
David died on Feb 27, 1921 at 2 Giford Park, Edinburgh when he was 73 years old. Jean died one month later on Mar 27, 1921 at Comiston Road Edinburgh, Scotland.
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James Shiels (1853-1897)
James Shiels was born in 1853 in Cannongate, Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the 6th child of George Shiels and Mary White.
James never married. In the 1881 census, he was living with his brother William and his family in the Village of Belerno. James was listed as a Carter in that census.
James died on Jul 20, 1897 in Craiglockhart Poor House Edinburgh, Scotland when he was only 44 years old.
John Shiels (1857-1939)
John Shiels was born Oct 4, 1857, West Kirk Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the 7th child George Shiels and Mary White.
John never married and died on Apr 5, 1939.
Thomas Shiels (1861-1900) & Isabella Dalgleish
Thomas Shiels was born Mar 21, 1861 in Easter Kinleith, Currie, Midlothian, Scotland. He was the 8th and youngest child of George Shiels and Mary White.
He married Isabella Dalgleish in 1881 in Liberton Midlothian Scotland.
They had 4 children, Sarah Innes Shiels in 1884, George Shiels in 1885, Isabella Shiels in 1890 and Jemima Dalgleish Shiels in 1896.
In the 1891 census, Thomas was listed as a Brewers Laborer. Thomas died on Feb 20, 1900 in Newington Edinburgh Midlothian, Scotland when his youngest child was only 4 years of age. Isabella died on 6 May 1932, in Newington Edinburgh Midlothian, Scotland.