G3 - James Shiels (1750) & Janet Younger
James Shiels, son of Daniel Shiels and Janet (Jessie) Scott, was born in 1750 in South Leith, Scotland.
He represents the third generation of the Shiels family story, a family now firmly established in Scotland, where his grandfather Micheal had chosen to make his home.
From South Leith to Peebles
The surviving records allow us to follow James and Janet through several communities in southern Scotland. Both were born in South Leith, but by 1768 they were living in Peebles, where they were married.
Their children’s records take the story into the countryside surrounding Biggar. Their first son was born in Skirling, about three miles northeast of Biggar. Their second son was born in Kilbucho, about five miles southeast.
These communities would remain important to the Shiels family as later generations continued to make their homes in this part of Scotland.
James & Janet — 1768
On December 2, 1768, James Shiels married Janet Younger in Peebles, Scotland. Records show that both were already living in Peebles when their banns were published on October 30, 1768.
Their marriage brought together two young people, both born in South Leith in 1750, whose family life would now continue in the Peebles area.
Their Family — Robert & Thomas
James and Janet had two sons. Robert Shiels was born on January 16, 1769 in Skirling, Peebles, about three miles northeast of Biggar. He later married Annie Dickson and raised a large family.
Their second son, Thomas Shiels, was born on May 12, 1771 in Kilbucho, Peebles, about five miles southeast of Biggar. At present, no further verifiable information has been found about Thomas.
The Story Continues…
James and Janet’s eldest son, Robert Shiels, carries the direct Shiels line into the fourth generation.
Born in Skirling in 1769, Robert married Annie Dickson and established a large family whose story takes us more deeply into the Peebles and Biggar countryside.