G5: Thomas Shiels 1795-1839 & Barbara Jean Cranston
Thomas Shiels was born Sept 27, 1795 in Traquair, Peebles, Lanarkshire. He was the 2nd child and oldest son of Robert Shiels & Annie Dickson.
He loved horses and got a job in a stable for the 4th Duke of Buccleuch. He advanced quickly and became head man with good wages. Thomas fell in love with the governess of the Duke’s two little girls, Barbara Jean Cranston. Barbara Jean was born Jan 1, 1792 in Culter Parish.
On Apr 5, 1817, Thomas Shiels & Barbara Jean Cranston were married in Peebles, Scotland.
From our research, we have found that Thomas & Barbara purchased East Mains and that is where they raised their children. The home remained in the Shiels Family for nearly 200 years. Some of our Scottish relatives remember walking out to East Mains in the 1950’s and 1960’s. At that time, it had no electricity or running water.
Thomas was a very good sport. He liked good company and was a great hand with the fiddle. He was a kind-hearted soul and “his own worst enemy”. He went on to become game keeper for the Duke and was an expert with a gun. He was shot by a poacher and was badly wounded, from which he never completely recovered.
Thomas died in Mar 1839 and the Duke erected a marble slab at the head of his grave which read “Here lies a Gallant and true Scotsman”.
Barbara Jean raised her children on her own after Thomas died. The 5th Duke of Buccleuch built a school in the Village of Biggar at the end of what is now Manse Road and Goldscaur Row. He hired Barbara Jean and paid her a living wage to teach the village children. The school was known as the Duke of Buccleuch School and was built in the 1840’s. It closed in 1976 and became the Wanlockhead Community Centre.
Barbara continued to teach until she was eighty-one years old and was still quite spry. Barbara Jean lived to be ninety years old and died on Nov 24, 1882 in Culter Parish.
Thomas and Barbara Jean had a large family with 8 children, 6 sons and 2 daughters.
G6: Robert Shiels 1817-?? & Janet Scott
Robert Shiels was born Dec 8, 1817 in Culter, Scotland. He was the oldest child of Thomas Shiels & Barbara Jean Cranston.
Robert married Janet Scott on Jan 21, 1838 in Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Although some researchers show Robert passed away in the USA, this was proven to be Robert Hunter Shiels. At this time, we are not sure if Robert & Janet remained in Scotland or immigrated to North America.
G6: Thomas Shiels 1819-1897 & Elizabeth Prentice
Thomas Shiels was born Jul 12, 1819 near Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was the 2nd child of Thomas Shiels & Barbara Jean Cranston.
Thomas married Elizabeth Prentice and raised a large family with 8 children. They immigrated to Greenup, Illinois in the USA in the early 1850’s. The family spread out across Canada and the USA.
G6: Jean Shiels 1821-1907 & James Anderson
Jean Shiels was born born Jul 23, 1821 at East Mains, Coulter, Lanarkshire, Scotland. She was the 3rd child of Thomas Shiels & Barbara Jean Cranston.
Jean married James Anderson and immigrated to Wingham, Ontario, Canada in 1853. They raised 8 children.
G6: James Shiels 1824-1827
James Shiels was born Jul 12, 1819 near Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was the 4th child of Thomas Shiels & Barbara Jean Cranston.
James died when he was only 3 years old in 1827.
G6: John Shiels 1826-1908 & Janet McNair
John Shiels was born Jul 8, 1826 near Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was the 5th child of Thomas Shiels & Barbara Jean Cranston.
John & his younger brother George immigrated to Canada in 1847 and settled near Cranbrook, Ontario. John married Janet McNair and they had 9 children. It is interesting that only the oldest and the youngest were married and the rest stayed on the farm. The oldest, Thomas moved to Manitoba and then Saskatchewan while the youngest, William went to British Columbia.
G6: George Shiels 1828-1906 & Susannah Wortley
George Shiels was born Oct 18, 1828 at East Mains, near Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was the 6th child of Thomas Shiels & Barbara Jean Cranston.
George & his older brother John immigrated to Canada in 1847 and settled near Cranbrook, Ontario.
George married Susannah Wortley and raised 11 children.
G6: Anne Shiels 1831-1877 & Robert Walkinshaw
Anne Shiels was born Mar 9, 1831 near Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland. She was the 7th child of Thomas Shiels & Barbara Jean Cranston.
She married Robert Walkinshaw and they had six children. Three of the children died quite young. Anne passed away in 1877 when she was only 45 years old.
G6: William James Shiels 1833-1911 & Agnes Brown
William James Shiels was born Jan 27, 1833 at East Mains, near Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was the 8th child of Thomas Shiels & Barbara Jean Cranston.
He married Agnes Brown and they raised a large family with 9 children. Many of their descendants remained in Scotland, however some went to Canada, Australia and New Zealand.