Scottish Genealogy Society

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The death of David II, son of Robert the Bruce, in 1371 marked the end of the Bruce reign and the bloody beginnings of the Stewart dynasty, one that would rule Scotland for 343 years.

We explore the beginnings of the Stewart dynastyhere: https://bit.ly/3uTkYZr

Photo:A portrait of Robert II of Scotland, at Holyrood Palace. Credit: Royal Collection Trust/ © His Majesty King Charles III 2023

14/12/2025

Wood St, Cowcaddens,1910,
Image from the Cowcaddens Inquiry shows children sitting and standing on stairs.
Archive Ref: P659

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Edinburgh cable and Musselburgh electric tram cars at Joppa Terminus.
Musselburgh’s electric tramway opened in 1904, it connected the Edinburgh cable‑tram terminus at Joppa to Levenhall. The line was extended to Port Seton in 1909.

We do not use AI for images and any dates given may not be precise.

Public domain postcard

14/12/2025

The flag of Cumberland, officially registered in 2012, features a bold design of blue and white wavy stripes symbolising the county’s lakes, rivers, and coastline, surmounted by a green border bearing Parnassus flowers (a plant native to the marshes of the Solway Firth). Adapted from the former county council arms, the flag celebrates Cumberland’s landscape and natural heritage.

Cumberland, one of England’s historic northern counties, stretches from the Solway coast across fertile farmland to the dramatic mountains of the Lake District. Its highest peaks include Skiddaw, Blencathra, and Scafell Pike, which shape some of Britain’s most iconic scenery. Carlisle, the county town, grew as a Roman fort and later as a medieval stronghold, guarding the western end of Hadrian’s Wall. Towns such as Whitehaven, Workington, and Penrith developed through maritime trade, coal mining, agriculture, and market life.

Cumberland’s history is deeply bound to its frontier position. It was home to the ancient Brittonic kingdom of Rheged, later absorbed into the Anglo-Saxon and then Norman realms. For centuries, it was a contested borderland between England and Scotland, defended by castles, fortified churches, and the garrisons of the West March. Rural communities farmed the uplands and valleys, while coastal towns engaged in shipping, fishing, and coal export. The 19th century brought railways, ironworks, and new industries that reshaped parts of the county while leaving much of its dramatic countryside unchanged.

An important marriage in Penrith, Cumberland and found in our records is that of John Wordsworth and Ann Cookson (the parents of William Wordsworth (1770–1850), one of the leading figures of English Romantic poetry). Their marriage took place on 5th February 1766 and is recorded as needing a licence since Ann was a minor. The marriage record can be found in FreeREG.

14/12/2025

As this Tuesday 16th December marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, Donegal County Museum and
Donegal County Archives, Culture Division, Donegal County Council cordially invites you between 11am – 3pm, to make arrangements to have tea with us, as we celebrate Jane Austen’s Birthday and her Donegal Connections and to view the famous photo album associated with Jane Austen’s nieces - Cassandra, Goddaughter Louisa and Marianne who lived in County Donegal. Cassandra and Louisa’s life stories show that the path of true love does not always run smooth – these stories were worthy of becoming a plot for one of their aunt’s novels. The three nieces were often mentioned in Jane’s letters and when they were young,she took them to the theatre and spent time reading and sewing with them.

The album on display, contains the only known photographs of Louisa, second wife of Lord George Hill and Marianne, daughters of Edward Knight (brother of Jane Austen), and Elizabeth Bridges, along with many photos of the Downshire and Ward family relatives along with other member of the Landed Gentry.

Also on display is a miniature portrait of Cassandra Knight - Lady Cassandra Hill, painted by Hugh Ross (1800–1873) (younger brother of the more famous painter Sir William Charles Ross) and exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1814 to 1845. Not long before her death, Jane Austen wrote of her niece Cassandra Jane Knight: “I always loved Cassandra, for her fine dark eyes and the sweetness of her temperament”.

This photo album was acquired by the Donegal County Archives, for the County Collection. The album has been digitised and is available to view online.

The display will end on December 22nd.

When Cassandra Knight was twenty, Lord George Hill proposed- as the youngest son of the Late Lord Downshire, his future was entirely dependent on the approval of his widowed mother, a formidable Marchioness. Her verdict on Cassandra was “No money – all charms.”, so no marriage took place and George devoted himself to his army career.
Eight years later, he returned to proposed to Cassandra again - this time successfully. On giving his blessing to the marriage, her brother Charles stated, “We cannot but be most thankful that such a shocking thing was averted, and that the only person she has ever loved & who is in every way worthy of her should have got her at last”.
After their society wedding in London on the 21st of October 1834, Lord and Lady Hill moved to Dublin where he was Comptroller of the Household to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
In 1838, following his mother’s death, he inherited enough to resign his Commission and buy a large estate in Gweedore, Co Donegal. Their first home in Donegal was Gortlee House, Letterkenny. They had four children Norah Mary Elizabeth (1835 - 1920), Captain Arthur Blundell George Sandys Hill (1837 - 1923), Augustus Charles Edward Hill (1839 - 1908) and Cassandra Jane Louisa (1842 - 1901). Not long after the birth of her daughter Cassandra, she died of puerperal fever on the 14 March 1842. She is buried in the Church of Ireland, Conwal Parish graveyard in Letterkenny.
In the week following Cassandra’s death, her sister Louisa travelled from her family home in Godmersham, England to care for the children. Over the years, the children were brought over to Godmersham and travelled over and back to Donegal. Louisa devoted herself to the children and the children came to see her as their mother.

Lord George Hill proposed to Louisa in 1846, causing an outcry and much scandal, as a marriage to the sister of a late wife was considered illegal by some and immoral by others. The Downshire family had no objections to this second marriage and gave their blessing to it. Louisa’s Uncle had also married the sister of his late wife. Due to controversy, in May 1846 they travelled to Denmark, to marry with a licence granted by the King of Denmark. In June 1847, the subject of their marriage, its legality and morality, was investigated by Commissioners appointed by Parliament to inquire into the state and operation of the Law of Marriage. They had one son, George Marcus Wandsbeck Hill (1849 - 1911) and lived with the all the children at Ballyare House, near Ramelton. Lord George Hill died on 5th April 1879 and is buried with his true love, Cassandra in Letterkenny. Louisa and her sister Marianne are buried side by side in Tully Graveyard near Ballyare House, Ramelton, Co Donegal.

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West End of Princes Street.
This must be between 1923, when electric tram cars superseded cable cars, and 1926, when the Catherine Sinclair fountain was removed.

We do not use AI for images and any dates given may not be precise.

Public domain postcard.