ADAM RUSSELL AND
JANET HORSBURGH


Adam Russell and Janet Horsburgh were never married. They had a child, Beatrix Russell, christened 23 October 1667 in Peebles.


Peebles Bridge

Peebles - Bridge over the River Tweed



Adam had married 1) Elspeth Purdie in about 1659. Adam and Elspeth had the following children:


1. Patrick, christened 2 December 1660 in Peebles.


2, Johne, christened 24 June 1663 in Peebles.


3. Adam, christened 7 February 1666 in Peebles.


Elspeth died and was buried 9 December 1666.


The next year, Adam and Janet Horsburgh had a daughter Beatrix shown as "Beatrix Russall, natural daughter to Adam Russall and Janet Horsburgh" christened 23 October 1667 in Peebles.


Beatrix Russell baptism

Baptism record for Beatrix Russell in Peebles: "October 23 1667 Beatrix Russall natural daughter to Adam Russall and Jonet Horsburgh was baptised by
Mr. John Parson Witnesses Wm Legate ttailyear, Thomas Fresson and Ben Fisher burgess"


Adam then married 2) Margaret Smith 16 January 1668 in Peebles. Adam and Margaret had the following children:


1. Thomas, christened 13 August 1668 in Peebles.


2. William, christened 13 August 1668 in Peebles.


3. Margirat, christened 25 August 1670 in Peebles.


4. Adam, christened 10 January 1672 in Peebles.


5. James, christened 5 February 1674 in Peebles.


6. Margaret, buried 1 August 1684 in Peebles.


Adam is found as a dean of the guild in Peebles in Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Peebles, 1652-1714:


27 March, 1671.
Nominattes and appoyntes the persones following, upon the tounes expenssis, to ryde to Selkirk upon the elleventh of Apryle nixt, for giveing up dittayes of criminall persounes to the justice-clerk, viz. : — James Horsbruik and James Williamsone, baillies, Adam Russell, deane of gild, Duncane, James Haldine, elder, Gawin Thomsone, thesaurer, John Hoipe, messour, and John Fisher, kirk-offtciar.



Another entry may indicate an occupation as a silversmith for Adam:

25 June, 1666.
The silver Adam Russell, as cawtiouner for James Lyntoun, servitour to Robert Dalyell of Glenna, haveing reproduced the silver arrow, which wants the ridge or fether and ane hanging pendicle, ordeanes him ather to repaire the said arrow, or elles to pay to the toun thesaurer thrie pundes Scottes for the los thairof.

Other entried record disagreements with other town members:


14 August, 1671.

Ordeanes Adame Caitcheon, flesheour, burges of Peebles, for [injurious] A slanderer and slanderous wordes uttered be him against Adam Russell, deane of gild, in calling him ane cheiter, ane knave, and that he maid shipwreck of faith and a good conscience, being confest pairtlie and pairtlie provine, to pay to toun thesaurer ten merkes Scottes, and to be imprisoned tuentie foure houres, and ay and whill he pay the said fyne.


19 November, 1677.
Fynes Adam Russell, for blod and ryot on John Lowes, in eight merks. Fynes John Lowes for calling Adam Russell a impertinent knave, and strugling with him, fourty shilling.


 Janet Horsburgh: No christening record has been found for Janet Horsburgh, as there are four possible Janets born in the right time period - three to John Horsburgh and one to James Horsburgh. The Horsburghs were a well-known family in Peebles:

"On 3 Nov 1372, King Robert II granted license to Sir James Douglas of Dalkeith to found a chaplainry in Dalkeith and endow it to the sum of £6 13s 4d annually from the Horsburgh estate. The Douglases continued to enjoy these dues from the Horsburgh lands until the 17th century. On 5 May 1359 William Horsburgh (de Horsbrok) was one of the bailies of Peebles rendering accounts for the burgh to the royal exchequer and Thomas Horsburgh (de Horsbruke) was also bailie of Peebles 13 Mar 1380.

The Horsburghs 'of that ilk' (meaning 'of the same named estate') appear to have been the first to have assumed the name from the lands they owned and were certainly recognised as the heads of the surname by the 15th century. Their shield of arms, unsurprisingly, depicts a white horse head on a blue background (blue perhaps signifies the brook), either a pun on the estate name, or a clue - perhaps - to their origins as sometime keepers of the royal stable, hinted at in local legend.

John Horsbruik of that ilk; 1529-1555 had the two tower houses of Nether and Over Horsburgh re-built during the period 1529-1550. A tower house was also constructed at Hucheonfield, probably during this same period.

During the next few hundred years, the Horsburghs became a disreputable family. Three or more generations became almost constantly engaged in feuds, legal actions and duals. A tit for tat power battle was played out between the Douglas, the Hays of Smithfield and the Horsburghs. The family steadily slipped down the social scale, joining the ranks of solicitors, army officers, sheriff officers, hat-maker, belt-maker."  ( http://www.castlescotland.net/the-castles/h/horsburgh.html.)


SOURCES: Peebles parish register on ScotlandsPeople; Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Peebles, 1652-1714.