Dalserf, Lanarkshire

Our earliest-known Frame ancestors are found in the registers of this beautiful church, which dates back to 1655. And although our Frame cousins are now spread throughout the world, Dalserf will always be our Scottish ancestral home. There’s nae folk like oor ain folk, sae gallant and sae true!  These words warm the heart but they also hint of the Scot’s fierce pride and courage. In bygone days, and even today, woe betides any man who threatens to separate a Scot from his nearest and dearest: his family, his faith, his freedom, his culture and his country.  Scottish battles and rebellions, political and religious, fill volumes of history books.  Accompanied by the swirl of bagpipes and the beat of a drum, the Scot was never afraid to follow his heart and spill his blood for his cause. There is no doubt that our Frame ancestors witnessed atrocities during Scotland’s turbulent past. They lived through the Covenanter period and Dalserf parish was heavily involved, so those tales of religious persecution that were passed down through the generations, were valid.

Dalserf village is steeped in a history dating back to Roman times. The Romans gave the name Strathclyde to the region and Clydesdale to the immediate area, hence the name Clyde Valley. Dalserf nestles in a large fertile valley below the banks of the River Clyde. The name of the village is thought to come from the Gaelic dail, meaning field, and Serf, said to be the name of a 6th century saint who lived there.  

The extant church building in Dalserf has a cornerstone dated 1655, which was during the 'Killing Time' when the rebel Covenanters were persecuted for their faith. The battles for independence and the horrific religious conflicts surrounding Dalserf possibly explains why there are no register records for baptisms, marriage banns and deaths (mortcloth fees)  prior to 1738. There are Wills/Testaments however, that date from the 1500s.  It is said that another church once stood on the site and this seems to have been corroborated in 1921 when a large hogback stone,  a type of tombstone produced in the 10th and 11th centuries, was unearthed in the churchyard. Architects and archaeologists have claimed that this stone was part of a Norman church. The hogback stone now lies adjacent to the current church building. 

The beautiful Dalserf village was once a popular rest-stop on the great road northwards to Glasgow, which is not surprising since it then boasted a number of hostelries for the refreshment of weary travellers. A ferry for crossing the Clyde was once located near the parish church but has long since been replaced by the Garrion Bridge.  Dalserf is about 4km east of Larkhall and 12km south-east of Hamilton, both places that later became home to some of our Frame kin.  See more on Dalserf at the Scottish Mining website. 

The earliest Frame that we can claim as our ancestor from the meagre paper records, with any degree of confidence, was John Frame c1675 whom I believe was my 6th great-grandfather.   My reason for the connection as head of this family was both his location and also a Dalserf parish mortcloth record dated April 17, 1751:   'The 2nd mortcloth to John Frames wife in Patshaw 3:0:0.'   

‘Patshaw’ was Pyatshaw, a fermtoun in Dalserf parish, now probably Pyatshaw Road, Larkhall, Lanarkshire.  Pyatshaw, and the old Sheephouseneuk, where Robert Frame c1705, my 5th great-grandfather, is on record, have been identified by my cousin John Frame in Scotland as being one and the the same place. That information was critical to us being able to piece together some of our earliest generations.   An investigation of all the Frame births in the Dalserf Register was made by placing them into family groups to try to determine whether this John Frame of Pyatshaw might have been a brother of Robert Frame c1705 of Sheephouseneuk/Pyatshaw, rather than his father; however, that relationship proved less plausible.  Thus, John Frame ( (birth year estimated at c.1675) of Pyatshaw has been added as the father of Robert Frame of Sheephouseneuk/Pyatshaw and Struther.  Due to the lack of paper trail, it is highly unlikely that our Frame tree will ever be extended beyond John Frame c1675, even though Commissariot records of Testaments (many of which I've had transcribed) show that Frame families were in Dalserf from at least the 1500s.  We were possibly related to those earlier Frames in Dalserf but a plausible link could not be made. 

At Dr. Webster's Population Survey of Dalserf in 1755 (Heads of Households) it was revealed that there were 765 inhabitants in the parish with six households surnamed Frame. Referring to birth and marriage records, the following appear to have been the household couples in 1755:

• James Fram(e)    in Dalserf (Church Officer) - sp. Ann Davidson

• James Fram(e)    in Cornsilloch   - sp. Janet Brounlie

• John Fram(e)      in Cornnsilloch - sp. Jane Brounlie

• John Fram(e)      in Burnhead        - sp. Janet Harvie

• John Fram(e)      in Bogside             - sp. Martha Bowman

• Robert Fram(e)  in Sheephouseneuk and Struther  - sp. Ann/a Thomson

Robert Frame in the list above was my 5th Great-grandfather.   The three families listed at 'Sheephouseneuk' at Dr Webster's Population Survey in 1755 (Heads of Households) were:

• Robert Frame c.1705

• Robert Hogg (There was intermarriage between the Frames and Hoggs.)

• James Selkirk  

The fact that Robert Frame and Robert Hogg Sr. were neighbours has helped us make some connections in the earliest generations where birth/death/marriage records were not available. 

JOHN FRAME c.1675 of Sheephouseneuk/Pyatshaw, Dalserf.    

Spouse name not known:  

April 17, 1751:  'The 2nd mortcloth to John Frame's wife in Patshaw [Pyatshaw] 3:0:0.'   

Thus far, only two children have been connected to this John Frame:

1. ROBERT FRAME c.1705 of Sheephouseneuk/Pyatshaw and Struther, Dalserf.  Sp. Ann/a Thomson. 

2. ANN FRAME of Sheephouseneuk/Pyatshaw, Dalserf. Sp. Robert Hogg. He died bef 11 Jun 1751and was likely the son of the Robert Hogg of Sheephouseneuk in Dr. Webster's Survey of 1755.  Child: Alexander  bapt. 11 Jun 1751.  'Sheephouseneuk of Dalserf June 11th 1751.  Ann Fram there relict of the deceased Robert Hog had a son bapt. called Alexander.'

ROBERT FRAME c1705 of Sheephouseneuk/Pyatshaw and Struther, Dalserf.  

Spouse: ANN/A THOMSON

Through Y-DNA testing, we have ascertained that Frame males descended from Robert Frame c.1705 would be expected to carry the Haplogroup I1 SNP mutation I-FT85472 or a more recent SNP.   I-FT85472 is a younger branch of an earlier SNP known as I-L802 that defines several Frame families in Lanarkshire.  Robert Frame's birth year has only been estimated. The date of his death is also uncertain; however, the Old Parochial Register has the following entry for a mortcloth fee: 

'June 5th 1755: 'The second mortcloth to Robert ffram p@ 3:00:00'

This may indicate that the mortcloth was for Robert Frame's burial, or, alternatively, that he had paid the fee for the funeral of one of his family. Usually, mortcloths were rented by the next of kin for the funeral service.  A mortcloth either covered the coffin, or else the body of the deceased if a coffin could not be afforded. Many mortcloth rental records were ambiguous.   

The following five children have thus far been recorded for Robert Frame and Ann/a Thomson. The lines descending from Robert c.1737, Alexander c.1739, and George b.1744 have all been supported by Y-DNA testing:

1. ROBERT FRAME born c.1737, of Woodfoot, Dalserf par., Lanarkshire.  Spouse: MARGARET WILSON

2. ALEXANDER FRAME born c.1739 of Dalserf par., Lanarkshire.  Spouse:   ANN MEIKLE

3. MARION FRAME b. 28 Oct 1741 in Sheephouseneuk/Pyatshaw, Dalserf

4. GEORGE FRAME  b. 5 Mar 1744 in Sheephouseneuk. Died aft. 26 Jul 1797.  Spouse: ELIZABETH HAMILTON                       

5. WILLIAM FRAME born 4 Mar 1747 in Struther, Dalserf, Lanarkshire. Struther is about 1km. from Sheephouseneuk/Pyatshaw.

GEORGE FRAME b. 5 Mar 1744 in Sheephouseneuk/Pyatshaw, Dalserf.     

Spouse:   ELIZABETH HAMILTON

My 4th Great-grandfather George Frame would probably have grown up in a somewhat more peaceful era than his forebears. That is not to say life would have been overly comfortable, but in contrast with previous turmoil, perhaps a change for the better. George married Elizabeth Hamilton, and although no marriage record has been located, the baptism entry for their son Andrew recognised that Elizabeth was George's wife.  Elizabeth Hamilton was the daughter of John Hamilton and Jean/Jane Thomson. She was b. 18 Nov 1744 at Craigbank, Dalserf parish. 

Only three children have been identified for George Frame and Elizabeth thus far, but they very likely had others. Considering traditional Scottish naming pattern, they would almost certainly have named their first son Robert, second son John, and second daughter Ann/a. However, the only daughter gleaned from the available records for George and Elizabeth was named Jean, after Elizabeth Hamilton's mother:

1. JEAN FRAME c. 1770 Lanarkshire.   Spouse: ANDREW FRAME born c.1767

No birth record was found for George and Elizabeth Frame’s daughter Jean, although she has been attached as their daughter based on her convincing adherence to traditional Scottish naming pattern.  Jean Frame and her husband Andrew Frame named their first daughter Elizabeth and second son George, which complied perfectly. First daughters and second sons were usually named after the wife’s parents. Conversely, first sons and second daughters were named after the husband’s parents. Furthermore, George and Elizabeth Frame were the only Frame couple thus-named having children in the parish in the relevant timeframe.

The fact that Jean Frame’s husband and her brother were both named Andrew and also of a similar age, caused some confusion over baptism records. However traditional naming pattern helped clarify the situation. Jean Frame and husband Andrew Frame’s first son was named James, which suggests that Jean’s father-in-law was named James Frame. 

Y-DNA has also ensured there was no confusion with the two Andrew Frames.   A male Frame descended in the direct male line from Jean Frame's husband Andrew tested positive for the I-Y3456 branch of the Group A (I-L803) Frame tree, whereas a direct male line descendant of Jean's brother Andrew tested positive for I-L802 and more recent SNP mutations, the same as the others descended from Robert Frame c.1705 on this tree.

2. ANDREW FRAME b. 18 Aug 1776, likely in Larkhall, Dalserf parish.   He married ELIZABETH PETERS on 11 Nov 1804 in Dalserf, Lanarkshire, Scotland. She was born about 1780 and died between 1821-1841 

3. INFANT FRAME    d. c. 6 Oct 1783 Dalserf par.  A Mortcloth entry on that date reads: 'A child of George Fram's in Larkhall'. 

The level of birth, baptism, marriage and death registrations in Dalserf varied from period to period. The old Statistical Accounts of Scotland published in the late 18th century, which I have drawn on heavily for local information, make frequent references to the unsatisfactory state of the Dalserf parish registers.  The existing volumes begin in 1738 but they have many gaps. Dalserf ministers James Craig and John Russell said in the New Statistical Accounts of Scotland 1834-35, that during the 50-year period prior to the schoolmaster arriving in town and taking on the task, the recording of Dalserf baptisms and marriages was often neglected.  However, there were periods of very irregular and defective entries prior to the 50-year period of inconsistency mentioned by the clergy.  Even though this state of affairs has deprived us of some of our family history, we need to remember that basically most parishioners were poor. Many worked on the land and supplemented their meagre income by handloom weaving and other cottage industries. In most cases, being able to afford the fee imposed to have the baptisms of their children entered into the register would have been extremely difficult.  Sometimes, a group of children from one family were all recorded together. This was a fair indication that their parents had been able to put aside a few precious pence, maybe from a good crop of corn or the slaughter of an animal, and were finally able to have the baptisms of their offspring recorded. We are grateful to those that were able to!

George Frame and his son Andrew, my 3rd great-grandfather lived near Crossgates (see map below) which was the original Auldtoon — the foundation of what was to become the village of Larkhall, thus our later generations were recorded as being in Larkhall.  Very little is known of my 4th great-grandfather George Frame, other than he was recorded as a 'tenant in Larkhall' and that Farm Horse Tax was levied in his name on the 26 July 1797. It showed that George had three taxable horses at ‘Oldtown’ (Auldtoon).   

Some of the early fermtouns that were eventually incorporated into Larkhall village as it expanded were Broomhill, Raploch, East Machan, West Machan, Laverock, Merryton Braes, Muirhouse, Muirshot (Drygate), Muirbrew or brae (Burnhead), Millheugh, Skelliestoun, Struther, Poodrait, Meadowhill, Pyatshaw, Braehead and Chapeltree (also known as Crossgates - the Auldtoon).

The period 1744 -1800 marked the rise and progress of the population of Larkhall to the proportion of a village, but most advancement took place from around the mid 1770s onwards.   The Statistical Accounts of Scotland tell us that in the 1790s Larkhall had about 100 houses, principally inhabited by handloom weavers, bleachers, and miners connected with neighbouring collieries. There were also plenty of alehouses, much frowned upon by Rev. John Risk, the minister of the time. He claimed they were not favourable to the morals or the industry of the inhabitants and sparked frequent squabbles, riots and acts of incontinence.   It seems little has changed in relation to ale houses! 

By the time the Rev. John Risk prepared the report of Dalserf parish for the Statistical Accounts of Scotland 1791-1799  the population had increased to about 1100.  They included:

• 100 Weavers

• 36 Coalminers

• 16 Masons

• 16 Joiners and Carpenters

• 9 Innkeepers

• 9 Tailors

• 8 Shoemakers

• Blacksmiths

• Shopkeepers

• 4 Millers

• I Surgeon

• I Dyer

• I Spinner on cotton jenny

The above is a very useful 'snapshot' of the inhabitants of Larkhall in those times; with the village already having at least four coal mines operational by then.  The agricultural revolution and the granting of generous 99-year leases on farms around Larkhall, which secured permanent residences for many villagers, was also key. Possibly the most dominant factor though, was the craft of the many handloom weavers — a specialized cottage industry that included the labour of even the young children of the family. Most weavers were contracted to merchants from Glasgow. Agents delivered yarn to the weaver’s cottage and then returned to pick up the finished cloth. The weaving industry was not without its share of problems. In 1787, the Clyde Weavers’ Association went on strike in Glasgow when the mill-owners proposed to cut workers’ wages. Previously, strikes had been resolved peacefully, but in this instance the army was called in and six weavers were killed.  Old Testaments tell us that weavers surnamed Frame were in the Dalserf parish as early as the beginning of the 17th century. 

ANDREW FRAME b. 18 Aug 1776 in Larkhall, Dalserf parish   

Spouse: ELIZABETH PETER/S

My 3rd great-grandfather, Andrew Frame, was baptised on 18 Aug 1776:   'George Fram, tenant in Larkhall and Elizabeth Hamilton his spouse had a son bapt. named Andrew.'    Andrew Frame and Elizabeth Peters m. 11 Nov 1804 in Dalserf parish:  'Andrew Frame and Elizabeth Peters both in this parish'

An Elizabeth Peter,  daughter of James Peter and Janet McDonald, was born in New Kilpatrick, Dunbartonshire 10 April 1781 (GROS Ref: 500/ 0020 0030). Elizabeth's first known daughter and son are named Janet and James, although it is believed she would have had a firstborn son named George, consistent with traditional Scottish naming pattern. The timeframe seems to fit so it seems possible that Elizabeth Peters was the Elizabeth Peter born in New Kilpatrick April 1781.  New Kilpatrick is about 18 miles from Larkhall where Elizabeth married Andrew Frame.

 Andrew Frame followed in his father’s footsteps and became a farmer.  Farm Horse Tax was levied on 26 July 1797.  Andrew was described as being ‘Near Crossgate’ Larkhall (see map above) which is the Auldtoon (Old Town), and had one taxable horse. His father George had three horses at 'Oldtown' in that same tax period.  

Andrew Frame was living with his daughter Janet and son-in-law Adam Wilson at the time of the 1841 census, so presumably his wife, Elizabeth Peters was deceased by then.  Andrew was not with Janet and Adam for the 1851 census so presumably, he had passed away sometime between 1841 and 1851. Statutory registration of births, deaths and marriages did not commence until 1855 in Scotland, thus his death record was not available. Andrew and Elizabeth were probably both laid to rest in the old Larkhall graveyard just near Crossgates. The old church is now a Masonic Lodge and the burial ground is now a car park... ‘Laid to rest’ is possibly not quite an appropriate term. Locals were outraged when Council removed remains from the old graveyard to make way for the establishment of the car park. The remains were said to be re-interred in the newer cemetery at Larkhall, but some locals harbour doubts about that.   A photo exists of a woman holding a baby beside a grave in the original graveyard and the baby was said to be a Frame. However, efforts to secure a copy have failed. My 3rd-great-grandfather  Andrew Frame was last recorded living in Hamilton Rd. Larkhall in 1841

It is almost certain that Andrew and Elizabeth had an earlier, unrecorded son named George who was born and died sometime between 1804 and 1811. It would have been extremely unusual for Andrew and Elizabeth to leave it until their third son to name him after the paternal grandfather. Traditionally, after a child died, the next child of the same sex was named in honour of the deceased child. Given that John Frame was the only known child born in the ten year gap between George (1811) and Andrew Jr. (1821), it is possible that Andrew and Elizabeth had other children who were not unrecorded.

 The following are the children of Andrew Frame and Elizabeth Peters from the Dalserf OPRs:

1. JANET FRAME was born c. 1806 in Carluke and died 26 Sep 1874 in Hamilton, Lanarkshire.   She married  ADAM WILSON.  He was born in Ireland c.1797 and died 26 Nov 1873 in Hamilton, Lanarkshire.

2. ELIZABETH FRAME was born on 24 Oct 1807 in Larkhall, Lanarkshire, Scotland. She died on 16 Jan 1880 in 8 Hamilton St Larkhall, Lanarkshire, Scotland. She married ROBERT BRUCE on 25 Oct 1835 in Dalserf, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was born about 1810 in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He died on 04 Jun 1877 in 29 Hamilton St Larkhall, Lanarkshire, Scotland. 

3. JAMES FRAME (Twin 1) b. 13 Dec 1809 in Auldtoon, Larkhall and died 25 Apr 1859 iat Longdales Asylum,  Bothwell, Lanarkshire.   He married MARGARET WEIR 19 Jan 1834 in Dalserf. She was born 10 Mar 1810 in Larkhall and died 16 Aug 1892 in Hamilton, Lanarkshire. 

4. ROBERT FRAME (Twin 2) b. 13 Dec 1809 in Auldtoon, Larkhall:  'Robert and James, twin sons to Andrew Frame and Elizabeth Peters his spouse in Auldtoon at Larkhall born Wed. 13 Bapd. Tues 19 Decembr.' 

5. GEORGE FRAME was born on 16 Jul 1811 in Auldtoon, Larkhall, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He died on 29 Jun 1890 in Hamilton St Larkhall, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He married JANET SUMMERS on 08 Nov 1835 in Stonehouse, Lanarkshire, Scotland. She was born on 02 Dec 1810 in Stonehouse, Lanarkshire, Scotland. She died on 19 Jan 1890 in Hamilton St Larkhall, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

6. JOHN FRAME was born about 1817 in Auldtoon, Larkhall, Dalserf par., Lanarkshire, Scotland. He died on 24 Sep 1870 in 73 Almada St Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He married AGNES PATERSON, daughter of Andrew PATERSON and Grizzel ('Grace') DICK on 08 Dec 1854 in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, Scotland. She was born about 1829 in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Scotland. She died on 14 Oct 1896 in 51 Beckford St, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland. 

7. ANDREW FRAME  b. 7 Jul 1821 in Auldtoon, Larkhall, Lanarkshire.  Andrew Frame, youngest child of Andrew Frame and Elizabeth Peters, died sometime between 8 Nov 1832 when he was baptised at II-years of age, and 1841. He did not appear on the 1841or later census records so he may have died soon after his baptism, which coincided with a cholera epidemic. However, if information in the Statistical Accounts of Scotland is correct, there were no deaths attributed to cholera in Dalserf parish in 1832 (see following).

In the New Statistical Accounts of Scotland (1834-1845), ministers James Craig and John Russell state that the soil of Dalserf parish was reasonably fertile and the climate dry and salubrious. The population was considered healthy, with the ministers noting that few places in Scotland were more favourable to good health. Their description made it sound almost idyllic but the reality was possibly somewhat less with work hard, the hours long and the winters harsh.  The ministers claimed that Dalserf was one of the few parishes in Scotland that had no cases of cholera reported during the epidemic of 1832.  Following are some of their comments on Dalserf - they are pertinent to helping us imagine the area in the time of our forebears:

‘ ...Large quantities of pheasants and woodcocks, and some blackcock are seen here; and at the close of autumn, many Socks of plovers from the moorlands visit the wheat-fields. The chief rivers are the Clyde and Avon; the Cander, which is the next in size, falls into the Avon, and gives the name of the district of Cander to that part of the parish inclosed by it, where there are some superior farms. Numerous burns rise in the parish, and breaking forth from the high ridge on the western side of the river Clyde, dash in many places with great impetuosity over the abrupt sandstone rocks, forming several beautiful cascades. After this, they run on until they fall into the Clyde. The ravines formed by these waterfalls, which are swollen in some parts of the year and frequently dry in others, are clothed with foliage, and stretching across the country obliquely to the two great rivers, diversify the scenery, and add considerably to the striking views on the Clyde. The river Avon, also, has clusters of verdant knolls and many clumps of rich plantation on its precipitous sides. The chief streams contain salmon, trout, salmon-fry, and par, which, however, bear at present no proportion to their former numbers, owing to the machinery erected on the banks, from which the residuum of chemical and dyeing operations runs into the waters; the drainage of lime manure from contiguous lands; and the passage of steam-vessels...’

‘... The soil varies considerably throughout the parish. The low ground in the neighbourhood of the rivers is mostly rich alluvial deposit, consisting chiefly of sand and mud of great depth, resting upon a subsoil of sand and gravel. In the higher lands near the Glasgow and Carlisle road, and by the village of Dalserf, which stands about 120 feet above the level of the sea,  the soil is a strong heavy clay, lying upon a compact tenacious subsoil of till. In some places are strips of sandy earth; and in others, especially near the Avon, the grounds are chiefly loam. The southern part contains a few acres of moss; but, with this exception, the whole parish is cultivated.. The chief crops are wheat and oats, the soil in general not being considered suited to green crops, though in some parts very good potatoes, turnips, carrots, and beetroot are produced. The farmers pay great attention to dairy farming; the cows are chiefly of the Ayrshire breed, and about 500 are kept. Much competition exists in the improvement of every description of livestock, for which premiums have been awarded to some of the farmers by the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. In particular, Mr James Frame, tenant of the farm of Broomfield and Overton, on the Hamilton estate, is well known as having obtained prizes at the exhibitions, and county and parochial associations of a similar kind. The cultivation of orchards also forms an important part of the rural occupations, the parish being situated in about the centre of the great range of fruit plantations in Clydesdale. A few acres of fruit-trees are cultivated on the banks of the Avon; but the chief plantations are near the Clyde, among the acclivities overlooking the river, which are too abrupt and rugged to admit the approach of the plough. Apples, pears, and plums of every kind grow luxuriantly, the plum range, however, only extending a distance of three or four miles along the river. The rateable annual value of the parish is £7704.'

' The chief mansions are Dalserf, Millburn, and Broomhill all of which are respectable structures, standing in the midst of beautiful scenery. The villages are considerable, and together contain about two-thirds of the population of the parish. Some of the inhabitants are engaged in the manufacture of cotton, the weaving of which is superintended by agents employed by Glasgow firms; and many females are occupied in the manufacture of lace, for the houses at Hamilton. Among the roads that intersect the parish are, one from Glasgow to Carlisle, another from Glasgow to Lanark, and a third from Edinburgh to Ayr, which crosses the river Clyde at Garrion.'

See HAMILTON, LANARKSHIRE

Sources:

Risk, Rev. John, Statistical Accounts of Scotland, Dalserf Parish, 1791-1799.

Craig, Rev. James; Russell, Rev. John, New Statistical Accounts of Scotland, Dalserf Parish, 1834-1845. 

General Register Office of Scotland (G.R.O.S.).

Moir, Helen, Larkhall,  1998, Reprinted 2001.

Hamilton, James, Old Larkhall, 2001.