Very little is recorded about Ann Millar (or Miller) who was the mother of James Symington 1788-1862, William Symington's illegitimate first son. The death record for James shows her married name as McMillan and her occupation "domestic servant."
James was born in Wanlockhead in 1788. There is no birth entry for James in old parochial records nor is there any mention of his birth in kirk session records. The Church of Scotland at the time took a very dim view of extramarital "fornication". William Symington and Ann were fortunate indeed to avoid the wrath of the church. The Wanlockhead church was subordinate to the church at Sanquhar which came under the jurisdiction of the Penpont Presbytery. At the time, references to Wanlockhead are scarce in the archival records and it appears that William and Ann totally escaped the notice of the Kirk session.
Ann later married Alexander McMillan, a Wanlockhead lead miner. James was brought up in Wanlockhead by Ann and Alexander McMillan and had at least five younger half brothers and sisters.
Review of the sadly deficient Old Parochial Records for the region, reveals an Anne Millar who was baptized on 18 September 1769 in Wanlockhead, [1] the legal daughter of James Millar and Janet March who married in Wanlockhead; their banns proclaimed on 13 November 1768. [2] A James Miller was employed as a smelter for the Scots Mines Company at Leadhills from 1753 to 1755; other possible relatives by the surname Miller who were listed in the mining company bargain books were: David, miner, 1738-1744; William, miner, 1760-1779; John, ore smelter, 1766-1798.
Note also that in 1758 a George Millar and Margaret Telfer in Wanlockhead had a daughter named Janet Millar.
An Alexander McMillan was baptized in Wanlockhead on 10th September 1769.
THE CHILDREN OF ANN MILLAR AND ALEXANDER MCMILLAN
JAMES MCMILLAN born c. 1795; lead miner and lead washer; single; died aged 77 years from heart disease 9th January 1873.
JANET MCMILLAN born c. 1797; wool spinner, housekeeper; single; died aged 75 years from heart disease 2nd December 1872. [3]
THOMAS MCMILLAN born c. 1804; lead washer and formerly lead miner; married Helen Henderson; died at Wanlockhead aged 75 years from chronic bronchitis on 2nd July 1879.
CATHERINE MCMILLAN born c. 1808; housekeeper, former muslin flowerer; single; died a pauper aged 84 years from senile decay on 10th April 1892. 1881 Census living in Long Row.
WILLIAM MCMILLAN legal son of Alexander McMillan and Ann Miller of Wanlockhead, born 11th May 1814 and baptized 14th May [4]
And also, possibly, Alexander born 1802.
Children of THOMAS MCMILLAN and Helen Henderson
Alexander McMillan born 1829; died aged 68 years 30th September 1897; lead miner, surface labourer; married Jane Stewart (she died 19th August 1935 aged 89); children: Helen H. c. 1881, Elizabeth c. 1883, Thomas W. c. 1887, Charles S. 1891
William Menzies McMillan born 1832; miner's labourer.
Helen McMillan born 1834; muslin flowerer; died 1900 at 120 High Street Sanquhar.
Andrew McMillan born 1836; lead miner; married Mary Stewart; died aged 44 years on 4th May 1881; children Thomas c. 1868, Jane c. 1874, William c. 1877; 1881 Census Glencrieff Cottages
James McMillan born 1839; lead mine level-man; married Agnes Nicol; died aged 41 years on 27th April 1881; daughters Agnes died 18 months and Euphemia who died at Rothesay 26th August 1905 aged 40 years; sons Thomas born c. 1865, James c. 1867. 1881 Greenbank Cottage.
Thomas McMillan born 1842; timberman in lead mine (1901); married Jane Lorimer; died aged 68 years on 13th June 1910; daughter Ellen c. 1870, son William born c. 1877 died 4th August 1938; William married Catherine Murray who died 13th October 1941.
John Menzies McMillan born 1844.
Robert McMillan born 1847; died 1865.
Ann Frances McMillan 1851; died 1923 at Wanlockhead.
Elspeth McMillan born 1853.
CENSUS RECORDS OF ANN MILLAR'S MCMILLAN DESCENDANTS
1841 CENSUS SANQUHAR (WANLOCKHEAD)
848/9 page 12
Thomas McMillan 35
Helen McMillan 33 wife
Alexander 11
William 9
Andrew 4
James 1
1851 CENSUS SANQUHAR
Vol. 853 Wanlockhead Village
Page 6, House number 6/21, Address 18, 3 Fourth Row
Thomas McMillan 46 head lead miner born Wanlockhead
Helen 43 wife born Moffatt
Alexander 21 son lead miner
William 18 son miner's labourer
Helen 16 dau. muslin flowerer
Thomas 8 son scholar
John 6 son
Robert 3 son
Page 14, Household number 6/59
James McMillan 56 unmarried lead miner
Janet McMillan 54 sister wool spinner
Catherine McMillan 43 sister muslin flowerer
James McMillan 10 nephew scholar (son of Thomas McMillan)
1861 CENSUS
Village of Wanlockhead
Townhead
William McMillan 28 head lead mine labourer
Mary McMillan 32 wife
Janet McMillan 7 dau.
Long Row
James McMillan 66 unm. lead miner
Janet McMillan 64 sister
Catherine McMillan 53 sister stamped muslin sewer
James McMillan 21 nephew lead mine labourer
Goldscaur Row
Thomas McMillan 56 head lead miner
Alexr. McMillan 31 son lead miner
Thomas McMillan 18 son lead miner
John M. McMillan 16 son lead washer
Robert McMillan 13 son scholar
Ann J. McMillan 9 dau.
Elspy McMillan 7 dau
1881 CENSUS WANLOCKHEAD
Catherine McMillan 73
James McMillan 41
Agnes McMillan 40
Euphemia 16, Thomas 14, James 12, Hellen 10, Margaret 8, Ann 6, Alexander <1month, John Moffat 20, stepson
Alexander McMillan 50
Jane McMillan 34 wife
Mary J. 3, Helen H. 6 months
1891 CENSUS WANLOCKHEAD
New Row
Thomas 48, Helen 21, William 14
Ditto for 1901
Long Row
James 37, Elizabeth wife, Robert 13, William 10, Margaret 8 months
1901 James, Elizabeth, Robert, also Elizabeth 8 and Isabella 6
Church Street
John 43 head, Thomas 35 brother, Euphemia 38 sister
Catherine McMillan 83
Alexander McMillan 60
Jane McMillan 46 wife
Mary Jane 13, Helen H. 10, Elizabeth 8, Thomas H. 4, Charles S. 1 month
Thomas McMillan 48
Helen McMillan 21 dau.
William McMillan 14 son
1901 CENSUS WANLOCKHEAD
New Row
Thomas McMillan 58 widr. timberman in lead mine
Ellen McMillan 31 dau. housekeeper
William McMillan 24 son lead miner's labourer
[1] OPR Sanquhar 848/10 46
[2] OPR Sanquhar 848/10 145
[3] Informant on her death certificate, Helen McMillan, her sister-in-law
[4] OPR Sanquhar 848/10 130 William is their child registered in OPR births and baptisms
REFERENCES
Jordan, Bernice and Ray, Monumental Inscriptions of the Graveyard at Meadowfoot, Wanlockhead. Wanlockhead Museum of Lead Mining 1999
Nicol, H. Gilbert, Families of Wanlockhead. A portrait of a lead mining village in 19th century Scotland. New York 1999