Fergus(s)on DNA Project William FERGUSSON, Governor of Sierra Leone, Sep 1841 - Jan 1842, Jul 1844 - 1845

Candlemas Bleese. — Colonel Alexander Fergusson writes in Notes and Queries:—" My father, sometime Governor and Captain General of the colony of Sierra Leone, was born about 1804. As a very small child he attended a parish school in the ‘Redgauntlet’ country, hard by the Solway. It was then the custom, as I have been informed, on Candlemas Day for every scholar to carry, as an offering to the schoolmaster, a gift of peats, varying in number according to the distance to be traversed and the strength of the pupil. This duty was known by the name of the "Candlemas bleeze, (i.e., blaze)." Any one acquainted with the incomparable nature of the peats from the Lochar Moss —that terror to English troops and sanctuary for Border reivers — cut from a jetty soil as black as ink and smooth and soft as butter, and, when dried in the sun, the thin slices approaching coal in hardness, will understand what a welcome addition to the master’s winter store of fuel was thus pleasantly provided. Probably this was about the last of an ancient custom; for in looking over many years ago, some old accounts of the expenses connected with my father’s education, there occurs an item of money paid to the schoolmaster "in lieu of the Candlemas bleeze." I have heard of a similar contribution being made to the parish schoolmaster in other parts of Scotland, where peat was not so common nor so good. it took the form of an offering of candles. I am sorry I can give no date for this latter instance of the survival of what was probably a custom dating from early Popish days." [Vol. 1, p. 85]

• William FERGUSSON of Ruthwell, Dumfriesshire b. ~1804; m. Nov 23 1818 Charlotte HALL (~1796-1857), Inveresk and Musselburgh, Midlothian; d. 19 Jan 1846, At Sea
  • William FERGUSSON b. Jan 30, 1820, Ruthwell, Dumfriesshire
  • Ann Burne FERGUSSON b. Feb 18 1821, Ruthwell, Dumfriesshire; m. Mr. HOLE, Widow in 1851 census
    • William HOLE b.~1847
  • Elizabeth FERGUSSON b. Aug 22 1822, Kirkbean, Kirkcudbright
  • James FERGUSSON
  • Lieut. Colonel Alexander FERGUSSON b. Apr 21 1832, Troqueer, Kirkcudbright; d. Mar 27 1892; 1841 resident 34 London St., Edinburgh in Mother's household; 1881, 1891 resident of 18 Lennox Street, Edinburgh
    m. 1st Apr 1860 Marion PATERSON, she d. Aug 1865;
    • Charlotte Marion FERGUSON b. Apr 1862, India
    m. 2d 1869 Agnes Elizabeth DUNMORE
    • Alexander Henry Erskine FERGUSSON b. Jan 1870; d. Feb 1870.
    • George Alexander Dunmore FERGUSSON b. Apr 1871, Edinburgh; 1901 resides in mother's household, 18 Lennox Street, Edinburgh, single
    • Helena Agnes FERGUSSON b. May 1872, Edinburgh
    • Frederick Alexander Kincaid FERGUSSON b. May 1873, Edinburgh; d. 23 Jul 1922, Wandsworth; m. 1906 Apr-May-Jun Wandsworth, London, Surrey, Ida Jane M BELL
      • Alexander G. K. FERGUSSON b. 1912, Apr-May-Jun Wandsworth 1d 1379; m. 1939 Norah E. O'BRIEN Apr-May-Jun Staines 3a 68
        • Ian K. FERGUSSON b. 1946, Apr-May-Jun Brentford, 3a 433
    • Edith Charlotte Erskine FERGUSSON b. Oct 1875, Edinburgh; d. Jun 1893

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