DNA stalking in the Nith Valley

Sir Robert Grierson, 5th Bart – Obituary, The Gentleman, October 1839

He was thus much of a military man drew half pay, as has been stated, for more than twice the average term of human life, and was the oldest officer in the service a good many years previous to his death…

John Grierson (1778 Scotland – 1855 Australia)

John’s adventurous life led from Scotland to Australia, then back to Scotland, then again out to Australia. He had 9 children, 56 grandchildren and 193 great-grandchildren, and in this prolific family there are many proud members of the Broadfoot, Thomas and Cockerell families as well as a large number of living descendants carrying the Grierson name.

Tracing your Grierson tree

Scotland has a different legal system to the rest of Britain which affects the types of records that are kept. New Register House in Edinburgh, holds BMD records and parish registers for Scotland.

Civil registration was introduced in 1855 and Scottish certiflcates contain the same information as those in England, but with a few major additions regarding BMD.