It's only recently that I've discovered a Kirkcudbright connection in my family.

My g-g-g-grandfather's brother, Thomas ANDERSON, born at Crossgatehall in the parish of Bunkle, Berwickshire, moved to Galloway in the early part of the 19th century and married Isabella HATHORN in Kirkinner, Wigtownshire, in 1817. They had one child in Kirkinner and several more in Kirkcudbright.

The Anderson menfolk were almost all blacksmiths (and two are described as "noted horse doctors" - which reminds me of Groucho Marx elbowing his way to the front of the crowd shouting "Let me through, I'm a doctor! Where's the horse?") and I see from a recent message on this list that a Thomas ANDERSON appears in Pigot's 1825 directory at The Smithy, High Street, Kirkcudbright. I think he must be my man.

The known children of Thomas ANDERSON and Isabella HATHORN or HAWTHORN are:

John ANDERSON, christened at Kirkinner 12 April 1818

William ANDERSON, christened at Kirkcudbright 23 October 1819, probably the blacksmith at Bladnoch, Wigtownshire, who married his cousin Matilda Anderson

Margaret ANDERSON, christened at Kirkcudbright 16 March 1824, presumably died in infancy

Margaret ANDERSON, christened at Kirkcudbright 24 February 1826

Jean Fair ANDERSON, born at Kirkcudbright 26 February 1832

Mary ANDERSON, born at Kirkcudbright 23 December 1833

I'd very much like to hear from anyone who might be connected to any of the above, or to any other blacksmiths named Anderson, even if the connection isn't immediately obvious.

Or is there any kind soul with access to monumental inscriptions in Kirkcudbright who might be able to find any related deaths?

(By the way, the ANDERSON family is intertwined with the FAIR family in Berwickshire; Thomas's mother was Jean FAIR; his half-brother Peter, who preceded him to Kirkinner, married Agnes FAIR (these were the parents of the Matilda ANDERSON mentioned above); and Agnes's sister Magdalen or Matilda married Andrew McADAM also from Kirkinner, so both families have Galloway connections.)