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RALSTON  Family Tree
Branch 05-3

       Issue of James Ralston and Janet Al(l)ison    
                                                                                    
                            05 RALSTON                  BR
                                   
                              Gavin           Robert          William         James        Alexander       Nancy           Janet
                                                                                                                                              Agnes
                          1792-1875                            1797-1864        1797-1825                            1803-?          1805-1834
                           05RAG3           05RAR0         05RAW1          05RAJ7         05RAA6          05RAN0          05RAJ8

(Incomplete)
 

James Ralston was born in 1757 and died on 28 Jul 1816 in Fineview, Wigtonshire, at age 59.
Notes: 9 Jan 1819 farmer at Fineview, Kirkcolumb

Article by William H. Ralston
JAMES RALSTON
Among the first to introduce Ayrshire cows and cheese making was Mr James Ralston, in Fineview, Kirkcolm, at the beginning of the present century, the farm being where Corswall House and plantations now are. He kept sixty cows, and we find that he fed and managed them about as well as they are done at present. He provided winter food by growing a few turnips, (the cultivation of these at that time having just been introduced) and potatoes, keeping the cows in during the whole winter; previous to and at this time it was the custom to allow the cattle to roam over the fields in winter as well as summer, this in wet weather in undrained land tramping the grasses out of root. During the hot weather in summer a supply of grass was cut and given to the cows in the byres, in order to protect them from the heat and flies. He expected each cow to make her own weight in the best cheese, which was thought at that time enormous. He went very shrewdly about making up this quantity; he kept two dairy maids, dividing the cows equally, one dairy maid milking, and making the cheese of one lot one day, and doing the same with the other the next; and at the end of the year a handsome present was given to her who had the most and the best cheese.

James married Janet Alison on 29 Aug 1791 in Ardrossan, Ayrshire. Janet was born in 1764 and died on 24 Apr 1834 in Culmore, at age 70.

Children from this marriage were:

   i. Gavin Ralston was born on 29 May 1792, died on 15 Apr 1875 in Seaview House, Hill Street, Salcoats, at age 82, and was buried in Sorbie, Wigtonshire.

   ii. Robert Ralston died in America.

 iii. William Ralston was born in 1797 in Maybole, Ayrshire, died on 8 Mar 1864 in Culmore, Wigtonshire, at age 67, and was buried in Stoneykirk.

iv. James Ralston was born in 1797 and died on 7 Jan 1825 in Cairnside, at age 28.

 v. Alexander Ralston

 vi. Nancy (Agnes) Ralston was born in 1803.

   vii. Janet Ralston was born in 1805 and died on 27 Feb 1834 in Cults, at age 29.
Noted events in her life were: • Baptism: 11 Feb 1805, Kirkcolm, Wigtonshire. Janet married James Lockhart on 20 Jun 1826 in Stoneykirk, Wigtonshire. James Lockhart died before 1834