John Thomson Renton, Renton

The Rentons of Birsley, Eastlothian, were descended from a branch of the Rentons or Rentouns of Renton, a barony in the parish of Coldingham, Berwickshire, hereditary Foresters of the Woods of the Priory of Coldingham.

Several generations of this family succeeded each other from father to son in Birsley down to 1678, when William Renton was born. He, with his son, witnessed the battle of Prestonpans; and having lived all his days in Birsley, died there in 1750. He had several children. One of them, William, was born in 1705, and moved from Birsley to Parkfoot, in Channelkirk, Berwickshire, where he resided till his death in 1784. For many years he was an elder of his parish Kirk. He was married 27 March 1731 to Jean Swinton, lawful daughter to Patrick Swinton, in Seton, at Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh, by Mr. Patrick Middleton, Minister there. By her he had eight children, of whom his son Peter or Patrick Renton was born at Whestlan Miln, Parkfoot, 11 March 1745, and baptised in the parish Kirk of Channelkirk.

Peter Renton went to Edinburgh, where he became a damask weaver and Manufacturer, and died there in 1782. He married 10 June 1767 Christina Gordon, daughter of William Gordon and his wife Jean Martin; she was born at Grangegotside, St. Cuthbert’s parish, Edinburgh, 21 August 1742, and died in her son’s house, 15 Buccleuch Place, 4 March 1820, and was buried in Old Calton, Edinburgh. Her father William Gordon was a damask weaver and manufacturer, and sometime Deacon of the Weavers; her mother Jean Martin, a daughter of James Martin, brewer Musselburgh. Peter Renton had several children, the fourth of which William Renton, born Friday, 7 January 1774, in Pleasance St. Cuthberts, Edinburgh, died on 9 February 1855, in 22 Buccleuch Place, and was buried in Old Calton.           

William Renton was married 7 July 1802, by the Rev. Andrew Lothian, of Portsburgh Church, to Agnes, fifth child of Henry Duncan, and his wife, Rachel Anderson. She was born 16 February 1781, in Warriston Close; died 18 December 1863, in 22 Buccleuch Place, and was buried in Old Calton. Her father Henry Duncan, Merchant, of Warriston Close, after of Comley Gardens, was born in 1747, and died in 1830, the son of Peter Duncan, Cloth Manufacturer, and his wife Christina Fernie. Her mother Rachel was the second daughter of Robert Anderson, of Cramilt, Peebleshire, and his wife Janet Grieve, and died 16 December 1800.           

William and Agnes Renton had twelve children, all of whom were baptised in Rose Street Church. Peter, born 18 April 1803; died 1 November 1843. Henry, born 5 October 1804; died 4 January 1877. Agnes, born 24 May 1806. Rachel, born 25 May 1808; died 16 February 1815. Isabella, born 18 February 1810. William, born 19 October 1811, died 6 September 1813. Christina Gordon, born 11 July 1813; died 1 November 1841. William, born 13 April 1815. John Thomson, born 20 October 1816. Thomas Laidlaw, born 5 June 1818. Alexander, born 14 December 1819, and died 25 October 1863. James Hall, born 19 February 1821.            

Henry Renton, born in South Richmond Street, Edinburgh, 5 October 1804. Died in Kelso, 4 January 1877. Buried in the cemetery, Kelso. Married, 27 October 1830, Margaret McCallum, who died in Kelso, 31 October 1879. Their Children, Margaret Paton, born 15 October 1835; married 3 June 1861, Benjamin Mein Agnes Duncan, born 26 August 1840; married 7 July 1863, William Mein.            

Agnes Renton, born in Causewayside, 24 May 1806. Married 7 July 1834, John Robson DD, who died in Glasgow, 21 January 1872, and was buried in the Necropolis there. Their children, John, born 14 January 1836; married 28 August 1860, Elizabeth Boyd. William, born 7 February 1838; married 28 March 1871, Jane Clark, who died, 5 February 1872, secondly on 10 October 1876, Christina Gordon Renton. George, born 8 May 1842; married 28 August 1867, Marianne Boyd. Agnes, born 8 March 1844; married 17 November 1863, James Young. Henry, born 26 July 1848; married 1 October 1875, Jane Gray Crothers.

Isabella Renton, born in 15 Buccleuch Place, 19 February 1810; married 11 June 1833, Mungo McCallum. Their children, Agnes, born 17 May 1834. Margaret Paton, born 20 October 1836. Isabella Renton, born 6 July 1839; married 5 October 1859 John Davidson, DD. Christina Gordon, born 19 February 1843; married 29 April 1867, Rev. George Fairgreive. Katherine, born 19 November 1845; married 4 May 1871, George Ballardie. Duncan, born 24 January 1847. Jessie, born 29 March 1849. Elizabeth Rachel, born 21 July 1851. Mungo William, born 26 February 1854.            

Christina Gordon Renton, born in 15 Buccleuch Place, 11 July 1813, died 1 November 1841. Married 22 March 1836, Duncan McLaren MP. Their children Agnes, born 4 July 1837, Duncan, born 20 February 1839. Catherine, born 25 May 1840; married 7 July 1863, John S. Oliver; died at Bournemouth, 15 October 1869.            

William Renton, born in 15 Buccleuch Place, 13 April 1815.

John Thomas Renton, born in 15 Buccleuch Place, 20 October 1816; married 24 September 1844, Elizabeth Leishman. Their children Elizabeth, born 21 August 1845; married 12 May 1868, James Stirling. Agnes Duncan, born 19 August 1846; married 1 June 1867 Robert Miller. William, born 26 January 1848; married 21 October 1880, Mabel Drury. Isabella, born 5 February 1849. Mary Christina, born 5 February 1850; married 16 June 1874, Henry Darley Livingstone JP. Lalia, born 29 February 1852; married 23 May 1876 Edward Ranulph de Barry Barnett, Captain 4th King’s Own. Gertrude, born 8 June 1855. Constance Gordon, born 12 August 1856. James Henry, born 17 February 1859.

Alexander Renton, born in 15 Buccleuch Place, 14 December 1819. Died in Kelso, 25 October 1863; and buried in the Grange Cemetery, Edinburgh. Married 21 March 1849, Jane Leishman. Their Children, William, born 6 February 1850. Christina Gordon, born 3 May 1857; married 10 October 1876, William Robson. James Henry, born 4 September 1852. Alexander Vantosky, born 10 May 1854. Agnes Elizabeth, born 23 April 1859.

James Hall Renton, born in 15 Buccleuch Place, 19 February 1821; married, 26 July 1855, Alicia Ward. Their children, Alice Ward, born 15 July 1856. William Gordon, born 17 August 1858. Ethel Jeffrey, born 4 January 1860. Agnes Duncan, born 18 June 1861. James Hall, born 13 December 1861. Alicia Helen, born 2 May 1865. Alexander Leslie, born 6 July 1868. Arthur Henry, born 5 October 1869. Evelyn Maude, born 13 January 1874.