The 'Contact' facility and the three buttons to the right of each message in the guestbook can only be used by the webmaster. If you would like to contact someone who posted a message, please do so via the webmaster (Iain Sommerville) by clicking here. Iain will forward your message to the original poster.

If your message is about family history or tracing relations, you might also find useful pointers on the Family History page.

Submitted by
Name: Joel Houck
From: South Carolina, just moved to Burntisland
Subject: I'd like to be involved
Email: Contact

Comments:
I am a playwright and lyricist and having just moved to Burntisland I am keen to be involved in the community. I'd like to start a writers group for the purpose of writing plays about Burntisland.

Reply from Iain Sommerville, webmaster:
Hi Joel,
Welcome to Burntisland! You have an interesting idea. How about expanding on it in an article for the Burgh Buzz - see www.burghbuzz.org.uk. I can also put a short item in the Fife Free Press's local news column if you want.
Iain

Original message added: April 22, 2016

Submitted by
Name: Tony Reynolds
From: Kent
Subject: mv Newfoundland
Email: Contact

Comments:
The first ship I sailed on as cadet was the mv Newfoundland, though small(ish) by the standards appearing at the time (1968), she was of extremely high quality with many features that were not to be seen on other British built ships until much later. Sadly, I think this is probably one of the reasons for the demise of British shipbuilding.
Thanks for a very good website.
Tony

Reply from Iain Sommerville, webmaster:
Thanks for the kind words, Tony!
Iain

Original message added: April 8, 2016

Submitted by
Name: Ian Somerville
From: Johannesburg, South Africa
Subject: Just dropped by
Email: Contact

Comments:
My forefathers come from the Borders, my father having been born in Galashiels. I have been able to trace the family back to Dr James Somerville, who was born in 1812 and married Helen Menilaws. A copy of the book "Baronial House of Somerville" has been passed down through the family and now resides with me as the last male heir in our lineage, but I have been unable to establish our connection to this long line of distinguished (?) Peers. It was in this quest that I landed up at this site. Thank you for your work as custodian of this most interesting source of information on Scottish heritage.

Reply from Iain Sommerville, webmaster:
Many thanks for the kind words, Ian. And good to hear from someone with (almost) the same name!
Iain

Original message added: February 18, 2016

Submitted by
Name: Kenneth Moden
From: Gainsborough, Lincoln
Subject: Fello de Sie
Email: Contact

Comments:
My aunt Kate Moden Dick Street, Burntisland was found de capitated 1942 on the LNER rail track, Fife. Would like to know her resting place.
Ken

Reply from Iain Sommerville, webmaster:
Hi Ken,
A sad story.
Burial records for Fife are kept at Kirkcaldy Crematorium - see "http://goo.gl/SQSPzH" (without the quotes). That's your best bet in the first instance.
If you haven't already done so, you might want to get a copy of the death registration from ScotlandsPeople at "http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/" (again without the quotes. That should also give you a link to the Register of Corrected Entries, which usually has additional information.
I'm not aware of there ever being a Dick Street in Burntisland. We still have a Dick Crescent. There used to be a Dick Terrace (now part of Aberdour Road) and a Dick Place (now part of Kirkton Road).
Good luck.
Iain

Original message added: January 21, 2016

Submitted by
Name: Jef Proudfoot
From: London
Subject: MARR family of Burntisland.
Email: Contact

Comments:
I'm researching my ancestors in particular, Margaret Marr born 1820, and have not been having much luck. It seems there are a lot of Marrs still in residence. Is anyone doing a family tree for the Marrs?

Reply from Iain Sommerville, webmaster:
Hi Jef,
You've maybe already seen them, but there are a few other suggestions on the website for finding people. Please select 'Data Sources' from the main menu, and then 'Family History'. The suggestions are in the box at the top of the page.
Good luck!
Iain

Original message added: January 16, 2016

Submitted by
Name: Ian Mollison
From: Ontario Canada
Subject: Burntisland geneology and photos
Email: Contact

Comments:
So what I have is this: John Mollison, born 13 Jan 1849, christening 11 Feb 1849, parents John Mollison and Agnes Millar. Parents married 14 Feb 1848. All events happened in Burntisland. I am looking at any other information relating to these people. I am planning on being in the Edinburgh area and possible Burntisland around the 22nd of July for several days.

Of the pictures that I have, several are postcards without any writing on them, and a few with "Stewart S. Whitelaw, Glossprint, Burntisland" stamped on the back. Some I will donate to the Trust others you can scan if you wish.

Ian

Reply from Iain Sommerville, webmaster:
Thanks, Ian.
You might be able to find the family on the 1841 and/or 1851 censuses.
If you email me at this email address closer to your visit, I'm sure one of us will be able to meet you. You'll also be able to visit the Heritage Centre and exhibition - for details, please go to www.burntisland.net and select 'Heritage Trust' from the main menu, and then 'Exhibition and Activities'.
Kind regards,
Iain

Original message added: June 24, 2015

Submitted by
Name: Ian Mollison
From: Ontario Canada
Subject: Geneology help
Email: Contact

Comments:
Hi There, my Great-Great grandfather was from around the Burntisland Area and I am trying sort out any information that I can find. My family and I are planning a trip to the EU and UK in July and are planning on stopping in Edinburgh and if possible, Burntisland. I also have some old pictures of the town that I am willing to donate to someone, just not sure who.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

Ian Mollison

Reply from Iain Sommerville, webmaster:
Hi Ian,
If you can give us some more information, we may well be able to help. There are some family history suggestions on the website - please select 'Data Sources' and then 'Family History' from the main menu. The Scotlands People website is a good source for births, marriages and census returns.
I'm also a Trustee of Burntisland Heritage Trust and we're always delighted to consider taking old pictures (scanned copies would be fine). Please let me know what pictures you have.
Kind regards,
Iain

Original message added: June 10, 2015

Submitted by
Name: Lynda
From: Winnipeg MB Canada
Subject: Globe Building
Email: Contact

Comments:
I just found this site and am excited to have a closer look at it. My grandmother emigrated from burntisland to Winnipeg in the 1920's. I have info from a census that her family lived in the Globe Building which I think was on High Street but I can't find a number. I guess it is not there anymore but I wondered if you had any info on what the address may have been. My friend is attending the Highland games this summer and said she would take a photo for me.

Reply from Iain Sommerville, webmaster:
Thanks, Lynda.
I've consulted Heritage Trust colleagues about this, and none of us have heard of Globe Buildings. Would you be able to send us a copy of the original census entry? It may be that the writing was difficult to read. Also the neighbouring addresses would help us to pinpoint the location. If you can't do that, can you give us the names and ages of the family members and the date of the census - if you can do that by tomorrow, we may be able to arrange for someone to look at the original in Edinburgh on Wednesday.
Kind regards,
Iain

Original message added: May 31, 2015

Submitted by
Name: Christina
From: west midlands
Subject: searching relatives
Email: Contact

Comments:
Hi
my descendants lived and worked in burntisland. My greatgrandmother, great uncle anr my mother are all buried in burntisland cemetary. I spent alot of time as a child visiting family there. I would love to know a little history of my family. Can you help? Family name was gordon. My aunt and uncle were birrell. Uncle dave was a sailor and in later life worked at the docks. My great granma was elizabeth gordon. I hav3 tried census to no avail. My mother attended old primary scholl n ferguson place in 1949. She is on a photo you have published. My great granma was born in 1888 and died in november 1954. Farrell gordon died in 1942 aged 21. Hope you can help.

Reply from Iain Sommerville, webmaster:
Thanks, Christina.
There are some family history suggestions on the website - please select 'Data Sources' and then 'Family History' from the main menu.
I'd particularly recommend a 'Letter to the Editor' of the Burgh Buzz. The Buzz is delivered free to all houses in the town. Make sure you include your email address.
Good luck!
Regards, Iain

Original message added: February 19, 2015

Submitted by
Name: James Meldrum
From: New Zealand
Subject: Father and family emigrated to NZ in 1926
Email: Contact

Comments:
Looking for info on James Meldrum and family who settled in NZ in 1926.
Is there a way of finding how the old and 37674new, 1960, High St numbers relate

Reply from Iain Sommerville, webmaster:
Hi James,
There are some family history suggestions on the website - please select 'Data Sources' and then 'Family History' from the main menu.
I'm not sure when the High Street numbering changed - probably sometime in the 1950s. The old numbering had odd numbers on the south, even numbers on the north, and (broadly speaking) there was one number for each building. The new numbering has odd on the north, even on the south, and there is one number for each individual house and shop. For example, I now live in 225 - formerly 106. I only know that because I have the old title deeds. There's no easy way of deducing one from the other.
I hope this helps!
Regards, Iain

Original message added: December 20, 2014