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Photo of Barbara Harkness

Barbara Harkness

‘A’ Shift – Gun Cotton Drying Section and member of the Volunteer Fire Brigade
Birthplace Dumfriesshire Middlebie Place of Death Castle Douglas Date of Birth: June 8, 1893

Biography

Name: Barbara HARKNESS
DoB: 8th June 1893
Place of birth: Middlebie, Dumfriesshire
Parents: William & Susannah (nee Anderson)
Parental Home: 1893 Broadlee Cottage, Middlebie
1901 as above
Siblings: Susannah M ((1878), Janet (1879), Elizabeth (1882-1970) Robert (1884), George (1886-1886), William (1888-) Jemima (1891-1972), Jane (1896-1990)
Spouse: James Thomas Reid
Date of Wedding: 3rd April 1921
Location: Upper Collinhirst, Ecclefechan
Children: Sydney R (1921-), Minerva E H (1923-)
Marital home(s): 27 St Ninians Place, Castle Douglas
Employment: Domestic service – servant
1911 Census: Census shows living as servant – employed by Fergus Milligan, Farmer, Merkland, nr Dunscore, Dumfriesshire
Date of death: June 1976
Location: Castle Douglas. Buried in Castle Douglas Cemetery on 29 June 1976

Gretna details
Name:Barbara HARKNESS
Clock No
Date joining: Not known
Date leaving: Not known but is in photo dated June 1918
Unit: ‘A’ Shift – Gun Cotton Drying Section
Addresses: Not confirmed
Rank on start: Not applicable within Fire Staff
Promotion: Not applicable within Fire Staff
Career after: Returned to Domestic Service as servant at Upper Collinhirst House
1921 Census
1921 census not available but will show Mrs Barbara Reid –
census taken on 19 June 1921; Barbara married in April ‘21

 

Addresses after Gretna
1925, 1930, 1935 – 27 St Ninians Place, Castle Douglas
1940 – 2 Laurel Bank Terrace, Castle Douglas
1956 – 4 Laurel Bank Terrace, Castle Douglas

Additional information

Barbara Harkness was born on 8th June 1893 into a large family, living near the village of Middlebie, Dumfriesshire in one of Broadlea Cottages. Her father, William, was farm foreman at Broadlea Farm but passed away in 1905. The farm’s name was also spelt as Broadlee (as per map below) Following his death the family split up with Barbara going to work in a large house near Dunscore, on the road towards. It is not yet known when Barbara joined the staff at Gretna, nor an address for her. She was in ‘A’ shift Gun Cotton Drying Section Fire Brigade. After leaving Gretna, Barbara returned to domestic service but in a large house near Ecclefechan, on the road towards Lockerbie. She married James Reid in a ceremony at her place of work. Documents relating to Barbara between 1922 and death records have not been located. James was a plumber by trade and lived and worked in and around Castle Douglas until his death. Barbara continued to live in Castle Douglas until passing away in 1976.

Related by Category

Related by City - Middlebie

Related by County - Dumfriesshire

Related by Last Name - Harkness

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