Today I am playing a game of catch-up as I missed several anniversaries in January. The first of these is:

24^TH JANUARY – JANET COCHRANE SMITH

G-G GRANDMOTHER, Janet Cochrane SMITH was born on this day in 1837, the eldest of 8 children born to Stewart Smith & Mary Brown. Being the daughter of an agricultural labourer on a farm at Auchenmade in Ayreshire Scotland, Janet would have grown up in very modest circumstances. By the age of 14 she had already left home and was earning her keep as a domestic servant nearly 20kms away in Port Glasgow. At some stage Janet learns the trade of dressmaking as this is the profession stated on her marriage in 1855 to William Cunningham Bontine Hamilton. No doubt her contribution to the family income was much needed as she bore 11 children (only 4 of whom reached maturity). After the death of her husband in 1885, Janet moves to London to live with her son William and his wife Agnes in Woolwich. Living nearby was her daughter Annie who had married G-grandfather John Mackenzie. Another son, Stuart was also living in London.

I have written previously bout Janet back in 2009

Happy Birthday G-G-Grandma!