Genealogy A-Z Challenge- Surnames

Apr 2, 2016
2 min read

Genealogy A-Z Challenge- Surnames

Letter B – BISSET

John Bisset

John BISSET was presumed to be born in the parish of Clunie (per marriage record). He married Margaret Cook on the 16th February 1781 in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland.

Marriage record of John Bisset and Margaret Cook 1781

Sometime between 1781 and the 11th May, 1812 (when he died) the couple moved to Longforgan, Perthshire which is now just outside of Dundee. Both John and his wife Margaret are buried in Invergowrie. A record of his burial shows that a mortcloth was hired for the burial.

John was recorded as a labourer. He and Margaret had 7 children, the youngest being David BISSET (our direct ancestor). When David died in 1863 his death certificate records his parents as John Bisset and Margaret Cook, thereby confirming his parentage. David was a stonemason. There was a quarry near Invergowrie called Kingoody (Kingoodie) where a lot of men worked. Maybe this was why his father came to this area.

Sadly, on David’s death record it states that he was paralyzed for 4 years. I wonder if he had been injured on the job?

David was married to Mary Runciman. One of their daughters, Margaret Bisset (1811-1884) married another stonemason called John McGregor. John had come all the way from Kinclaven, Perthshire to work in the area so I’m seeing a pattern of labourers and masons going where they could find work and settling there.

Margaret Bisset and John McGregor had a daughter called Susan McGregor. We are so lucky to have a photo of Susan McGregor (married FORRET). She was born in 1848. She spent her whole life living in a place called Mylnefield Feus which is now called Invergowrie. HER husband was also a stonemason. He’s the one, in a previous post, that left the family and came here to Canada. Here is a photo of Susan Forret (who’s mother was Margaret BISSET)