Middle – East external wall – Lennel Kirk – 10 – McDonald/Bell

Transcription

(Inside east curtilage of kirk) Erected by a number of the friends of LEWIS MCDONALD Surgeon in Coldstream died 13 March 1852 aged 66 years.

Testimony of their respect to his memory and the faithful and efficient manner in which he discharged his duties of his profession for many years in this locality.

Also in memory of ALICE BELL spouse of the said LEWIS MCDONALD who died on 14 May 1850 aged 63 years.

Commentary

Lewis McDonald was a surgeon in Coldstream but born in Aberlour Fife circa 1786. A potential marriage record has been found for his marriage to Alice Bell in Lowick,

Northumberland. It is dated 17th June 1819, grooms parish is given as Coldstream.

However, there is also a death record dated 3 days later, 20th June for Lewis McDonald, name of spouse, Alice Bell. It may be the case here that the marriage information has been either incorrectly entered in the Church register, or more likely, it has been

incorrectly transcribed. Until the original records have been consulted this evidence remains inconclusive.

This case is further complicated as the name on the headstone – Alice, does not match the burial record Elizabeth. The 1841 census has neither an Alice nor Elizabeth, or

indeed a wife at home with husband Lewis on the night the census was taken. No children to this marriage have yet been identified.

Again, there appears to be online family research activity surrounding Lewis’s siblings, but no approach has been made.