Malcolm Holt - family tree

Birth record entry: Parish / District Name Number Entry / Frame Beath / Fife opr 410/2 fr 555 Surname Mercer Sex M / F M Given names Alexander Date and time 4 October 1854 Place Beath Father’s names Andrew Mercer Mother’s names Agnes Mercer ms Dunsire RCE / other information third son (sic)

Scotland Births & Baptisms 1564-1950 First name(s) Alexander Last name Mercer Gender Male Birth year 1854 Birth place Beath,Fife,Scotland Baptism year - Baptism date - Baptism place - Father's first name(s) Andrew Father's last name Mercer Mother's first name(s) Agnes Mother's last name Dunsire Place Beath County Fife Country Scotland

Fife Free Press, & Kirkcaldy Guardian 23 April 1892 - Accident at a Colliery METHIL Accident at a Colliery - On Sunday, when Alexander Mercer was employed at a colliery in this neighbourhood, he had one of his hands badly injured. One of his fingers was mutilated, besides the hand being otherwise bruised. Medical aid was procured for him, and he is expected favourably to recover. ---------------- I can find two Alexander Mercers working as coal miners in this area at this time: 1. Alexander Mercer b.1854, m. Janet Cowan, residing at Haughmill, Markinch in 1891 2. Alexander Mercer b.1859, m. Christina Williamson, residing at Balcurvie, Markinch in 1891 M.H.

ref 447/02/0026 MERCER, Alexander Occ: Cola Miner Spouse: Janet Penman Cowan Age: 80 Parents: Andrew Mercer, Watchmaker (decd) - Agnes Mercer MS Dunsyre (decd) Witness: Andrew Mercer, son

Leven Mail 06 March 1946 COTTAGE An action has been raised in Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court by Andrew Mercer, Viewforth Cottage, and Robert Mercer, Muiredge, Buckhaven, trustees of the late Alexander Mercer, Greag Roineach Cottage, Windygates, against Mrs Janet Mercer or Ritchie or Paterson, and Duncan Paterson, both residing at Creag Roineach, Kennoway Road, WIndygates. The record in this case has now been closed. The pursuers crave the Court to eject the defenders from the cottage known as Creag Roineach, and in their condescendence they aver that on his death on 9th December, 1934, the late Alexander Mercer bequethed his estate to the pursuers and to his wife, Mrs Janet Cowan or Mercer, as trustees. Mrs Mercer died on or about 2nd April, 1945, and the deceased Alexander Mercer further directed his trustees, on the death of his wife, or his own death if she pre-deceased him, to realise the whole of his estate and divide it into seven parts amongst named members of his family. In their answers, the defenders aver that they were requested by the late owner and liferentrix of the cottage to remain in occupation, and as they have been accepted as tenants for many years, the pursuers are not entitled to the remedy craved. The defenders ask that the case be dismissed accordingly. Fife Free Press, & Kirkcaldy Guardian 20 April 1946 This case was concluded, this is a lengthy article summarised here: The defenders lost the case because they were arguing that as long-term tenants they could not be evicted. However they could not show that they had ever paid rent and could not therefore be considered tenants.

from James Barclay I had a wander round Kennoway cemetery on Thursday and found the following gravestone which is relevant to your database. Alexander Mercer died 9th December, 1934 (80) beloved wife of Janet Cowan died 3rd April, 1945 (80) Their daughter Elizabeth died in Australia 15th August, 1950 (64).