Nicol Selkirk (abt. 1657 - aft. 1678)

Husband of Beatrix Smith — married 2 May 1677 in Prestonpans, East Lothian, Scotland

Descendants

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Historical Context

It is possible that Nicol Selkirk was born during the only period of Scottish history (1651 - 1660) when the country was a republic. In 1649, Charles II succeeded his father as King of Scots, until the armies of Oliver Cromwell occupied Scotland and drove him into exile in 1651. The Scottish Parliament was abolished, along with the monarchy, and Scotland was integrated into the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, & Ireland. Scotland was initially governed by eight English commissioners, and then by a Council of six Englishmen including General Monck. In 1660, after the death of Oliver Cromwell and replacement of his son Richard Cromwell by a Council of State, Charles II was restored and Scotland became an independent country once more. ^[1]

It is not known whether Nicol lived beyond the baptism of his only child in 03 February 1678 and whether he saw the succession of Charles' brother as James VII of Scotland & II of England in 1685. If he lived until he was 50, he may have witnessed the creation of the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707.

Biography

Nicol Selkirk may have been born in ca 1657, assuming that he was aged 21 at the birth of his only known child, William. It was the tradition to name the eldest son after the paternal grandfather, ^[2] so Nicol's father may have been named William Selkirk, however in the Selkirk and Pride families, it was quite common to name the eldest son after the maternal grandfather. ^[3]

On 02 May 1677, he married Beatrix Smith (ca 1657) in Prestonpans, East Lothian, Scotland. She was a resident of the parish of Haddington when their banns were proclaimed. ^[4]

He had one known child with Beatrix Smith, a son, William Selkirk (baptised 03 February 1678). ^[5]

He was living in Prestonpans, East Lothian, Scotland on 02 May 1677 and on 03 February 1678. ^[6]

He passed away at some unknown time after the baptism of his son William Selkirk on 03 February 1678. ^[7] The fact that the couple had only one child would suggest that one of them may have died soon after, but no record of a death or burial has been found, which is not unusual for this period.

Selkirk Origins

There were no births or marriages of Selkirks (or name variants thereof) in Prestonpans registered before 1677. ^[8] Therefore, unless he was born in Prestonpans parish but his birth and baptism were not recorded it would appear that Nicol Selkirk came from somewhere else. Possibilities would be the parishes of Liberton and Newton in Midlothian where the name Nicol Selkirk (or variations of the surname) could be found.

There was a Nicol Selkirk baptised in Newton parish on 12 February 1661, ^[9] but he would only be 16 at the date of marriage of Beatrix Smith on 02 May 1677. ^[10] This would be young, but cannot be entirely excluded as before 1929, Scots law followed Roman law in allowing a girl to marry at twelve years of age and a boy at fourteen, without any requirement for parental consent." ^[11]

Another Nicol Selkirk (a twin) baptised 18 March 1666 in Liberton parish can be excluded on age grounds.^[12]

The only other Nicol Selkirk of about the correct age was born in the parish of Inversk with Musselburgh on 24 May 1640. ^[13] He married Bessie Rutherford or Ruderfoord in Newton parish on 24 November 1661, ^[14] and they had two children, Janet, who was baptised on 13 January 1671 in Lasswade parish and Robert who was baptised on 30 April 1675 in Lasswade parish. ^[15] One possibility is that Bessie Rutherford died and that Nicol Selkirk went on to marry Beatrix Smith as his second wife. However, there is no evidence to support this theory and so it must remain as conjecture.

Notable Descendants

Nicol Selkirk was the great (x5) grandfather of Robert Flockhart Vickers, who was executed by hanging in Calton Prison, Edinburgh on the 16th of December, 1883, for his part in the deaths of two gamekeepers, John Fortune, and John MacDiarmid. ^[16]

Sources

1. ↑ Scotland under the Commonwealth
2. ↑ Chapter on Scottish Naming Traditions in In Search of Scottish Ancestry by Gerald Hamilton-Edwards (1980) ISBN 0806305061
3. ↑ Personal observations regarding naming traditions in the descendants of James Pride & Helen Selkirk
4. ↑ Old Parish Register of Banns & Marriages
5. ↑ Old Parish Register of Births & Baptisms
6. ↑ Old Parish Register of Banns & Marriages and of Births & Baptisms
7. ↑ Old Parish Register of Births & Baptisms
8. ↑ Old Parish Register of Banns & Marriages and of Births & Baptisms
9. ↑ Old Parish Register of Births & Baptisms
10. ↑ Old Parish Register of Banns & Marriages
11. ↑ Minimum age for marriage in Scotland"
12. ↑ Old Parish Register of Births & Baptisms
13. ↑ Old Parish Register of Births & Baptisms
14. ↑ Old Parish Register of Banns & Marriages
15. ↑ Old Parish Register of Births & Baptisms
16. ↑ Robert Flockhart Vickers