My Leighton links begin with Elizabeth or Elisabeth Leighton, my Great Great Grandmother, who was born in Ireland c.1834 and married my Great Great Grandfather Charles Gemmell a Cattle dealer and later Ship's Steward, at Largs, in Ayrshire. (More details of my Gemmell links are available here
"Charles Gemmill of this parish and Elisabeth Leighton of the Parish of Largs gave in their names on Saturday 31st December 1853 and after proclamation on two days were married." .
A torn photograph of Elizabeth Gemmell nee Leighton can be seen below, (kindly identifed by Allan Campbell) possibly taken c.1901 after the death of her husband Charles in Mexico.
And Elizabeth aged 36, with husband Charles and family appears in the 1871 Census for Largs, Ayrshire Vol.602. Address - Main Street
| Name | Relation to | Age | Occupation | Place of Birth in |
| Head of House |
| Charles Gemmell | Head married | 35 | Dealer | Ireland |
Elizabeth Gemmell | Wife - married | 36 | Dealers Wife | Ireland |
| William Gemmell | Son | 12 | Unemployed | West Kilbride, Ayrshire |
| Agnes Gemmell | Daughter | 10 | Scholar | Ireland |
| Margaret A Gemmell | Daughter | 8 | Scholar | Ireland |
| Elizabeth Gemmell | Daughter | 3 | Largs |
| | |||||
Samuel Leighton (my Great Great Great Grandfather), his son (also Samuel) and Jane Mathews (his then wife) can be found on the 1861 Census for Largs, Ayrshire Vol.602. Address - 47 Main Street
| Name | Relation to | Age | Occupation | Place of Birth in |
| Head of House |
| Samuel Leighton | Head Mar | 71 | Day Labourer | Ireland Co Antrim |
Jane Mathews | Wife - Mar | 72 | Day Labourer Wife | Ireland Co. Antrim |
| Samuel Leighton | Son Un | 25 | Tailor Journeyman | Ireland Co Antrim |
| ||||
The Statutory Records add :
The younger Samuel Leighton died 8th February 1862, aged 26 at Main Street Largs, of Pthisis. The informant was his father Samuel - his mother being Letitia Leighton nee Finlay.
The Elder Samuel Leighton died 9.45 pm at 22 Main Street, Largs of heart disease and dropsy, aged 77 years. He is described as a "Pauper (formerly a Flesher)" or formerly a Butcher. The informant, his daughter Elizabeth Gemmell (my Great Great Grandmother above) provided details of his parents, James Leighton, a Farmer (deceased) and Marggret Leighton nee Hendry (deceased).
Allan Campbell is confident that Samuel was a butcher at Largs, and operated out of premises on the Main Street (possibly keeping cattle in a field prior to slaughter).
This then is currently all the information I have for my Leighton ancestry.