From Australia to Montrose: A Family’s Heritage Journey

Earlier this month, Amanda and Matthew Hall from Canberra, Australia commissioned a one-hour family history search with the Archives team ahead of their visit to Scotland. Their goal was to trace the burial place of Amanda’s great-great-great-grandfather, Charles Baird (1785–1865), and honour Amanda’s mother, Barbara Baird, who passed away this year. Barbara was a direct descendant of Charles Baird and his wife Mary (née Sharp), and the family hoped to scatter part of her ashes at a significant ancestral location during their stay in Montrose on 24–25 November.

Using ANGUSalive’s extensive Local and Family History resources, the Archives team uncovered key information that shaped the family’s journey. Charles Baird’s headstone inscription was located in Montrose Old Kirkyard, Book 1 [58.929.5], entry 47, p. 38. This enabled archivists to confirm the exact location of his grave. The inscription reads:

“Erected by John Baird, Shipmaster, in memory of his Father Charles Baird, who died 29 Oct 1865, aged 81.”

Further research confirmed Charles’s life and family connections in Montrose. His death record describes him as a crofter and widower of Mary Sharp, living at 3 High Street. Census evidence revealed the Baird family’s long-standing links with the North Links area of Montrose, with family members working as crofters, linen weavers, shoemakers, and household workers. In 1861, Charles was living with his daughter Ann at 2 Upper Hall Street.

The Archives team also explored the life of Mary Baird (née Sharpe), who died in 1853. While not listed in the surviving gravestone records for Montrose Old Kirkyard or Pre-1855 Gravestones: Angus Seacoast, it is likely that she was buried alongside Charles in the same churchyard.

When Amanda and Matthew arrived in Montrose on 25 November, they discovered that the Old Kirkyard was locked. After contacting Angus Archives, staff provided them with the burial team’s details. Willie Faulkner from the Angus burial team kindly travelled to Montrose the following day to grant them access.

Thanks to this support, Amanda and Matthew were able to visit Charles’s grave, where they were moved to find the headstone still clearly legible after more than 150 years. The visit allowed them to honour their family’s Scottish roots and pay tribute to Barbara in a place deeply connected to her ancestry.

They later shared their heartfelt thanks with Karen and the Angus burial team for making such an important moment possible.

Karen Clarke, Archive & Local History Research Advisor, reflected on the recent project saying:

“Local history fosters a sense of belonging and helps build connections that stretch across different regions. Amanda’s story illustrates that, even though she wasn’t born there, the place carries profound meaning for her through her mother and their shared ancestry. It was an honour to help the Hall family locate Charles Baird’s burial plot. From my own experience, I understand that finding an ancestor’s resting place can be a deeply meaningful and spiritual moment. I am glad that Amanda and Matthew were able to experience that moment thanks to the burial team going above and beyond to help a visitor to Angus.”

ANGUSalive’s Archives service is dedicated to helping people discover and interpret their personal links to Angus. The service offers expert assistance, access to extensive historical collections, and tailored research support for visitors from near and far.