James Campbell Livingston Millennial Star Records
From LFAwiki
While not truly a primary source, a nonetheless critical source of genealogical information is found recorded on the end papers of James Livingston’s bound reprints of the Millenial Star (Volume XV) that were originally published in Europe. Having lived in Utah for several years, and following the arrival of his Grandmother Christina Livingston [b:1789], James Livingston [b:1833] felt the need to record the genealogical information pertaining to his immediate family.
In the front of that volume, he wrote:
Family Record of James & Christina Livingston G.S.L.City Christina James [struck through] Livingston was born Febuary [sic] 14, 1789 James Livingston was born March 23, 1783 James & Christina Livingston Was married October 9, 1807 Children Born Archibald Livingston was born July 25 ... 1808 Agnes .... L ... born … January 18 ... 1811 Grace ..... L .... born … Febuary [sic] 20 .... 1813 Helen ..... L ..... born … March 27 .... 1815 Cathrine ...... L ..... born … Febuary [sic] 15 .... 1817 Christina ... L ..... born … January 13 ... 1820 Janet ..... L .... born … September 5 ..... 1822 Elizabeth .... L .... born … [missing] 5 ... 1824 Agnes Mcluckie .. born … [missing] 28 ... 1821 Robert .... L .... born … [missing]ust 26 ..... 1826 continued on next page |  | James ... L .. born … August 30 .. 1828 Died Helen L .. born … [struck through] August 28 .. 1829 Helen L .. born … May 30 .. 1831 Also Robert Livingston was killed by a fall of earth in a coal pit June 29 .... 1838 And James Livingston my Grandfather Died July 27 ... 1839 Archibald Livingston my Father Died April 27 1849 This is a record of the family of my Grandfather & Grandmother up to this date November 3, 1856 of yours truly James Livingston |  |
In the back of that same volume, he wrote :
Shotts iron works March 10, 1835 Archd Livingston & Helen Connor was married December 28 .. 1832 Archd Livingston born 25 July 1809 Helen Connor born 26 octr 1811 Children born James Livingston .. bo 2 Decr 1833 Charles L ... bo 16 Mar 1835 Helen L ... bo 17 Jany 1837 & Helen Connor my mother Died 16 october 1837 Archd Livingston & Jean Bain was married on the 19th Febuary [sic] 1840 Children born Jane Livingston born 12 Jany 1841 Isabella L ... b 10 July 1843 Arch ... L .. b 7 Decr 1845 |  |
William Livingston born
28 April 1848
Also
Jane Bane Died 2
Febuary [sic] 1849
Archibald Livingston
Died 27 April
1849
yours Truly
James Livingston
James Livingston is my name
Scotland is my nation
Zion shall be my dwelling
Place & pleasant Habitation
There i shall live to see &
Hear the Prophet of the
lord send forth his word as
flaming fire or as a two
edged sword
James Livingston
|  |
The record he made that day is a critical fragment of information. Not only does it confirm the names of individuals found in Scotland’s Old Parish Registers, it also:
- identifies several children missing in Scottish documents, and
- establishes a critical tie between the family members who lived in Lanarkshire for a couple of generations with those in their ancestral home in Fifeshire.
As he lived in Utah when this was written, the information found in Scotland’s Old Parish Registers would not have been available to James, and thus could not have been his source. However, the dates and details he presents correlate very, very well with that record. A noteworthy exception is the death date recorded for his Grandfather, Archibald Livingston [b:1783]. Written, signed, and dated by him, there is very little argument to be made about its authenticity. The Millennial Star books were handed down from father to oldest son through succeeding generations and are currently in the possession of Ronald B. Livingston, James Livingston’s 3rd Great-Grandson. A photocopy of these pages can be found in the Livingston Family book and will eventually be uploaded to the LFAWiki.
Notes:
- The middle name “Campbell” so often ascribed to Christina appears nowhere in the Scottish records. Her maiden and married names were both "Livingston".
- The middle name “Campbell” so often ascribed to James appears nowhere in either the Scottish records nor in his personal record shown here.
- The reference in the first line to "Shotts Iron Works" and the date associated with it at the beginning of this page appears out of context with the balance of the information on the page. Was there a page with writing preceding this one? Was this intended to be a record of the date when someone moved to from Fordell to Shotts?
- A noteworthy exception is the death date recorded for his Grandfather, Archibald Livingston [b:1783]