Introduction / Families / Hourston / David Hourston and Christian Drever / Jean Hourston and George Leslie / Margaret Flett Leslie and James Rendall

Betsy Rendall

Betsy Rendall (b. 9th May 1855) was the oldest of the four children of James Rendall and Margaret Flett Leslie.

She was a domestic servant in Midlothian and gave birth to a son in 1875:

• James Rendall, born 17th November 1875, Haddington, Tranent

She was living at No 9 Greenside Place, Edinburgh when she married James Tait (b. abt. 1854). James was a seaman on board the “Alexandria” and the son of James Tait and Agnes Smith. It is not known what became of James.

Betsy had another son in 1881:

• John Rendall Cunningham, born 8th January 1881, Leith Walk, Edinburgh

The father was Alexander Cunningham (b. 29th October 1850) and Betsy, her two children, her mother and siblings were all staying at the house of Alexander when the 1881 census was taken on 4th April 1881.

1881
42 Junction Street, Leith

	Relation	Status	Age	Occupation	Born
Alex Cunningham	Head	Widower	30 years	Mason	Kilconquhair
Margaret Rendall	Visitor	Widow	50 years		Westray
Betsy Rendall	Visitor	Married	25 years	Housekeeper	Westray
Mary Rendall	Son	Unmarried	19 years	Domestic Servant	Westray
George Rendall	Visitor		10 years	Scholar	Westray
Jas Rendall	Visitor		5 years		Tranet, Haddington
John Rendall Cunningham	Son		2 months		Edinburgh

It appears that Betsy had not had any personal communication from her husband in the three years prior to the birth of John Rendall Cunningham. It is not known what happened to James Tait. Her youngest son died on 2nd August 1881. He was six months old.

In 1891, Betsy was staying in Leith with her son, James Rendall. He was then fifteen and working in a public house.

Betsy died later that year. She was thirty six.