As was the way in those days, the eldest son inherited the father's estate. The second son was usually sent to the Church and William had the advantage of inheriting intelligence from both his mother and father. This was used to his advantage and he was educated at Glasgow University. He was ordained into the Church of Scotland and had, in fact, been presented by Lord Dundas, Earl of Zetland. As Lord Dundas' estates covered the Shetland Isles, this would account for William being Minister at Northmaven. His father seems to have been on very good terms with the Dundas family. The lands at Park were on the Earls estate and at least two generations of Lord Dundas' owed William, snr., money.

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A Wee Anecdote

Whilst trying to find out about Rev. Wm. Stevenson, a retired minister of Bothkennar was asked about him. He had been a young man who arrived at Bothkennar after William had died but the housekeeper spanned both. She had told him of an incident which took place there. She had been going out of the manse with the ashes for the fire and at that moment, Rev. Wm. came in the same door. He was covered in ash.

I don't know if the story was repeated due to it being very funny at the time, the housekeeper being mortified, or William being very angry. I have included it here due to it being part of his history. ( If he was angry, would she tell anyone about it?) 

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There seems to have been some mention of Rev. William staying with the Dundas family, minister at Cumbernauld. It fits in with William moving from Shetland to Bothkennar Church and was probably after the death of his first wife.

William married his first wife Agnes Liddell, 18^th August 1836 at Northmaven. Her father was Evan Liddell, a merchant in Leith, Edinburgh. They had two children, William born 29^th May 1838, and Agnes Liddell Stevenson, born 11^th September 1841, both at Northmaven.

His wife Agnes died 20^th September 1841 at Northmaven. As this was only nine days after the birth of their daughter, she must have died from complications due to the birth. William left Shetland and became the Minister at Bothkennar Church, near Falkirk until his death.

A while after the death of his first wife, William married Maria Davidson on 13^th March, 1849 at Slamannan. Her father was the Minister at Slamannan. Between 1841 and 1849, William had moved from Shetland back to the main land. He had four children with Maria. Alexander Davidson Stevenson, born on 9^th January 1850 at Cumbernauld; Helen Christian, about 1853; Alice Margaret born 31^st December 1855; Charles David Stevenson, born 9^th November 1861,  all born at Bothkennar.

Alice died 29^th June 1864 at the Manse at 8½ years old. Charles died on 21^st November1863, also at the Manse and aged only 2 years.

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Family Tree

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On the 1881 census, the only occupants at the manse at Bothkennar were, William his wife Maria and son Alexander. Alexander was a Civil Engineer but unemployed at the time of the census. In 1896 he was at 6 Windsor Place, Stirling. He never married and died 3^rd April 1935 at Edgehill East, Bridge of Allen, Stirlingshire. He was buried at Logie Churchyard. (see Photo Album)

Helen Christian Stevenson married Mathew Smith, a Ship Broker, on 28^th March 1878. They were married by Helen's father at the Manse at Bothkennar. They had at least one daughter, Maria Helen Smith who appears to have married an Isherwood. She was in Mossman, New South Wales, Australia in 1935.

The Reverend died 8^th December 1884, at the Manse at Bothkennar. He was laid to rest in the Churchyard there. His wife Maria died on the 12^th March 1896 at 6 Windsor Place, Stirling where she must have been staying with her son Alexander. See Photo Album for Church.

   

 1871 Census

 1881 Census