Descendants of Will and Bessie LAIDLAW
First Generation 
1. William O'Phaup LAIDLAW was born on June 12, 1690 in Ettrick Parish, , Selkirk, Scotland and died on June 12, 1775 in Ettrick Parish, , Selkirk, Scotland, aged 85.
Over Phawhope Bothy : This bothy is believed to have been the home of William Laidlaw and his wife Bessie Scott in the early 18th century. It is possible it was built some time before he occupied it. This would have been the family abode, with a horse and milking cow in the adjacent building.
William, known as Will o'Phaup, was a shepherd, storyteller, athlete and drinker. He was a fast runner, never beaten, but once when he hadn't come prepared for a race he lost his trousers and won the race, egged on by the ladies, without them. He drank smuggled brandy rather than whiskey. And he was the last person in this district to talk with fairies. (Fairies could be evil. On at least one occasion they were plotting against him. But around this time they were leaving this district and migrating north.)
His story-telling genes must've been influential; two of his descendants, James Hogg and Alice Munro, are internationally-renowned writers.
James later described this area as "one of the most lonely and dismal situations that ever was the dwelling of human creatures" and wondered "how such a man could live so long, and rear so numerous and respectable a family" here. (They had six children, and Bessie died quite young.)
Will died in 1778, aged about 87, and he is buried in Ettrick Kirkyard. His gravestone says "for feats of frolic, strength and agility, he had no equal in his day".
Provided by Bruce Gilkison, December 2016.
William married Elizabeth "Bessie" SCOTT. Bessie was born on March 19, 1692 in Ettrick Parish, , Selkirk, Scotland and died on February 5, 1752 in Ettrick Parish, , Selkirk, Scotland, aged 59. She was usually called Bessie.
Children from this marriage were:
+ 2 M i. Robert LAIDLAW was born on February 1, 1728 in Ettrick Parish, , Selkirk, Scotland and died on June 29, 1800 in Ettrick Parish, , Selkirk, Scotland, aged 72.
+ 3 F ii. Margaret LAIDLAW was born on May 3, 1730 in Ettrick Parish, , Selkirk, Scotland and died on December 18, 1813 in Ettrick Parish, , Selkirk, Scotland, aged 83.
+ 4 F iii. Agnes LAIDLAW was born on April 26, 1738 in Ettrick Parish, , Selkirk, Scotland and died on August 5, 1816 in Selkirk, , Selkirk, Scotland, aged 78.
+ 5 M iv. James LAIDLAW was born on July 23, 1738 in Ettrick Parish, , Selkirk, Scotland1 and died on June 29, 1800 in Ettrick Parish, , Selkirk, Scotland, aged 61.
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