Founder Member
First Honorary Member of ‘Let it Blaw’
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President
1881
As James was our first supper Chairman and President back in 1881, it is fitting to carry out a bit of research into his background. Scottish records show that a James Pearson, born c.1774 married Marion Balram who was born c.1776.
No record of either birth or their marriage can be found. They both lived to a good age and death records have been found for James in 1853, and Marion in 1855, giving the age at the time of death for each of them as 79 years.
Other records from the time tell us that Marion’s father farmed at Buteland, Balerno and James’ family stayed in a “Cottage at Ravelrig.”
No record of the marriage of James and Marion can be found, but it was probably just prior to the turn of the century after which they stayed in the Ravelrig cottage.
On 5th December 1805, Marion gave birth to a son, another James, who, in later life, would be a Founder Member and the first President/ Supper Chairman of ‘Let it Blaw.’
On 25th December 1935, James married Jean Henderson after which they resided in the cottage at Ravelrig. They had the following children:
James, born 1837, died aged 23 in 1859 at Ravelrig.
Agnes, born 1839
Marion, born 1841
Jean (also referred to as Jane), born 1843
Elizabeth, born 1848
Margaret, born 1853, died aged 4 in 1857
George, born 1856, died aged 1 in 1857
Margaret (also referred to as Margaret Ann), born 1859
James, (TWIN) born 1862
George, (TWIN) born 1862, died the day after birth.
James was 75 years of age when ‘Let it Blaw’ was founded in 1881. At that time he was a widower staying at Lanark Road, Balerno with his daughters, Jane Crawford (Widow) (37) and Margaret (21), son James Pearson Jnr. (18), and granddaughter Jane (7). At that time, James Jnr, was working as an Apprentice Joiner in the family business
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