First Generation

First Generation: Robert Kean (1828-?) and Elizabeth Cairdy (1839-?)

Robert Kean was born in Stoneykirk in Wigtownshire (now Dumfries and Galloway), Scotland, about 1828. His parents were Robert Kean, a Rural Labourer, and Margaret Milligan (we are unaware if she was connected to the Margaret Milligan who appears elsewhere in this history). Robert (Jr.) worked as a shoemaker and had a wife (name unknown) who died before 1858.

Robert married Elizabeth Cairdy (or Cairdie) on January 1, 1858 in Leswalt, Wigtownshire. Her father, Robert Cairdy, was a shoemaker like her husband; perhaps the two men worked together. Her mother was Elizabeth Anderson.

Robert and Elizabeth moved to Paisley later that year, where their first child was born. Given the children's birthplaces, the family must have moved around a lot: Glasgow in 1861, Ayrshire in 1863, back to Glasgow in 1868, and then Johnstone, near Paisley, in 1871. Their children were as follows:

1. Elizabeth Kean (1858 - 1948)
2. Mary Kean (c.1861 - ?)
3. Anthony Kean (c.1863 - ?)
4. Ellen Kean (c.1868 - ?)

Robert's wife Elizabeth must have died between 1868 (birth of Ellen) and 1871, because she does not appear on the 1871 Census and by 1877 she is referred to as "deceased". In 1871 Robert's unmarried sister Agnes (age 44, also born in Stoneykirk) is living with the family.

Robert was still alive in 1877 and we have not found any record of his death.

Second Generation

Second Generation: Elizabeth Kean (1858 - 1948)

Elizabeth was born on November 6, 1858 in Paisley. In 1871 (age 13) she was already working in a mill, and by 1877 she was a domestic servant. She married John Woods on November 26, 1877, gave birth to 14 children over 34 years of marriage, and died in 1948 at the age of 90.

Elizabeth's story continues under the Woods Family History .