The Braidwood Family

From Scotland to Scottish Settlement: 1842

The Scots surname Braidwood is of locative origin deriving from the name of the place where the initial bearer once lived or held land thus affording him a suitable means of identity in his local community. In this instance the lands of Braidwood, and the village of the same name in Avondale Parish, in the county of Ayrshire appear to have been the original home for this name. The fashion of adding surnames began in Britain in the thirteenth century, when the population was becoming more complex, and it had become necessary to be able to distinguish reliably between individuals for many reasons. The facility was not fully in use in Scotland until the sixteenth century, due mainly to the remoteness of the region in those days, and the difficulty of the Gaelic language spoken there. Among the early references to the name or a variant form we read of one John de Bradwod, one of the jurors on an inquest held in St. Katherine’s chapel, Bave lay, in 1280. John Braidwood, or Braidwoth and Patrick Braidwot were recorded in 1498 as inhabitants of Uddynston, and Cristine Braywoyd was a tenant in the barony of Glasgow in 1521. In the year 1649 the name of James Braidwood, a surgeon, appeared among the burgesses of Glasgow, and the founder of the firm of Messrs. Broadwood, piano manufacturers, was born in Cockburnspath in 1732. Other early forms of the name include Breadwood, and Braiduode. The surname was introduced to North America in the person of John Braidwood who was listed among immigrant arrivals in Virginia in the year 1813, and in Canada by James Braidwood in the year 1821.

Taken from the Law of Arms, The Historical Research Center, 1992

Stacy Braidwood (Kmetz)

married Scott M. Kmetz

Her father: Norm Braidwood (Feb. 15, 1935-Mar. 4, 2021)

m. Nancy L. Carr (July 21, 1962- March , 2015) Almont, MI

Grandfather: Maurice Braidwood (Nov. 24,1898-July 14, 1983)

m. Margaret K. Betker, Nov. 27, 1926, Birmingham, MI (2 ch.)

Notes:

Margaret’s family lived in Almont on/near the Leete Farm (believe to be located on Sandhill Rd.) when she met Maurice. The family moved to Birmingham before they got married and they chose to wed there at the Betker family home. The newspaper announcement said they were to “go to housekeeping in the Maywood House on S. Bristol St., Almont.”

Great Grandfather: Robert (Bert) Braidwood (May 6, 1870 - Mar. 26, 1947)

m. 1 Maude Washer, Dec. 15, 1892, Almont? (3ch.) 2. Emma Currey Lang Mar. 16, 1939, Dryden?

Notes: Bert and Maude lived right here on this farm after they were married in 1892, until 1917. Maude, born in Feb. of 1871, lived in Almont her entire life. Strange to think… we all went to the same high school.

Although my father spoke of Grandpa Bert living and growing old “up the street” (at 311 S. Van Dyke), Bert and his second wife lived in Dryden?

Bert had two stepdaughters from his marriage to Emma Currey Lang:

Mrs. EJ Millikin, Almont, MI and Mrs. John Beatenhead, Unionville, MI

(2nd) Great Grandfather: Alexander Harper Braidwood (Jan. 19, 1818, Galston, Scotland - Mar. 19, 1900 MI)

m. Mary Millikin (born Cregie Parish, Scotland) Mar. 19,1847, Romeo, Michigan (10 ch. all born in Bruce, M)

Notes:

Nickname Sandy

Alexander and his two older brothers built several homes in the Scottish Settlement,

incldg. two homesteads in Bruce Twp., one of which Stacy Braidwood Kmetz currently resides.

Alexander also raised Andrew and Mary (McFedries) Braidwood’s (America 1843, CT) 4 children from 1857,

after his brother and sister-in-law died of consumption (tuberculosis)

(3rd) Great Grandfather: George Braidwood (abt. Mar 21, 1769 - abt. 1838)

* Wiston and Roberton, Lanarkshire, Scotland (WRL)

m. Margaret Smith (? no yr., yet) (12 ch.)

***Parents of: George, Mark B., Alexander Harper - America 1842***

(4th) Great Grandfather: Mark Braidwood (1736-?)

* W.R.L., Scotland

m. Helen Fisher (3 ch.)

(5th) Great Grandfather: Mark Braidwood (July 23,1711- ?)

*W.R.L., Scotland

m. 1. Margaret Callan , Nov. 11, 1727, Carmichael, Lanarkshire (1 ch.), 2. Janet Tweedi , 1735(3 ch.)

Note:

Mark was 16 when he married his first wife, Margaret

(6th) Great Grandfather: John Braidwood (1660-Apr. 8, 1753)

b. Covington, Lanarkshire, d.* W.R.L., Scotland

m. 1. Jeane Telfeir in 1679 (9 ch.), 2. Mary Paterson in 1695, 3. Helen Rankin, May 15, 1698 (10 ch.)

(7th) Great Grandfather: William Braidwood (1619 - ?) Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland

m. Rachell Lindsey, 166?, (?) (3 ch.)

Note:

He was 47 and she 20 at the time of their marriage

(8th) Great Grandfather: John Braidwood (1594-?) Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland

m. Margaret Dagleische (many sp’s) Dec. 29, 1617 (3 ch.)

(9th) Great Grandfather: James Braidwood (1570-1655) Stirlingshire, Scotland

m. (?)