Notes:

Drysdale, George (1824? 1904), freethinker and advocate of contraception, was born at 8 Royal Circus, Edinburgh, on 27 December 1824, the fourth son of the city treasurer and tory leader on Edinburgh council, Sir William Drysdale (1781? 1843), who was concerned with sanitary reform... The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

(Research):This is said to be George:

A doctor, and Founder of the Malthusian League.

In the 'The Elements of Social Science' originally called 'Physical, Sexual and Natural Religion', George Drysdale describes himself as 'a student of medicine', and the book is dedicated to 'the poor and suffering'. The book was controversial in its day, discussing in a frank and unsensational manner the various methods of contraception known to British and European doctors, such that the poor could be taught how to limit their families.

The book hovered just the other side of complete respectability. The British Library's copies of the editions in 1872, 1875, 1886 are 'destroyed'. The British Library copy of 1867 is listed as 'missing'.

But he appears to have died before his 20th birthday.

Birth:
or 1825?

Died:
Drowned

Notes:

Son of William Drysdale of Pitteuchar, Fife. Born 1776. Died 4th June 1843. Married (1) 30th October 1809, Jane, only daughter of Rev. Alexander Fleming, D.D., Minister of Hamilton; and (2) 7th September 1813, Jane, only child of Thomas Cochrane, M.D., Edinburgh; and (3) 7th November 1820, Elizabeth, daughter of John Pew of Hillowton, Kirkcudbright, and widow of William Copland of Colliston, Dumfriesshire.

WS in 1804, retired 1825
Treasurer City of Edinburgh and advocate of sanitary reform,

Presented the address of congratulations on the birth of the Prince of Wales. Was knighted shortly afterwards.

(Research):William Drysdale and his family lived at4 Frederick Street Edinburgh. He had
three children by his second wife:John James?Thomas Cochrane and Anne
Lambert The second Mrs Drysdale died on 10 Nov?1818?sixmonths aftergiving
birth to ...

Died:
St. Cuthberfs Parish Churchyard, Edinburgh
Sacred to the memory of Sir William Drysdale of Pitteuchar,
Knight, who died on the 4th June 1843,
aged 62 years.

William married Elizabeth Pew on 7 Nov 1820. Elizabeth (daughter of John Pew and Margaret Laurie) was born in 1781; died in 1882. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Elizabeth Drysdale apparently had several stepchildren, as William had five children by two previous wives before their marriage.

She was said to be noted for her interest in literary and scientific thought.

Birth:
Said to be born 1787, but that cannot be correct

Notes:

Town Clerk of Kirkcaldy, and acquired the estate of Pitteuchar, in Kinglassie parish, in the early 1800s. He was succeeded there by his son, Sir William Drysdale (1781-1843)

William married Anne Cunison on 14 Feb 1779. Anne (daughter of James (Sheriff-Clerk of Hamilton) Cunison and Unknown) was born about 1745; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Inherited Jerviston when her other died in the 1830's.

Notes:

of Hillotown, Kirkcudbright

(Research):Who is this?
3rd son of John William Pew , of Hillowtown , Kirkcudbright , and Margaret his wife , dau . of Alexander Lawrie , of Ernespie . Brother of Mary Watson , wife of James Drysdale , q . v . , and of Elizabeth , wife of Sir William Drysdale , of Pitteuchar

John + Margaret Laurie. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Merchant and Treasurer of Kirkcaldy. Through his wife, Katherine Robertson of Gladney, the family was related to the famous Adam brothers, architects.

William + Atherine Robertson. Atherine was born about 1717; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

of Gladney

Notes:

After Cunison's death at Jerviston in 1816, his widow lived on in the house until the 1830s. Jerviston was inherited by his daughter Anne, the wife of William Drysdale, Town Clerk of Kirkcaldy, who had acquired the estate of Pitteuchar in Fife in the eady 1800s. The Drysdales cleady believed in keeping lucrative public posts in the family. William Drysdale's eldest son John Drysdale, a Kirkaldy lawyer, succeeded his grandfather James Cunison as Sheriff-Clerk of Lanarkshire in 1812, and held the post for 61 years till his death in 1873. He also succeeded to the post of Town Clerk of Kirkcaldy on the death of his father.

James + Unknown. Unknown died about 1835. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Mr Cunison lived in Jerviston until the 1830's, when her daughter, Anne inherited.

Notes:

of Ernespie