Annie Knox Russell Hart (1851-tbc)

Annie Knox Russell Hart , daughter of George Russell (1820-1865) and Jeanie Law Russell (1820-1870), was born in 1851 in Paisley. Annie's parents both passed away whilst relatively young. Her father George died from a suspected fever aged 45 and her mother Jeanie died aged 50 from bronchial pneumonia.

George and Jeanie lived at for a time at 6 Espedair Street in Charleston, Paisley which acquired a degree of fame through the Iain Banks novel Espedair Street which was partly set in the area. George and Jeanie would have lived in weaver's housing stock which pre-dates the blond sandstone tenement flats that are found today in Espedair Street.

The word Espedair derives from old Brittanic and Gaelic words meaning "Riverside Oak Tree", and relates to the Espedair Burn that runs through Paisley into the White Cart. It is extremely likely that Annie would have worked in the Espedair Thread Mill.

	Espedair Burn and Old Thread Mills Chimney

Annie was married from 5 Orchard Street Paisley and married John Hart (1851-1921) on 31st December 1874 in the Low Parish at 2 St Mirren Street Paisley. The witnesses to the ceremony were John McLay and Margaret Boyd - no further details are known regarding these individuals however.

Annie's occupation as was common in Paisley at the time was that of a threadmill worker. John's occupation was a Carter which involved carrying goods by wagon, often in connection with Railway's.

By the time Annie and John were married from Canal Street, the adjacent Paisley Canal which had been formally opened on 31st October 1810, was nearing the end of it's life. In 1881, an Act of Parliament closed the canal and development began on the Paisley Canal Railway Line.

The name 'Knox' in Annie's name was derived from her grandmother Ann Knox on her father's side who was married to her grandfather James Russell. Both of Annie's grandfathers were apparently farmers. A branch of the Knox family were farmers at Kilbirnie in the late 17th century went on to acquire great wealth through the manufacture of linen thread. One of these wealthy descendents William Knox was built Moorpark House in Kilbirnie which still exists today as a hotel.

It is not currently known when Annie died but we do know that she predeceased her husband John.

	Knox Farmers Family Home - MoorPark House

     Family Tree Summary

Forename	Surname	Born	Died	Cause of Death
Annie	Knox Russell Hart	1851, Paisley	Unknown	Unknown