VINTAGE LUNDIN LINKS AND LARGO
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Robert Carswell Paxton

9/1/2014

7 Comments

 
Mr R. C. Paxton was a well known figure in Lundin Links in the first quarter of the 20th century.  Born in Kilmarnock in 1853, he was the fourth of brewer George Paxton's eight children.  His father George owned Richardland Brewery on the River Irvine at Riccarton, Kilmarnock but had died when Robert was still a child.  
Picture
Towards the end of the 19th century, Robert Paxton became one of the early settlers of Terrell County, Texas (a county with an economy dominated by cattle and sheep ranching since its beginnings).  Paxton was a sheep farmer/rancher in this area, which was to become one of the biggest sheep and wool producers in the US.  

In 1908, the Paxton family bought Homelands in Lundin Links and so began eight decades of active involvement by various members of the Paxton family in village life.  R. C. Paxton served on the Parish Council (chairing it for a time), was a Captain of the Lundin Golf Club and was an elder at Largo Parish Church.  He gifted a well-equipped recreation hut to the village and laid out the pitch and putt facility at the Golf Club.

Robert Carswell Paxton passed away on 8 October 1926 and was survived by his wife and three daughters.  The reporting of his death in the Leven Mail highlighted his "charm of manner and unostentatious generosity" which had "won a place in the heart of the parish".

7 Comments
Audrey Wade
28/1/2014 04:46:05 am

I believe I remember a lady who must have been one of the daughters of R.C. Paxton. Her name was Isabel and during the 1950's this lady would visit disabled people in Fife and offer them help. My Grandfather Alexander Wilson had been disabled and unable to work since about 1939 and by the 1950's was also paralysed by a stroke. Miss Paxton would arrive every few months and bring with her craft items and kits from which he chose things that might interest him. Being paralysed he could only use one (the wrong) hand so she brought all the equipment he might need, like clamps to hold the embroidery and tapestries he worked. His work was immaculate and greatly prized when given as gifts to neighbours. In 1953 at the Queens Coronations, at a time when few had televisions, Miss Paxton had a tiny tv set delivered to Granny and Granddads house in Strathmiglo, the only one in the street. We all, family and neighbours included, watched the programme, chairs lined up in rows and curtains drawn for the light. I know she lived in Lundin Links and I am sure everyone who knew and was helped by this lady would tell you that she was without equal to those she helped

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Vintage Lundin Links
28/1/2014 06:25:48 am

Thank you so much for your comment. It's so interesting to hear this story. I know that all members of the Paxton family did much good for many causes. Isabel Paxton was indeed one of R.C. Paxton's daughters. I met her once as a child. She died in 1993 at the age of 88. She left the family home to be used for the benefit of MS sufferers. I hope to gather more information about the family and their legacy and share this in future posts.

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Audrey Wade
29/1/2014 08:55:49 pm

Thanks for the reply. I only 'Googled' the Paxton name as I have a childhood friend in the village of Strathmiglo who told me about the happenings over the Paxton family home and legacy. I received a newspaper clipping about this only today. I am a keen genealogy researcher (currently helping to transcribe World War 1 War diaries online) but I had never thought about tracking down the Paxton family. The fathers arrival in Fife via Texas is very interesting, I may follow that up and if I find anything of interest I will post it here. Keep up the good work - I wish more people who have access to memorabilia, family stories and images of the Kingdom of Fife would put them online :-))

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Zoe Maclean
3/10/2014 04:17:24 am

We are staying at the homelands Trust this week and have have had a fantastic stay in the new cottage accommodation which has been built on Lady Paxton's land. It is great to find some information on this lovely lady. Thanks so much for posting this information

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Ashley Scott
1/7/2020 06:31:04 am

I recently came across the grave in Kilmarnock of Emily Paxton who died at Lundin Links in 1912

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Jan Kerr link
1/7/2020 07:49:38 am

Where about in Kilmarnock? We have collectEd info about the Paxton family for the Homelands Trust archives.

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Vintage Lundin Links and Largo
20/8/2020 04:09:25 am

It's Kilmarnock Cemetery - grave details here:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/187066401/emily-wallace-paxton

Alongside here parents:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/187066664/margaret-donald-paxton

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/187066516/robert-carswell-paxton

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    This blog is about the history of the villages of Lundin Links, Lower Largo and Upper Largo in Fife, Scotland. Comments and contributions from readers are very welcome!

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