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The Rodgers of Lundin

24/5/2019

2 Comments

 
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One long-standing family of old Largo (and in particular of the area shown above) were the Rodgers. Multiple generations of this family lived at 'Burnside House' on Mill Wynd - shown above (1) - while other family members lived in the old cottages that once stood where Lundin Links Police Station was built on Largo Road (2). Many of the Rodgers were weavers but once the railway arrived and the village began to develop, some worked for the railway or in shops.

James Craigie Roger (1830-1907) was a weaver and seasonal salmon fisher, as well as the first superintendent of the Lundin Golf Course. His grandson - Rev. Alexander Caseby - wrote about his forebears in 1970 for the Largo St David's Parish Church magazine, In the piece he noted that the long line of Rodgers in Largo "went back 200 years" (in fact records show they they went back further than that) and were among the first members of the church. He proudly claimed that "at one time there were 40 males bearing the name of Rodger from Temple to the Lundie Standin' Stanes, and from Largo harbour to Kirkton of Largo."  He described them as long-lived and industrious people, several of whom lived into their nineties. 

Rev. Caseby's mother was Maggie Rodger, daughter of James Rodger and Margaret Angus of Lundin Mill. She was born in Burnside House - apparently "like five generations before her". Rev. Caseby also shared his family history with the Courier newspaper - the letter below appearing on 9 October 1969.

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In his piece written for the church quarterly magazine, Rev. Caseby noted that "of the 40 male Rodgers in the Parish of Largo long ago, not one male issue is left. From the female side of the clan, I find 14 out of 22 married. The married names are: Dall, Barnet, Kinloch, Irelad, Bremner, Wallace, Robb, Moyes, Angus, Burns, Tivendale, Waddle, Scott and Taylor. Their issues are to be found in all parts of the world".

Rev. Caseby (pictured below) was born at Bridge House Lundin Links (marked '4' above) on 19 January 1898. His parents Margaret Rodger and John Caseby had been married in Burnside House in 1886 by Rev David Malloch and had lived in Edinburgh before returning to Lundin Links in 1897 to set up a boot makers shop in Bridge House (4). This was where Margaret Bremner had had her shop before moving to the new Post Office.  The 1897/8 winter had been severe - stormy with deep snow. Ships had struggled to get out of Largo Harbour and local men had worked hard to clear the way through the snow to enable food supplies and other deliveries to get through. Later in life Rev. Caseby became a missionary in Livingstonia in Malawi before returning to Scotland. He and his wife lived at Ernest Cottage for a spell (his son Cyril being born there). He lived in various places around Fife over the years and died aged 93 in 1991.

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Burnside House was and is in close proximity to a property named 'Leaside' on Largo Road (marked '3' in the top photograph). A property dispute had broken out over use of the passageway that runs between the two in 1907. The 'eleventh hour' settlement reached between James Rodger and William Adam is described in the 29 January Courier article below.The passageway in question still exists today and can be seen in the detailed image further below. James Craigie Rodger (noted as "being ill" in the article) died on 20 March 1907 - just weeks after this case. 

​Burnside is the area close to where the Largo Road bridge crosses the Keil Burn. The maps at the foot of this post date from 1850s and 1960s respectively. The substantial 'Millburnlea' (marked '5' above) was built between Burnside House and the Keil Burn during the intervening period. 

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2 Comments
John Hunter
1/6/2019 01:08:41 pm

This is great. We own Burnside House now called Afton Cottage and Milburnlea. Both have been in the family well over 50 years.

Reply
Cyril Caseby
12/12/2022 07:17:09 am

Most interesting. I am the Cyril Caseby (mentioned) that was born in Ernest cottage in October 1930. The the family moved on to Newmills in 1933 but I have always had a great affection to the locality since and have visited it often. I still possess a small photo take about 1932/1933 of me and my two 11 months older twin brothers, Sandy & Grant, playing in a large motor tyre tube in a local garage with the name RamageS clearly shown on the side of a bus.(do you want a copy ?)

The name Rodgers still carries on in the family. My younger brother is called Ronald Rodger and lives in Chichester. He has a son in Thame also called Rodger. A cousin Rodger died three years ago in Craigrothes.

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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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