This is a newspaper cutting from an unknown publication in 1907, provided by Jim Sery, the second great grandson of Andrew Middlemiss.
We this week give a photograph of the couple, Mr & Mrs Andrew Middlemiss, who on Wednesday last celebrated in Gordon, the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding. Within living memory no such event has happened in the place, hence the excitement over it was considerable. It was arranged to entertain the parties in the Gordon Arms Hotel and a very large company was expected not only from the village, but also from the surrounding district where the names of the parties are so well known. Unfortunately a very heavy thunderstorm came on and prevented the people from a distance from being present. In spite of this a company of between sixty and seventy sat down to tea in the large hall of the hotel.
Mr Leitch occupied the chair, and after the repast proposed the health of the two guests, and in the name of the subscribers asked them to accept of several useful presents. It may be remarked that an old school fellow, now a prosperous merchant in Londonderry, sent a subscription, and that all heartily joined in making the event a memorable one for the old couple.
In proposing their health the chairman gave a short account of their descent [sic], life, quiet and inoffensive manner, and referred to their remarkable state of health and activity. Most of Mrs Middlemiss's near relations are dead, but the sister of Mr Middlemiss was present, also his son, his son's wife, and his two grandsons. A most enjoyable evening was spent until ten o'clock, when the company broke up after singing Auld Lang Syne.
Thereafter the guests were heartily congratulated, and marched home as actively as they had done fifty years before.
Mr Middlemiss was born at Mellerstain, where his father was long in the employment of the Haddington family, but he was brought up with his uncles - Mr Robert Lockie and Rev. Alexander Lockie. The latter although he never held a regualr charge, was a man of considerable attainments and dry humour. His sayings are still extant. The former was one of the famous whinstone masons who built some of the older houses in Gordon.
The subject of our sketch was taught the trade of his uncle, and is now about the only one who knows how to build the Gordon "whin". Mr Middlemiss has not worked at his trade for some little time, but he is up every morning at six, and is able to follow light employment.
His wife is also very active. Her maiden name was Jean Lauder, and her father was Charlie Lauder of Hume. They were married by the Rev. John Fairbairn, Free Church minister of Greenlaw, and have spent all of their married life in Gordon, and most of the time in their own cottage, which is now one of the few remaining thatched houses in the village.
Their reminiscences are very interesting, The Free Kirk - now U.F. - was being built when they celebrated their nuptials, the Berwickshire Railway had not been started, most of the houses in the village were thatched, and the weavers still plied their trade. Peat, obtained from the Gordon Moss, was the only fuel, and newspapers and magazines were rare.
Publishers Note :-
This article was kindly provided by Mr Jim Sery, who resides in the United States and is the second great grandson of Mr & Mrs Middlemiss. Mr Sery and his family visited Gordon and the surrounding area in July 2024 and provided the following commentary.
"Our stay at the Mellerstain cottage was so enjoyable and meaningful. Andrew’s father, Robert Middlemiss (my 3rd great grandfather and mentioned in the article), worked at Mellerstain his entire life. He began as the brewer for the estate earlier than 1831 and by 1861 was elevated to Baron Officer (administrator) for the estate. Lesly Abernathy, the tour guide at Mellerstain, said that one of the two cottages we stayed at was the original brewery building. She also showed us the house he lived in. And I was able to find his grave stone at the church around the corner."