The Siblings of Colin Ramsay b 1857

Colin Ramsay was an illegitimate son of Euphemia but I do not know who his father was. Three years after his birth, his mother married William Beck, a colliery engine driver just like her father was. They went on to have lots of children - Becks. Although Colin Ramsay's story is in my main line of descent and therefore of the greater interest in this genealogy, he grew up with lots of siblings and their stories are interesting too. In this section I go into some of the information I have on the lives of his half sisters and brothers. Click on a sibling to go directly to them

Children of William Beck and Euphemia Couper Ramsay

Name	Born	Place
Margart Beck	20 Jan 1862	Lochgelly, Auchterderran
Infant Beck	24 May 1863	Lochgelly, Auchterderran
Joan Beck	25 Apr 1864	Lochgelly, Auchterderran
Euphemia Beck	25 Apr 1864	Lochgelly, Auchterderran
Christina Beck	3 Sep 1866	Lochgelly, Auchterderran
John Beck	31 Dec 1868	Templeland, Ballingry
William Ramsay Beck	28 Mar 1872	Templeland, Ballingry
Janet Beck	14 Jan 1876	Templeland, Ballingry

Margaret Beck b 20 Jan 1862 Grainger Square Lochgelly, Auchterderran.

1862 Births in the Parish of Auchterderran in the County of Fife
Margaret Beck [born] Twentieth January 1862 8h A.M. Grainger square, Lochgelly. [dau of] William Beck, Engine keeper [and] Euphemia Beck, M.S. Ramsay [married] 1861 Jun 28th Auchterderran. [Informant] William Beck Father. [Registered] 25 January 1862 Auchterderran

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We see Margaret Beck at the 1871 Census for Templeland, Ballingry when she is aged 9 and a scholar. Colin Ramsay is her older half-brother and he is a coal miner. She has three younger sisters and a younger brother. At the 1881 Census, when they re living at Albany Street, Dunfermline, she is aged 19 and she has four younger sisters, three of whom, like her, are linen weavers. Colin Ramsay has left the household so she is the eldest child now. Margaret, who signed her name as Maggie Beck (making finding her difficult) married David Birrell 25 September 1885

[source]

1885 Marriages in the District of Dunfermline in the County of Fife
Twenty Fifth of September 1885 at 72 Albany Street, Dunfermline, After Banns according to the Forms of the Established Church
David Birrell, Railway Signalman, Bachelor, aged 23 of Barracks, Livingstone [son of] John Birrell, Coal Miner, [and] Ann Birrell MS Anderson [married]
Maggie Beck, Winder Damask Factory, Spinster aged 24 of 72 Albany Street, Dunfermline [daughter of] William Beck, Colliery Engine Keeper [and] Euphemia Couper Beck MS Ramsay.
Signed Robert Stevenson M.A. Dunfermline Abbey. Signed Robert Birrell Witness, Joan Beck, Witness. Registered September 26th 1885 at Dunfermline. James Wall Registrar.

At the 1891 Census they are living at William Street, Ferrport-on-Craig, Fife

At the next census, we would expect to see some children but there aren't any

Unfortunately I could not find her or her husband in the 1911 Census, either together or apart. What happened to her between 1901 - 1944.

Death of Margaret Birrell or Beck 8 Jul 1944 Dunfermline

[source]

Margaret Birrell, Widow of David Birrell Railway Guard [died] July Eighth 1944 4h 0m AM [at] 64 Leys Bank Road, Dunfermline [usual residence?] 13 Brucefield Avenue aged 87 [daughter of [William Beck, Colliery Engineman (Deceased) [and] Euphemia Beck MS Ramsay (Deceased) Myocarditis as Cert by J Cairncross MB ChB. [Witness] John Beck, brother 13 Brucefield Avenue. Registered 8 Jul 1944 at Dunfermline.

From this we learn that her husband, David Birrell is dead but I could not find a death registration for him. 64 Leys Bank Road, her place of death, was originally a poorhouse which included two apartments for lunatics. During the Great War, part of it was used as an auxiliary military hospital and with the creation of the NHS in 1948 it became the Northern Hospital under the management of the West Fife Hospital Board. For more on this see here. The map at this location shows the establishment as close to Gardener's Land which is where Margaret's Aunt Christina Burt was born in 1849 (She was the daughter of William Ramsay and Margaret Burt, Margaret's grand-parents). Also nearby is Albany Street, the home of Euphemia Couper Beck or Ramsay (her mother) for over twenty years and where she was, herself, at the 1881 Census as a 19 year old linen weaver. Her death registration gives her usual residence is 13 Brucefields Road and whilst I do not have any census return showing her living there, her bother, John, lived at number 15 (next door) at the 1911 Census. He is the informant at Margaret's death registration and he gives his address as 13 Brucefield Road - not 15. So, it seems that Margaret may possibly have lived with her brother and his wife at some point between 1901 and her death in 1944. This begs the question, where was her husband and how did he die? It is a bit of a mystery.

Infant Beck b 24 May 1863 Grainger Square Lochgelly, Auchterderran

1863 Births in the Parish of Auchterderran in the County of Fife
—— Beck [born] Twenty fourth May 1863 4h A.M. Grainger square, Lochgelly. [dau of] William Beck, Engine keeper [and] Euphemia Beck, M.S. Ramsay [married] 1861 Jun 28th Grainger square, Auchterderran. [Informant] William Beck Father. [Registered] 25 May 1863 Auchterderran.

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There isn't much else to say about this child. I assume she died shortly after birth and was not named. However it is worth noting the, all too common, death in infancy that so many Victorian families had to live with.

Joan Beck b 25 Apr 1864 3:55am Grainger Square Lochgelly, Auchterderran

1864 Births in the Parish of Auchterderran in the County of Fife
Joan Beck 1st Twin [born] Twenty-Fifth April 1864 at 3h. 55m A.M. Grainger square, Lochgelly, Parish of Auchterderran. [daughter of] William Beck Engine keeper [and] Euphemia Couper Beck, M.S. Ramsay [married] 1861 Jun 28th Auchterderran. [Informant] William Beck Father. [Registered] 12 May 1864 at Auchterderran

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Joan Becks Youth through the Census Returns

Joan Beck is a six year old scholar at the 1871 Census when the family lived at Templeland, Ballingry. She and her twin, Euphemia, were part of the family of six children, the oldest of which was her half-brother, Colin Ramsay - a 13 year old miner.

At the 1881 Census the family are living at 36 Pittencrieff Street, Dunfermline and she is now one of four sisters that are all linen weavers. The younger children are John, 12 and Janet 5 - both scholars.

By the 1891 Census the family have moved to Albany Street, Dunfermline and she is a 26 year old unmarried factory worker. The household is not just her parents and her sister Christina a 24 year old linen weaver, and John, now 15 years old.

The 1901 Census sees the family still at Albany Street but her father is no longer there - he died in 1897. Euphemia is back in the household so it is now other and three sisters. Joan is a “tier in a linen factory” unmarried and aged 36.

Joan Becks Marriage to John Watson 7 Jul 1905

It must have felt like Joan was due for a spinster's life but that changed in 1905 when she married.

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1905 Marriages in the District of Dunfermline in the County of Fife Seventh Jul 1905 at Eastport Street, Dunfermline according to the Forms of the United Free Church John Watson Loom Mounter (Widower) aged 47 [of] 20 Rose Crescent, Dunfermline [son of]John Watson Quarryman [and] Jane Watson MS Rhymer (Decd) [married] Joan Beck Housekeeper (Spinster) aged 41 [of] 72 Albany Street, Dunfermline [daughter of] William Beck Colliery Store Keeper (Decd) [and] Euphemia Beck MS Ramsay. Signed John Sanderson, St. Margaret's U.F. Church, Dunfermline. [Witnesses] James Watson, Christina Beck.

More on John Watson

John Watson is a widower when he marries Joan Beck. I tried to find a previous marriage but it was difficult. I eventually found a school admission for a child on on Ancestry.comthat lists a John Watson aged 42 (born ca 1859) and he is a Damask harness mounter from Kingskettle, Fife. His wife is Annie (born ca 1855) I looked at John Watson’s marrying Annies and the most likely one was Ann Bissett and they married 30 Mar at Dunfermline. If the long list of children in the census return fits these two people then she must have died after her youngest child who was born 1895. I Looked for too long and couldn’t resolve this. It is a bit of an obscure point to waste more time. It is enough that he was married before.

It seems unlikely that John Watson and Joan Beck had any children. I couldn't find any and he was 47 when he married and probably had a few children by his previous marriage and she was 41.

Death of Joan Watson or Beck 18 Nov 1936

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1936 Deaths in the District of Dunfermline in the County of Fife
Joan Watson (Widow of John Watson Loom Mounter) [died] Eighteenth November 1936 10h 35m AM 64 Leys Park Road, Dunfermline [usual residence] 3 Whirlbut Crescent, Dunfermline. [aged] 72 years [daughter of] William Beck Colliery Engineman (Deceased) [and] Euphemia Cooper Beck MS Ramsay (Deceased). Arterio Sclerosis, Cerebral Softening As Cert by A Lawrie MB ChB [Witness] John Beck Brother 13 Brucefield Avenue.
Registered 18th November 1936 at Dunfermline.

From this we learn that her husband, John Watson is dead but I could not find a death registration for him. 64 Leys Bank Road, her place of death, was originally a poorhouse which included two apartments for lunatics. During the Great War, part of it was used as an auxiliary military hospital and with the creation of the NHS in 1948 it became the Northern Hospital under the management of the West Fife Hospital Board. For more on this see here. The map at this location shows the establishment as close to Gardener's Land which is where Margaret's Aunt Christina Burt was born in 1849 (She was the daughter of William Ramsay and Margaret Burt, Margaret's grand-parents). Also nearby is Albany Street, the home of Euphemia Couper Beck or Ramsay (her mother) for over twenty years and where she was, herself, at the 1881 Census as a 16 year old linen weaver. Her death registration gives her usual residence as 3 Whirlbut Crescent, Dunfermline. This is a household that I have not come across before.

With this death it seems like Margaret Beck didn't have any children, even though she married. At her death registration it was her brother than was the informant and not any child as might seem likely. William and Euphemia's second child died in infancy (I presume) and Joan Beck doesn't appear to have any children and probably married too late in life for that to be likely anyway. Perhaps Euphemia will have a better story for us.

Euphemia Beck b 25 Apr 1864 6:45am Grainger Square Lochgelly, Auchterderran

1864 Births in the Parish of Auchterderran in the County of Fife
Euphemia Beck 2nd Twin [born] Twenty-Fifth April 1864 at 6h. 45m A.M. Grainger square, Lochgelly, Parish of Auchterderran. [daughter of] William Beck Engine keeper [and] Euphemia Couper Beck, M.S. Ramsay [married] 1861 Jun 28th Auchterderran. [Informant] William Beck Father. [Registered] 12 May 1864 at Auchterderran.

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The first census that Euphemia appears in is the 1871 Census for Templeland, Ballingry where she is six years old. She has three sisters ranging from 4 to 9, a younger brother, John aged 2, and an older half-brother, Colin Ramsay who is a 13 year old coal miner.

At the 1881 Census the family are living at 36 Pittencrieff Street, Dunfermline. She now has a younger sister, Janet, aged 2 but Colin Ramsay has moved out - he married in 1880. Like her three other sisters, she is a Linen weaver and is now 16.

At the 1891 Census she is not at the family home. I have seen a suggestion, online that she was a female servant in the household of Robert Smythe at his home in Station Road, Kinross but I have no strong evidence for this.

Her father, William Beck, died in 1897.

At the 1901 Census the family are living at 72 Albany Street, Dunfermline where they were to live for quite some time and she is back with them. She is now a 36 year old Yarn winder at a linen factory. Her twin, Joan, also lives in the household and she works in a linen factory as well.

She is not at the family home in Albany Street for the 1911 census; in fact that household is reduced to just Euphemia Beck or Ramsay and her daughter Christina Beck who is single and now 44 years old.

Her mother died not long after that census; she died 21 Aug 1912 at 72 Albany Street.

I found the reason why Euphemia wasn't at her mother's household for the 1911 Census. She had been admitted to the Fife and Kinross Asylum.

Euphemia Beck in Fife and Kinross Asylum, Ceres 20 Nov 1908.

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In searching for Euphemia at the 1911 Census, I could not find her but I did find an admission record for the Fife and Kinross Asylum. This records her admission number as 4452 and her date of admission was 20 Nov 1908. Her name is given as Euphemia Ramsay Beck, factory worker, female pauper (I'm not sure what pauper means in this context but it may mean how her care was funded) aged 44. Her address is 72 Albany Street. She was chargeable to Dunfermline parish and was sent to the asylum on the authority of Wm. Robertson Esq Sheriff Substitute. There follows reference to a number of doctors who have signed medical certificated pertaining to her. Her “bodily condition” is “average”. No name is given to her disorder but the for of it is given as “Acute Mania” with the “supposed cause” as “Religious excitement”. Under “duration of existing attacks” is written 1 year violent and unmanageable for 8 days. Number of previous attacks is 0 and age at attack is 43. Her date of “discharge, removal or death” is given as 23/11/32 Died. Under observation is “Euphemia Ramsay or Beck 72 Albany Street, Dunfermline, Mother”

It seems from this that Euphemia was in the Asylum for 24 years between 20 Nov 1908 and 23 Nov 1932.As a matter of interest, Euphemia's Aunt Jean (Fernie or Beck), her father's sister, had spent from 1867 - 1882 - just 15 years as recorded here.

You can find out more about the meaning of "religious excitement here, here and here.

Euphemia Ramsay Beck died in the asylum.

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1932 Deaths in the District of Cupar in the County of Fife ”Euphemia Ramsay Beck, Linen Winder (Single) [died] November twenty Third 5h 15m p.m. at Fife District Asylum, usual address 17 Albany Street, Dunfermline. [aged] 68 years [daughter of] William Beck Coal mine Engine Keeper (deceased) [and] Euphemia Beck M.S. Ramsay (deceased). Myocardial Neoplasm about 2(?) years as certified by James B. Methven M.B. [informant] James B Methuen Assistant Medical Supervisor. Registered November 24th 1932 at Cuper

So, it seems like there isn't a lot of luck among the Beck children. So I move on to Christina

Christina Beck b 3 Sep 1866 Grainger Square Lochgelly, Auchterderran.

1866 Births in the Parish of Auchterderran in the County of Fife
Christina Beck [born] Third September 1866 at 1h. A.M. Grainger square, Lochgelly, Parish of Auchterderran. [daughter of] William Beck Engine keeper [and] Euphemia Beck, M.S. Ramsay [married] 1861 Jun 28th Auchterderran. [Informant] William Beck Father. [Registered] 18 September 1866 at Auchterderran.

[source]

Christina Beck is 4 years old at the 1871 Census when the family are living at Templeland, Ballingry. She isn’t at school yet.

At the next census in 1881, the family are living at 36 Pittencrieff Street in Dunfermline and she, like her three older sisters, is a linen weaver. She is 14 years old.

She is also in the household at the 1891 Census, when the family are living at Albany Street (probably number 72 but it isn’t stated). She is still a linen weaver and unmarried.

Her father, William Beck, died on 1 June 1897 so he was no longer with the family at the 1901 Census - still at 72 Albany Street. She is the middle of only three children left in the household. She is 34, her sisters, Euphemia and Joan (twins) are 36. Their mother, Euphemia is a 67 year old widow. Her sister, Joan, married in 1905 at the age of 41 and Christina was one of the witnesses.

At the 1911 Census - still at 72 Albany Street, she is the only child of Euphemia Beck still in the household and is now aged 44.

Shortly after this census, her mother, Euphemia Couper Beck or Ramsay died. She died 21 Aug 1912 at 72 Albany Street. I do not know where Christina went but our next records shows that she never married and so far as we can see no Bevk grandchildren for Euphemia and William Beck

Death of Christina Beck 23 Mar 1923 Dunfermline

[source]

1923 Deaths in the District of Dunfermline in the County of Fife Christina Beck, Housekeeper, (Single) [died] Twenty Third March 1923 5h 10m PM [at] 20 Campbell Street, Dunfermline [aged] 56 years [daughter of] William Beck Colliery Storekeeper (Decd) [and] Euphemia Beck MS Ramsay (Decd). Haemorrhage from Duodenal Ulcer as cert by J Cairncross MB [witness] John Beck Brother 13 Brucefield Avenue. [Registered 24 Mar 1923 at Dunfermline.

So it is still a bit of a downbeat story. We do have a little more luck with John

John Beck b 31 Dec 1868 Templeland, Ballingry.

1868 Births in the Parish of Ballingry in the County of Fife
John Beck [born] 31 December 1868 12h 15m A.M. Templeland, Ballingry. [son of] William Beck Engine Keeper [and] Euphemia Couper Beck, M.S. Ramsay [married] 1861 Jun 28th Auchterderran. [Informant] William Beck Father Present. [Registered] January 19th at Ballingry.

[source]

We see John Beck at the 1871 Census when the family are living at Templeland, Ballingry, where he was born. He is aged 2 and is the youngest of six children ranging between 4 and 13.

At the 1881 Census when the family are living at 36 Pittencrieff Street in Dunfermline, he is a 12 year old scholar. That is the last census return he appears in with this family.

In the process of trying to track him down, I eventually came across a census return but the indexing of his wife’s name made any further searching impossible. I eventually found him in the 1911 Census where his wife’ real name was clear. More on that below

Marriage of John Beck and Elona Curley 13 Aug 1900 Kelso

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1900 Marriages in the Parish of Kelso in the County of Roxburgh
Thirteenth of August 1900 at St Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Kelso according to the Forms of the Scottish Episcopal Church John Beck Printer’s Pressman (Bachelor [aged] 31 [of] 72 Albany Street, Dunfermline [son of] William Beck Colliery Store Keeper (Deceased [and] Euphemia Beck M.S. Ramsay
[married]
Elona Curley Fishing Hook Dresser ?, Spinster [aged] 26 [of] 8 Albert Place, Kelso [daughter of] Thomas Curley Railway Engine Driver and Susan Curley M.S. Rule (?)
[Signed] Walter J Clark [Witnesses] Thomas Curley [and] Mary Alice Curley.
Registered 15 August 1900 at Kelso

It is still unclear where John Beck was between the 1881 census and his marriage in 1900

John And Elona Beck in Census Returns

1901 Census John And Elona Beck at Armadale Villa, Victoria Street, Dunfermline

Having just got married, the couple do not have children yet. John Beck as a 32 year old Printer machineman. His wife, Elona is 26 and, as we know from the marriage certificate, was born in Kelso, Roxburghshire.

1911 Census John And Elona Beck at 13 Brucefield Avenue, Dunfermline

The 1911 Census also gives us the additional information that Elona has been married 10 years and has only ever had 2 children, both alive. So, even though we might imagine we are missing children, it seems not - not at 1911 anyway. Mary A Curley is presumably Elona's sister Mary Alice Curley who we know was born in 1877.

John Beck and his wife lived at 13 Brucefield Road, Dunfermline from at least 1811 until his death in 1955. He was a witness at the death of his sister Christina Beck on 23 Mar 1923, at the death of his sister, Joan on 18 Nov 1936 and at the death of his sister, Margaret Birrell or Beck at 8 Jul 1944. In each of these he is resident at 13 Brucefield Road.

Death of John Beck 21 Dec 1955 West Fife Hospital

[source]

1955 Deaths in the District of Dunfermline in the County of Fife
John Beck Printer (Retired) (Married to Elona Curley) [did] Twenty First December 1955 8h 15m am [at] West Fife Hospital, Dunfermline. [usual resience] 13 Brucefield Avenue, Dunfermline. [aged] 86 years [son of] William Beck Colliery Engineman (Deceased) [and] Euphemia Cooper Beck MS Ramsay (Deceased). Carcinoma [????] 3 months [???] 21 days Pulmonary [???] following thrombosis of leg 10 days. Cardiac Failure 10 days as cert by MD Scott.
[witness] Wm Beck Son 15 Brucefield Avenue, Dunfermline.
Registered 21 December 1955 at Dunfermline

William Ramsay Beck b 28 Mar 1872 Templeland, Ballingry.

1872 Births in the Parish of Ballingry in the County of Fife
William Ramsay Beck [born] Twenty Ninth March 1872 3h A.M. Templeland, Ballingry. [son of] William Beck Engine Keeper [and] Euphemia Beck, M.S. Ramsay [married] 1861 Jun 28th Auchterderran. [Informant] William Beck Father Not Present. [Registered] April 17th at Ballingry.

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William Ramsay Beck had a very brief life, dying aged 8 years of tubercular meningitis.

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1880 Deaths in the District of Dunfermline in the County of Fife
William Beck (Single) [died] December First 1880 8h 0m A.M. Pittencrieff Street, Dunfermline [aged] 8 years [son of] William Beck Engine Keeper [and] Euphemia Couper Beck M.S. Ramsay. Tubercular Meningitis 16 days As certified by Arthur Drysdale M.B. C.M.
[informant] William Beck Father (Present) [registered] December 1st at Dunfermline

Janet Beck b 14 Jan 1876 Templeland, Ballingry.

1876 Births in the Parish of Ballingry in the County of Fife
Janet Beck [born] Fourteenth January 1876 9h 20m P.M. Templeland, Ballingry. [daughter of] William Beck Engineman [and] Euphemia Cowper Beck, M.S. Ramsay [married] 1861 Jun 28th Auchterderran. [Informant] William Beck Father. [Registered] 1st February at Ballingry.

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Janet first appears in the census returns in 1881 when the family are living at 36t Pittencrief Street, Dunfermline. She is aged 5 and is a scholar. She is youngest of six children in the household. All three of her sisters are linen weavers. her brother, John, is 12 and also a scholar.

At the 1891 Census when the family are living at Albany Street, Dunfermline, she is 15 years old but no occupation is given for her. She lived with her mother, father and sisters Joan and Christina, the former a factory worker and the latter is still a linen weaver.

Janet Beck seems to have lived at 72 Albany Street until 1900 when she married.

Marriage of Janet Ramsay Beck and John Grieve Barclay 9 Aug 1900

[source]

1900 Marriages in the District of Dunfermline in the County of Fife
Ninth August 1900 at 72 Albany Street, Dunfermline After Banns according to the Forms of the United Presbyterian Church [were married] John Grieve Barclay Compositor (Bachelor) [aged] 26 [of] 32 Easter Road, Leith [son of] Matthew Barclay Yarn Dresser (decd) [and] Helen Barclay MS Addison
[and]
Janet Ramsay Beck Housekeeper (Spinster) [aged] 24 [of] 72 Albany Street, Dunfermline [daughter of] William Beck Colliery Storekeeper (Decd) [and] Euphemia Beck MS Ramsay.
Signed Thomas E Miller Minister of Gillespie Church (Signed) [witnesses] James W. Barclay, Christina Beck.
[registered] August 11th at Dunfermline

I researched John Grieve Barclay a little bit and found his family in the 1881 Census living at 88 Appin Crescent, Dunfermline , at the 1891 Census living at Albany Street, Dunfermline and at the 1901 Census at 98 Albany Street, Dunfermline .

Matthew Barclay and Helen Addison had the following children:

Name	Date	Place of Birth
Robert Barclay	1867	Dunfermline, Fife
Matthew Barclay	1869	Dunfermline, Fife
Helen A Barclay	1872	Dunfermline, Fife
John Grieve Barclay	1874	Dunfermline, Fife
William F Barclay	1877	Dunfermline, Fife
Jane W Barclay	1879	Dunfermline, Fife
James W Barclay	1881	Dunfermline, Fife

It is worth noting that there are strong residential connections between these two families. At the 1881 Census the Barclays live at Appin Crescent which is familiar from the life of Janet's maternal grandmother, Margaret Burt. At the 1891 and 1901 Census they are at Albany Street (at 1901 number 98) and, of course, Janet's family lived at 72 Albany Street for at lease 20 years and are found there at the 1891, 1901 an 1911 Censuses. At the taking of the 1891 Census, Janet lived there aged 15 whilst, down the road a few houses was John Grieve Barclay, a seventeen year old printer compositor. They married just before the 1901 census.

Children of John Grieve Barclay and Janet Barclay or Beck

I could not find the couple in the 1901 Census which was taken 7 months after John and Janet married. In the Scotland's People indexes I found a Euphemia Ramsay Barclay born 1902 in the registration district of Leith South, Edinburgh. Another child had a similar use of a mother's name - this time John's mother; the child was Helen Addison Barclay born 1906 in Dunfermline

I haven't been able to find any other children to this couple but if Scotland's People ever gets it together to release the 1921 Census then that would help. They have been saying all year (2022) that it would be out in late 2022 but at the time of writing this it is 18th November 2022 and there is no talk of it being imminent.

An online source here gives a death date of 3 August 1946 for John Grieve Barclay and it also lists a burial. Scotland's People returns an index entry that matches this for John Grieve Barclay aged 72 at death here .

Death of Janet Ramsay Barclay or Beck 19 Sep 1955

[source]

1955 Deaths in the District of Leith in the City Of Edinburgh
Janet Ramsay Barclay Widow of John Grieve Barclay Printer (Compositor) [died] Nineteenth September 1955 3h 45m pm [at] 71 Lochend Road, Leith [aged] 79 [daughter of] William Beck Stationary Engineman (deceased) [and] Euphemia Couper Beck MS Ramsay (deceased).
Congestive Cardiac failure 2 months Hypertension 20 years Left ventricular failure 2 years. As cert by David E. Williams MB
[witness] Effie R Barclay, daughter present.
[registered] September 20th at Leith

This concludes our review of the fortunes of the Beck children. As far as I can see, apart from the infant who died and William Ramsay Beck who died aged 8, the children seemed to have lived long lives. Margaret lived 72 years and, although she married, did not appear to have any children. Joan lived for 78 years and also married but did not have children. Her twin, Euphemia lived for 68 years,did not marry and died in the mental asylum. Christina never married and died after only 56 years. That only leaves John Beck and Janet Ramsay Beck. They both married and had at least two children each. John lived for 86 years, and was often the witness at the deaths of his sisters, and Janet lived for 79 years. Margaret, John and Janet all lived through two World Wars