Most families have some notable relatives who have played their part in history, however small.
But one Tayside woman is preparing to write a book about an astounding family tree she feels encapsulates the British Empire, including a direct link to Peter Pan author JM Barrie.
Charlotte Wilson, 60, from Rattray, began researching the genealogy of her husband Douglas, 60, and quickly became hooked on some “interesting and diverse lives”.
Starting in 1753 with the birth of his distant descendant, Strathmore farmer Alexander Wilson, a tale of a successful family who left their mark on world history soon began to unravel.
Over the ensuing two and a half centuries, family members would be honoured for pioneering health work in India, receive the Military Cross for bravery in battle, drive the setting up of the Royal Canadian Air Force and help establish the theory of continental drift.
Charlotte, who was born in Venlo in the Netherlands, said: “Born at Ferniehirst Farm in Glenisla, Alexander Wilson started farming at Auchrannie Farm near the famous Slugs of Auchrannie around 1780.
“I noticed how at first everybody (in the family tree) stayed in farming, marrying farmer’s sons or daughters, but that pattern slowly changed and by 1841 some started to branch out and found employment as corn, wood and flax merchants, ship owners, seed crushers, bankers and stockbrokers, doctors and engineers.
“I admired two of his daughters who took over the running of the farm after their husbands died.”
Katherine Wilson, widow of David Fleming, farmed for 35 years at Drumturk (1836 to 1871) near Blacklunans and sister Anna Wilson, widow of William Brown, at Pluckerston in Kirriemuir for 20 years.
It was Anna Wilson’s daughter who married a John Barrie, whose nephew went on to become JM Barrie.
Alexander Wilson’s granddaughter Agnes married farmer, wood merchant and quarrier Eric Anderson from Elgin, and it was their sons who began the family’s spread overseas, working in Jamaica, Ceylon and China.
However it was a letter written by Agnes’ brother John Wilson in 1867 that unlocked further connections.
She found out Agnes’ oldest son, Eric Jr, married the daughter of Dundee Provost William Hay in 1878.
One of Agnes’ grandsons, Lewis, was born in Jamaica and after studying medicine in Edinburgh he received the Military Cross, a Distinguished Service Order and the Croix de Guerre for his bravery in the trenches during the First World War.
Charlotte said: “Lewis wasn’t the only Wilson descendant to cover himself in glory. His first cousin once removed, Ruth Wilson or Young (1884-1983), also studied medicine, graduating in St Andrews in 1907.
“Ruth later became a professor and was awarded a CBE for her pioneering health work in India.
“Her brother John Armitstead Wilson CBE (1879-1954) was an apprentice engineer for James Carmichael and Sons in Dundee and later emigrated to Canada where he is remembered as the pioneer of Canadian civil aviation.”