X4. GRANDPARENTS

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124. DAVID LAING was born 15th April 1780 at Carnbee and  married ANNE SMALL on 20th December 1800. He was an agricultural Labourer and then a Colliery worker.  In 1841 they stayed at Arncroach.  He was working at the Balcormo Pit later known as Kellie Castle Colliery Carnbee when he was killed by a falling piece of coal  on the 23rd November 1847.  
125. ANNE SMALL  was born in 1775 at Kilrenny Fife. When she was widowed she was on the parish relief register.  She died a pauper at Carnbee in the village of Arncruach aged 87 on 20th December 1862 of senile decay. Her son George registered the death. 

CHILDREN
John Laing b. 21.6.1803 Carnbee      
Thomas Laing b. 15.9.1805 Carnbee
62. David Laing b. 10.7.1808 Carnbee     
Elizabeth Laing 21.6.1810 Carnbee
Isabel Laing b. 18.4.1813 Carnbee            
Robert Laing b. 20.10.1816 Pitenweem      
George Laing b.10.5.1821Pittenweem         
John Laing b. 8.5.1821 Carnbee

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Son George was killed at the pit too. The event was recorded in the local paper.
13/2/1864
Fatal Accident – On Saturday afternoon a deep and painful sensation was occasioned in this village by an accident of a fatal nature which then occurred at Kellie Colliery. The particulars of this melancholy occurrence are as follows:- George Laing, a miner, was ascending the shaft in a bucket, when for some unknown cause he appears to have fallen from the bucket to the bottom of the pit. The crash of the fall attracted the attention of the only other miner in the workings at the time, who on going to ascertain the cause, found the unfortunate man lying quite insensible amongst some debris, and bleeding profusely from the head which was smashed in a most fearful manner on the right side. Assistance was soon rendered from the top, but all human aid was unavailing, as he appears to have been killed instantaneously. Laing was of a quiet and inoffensive disposition, and much respected by all who knew him. He leaves a widow and six young children, and as they by this sad calamity have been deprived of their only stay and support, it is earnestly to be hoped that the benevolent will bestir themselves when help and sympathy are so urgently needed.
Fife Herald 18/2/1864 
The 1871 census shows his wife Isabella staying in a cottage 'North of Belliston Farm' with their 3 youngest children. She is employed as an outdoor worker.