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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Perthshire => Topic started by: chirp on Thursday 26 March 09 11:38 GMT (UK)
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Some years ago I found an old diary in the attic of the cottage where I used to live. It was written over one month during 1908 by Margaret Cameron of Brack (which I take to be the name of a house) near Doune by Dunblane in Perthshire. In it there are references to several neighbours, relatives and school friends. I would estimate Margaret was about 14 years old at the time. There is little detail but I know that even a passing reference is of great interest to us family historians. If you have an ancestor in this area at this time I can check to see if they are mentioned. There are also references to farms and hamlets in the area: The Bow, Deanston, Clarkton, Glenhead and others. I was informed by a distant relative of Margaret's that she did not marry. From the diary it seems she may have had siblings named Jany or Jenny, John, Archie and Christian. Somebody out there may be descended from one of them. The references are mostly of the kind: "Aunt J.A. is cutting potatoes with James Dunn in the kitchen." and "Aunt Maggie tells us that the little Watston ones have got the measles." "Annabel has quarreled with Connie Winter" and so on. The 28 April records a reference to "C.B.'s funeral" when "all the liberals agreed to take a holiday" (C.B.??). On the 7th May she refers to "Shaw the grave digger hanging himself down in the cemetery."
Chirp
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I know the area fairly well,have not heard of the Brack.
I lived as Glenhead farm about thirty years ago,
Don't know how much you know of the area, Deanston village,
known for its cotton mills and whisky distillery, Doune famous
for pistol manufacture,hence the village sign of two crossed pistols. the old pistol factory is now owned by my brother in-law
from where he runs his antique business.
Doune pistols were said to be of the very best quality this was in the era of flintlock pistols.
Sorry for rambling on as this has no real connection to your post
just thought it might be of some interest.
Renard
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Hello Chirp,
I would appreciate hearing of any mention of Kennedys although there weren't many of them left at Doune by 1908.
Regards,
Nel
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Thank you Renard and Nel for your replies. It is interesting to hear a bit more about the area Renard. One of these days I intend to go there and have a look around but have not yet done so although I don't live a million miles away! I have seen a Dalbrack and Auld Dalbrack on the OS map which would place Margaret and her family in just the right spot for all her walks to visit neighbours and relatives. I wonder if the name has been changed to Dalbrack? I did not know about pistol making in Doune.
Sorry Nel but there are no references to Kennedy in Margaret's diary.
Chirp
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Thanks for looking anyway. :)
Regards,
Nel
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It's been a few years since JB ran his antique business from the old Pistol Factory, Renard.
Although i know he still owns it.
Chirp i think the local information center in Doune would probably be
intrested in seeing the Diary, as it is also the base for the the Kilmadock Historical Society.
They may be able to help in the actual location of Brack.
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Hi Monk,
you are right, it is some years since J.B. worked out of the pistol factory, don't know what I was thinking about, I must be going senile.
Renard
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Hi Chirp
I wonder if there is any mention of REID in the diary. I don't think my Cameron's are related to Margaret as they were all born in Loudoun, Ayrshire and moved to Doune in the late 19th century. In 1901 the Camerons farmed Kames which I think is now called Inverardoch Mains (I haven't confirmed this yet). Two of the Cameron girls married two Reid brothers from Hillside of Row and a Cameron boy married Jessie Reid from Craigarnhall (a cousin of the Reid brothers) Jessie Reid's address on the marriage certificate in 1914 was Glenhead, Doune. Jessie Reid was the daughter of Jessie Ferguson Graham. Jessie Ferguson Graham was living at Glenhead Cottage when she died in 1934.
Andy
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Thank you Monks; I will contact them. I think the diary ought to be returned to a family member. Kil. Historical Soc. might be able to help with that.
Thanks Andy for the interesting information. No Reids shown but there are a couple of Fergusson references:
Thursday 23 April: .........."I went and asked Peter Fergusson if Calder's Donkey was for sale, and it is so he is to see Dada about next week.".......
Saturday 25 April: Margaret is writing about going to a party and of meeting up with others who were arriving by train she says "The company consisted of Evelyn Wright, May Henderson, Jessie & Margaret Fergusson .........."
At the end of the diary there is a list of people to whom Margaret has sold eggs "from 2nd August 1909". A Miss Ferguson appears on the list three times. There is also a reference to Miss F. No addresses shown just a note of how many dozens of eggs and the cost.
One other reference may interest you is to the name Graham:
Monday 11th (May): Margaret refers to a shopping trip to Stirling - ..........."Went to Miss Thompson's and got my new summer hat, also went to Graham & Mortons & Aunt J.A. gave a graphic description of a mirror she wants to 3 different young men."
Regards
Chirp
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Hi Chirp
Unfortunatley Fergus(s)on is quite a common surname in the area and my known connection is somewhat earlier. My Reids (and connected families) were tenant farmers mostly on, I beleive. the Stirling of Keir estate which tended to be more towards Dunblane so a little bit away from where young Margaret lived.
Further to your reference to the address, according to the 1912 Scottish County Directory Alexander Cameron was farming Dalbraik(sic) and James Henderson was farming Glenhead.
Andy
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Many thanks for that Andy. I guess Dalbraik/Dalbrack is 'Brack' as referred to by Margaret.
Chirp
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When I lived there in the late 70s early 80s Glenhead farm was
part of Keir estate,in recent years some of the estate has been sold but original boundary was along the Doune Dunblane road
until the Argaty turn off there after along the Ardoch burn until you reached Inverardoch Mains on the other side they marched with Row house though they did have the lease of the land there
for a time, as you say Craigarnhall and Hillside of Row were Keir
estate.
Jim
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Thanks Jim - it's nice to learn more about the area.
Chirp
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Hi,
Is anyone with the surname Keir mentioned in this diary?
Thank M Keir.
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Sorry no Keirs mentioned.
Chirp
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the mention of the Bow is interesting as there was, and I believe still may be a cameron family who farmed up there, and the road up to the Bow is sometimes known as the Dalbrack road . Across the moor from the Bow were/are another family of Camerons @ Severie in the Braes of Doune which is accessed direct from Doune (due North)
http://nl.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=424812
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Many thanks for that; it would be interesting to know if the present Camerons descend from Margaret's family. Let's hope they join rootschat!!
Chirp
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Some years ago I found an old diary in the attic of the cottage where I used to live. It was written over one month during 1908 by Margaret Cameron of Brack (which I take to be the name of a house) near Doune by Dunblane in Perthshire. In it there are references to several neighbours, relatives and school friends. I would estimate Margaret was about 14 years old at the time. There is little detail but I know that even a passing reference is of great interest to us family historians. If you have an ancestor in this area at this time I can check to see if they are mentioned. There are also references to farms and hamlets in the area: The Bow, Deanston, Clarkton, Glenhead and others. I was informed by a distant relative of Margaret's that she did not marry. From the diary it seems she may have had siblings named Jany or Jenny, John, Archie and Christian. Somebody out there may be descended from one of them. The references are mostly of the kind: "Aunt J.A. is cutting potatoes with James Dunn in the kitchen." and "Aunt Maggie tells us that the little Watston ones have got the measles." "Annabel has quarreled with Connie Winter" and so on. The 28 April records a reference to "C.B.'s funeral" when "all the liberals agreed to take a holiday" (C.B.??). On the 7th May she refers to "Shaw the grave digger hanging himself down in the cemetery."
Chirp
Hello there!
I'm new to this site so bear with me.
My mother's great great grandfather was was John Murdoch and his brother was Thomas for whom my own brother is named. They were pistol makers in Doune at the end of the18th.Centuary. I think John died in 1812 and was the last of the Scottish flintlock pistol makers.
The brothers had the destinction of being the makers of the pistols that fired 'the shot that was heard around the world' - the first shot fired in the American War of Independence. They were made for two british officers who were killed in battle. The pistols were given to George Washington who later left them in his will to the Laffayette family. The other pair are in the Lexington History Museum.
John had a son who went to Jamica and died there in about 1825. he owned a plantation there which he named 'douine Castle.
The same Murdochs were the decendents of the builders of Doune castle which I think was built for the then Regent of Scotland. His son was named Murdoch. Perhaps that's where the name vcame from originally. There were not a few illigitimii around in those days?
The other side of the family were Buchanans who were also pistol makers from Doune. I don't know anything about them. Can enyone help?
Sailorjim
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"C.B.'s funeral"
sir henry campbell-bannerman died 22nd april 1908 buried meigle parish
churchyard perthshire
ev
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Thank you Sailorjim and ev for your posts. Re the Murdoch family - I can only suggest that you contact the Kilmadoch Historical Society at the Local Information Centre in Doune. They may have more information.
Chirp
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Hi. I grew up in Inverardoch Mains. (the Doocot) My father was James (Hamish) Gray Cameron and his father Andrew Alexander Cameron. Andrew was born Loudounhill farm and moved into the Doocot abt 1907 with his mother and sisters. If anyone is still interested in further info please get in touch.
Gilbert Cameron
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Hello Gilbert
Do you have any connection to Margaret and her brother Christian? There was also an Uncle Duncan.
Chirp
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Hello Chirp
Sorry but I don't recognise these names.
Gilbert
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Thank you for your reply Gilbert, pity the names don't match up.
Regards
Chirp