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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Aberdeenshire => Topic started by: hazelstephen on Wednesday 17 June 09 19:03 BST (UK)
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???I was born at no8 in 1941. Would like to know who lived there before my family. They were called Charles Murray/Isabella Murray. Cant find any records of it and as no 8 no longer exists,it has been pulled down, would just like to know when my g.parents moved in . Hazel many thanks
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Hello Hazelstephen,
I am interested to see you were born at 8 York St Peterhead. My late husband was born there in 1934. His father was born there 1905 and his grandmother in 1880's My late father in law grew up there as it was his grandmothers home. Do you know when the building was demolished?
Marg.
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Hello Marg,
York Street was named after the York Buildings Company who owned Peterhead 1720-26
The corner of York Street as we knew it ceased to exist when it was pulled down in the 70's. It was merged into St Peter Street and 58 flats were erected on the site that looked like souless cement buildings, a terrible eyesore to the people of the town. They were fraught with problems and were finally emptied in 2003 and are now in the process of being pulled down. I don't think any decision has been made about the future but it's bound to be a commercial site as it's been proved that it wasn't ideal for residential living.
I was born at number 8 too (Hazel's sister) and even though I left when young I can still envisage the flat about Neish's shop and the smell of bleach in the outside washhouse. Renovation isn't always progress, they should have kept the character of that corner.
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Hello Supernova,
Thank you for info re 8 York St. Do you know when it was built? I presume it was a block of flats? I thougut my father in laws mother was born there, but in the 1891 census they were living at 39 Queen St. They must have moved to York St soon after, as my F I L was born and grew up there. I don't know how long my husband lived there but think he spent most of his childhood in Aberdeen. He migrated to Australia 1958. His parents followed about a year later. His sister,
brother and their families followed. In 1971 he and his parents had a trip home. I guess they visited Peterhead #8 was still there then. It would have been very nostalgic for them. Does York St still exist? Or has the name been changed.
Marg.
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Hi Marg,
I haven't found out when it was built but it was a Draper, Haberdasher's shop with flats above. I believe the shopkeeper may have owned the whole block.
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-map-490452-map_of_peterhead-i
If you visit the above link you'll find a street plan of Peterhead, keep double clicking to zoom in closer.
Follow the pink line that is West Road, leading to Kirk Street you will come to the yellow line and the first grey triangle was the site of 8 York Sreet. The little triangle is no more as it integrated with St Peter Street and number 8 has been reassigned across the road to the the house on the corner to the left, York Sreet stretches all the way up to Peterhead Academy.
Here is an old photo I found on the web, you can see the shops underneath and the flat upstairs is the one to the right of no.8
York Street was always a very busy place for the view your husband would have had was harbour traffic, town centre traffic and laterly Crosse and Blackwells canning factory directly opposite although I don't know when that was build, certainly before my time pre 50's.
I just found a site with a lot of old photo's of Peterhead
http://comments.fotki.com/Bluetoonser/ which are taken round about that corner.
Another strange fact was that my grandparents lived at 31 Queen Street before they moved to York Street - or maybe not strange at all! :) Happy searching.
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Hello Supernova!
This is so exciting. Thanks for the pic of #8. Is the church still there? My father in law may have attended there when he was a boy. I love the old pics.(I am very interested in history) I guess many of these places would have been familiar to my f.i.l. Was able to pinpoint the site on the map. Interesting the building contained a drapers shop. My father in law did some kind of apprenticeship in Drapery.(At the insistence of his granny) I wonder if he worked at that shop. On his marriage certificate he stated he was a "drapers assistant".They must have gone back to Peterhead soon after marriage. I believe he was out of work and that was probably when he started with Cross and Blackwell (Ihad forgotten about that until you mentioned the factory) Interesting your family lived in Queen St! I wonder if the knew any of the Masson family.Thank you for taking the time and effort to send me all this information. Ireally do appreciate it.(can't wait to show this to my son)
Many thanks
Marg
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Just to let you know that you can go on to Google maps & see a satellite view of Peterhead. It's worth checking out!
flst
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Thanks flst.
I will do that.
Marg.
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hi all :)
had a look at the 1881 census
2 york street peterhead - being built
4 york street - wood , mcritchie , and dalgarno surnames
6 york street - uninhabited
and that's it - so no. 8 was possibly built after this date
here is a town map of peterhead 1868
click on box xx111 . 7 . 11 for york street
http://www.nls.uk/maps/townplans/peterhead.html
ev
PS - HAVE FOUND MORE HOUSES IN YORK STREET
PLEASE SEE MY NEXT POST
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Thanks for that Ev.
This is all very interesting
Best wishes
Marg
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hi all :)
had a look at the 1881 census
.....
http://www.nls.uk/maps/townplans/peterhead.html
ev
Fascinating discovery for us newbies ev - thanks for that! 8)
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Hello Supernova!
This is so exciting. Thanks for the pic of #8. Is the church still there? My father in law may have attended there when he was a boy....
Hi Marg,
Peterhead Old Parish church is still going strong: http://www.mucklekirk.co.uk/ and is used as the main place of worship by schools and organisations. That is where I got the photo, it's just a pity that no. 8 is just out of shot on the left but it was just identical to the flat and shop that is
in the photo. My sister would be able to tell you more about the interior, I just recall the rooms being very small and a big old fire range.
I always loved the smell of Crosse & Blackwell probably because it was my first breath in the world. :)
To the left hand side of the church there's still a pub called the 'West End Bar' that would have been there when your husband's family were at York Street, I must have a look at the history of that, I'm sure it would be fascinating.
I wondered if you still had relatives in the area, I know of a few Massons although not very well. I no longer live in Peterhead but I'm due to visit in a couple of weeks time so anything you want to ask just let me know.
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Hello Supernova,
Nice to hear from you again. I am sure there would be some rellies of the Masson family still around Alexander, my father in law was the son of Elizabeth Thomson Masson (Lizzie). Her parents were Andrew & Christian. They had at least 10 kids so I suppose there are still some descendents around. Andrew was born at Longside. I think he moved to Peterhead when he was young. He was certainly married at Peterhead abt 1875. He was a cooper by trade. Don't know how long worked at the trade. Do you go to Peterhead often? Where do you live now?
Once again thank you.
Marg
ps. Would be interested in info on the old pub. I think my father in law would have known it!
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Hello again Marg,
What a coincidence, my grandfather was also a cooper. Perhaps he heard of the flat through your FIL. I've been trying to imagine the likelihood of them working together. I must go to the museum and see the coopers exhibit there and look at the old photos.
Weren't families prolific in those days, my grandmother had about a dozen siblings also.
I live a couple of hours drive away from Peterhead and like to visit now and then. I's a terribly cold place, maybe the climate change will make it more agreeable. :)
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Hello Supernova,
This is uncanny! I really do wonder if our families knew each other. I guess there was plenty of work for Coopers in those days. Did they make barrels for the fish industry?
regards
Marg.
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hi all :)
scrub my original post :-[
i've had another look at the 1881 census and there are more houses in york street including no. 8
there's 2,4,6,8,10, & 12
and 3 & 5
GRO ref volume 232-1 enumdist 16 pages 15 and 16 for no's 8a,8b, & 8c
surnames at no. 8
a. law , nicolson
b. stephens , mcwilliams , scroggie , fyvie , falconer
c. brand , sellar
ev
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Hello Supernova,
Nice to hear from you again. I am sure there would be some rellies of the Masson family still around Alexander, my father in law was the son of Elizabeth Thomson Masson (Lizzie). Her parents were Andrew & Christian. They had at least 10 kids so I suppose there are still some descendents around. Andrew was born at Longside. I think he moved to Peterhead when he was young. He was certainly married at Peterhead abt 1875. He was a cooper by trade. Don't know how long worked at the trade. Do you go to Peterhead often? Where do you live now?
Once again thank you.
Marg
ps. Would be interested in info on the old pub. I think my father in law would have known it!
Hi Marg,
Married in Peterhead in 1875? I'm just wondering who married them? My great great grandfather was the minister at the Old Parish Church, James Stewart, from 1864-1915. Just curious :)
Thanks,
Carrie
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Hello Carrie,
Have had a look at the cert. The ministers name is John Bain.
Marg.