RootsChat.Com
Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Aberdeenshire => Scotland => Aberdeenshire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: flst on Wednesday 25 November 09 14:42 GMT (UK)
-
I am interested in the Arthur family history & would be most grateful if someone could help me. There is a gravestone in Slains with the names of 8 Arthurs on it between 1870-1919. I'd like to find out more than names & dates & hope to identify the relationship between these folk. Can anyone do a lookup, please?
Thanks
flst
-
can you tell us their first names and the year they were born
in 1871 their are 4 in slains
margaret born 1811
james born 1812(husband of margaret)
barbara born 1847
andrew born 1848
apart from james who was born at cruden the others were born at slains
-
The stone refered to is number 55 Slains u/p if anyone has the booklet. :)
http://www.abdnet.co.uk/mi-index/
A quick look at the IGI provides some info on some members of this family.
JOHN ARTHUR Married ISOBEL CRUICKSHANK 14th January 1832, Slains.
They had (a lot of!) issue:
ISABELLA 1833
CATHARINE 1834
JEAN 1836
JOHN 1838
JAMES 1840
ANN 1842
MARGARET BRUCE 1844
ANDREW 1846
ROBERT 1849
WILLIAM 1850
ROBERT MIDDLETON 1853
ELIZA DALGARNO 1856
They are on the 1851 census (FreeCen) at Crawley, Slains - parents and 5 of the children.
I hope this is of some help.
Kirsty
-
Thanks for your interest in this query. Yes, Kirsty, that is the headstone I'm interested in. I have looked up most of the Arthurs in Cruden,Slains & Logie Buchan in the censuses. I am trying to find a link with an Elpset Arthur whose baptism appears in March 28th 1791 in Slains. She was the illegitimate daughter of another Elspet Arthur,"a servant in this parish".It goes on to say, in great detail, how Elspet was raped by a stranger. The witnesses to the baptism were H.Craighead & Sylvester Balfour both in Berryslacks. In 1811 young Elspet had an illegitimate daughter with James Davidson in Belscampie. She was baptised Jean Davidson,in Cruden.The witnesses were William & Andrew Arthur. I am wondering if they were uncles perhaps or cousins.Now, here's the problem. My mother in law has a birthday book which has been handed down through the generations.The oldest entry in it is Elspet's birthday - 15th March 1791 but her surname's down as Mutch. In 1841 Elspet Mutch is at Auchleuchries, Cruden. She's 50,& independant. There is an ag.lab., William Black, living with her. In 1851 she's still at the same place & her occupation's a stocking knitter. Her age is 60,she's the head of the house & unmarried.In 1861 Elspet has a Christian Arthur living with her. She's a boarder (not a relative?) aged 84 & a pauper, born in Logie Buchan. Christian died in December 1865. Her death certificate states she's the daughter of William Arthur & Ann Arthur (m.s. blank) Elspet died 18 days later.Her grandaughter's husband was the informant (of both deaths) & named her parents as William Mutch,farmer & Elizabeth Arthur,domestic servant. I am puzzled as to when William came into the picture. This is why I'm trying to identify these Arthurs!
-
I have found an Elspet Arthur born 1763, to William Arthur & his wife Ann Massie.She is one of 11 children,all born in Logie Buchan. She has a sister,Christian.If this is the same Elspet why was n't Christian shown in the census as a sister? William & Ann also had sons William & Andrew who could be the witnesses at Jane's baptism. I have got a copy of William's death certificate. His parents are ? Arthur.farmer, & Elspet Arthur nee Massie.Aged 85,he died in 1856 & his burial place was Ellon churchyard. How can I prove that Elspet Mutch is a grandaughter of William & Ann? Your comments on this will be very welcome!
-
If the Elspet born in 1791 was the daughter of Elspet born 1763 then Christian would have been her aunt wouldn't she?
-
Yes,of course,silly me.
Yesterday I downloaded a copy of Elspet Mutch's will & she left everything to her natural daughter,Jane Marr (nee Davidson). No mention of any other relatives.
-
A few things are bothering me about this.
The birth date for Elspet Mutch does not match that of Elspet Arthur (15th March 1791 vs 26th March 1791).
That being said, Elspet Mutch left everything to Jean Davidson who we know to be the daughter of Elspet Arthur.
There are too many assumptions that could be made given how little information we have.
Have you the MI for William from Ellon churchyard? Does it give any more detail about his family such as father's name?
I've just looked and the ANESFHS MI site doesn't have it. The only William Arthur at Ellon on there was buried in 1767.
Let's hope some kind soul can provide the MI transcription from Slains ans that they are related!
Kirsty
-
The 26th March 1791 is the date of the baptism, not date of birth.
I agree that William's M.I. would be helpful - I haven't got it yet. I guess a trip round the graveyards is in the offing! I know it's not uncommon for illegitimate children to go under 2 surnames. I'm hoping someone will come across a headstone with placenames that tie up with the places I've mentioned. I have also placed this information in the Mutch website in the hope I get some answers from it's viewers. Meantime, I'll have another look through the 1841 & 51 censuses as there are Arthurs living at Auchleuchries at the same time as Elspet.
-
I was going by the dates in the IGI index only, they give birth as 26th March, baptism 28th March 1791.
Does it say something different in the entry you saw from SP?
I noted earlier that there were also quite a few Arthurs born in Cullen, when I looked at the parish records by batch.
Kirsty
-
I did n't get the information off scotlandspeople. I got it off the microfilm over 20 years ago, (before the days of computers!). Yes, both of the dates you quoted were in it. Was n't too clear if 26th was a date of birth or not, but definately baptised on 28th. Looking through all this paperwork I realise that this baptism record is the only one which names Elspet as an Arthur & not Mutch. If I was advising someone else on this I'd say they'd the wrong person! I should try & see if there's baptism records other than Church of Scotland. I checked out the William Black who was living with Elspet Mutch in 1841. I initially thought that I'd uncovered a mistake. There was a William Black baptised in Cruden on 26th Feb.1826.His parents were George Black & his wife Elspet Mutch! However the Elspet Mutch he's with is not his mother. That William appears in Ellon living with his parents. So, I now think he's the son of William Black & Jane Sim.
-
I thought I'd be able to find out about a couple of female Arthurs in the Parish of Cruden, who appear as paupers in the censuses.The poor relief records for Cruden have not survived so sadly this avenue of investigation is closed.
-
Hi, I have been looking at Genealogy names associated with the Slains/Cruden area and I noticed that your list of surnames have names on it which I am also looking at. They are Bruce, Simpson and Smith. My great great grandfather was Alexander Bruce Smith. His older brother was George Rennie Smith. They are said to have both been born in Aberdeenshire to parents Alexander B. Smith and Mary Ann (nee Simpson). They were married in Turriff in 1828. We know that Mary Ann was born to parents John Simpson and Jean Leggat in Cruden in 1807. We also know that Alexander B. Smith would have been born around 1806, but we do not know definitely if his second name was Bruce like that of his son. We also know that Mary Ann's older sister Margaret, married a George Rennie in the early 1800's so we know how George Rennie Smith got his name. Alexander Snr, George and Mary Ann all died in Tasmania. Alexander Jnr died here in NZ. Do you have information on Alexander B. Smith Snr and Mary Ann Simpson. I would really appreciate if you do have information letting me know. I'd be willing to share information I have to.
-
Hi and welcome to rootschat! Sorry to say but I haven't come across any of the people you mentioned in your post.If I come across any information relevant to them I'll certainly let you know.
Regards,
flst
-
Thanks - would so much appreciate that.
-
Some of the Arthur family lived in Peterhead as well, which is not far away at all, and there's several Arthurs buried at Peterhead Old Cemetery.
-
The stone refered to is number 55 Slains u/p if anyone has the booklet. :)
http://www.abdnet.co.uk/mi-index/
A quick look at the IGI provides some info on some members of this family.
JOHN ARTHUR Married ISOBEL CRUICKSHANK 14th January 1832, Slains.
They had (a lot of!) issue:
ISABELLA 1833
CATHARINE 1834
JEAN 1836
JOHN 1838
JAMES 1840
ANN 1842
MARGARET BRUCE 1844
ANDREW 1846
ROBERT 1849
WILLIAM 1850
ROBERT MIDDLETON 1853
ELIZA DALGARNO 1856
They are on the 1851 census (FreeCen) at Crawley, Slains - parents and 5 of the children.
I hope this is of some help.
Kirsty
Do you think this could be them at Mains of Geark in 1841, and they've recorded mother and daughter as Elizabeth rather than Isabell?
John Aurther 30
Elisabeth Aurther 30
Elisabeth Aurther Junr. 9
Jean Aurther 5
John Aurther 3
James Aurther 1
-
I have found an Elspet Arthur born 1763, to William Arthur & his wife Ann Massie.She is one of 11 children,all born in Logie Buchan. She has a sister,Christian.If this is the same Elspet why was n't Christian shown in the census as a sister? William & Ann also had sons William & Andrew who could be the witnesses at Jane's baptism. I have got a copy of William's death certificate. His parents are ? Arthur.farmer, & Elspet Arthur nee Massie.Aged 85,he died in 1856 & his burial place was Ellon churchyard. How can I prove that Elspet Mutch is a grandaughter of William & Ann? Your comments on this will be very welcome!
This is a long shot after all these years, but I'm wondering whether you still have William Arthur's 1856 death certificate?
I have the the marriage of James Arthur and Mary Scroggie on (I think) 22nd of March 1856. The image isn't very clear at all but it was registered at Old Deer. James states that his parents are William Arthur, wright, deceased and Mary Donaldson - it may say she is deceased as well but it's not a great image. James lives at Drumwhindle.
William and Mary married on 21 Sept 1826 at Logie Buchan and named their eldest son William.
I can see the family at Drumwhindle in 1841 and 1851 in 1851 William is 50 and says he was born in Cruden. A William Arthur, son of William Arthur, was baptised at Cruden on 16 Sept 1801. It's tempting to think this is him, except on the 1861 census there's another William whose wife is Barbara also born about 1801 in Cruden.
-
www.brebner.com/uploads/art03132.pdf
I have just come across this 44+ pages of genealogy pertaining to Arthur families. I will have to look at it in depth when I have more time. I do have the death certificate of William Arthur who died 10th March 1856 at Midton, Cruden. Aged 85, he had had the flu for 7 weeks. The informant was his son John. Another son, William certified the burial in Ellon.
flst
-
Thank you flft. I've had the document for a while and it's a wonderful record. John and I have communicated in the past. He hasn't replied to e-mails in the past couple of years when I've sent suggested edits, so there may be an e-mail issue.
If James Arthur hadn't said his father was deceased when he married I'd have thought I had the correct family. It's not making sense to me.
The William who certified the burial of William who died in 1856 married Barbara Cruikshank in the early 1850s was survived by her. William died on 1 Dec 1879, now a crofter - parents William Arthur and Isabella Thomson.
I'm trying to confirm the tree of a DNA match who could be a gtgtgtgt-grandchild of William Arthur and Ann Massie. I think we get quite a few of our matches from this family, as they had so many descendants.