RootsChat.Com

Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Topic started by: stuartone on Wednesday 17 November 10 23:43 GMT (UK)

Title: Pitcarithley Perthshire
Post by: stuartone on Wednesday 17 November 10 23:43 GMT (UK)
  Hi all ,

In the 1871 census there is an address as given ( Backfield of Pitcarithley.)  Perthshire . What does this mean, is it the name of house or street or owner of the house.
Are there any clues ?
Thank you Stuart
Title: Re: Pitcarithley Perthshire
Post by: bleckie on Thursday 18 November 10 07:53 GMT (UK)
Hi Stuart

What parish are we in

Yours Aye
BruceL
Title: Re: Pitcarithley Perthshire
Post by: Rodeo on Thursday 18 November 10 08:14 GMT (UK)
Hi Stuart

Could it be a mistranscription of Pitlochry, Perthshire?

If you give us the details of the 1871 census extract you mention, we can have a look for you.

Cheers,

Rodeo
Title: Re: Pitcarithley Perthshire
Post by: Rodeo on Thursday 18 November 10 08:19 GMT (UK)
Actually, there's a Pitcaithly in the parish of Dunbarny, Perthshire.

Cheers,

Rodeo
Title: Re: Pitcarithley Perthshire
Post by: Rodeo on Thursday 18 November 10 08:21 GMT (UK)
Hi Stuart

Have a look at this re Pitcaithly, Perthshire:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitkeathly_Wells

Cheers,

Rodeo
Title: Re: Pitcarithley Perthshire
Post by: Rodeo on Thursday 18 November 10 08:38 GMT (UK)
Here's an early map of the area:

http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/maps/index.jsp?layer=europe&xMin=3198832.70866&yMin=3339728.44644&xMax=3201632.70866&yMax=3342528.44644

Cheers,

Rodeo
Title: Re: Pitcarithley Perthshire
Post by: sancti on Thursday 18 November 10 08:40 GMT (UK)
Stuart are there other addresses mentioned on the census image you have?
Title: Re: Pitcarithley Perthshire
Post by: Rodeo on Thursday 18 November 10 08:53 GMT (UK)
There's a wealth of information about Pitcaithly (Pitkeathly) here, including historical maps:

http://www.pkht.org.uk/HERSearchResults.asp?selClass=13&selParish=DUNBARNEY&selPeriod=-1

I had a good look at several historical maps but couldn't find a farm or cottage called Backfield.

Cheers,

Rodeo
Title: Re: Pitcarithley Perthshire
Post by: Forfarian on Thursday 18 November 10 17:03 GMT (UK)
As a general rule, it is essential[/b] to note which parish any of your people lived when you are trying to find out where a place is or was. Names of farms, like Backfield, can occur in many different parishes, and if you don't know which parish to look in, you can't be sure of finding the right place. You must know the parish, because the 1871 census, like all other available censuses, is arranged by parish.

There are two Backfields in the 1881 census, one in the parish of Glenbervie in the county of Kincardine, and the other in the parish of Dunbarney, so I would go along with the suggestion that it is Pitcaithly, more usually spelled Pitkeathly these days. The surnames listed at Backfield are Scott, Nairn, Robertson and Jackson.

Using the map catalogue at www.nls.gov.uk I have found Backfield in the parish of Dunbarney. It looks as if it no longer exists, but it was south of the B935 road between Pitkeathly Wells and Mount Stewart. This is the URL of the map I found: http://maps.nls.uk/os/6inch/view/?sid=74428189

So assuming that your 1871 census listing was in the parish of Dunbarney, this is the place.
Title: Re: Pitcarithley Perthshire
Post by: Forfarian on Thursday 18 November 10 17:04 GMT (UK)
As a general rule, it is essential[/b] to note which parish any of your people lived when you are trying to find out where a place is or was. Names of farms, like Backfield, can occur in many different parishes, and if you don't know which parish to look in, you can't be sure of finding the right place. You must know the parish, because the 1871 census, like all other available censuses, is arranged by parish.

There are two Backfields in the 1881 census, one in the parish of Glenbervie in the county of Kincardine, and the other in the parish of Dunbarney, so I would go along with the suggestion that it is Pitcaithly, more usually spelled Pitkeathly these days. The surnames listed at Backfield are Scott, Nairn, Robertson and Jackson.

Using the map catalogue at www.nls.gov.uk I have found Backfield in the parish of Dunbarney. It looks as if it no longer exists, but it was south of the B935 road between Pitkeathly Wells and Mount Stewart. This is the URL of the map I found: http://maps.nls.uk/os/6inch/view/?sid=74428189. You will need to zoom in and move around until you find it.

So assuming that your 1871 census listing was in the parish of Dunbarney, this is the place.
Title: Re: Pitcarithley Perthshire
Post by: stuartone on Thursday 18 November 10 19:17 GMT (UK)
Thank you Rodeo, Sancti, Forfarian & Bleckie,
that now satisfies my curiosity . They all live in Perthshire. thank you again.
Title: Re: Pitcarithley Perthshire
Post by: Jaz050465 on Friday 05 July 19 20:10 BST (UK)
If it helps. I live in Carmichael Croft which is just in front of where Backfield was. Let me know if you want ant local knowledge.