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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Aberdeenshire => Scotland => Aberdeenshire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: MaryS on Tuesday 28 February 12 15:47 GMT (UK)
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Does anyone know if a publication for the Old Deer cemetery is in the works or if it already exists somewhere? I am looking for ancestors buried at New Deer and Old Deer. I am looking for the names Keith and Watt
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I'd get in touch with the Aberdeen & North East Family History Society (http://www.anesfhs.org.uk). It could be that Old Deer is part of their unpublished MIs, which is why it's not on their index. Or they'll be able to tell you if indeed it's been done!
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I know that Old Deer cemetery hasn't been published, nor the 2 kirkyards of Old Deer. I do have a copy of the New Deer Kirkyard & could look for your ancestors if you'd like. What are their full names?
flst
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The ANESFHS does have an unpublished draft for Old Deer. I have a published copy of their New Deer volume. Let me know if there are any particular people you are looking for in New Deer.
Graham.
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Thank you for your response! I will look into the Old Deer publication further. If you could check the New Deer publication for me I would be most grateful.
I am looking for Alexander Keith and Catharine Watt. Their youngest child was born in 1806, so I would guess their birthdates to be around 1786. The Watts are from Auchreddie, and I think the Keith's lived closer to Old Deer. Alex and Catharine had 9 children between 1806 to 1820 and I think there were more but haven't found them yet. Their son Alexander Keith died 26 Mar. 1856 and I do not know where he is buried.
Thank you very much for your help!
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There is no mention of them in the New Deer index. However, you should easily find where their son was buried. At this period a Scottish death certificate had a column stating the place of burial, usually witnessed by the sexton or an undertaker. If you have the death certificate, look at it again.
Graham.
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Thank you for looking up New Deer for me. I do not have a death certificate for Alex Keith....only the OPR from Scot. People.
Thank you for you help!
Mary
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That's strange - I don't know why there would be an OPR for Alexander if he died in 1856. Could the OPR death be for Alexander senior? There's an 1856 death, in scotlandspeople, in the parish of Old Deer, for an Alexander Keith. You say you don't have a death certificate for Alexander.Surely this would be his?
flst
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Sorry....it's not from the OPR's. It is the Stat. record from Scot. People. Still doesn't list a cemetery. I will have to wait for the Old Deer cemetery release!
Thanks again for the help. Rootschat is invaluable for those of us who don't live in Scotland!
Mary
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What was his exact address when he died? Was it in Old Deer? Would the family have been rich enough to afford a headstone?
flst
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What was his exact address when he died? Was it in Old Deer? Would the family have been rich enough to afford a headstone?
flst
I think I can now answer this myself! Having found the family in the 1851 census, I then went onto scotlandspeople & did a free search of the wills & inventories indices for an Alexander Keith. I'm pleased to say that both Alexanders had an inventory. The first one had a date of 26 August 1837, (which I think was the date it was lodged).Alexander was residing at Nether Kinknockie. The next one was lodged 5 September 1856. This Alexander was a farmer at Nether Kinknockie.He also had a will. these can be purchsed & downloaded from the site if wished.
I am fairly sure that there will be a headstone for these Keiths.I think it'll most likely be in the Old Deer cemetery.
flst
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Thank you fist. I've never used the will & inventories section of S.P. as I've never educated myself on it's significance or meaning. You are correct that Alex. Jr. lived at Nether Kinknockie (I can only find Knockie on a map, but assume it is the same area). With your advice I will now find out what the wills & testiments has to offer. Does it list the children of the deceased?
Would you be so kind as to tell me if you have an Alexander or Ann Watt in the New Deer M.I.'s? Their date of birth would be approx. 1766. This was a large family and I am trying to sort them out. :)
Mary
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There are 14 Watt headstones in the New Deer kirkyard. None of them are the 2 you're looking for :(
There is no way of telling what information you'll get in an inventory or will. I have had a successful result with one of my ancestor's wills. He died before 1841 & in it he named his children & where they were living at the time of making his will.This information was a great help to me in locating them in the censuses. It was especially useful in tracing his daughters as I found out their married names! The inventories can make interesting reading too.They are mainly a valuation of the deceased's moveable property.
Regards,
flst
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More good advice fist! I purchased the will of Alex. Keith d. 1837 and found all 13 children listed, including 2 I didn't know about! It also listed the husbands of his daughters who along with his oldest son (left in Scotland) were the executors. It did not mention his wife, so I can assume she predeceased him. It also gave the son-in-law's occupations and where they resided. Very useful! ;D
Thank you very much for your help. I await the New Deer M.I. publication!
Mary
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So pleased for you! If you use google maps, key in Ardallie, when that appears on the screen look carefully & you should find Kinknockie & Nether Kinknockie on it. Ardallie is the name of the district that these farms are in. I also saw a photo of Nether Kinknockie farmhouse on several websites as it had been up for sale. Another website to check out is www.geograph.org.uk.There is one photo of Kinknockie. There are also photos of other places nearby. It gives you an idea of what the area's like.
The first reply you received mentioned the Aberdeen & North East Family History Society. You could try contacting them & asking them to do a lookup in the OLD DEER M.I.'s for you. I await the New Deer M.I. publication!
Mary
Note, not NEW DEER!
flst :)
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Hello MaryS,
If you’re still looking for Old Deer info on the Keith family, I visited there in July looking for my Keith ancestors. I have photos and video of the Keith headstones.
Michelle
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That would be wonderful! Thank you!
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Had a quick look on familysearch.org and found an entry for a James Keith christening 11 Oct 1816 Old Deer Parents: Catherine Watt b.1785 & Alexander Keith b. 27 April 1780 Old Deer d.1833 Kinknockie Old Deer. Their daughter Helen Keith b.15 Oct 1830 d. 3 Feb 1906 married 13 June 1859 Ontario Canada she married for a 2nd time here is the link for her grave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88303439/helen-hamilton.
she seems to have a large family and someone left details of her 1st husband maybe they can help?.