parish of Dun

[eeat]

i have stumbled across my most distant great grandfather George Eaton who may have been born in Brechin (possibly - a bit of work to do on that yet!) married Isabel Fyfe and was living in the parish of Dun. from the OPR record i noted his siblings were born firstly in a place called "Cottertown or Cottown of balneilow" (i think!) secondly in a place called "Gleskenno" (see photos) and also in a place called little Fordden which i think is now Fordoun?
According to the entry he was a weaver, but what would he be weaving in the early 1700's? i would guess the places mentioned are now long gone or name changed but they must have been near water to have a method of powering a loom or would it be done by hand?
Appreciate any help on the place names and if any one has crossed my tree would love them to get in touch. my earliest relation prior to this was a William Eaton c1727 who married a Marjory Beattie abt1730 and they lived in Auchmithie.
look forward to hearing from anyone who can help
take care
eric
]

[MonicaL]

Hi Eric

Regarding 'Gleskenno' and 'Balneilow', have a look at:

The land along the river and the basin is low, flat, and protected by embankments, thence rises gently to the centre of the parish, and thence to the western and north-western borders is somewhat tabular, attaining 230 feet above sea-level near Balnillo, 202 near Dun House, 207 near Glenskinno, 279 in Dun Wood, and 290 near Damside.

www.visionofbritain.org.uk/gaztext_page.jsp?u_id=10125443

As you have seen, there will be variations on these spellings.

This might help with modern mapping regarding Balnillo www.geograph.org.uk/photo/112073 and Glenskinno www.geograph.org.uk/photo/113147

Lot of old place names on this poem www.caledonius.co.uk/brechin/Page62.html

And a little light  reading here www.electricscotland.com/etexts/NewStatisticalAccountofScotland11.txt

Monica 

[Skoosh]

Eric, I would think at that time he would be weaving linen, flax was an important crop then, but it could also be wool.     Skoosh.

Try this site, type in Brechin or Dun, top left, and work the map from there, the aerial pic' on the same page, will follow.
http://wheresthepath.googlepages.com/wheresthepath.htm

[Gardener]

There is something here about extinct parishes
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/ANS/index.html

Power looms were not invented until the very end of the 18th century so it would have been hand weaving.

[eeat]

many thanks for all your replies, there is a wealth of nowledgeable people always willing to help on here and also a lot of info on the net if you just know where to look
many thanks
eric