Benholm Kirkyard & OPR

[aliwaikato]

HI Alison,

Thankyou for your posting, its given me some more places to look and check out. I have managed to access the following site for some parts of Scotland

http://www.kirkyards.co.uk/index.asp

it provides transcription of alot of church/kirkyard records and photos of all headstones but unfortunatly it is not complete as yet, I believe local councils are providing all of this as a matter of public record. It makes researching from around the other side of the world very rewarding.

Regards Ali

[alisonchristie]

PS aLISON,

Dunnottar Churchyard isn't that far away, I found listings and notes for many of the graves, that would be a good one to check. 

A useful place to find out what happened to some people if you want to check on anyone who might have been old enough to fight in the first World War, is the Angus War Memorials, I found a few relating to different towns and saw many names of people (not related) but with surnames close to the ones I'd been researching.

[JEANP]

Here are the entries for Blues/Blews in the pre 1855 gravestone Index.:

Benholm:
Erected by Alex Cragie shipmaster Johnshaven imo w Elspet Blews 28.2.1800 61, md 1764,following chn: Ann b. 11.10.1767, John b 26.8.1769, Alex b 18.(1). 1771 d 24.7.1791, Wm b (19).8.1773 d 6.1775, Isobel b 23.6.1775, Christian b 10.1777 d 28.7.1778.

Erected by Wm Blews, R-- officer in Gurdon imo fa Thos Blews skipper Johnshaven 1784 92,mo Janet Falconer 1775 86, 1w helen innes 1758 22, their da Mary d inf, deceased chn by 2w Isobel Dickie, Robt 1765 3y, Wm 1783 (17) y, Barbara 1775 3y 7 Barbara 1777 6m.
Wm Blews 27.1.1805 75, 2w Isobel Dickie 17.5.1798 62, two of their das viz Cleaphen 17.6.179- 22 & Janet 30.1.1799 39, s David d Port Royal Jamaica 17.9.1797 33. By John Simpson imo w Isabella Blues 26.5 1850 71.

If you do a seacrh for the name Blews, you will see this reply to another query.

Jean

[Anna Moir]

Hi Jean,

Happy New Year to you.

Thank you very much for the kind offer to do lookups in Benholm MIs. I'm particularly interested to learn if there is a headstone for Adam Wood, died 1875 and his wife Elizabeth (nee Dundas) died 1866. Both died in Benholm. Any other Wood family members would also be of interest.

I'm particularly interested in Elizabeth Dundas's father John Dundas and whether he is also buried in Benholm (though I suspect not). He was parish schoolmaster in Fern (Angus) for many years, known there as John DILDARG. The name appears to have morphed into DUNDAS by the 1830s.

Robyn

[JEANP]

Hi Anne,

I had the pre 1855 gravestone index to hand there are 2 entries for Wood family members(no Dundas or Dildarg);

42 . 1761 by Jas Wood tent Mains of Brotherton imo mo in law Margt Anderson 9.7.1758 87 here int (spouse to Jas Ross sometime tent Bridgeton of Thornton), also 2w Eliz Davidosn 11.5.1790 33 & left alive six chn. He died 15.6.1796 76 & lies here. (West side)

43. 1833 by Jas Wood mason El-Sinore imo s Chas 11.12.1826 2y & wm 23.7.1831 inf.

I'll have at look at the later head stones/burials and get back to you.

Happy New Year
Jean

[Anna Moir]

Thank you very much for your help with this family, what a wonderful woman you are!

I've done a little more research since my last posting and these are the Wood family members I'm particularly chasing:
1. Adam Wood d 1912 (and wife Jessie Legge)
2. Children of above were: Adam (and wife Ann McDonald, he d 1926); Elizabeth; William and John
3. Children of above Adam and Ann: David b1890 and Adam b1891 d 1970 m Lizzie Kinnear Smith and she d1995.

Any MIs for the above would be gratefully received. Thanks again.

[JEANP]

Anna,

The people you mention are most likely buried in the cemetery in Johnshaven as Benholm was closed to burials by these dates. Unfortunately, I haven't transcribed those stones, but it may be a project for the future!

There is a Dundas stone marked on the plan as G Dundas, unfortunately it is damaged and no inscription remains - but I have a photo of it if you would like it.

I will continue with the Communion Roll entries on a separate post.

Jean

[JEANP]

Communion Roll 1884-1890:

John Wood Jnr -S-Brotherton-Gardener-Confirmed for the first time 1886-transferred to another Kirk 10.10.1889
Mr & Mrs John Wood-Brotherton-Gardener- Attended 1884-1888
Mr & Mrs George Wood (Jean Cruickshank)-Johnshaven-Whitefisher- Attended 1884-1889
Jane Wood -S- Shorehead,Johnshaven-Dom.Serv.-Attended 1884-1888- married Chas? Stephen
Mr & Mrs Alexander Wood(Mary Johnstone)-Johnshaven-Drill Sergeant-Attended 1884-1885- Transferred 27.07.1887
Mr & Mrs Joseph Wood-Stone of Benholm-Farm Serv.-Attended 1884-1889
Mr & Mrs David W Dundas(Betsy Mackie)-Mid St, Johnshaven-Salmon Fisher-Attended 1884-1890

Jean

[JEANP]

Communion Roll 1890-1896

Mr & Mrs David W Dundas-Brawliemuir-Farm Serv.-Admitted 24.v1.94 from Bervie - Transferred 23.v.96

Jean