Aberdeenshire Surnames: Bain & Cheyne

[CaroleW]

Another odd 1891 entry - the children are shown as the sons/daughters of William & Margaret but I suspect 2 households have been transcribed as one - addresses are different but no parents shown for Bain children and I can't find them as a separate entry


Mill of Brotherfield  Peterculter

William Cruickshank 65 farmer b ?? Syrce Aberdeen
Margaret Cruickshank 52 b Crimond
Alex Cruickshank 31 b St Fergus
Wm Cruickshank 30  b St Fergus
Elizabeth Cruickshank 16  b St Fergus

Address Cromie Cottage Peterculter
Robert A B Bain 9 b Belhevie
Henry G Bain 5
James Bain 3 b Peterculter
Frederick C Bain 1 b Peterculter

Peterculter ED 4 Page  4 Line 1

1901 for Peterculter - Cromie Cottage

Robert Bain 43 tailor & grocer b Fovern
Ann   48 b Loch Cushnie?
John  20 b Behelvie
Harry 15 b Peterculter
James 13 b Peterculter
Fredrick   11 b Peterculter
Peterculter ED 5 Page  8 Line 2

[RedMystic]

This is very odd. As far as I know we have no stories about Cruickshanks and I can't think of how or why they might have been raising the Bain children.

The boy's birthdays that I have are:

Alexander b.1880
Robert 1881-37 (so his record looks correct)
John 1881-1960 (he appears to be missing in 1891 census, but appears in 1901)
Harry 1886-1918 (possibly listed as Henry in 1891, and then correctly in 1901)
Fred 1888-1944 (record looks correct)
James 1888-1951 (record looks correct)

Edward, who died in infancy doesn't appeat in either list, which would be predictable given that death occurred around 1884.

Do you happen to know if the Mill of Brotherfield is in existence now? How about Cromie Cottage? I have a photo of a house in Kingswell that is marked as home of the Bains (no address), but can't figure out how or when that might play in.

[CaroleW]

I don't think the Cruickshanks were involved

I suspect 2 households have been transcribed as one - addresses are different

You would need to view the full 1891 image on Scotlands People to see whether the parents are in the household but have been omitted from the transcription

It may be that Brotherfield Mill and Cromie Cottage were next door to each other hence the transcription error

[RedMystic]

TX again CaroleW. You have set me off on a new fascinating exploration!

Brotherfield Mill still exists as an historic property, and the main home from the original mill site is currently for sale.  I can find no record of Cromie Cottage, so perhaps it has been demolished.

Is there a census available for 1911 to determine if the parents, Robert & Ann, still lived at that site at that point? (I know son Fred left in 1909 and think the others did around the same time.)

[CaroleW]

The Scottish 1911 won't be available until about April this year

[RedMystic]

Hi and welcome to Rootschat

In 1891 - Mary Helen was living with her grandfather in Tyrie

Alexander Murray 70 b Tyrie Aberdeen - farmer
Mary Hellen Cheyne 4 g/dtr b Tyrie Aberdeen
Tyrie ED 4 Page  4 Line 24

I've got the birth record for Mary Helen Cheyne born 1886 in Tyrie. It lists Helen Cheyne as mother with occupation as domestic servant. No father listed and no record of anyone named Murray. Is there another way to track down the Alexander Murray connection?

[CaroleW]

As Mary Helen was illegitimate - it may be that one of Alexander Murray's sons was her father

Trying to prove that could be a big problem as there is no fathers name on her birth cert

The 1891 details I posted are from a transcription only.  A safe starting point would be to check the full image for that entry to confirm that she is definitely shown as grand daughter

The images are only available on Scotlands People

While you are doing that - I will check Alexander Murray back on earlier censuses

[CaroleW]

1881 census shows sons John 15 and Charles 10 so we can rule them out

1871 - James 14 and William 6

1861 - George 11 and Alexander 7

Helen (senior) was born around 1862 so likely candidates would be James or William and my money's on William

[RedMystic]

When I was very new to this site (just a few short months ago) I didn't realize that I should be putting all my queries about my Bains / Cheynes in the same thread. As a result, I started several threads dealing with different elements of the same families. My apologies for any frustration this caused those who worked on my various posted topics. I've compiled the threads and list them here in order to summarize the process / successes I've had thanks to all of you on RootsChat. A hearty thanks again for all the assistance.

My lost Bain boy: Alexander went to Michigan in 1906
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,523420.msg3783431.html#msg3783431

Bain & Cheyne Families
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,510123.msg3664463.html#msg3664463

Crommie Cottage – Home of Bains in Kingswell, Aberdeenshire
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,513012.msg3690405.html#msg3690405

Gravestone for Robert Bain / Ann Henderson, Kingswell
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,513016.msg3690423.html#msg3690423

Gravestone for John Cheyne / Helen Ironside
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,513021.msg3690440.html#msg3690440