|
 | |
|
Bits that Don't fit anywhere else!
|
|
Every researcher and family
historian has them. You know, all the odd bits and pieces that don't fit
your work and have no specific category! Well I too have the same
problem, so rather than hide them away I thought I would share some of
them with you. So here goes...
| Death Sept 16th 1810
On his passage from Guadaloupe to England, at sea, on board
the Watt of Liverpool, Lieutenant John Low, of the 63d regiment
of foot, eldest son of John Low of Hilton, Stonehaven, in the
21st year of his age; a young man of amiable manners.
Scots Magazine, Dec 1810 |
|
An
event occurred in this year (1854) which attracted a good deal of
attention - the murder of Ann Harvey of Cults. Poor Annie Harvey,
who had only reached her twenty-second year, was a worker at
Peterculter paper mills. She was found cruelly murdered - there
could be no doubt of the manner of death - on the roadside of Cults,
on Sunday morning, 7th May. She was known to be keeping company with
a field labourer, Francie Forbes, and, there being much local
feeling about the case, he was tried at Edinburgh - charged with the
crime. The verdict - "Not Proven" - created much indignation.
Reporting Reminiscences by Wm Carnie, 1902 |
Notable Men and Women of
Aberdeenshire
Milne, Colin, LLD (Rev): Botanist. Born at Aberdeen,
1744, son of Alexander Milne, merchant, he was educated there, under the
care of his uncle Dr Campbell, of Marischal College. Becoming tutor to
Lord Algernon Percy, son of the Duke of Northumberland, he took orders
in the Church of England, and became Rector of North Chapel, Essex. He
also obtained the lectureship of Deptford. He was an LLD of Marischal
College, in 1771, and was also DD and FLS. His Botanical Dictionary
appeared in 1770; his Institutes of Botany in 1770-2. He also
published several sermons. He died in 1815.
Milne, John, MD: Philanthropist. Born in Gilcomston,
Aberdeen, 1775, he was educated at King's College (MD, 1803), and in
1793 became surgeon's mate of the East Indiaman, Carnatic, of
which he was afterwards surgeon. He quitted naval service in 1798, and
became surgeon to the East India Company, Bombay, where he rose to be
President of the Medical Board, and took an active part in all fitted to
develop the prosperity of our Indian Empire. He founded a medical
bursary at Aberdeen. He bequeathed a sum of £47,500, known as the Milne
Bequest, for the purpose of improving the salaries of the most deserving
parish schoolmasters in Aberdeenshire, and remunerating them for
teaching children whose parents were too poor to pay fees. Died 1841,
Bombay.
Milne, John: Minor Poet. Born at Aberdeen, 25th
December 1791, he enlisted in early life, and served as a soldier. On
retiring from the army, he was for a time a shoemaker, and thereafter a
postman. He published, in 1831, "The Widow and her Son," and in 1845
"Twelve Essays, with Occasional Illustrations in Verse." He died, 1865.
Scottish Notes & Queries, January 1898
|
 |
I picked up
this rent book some years ago from a second-hand shop. It
features a Mr Alex Duncan, living with Mrs Wilson, 44 Gilcomston
Park, Aberdeen in 1894. Perhaps you know one of these people. In
any case it's a fascinating glimpse at the diet and costs of
those days so long ago! |
 |
Stonehaven Lads
Third from the left is Alexander Leiper of Stonehaven. Looks
like they're off to the swimming! Can you put a name to
any of the other rather dashing young lads? If you can
then get in touch!
Many thanks to Jos Leiper for
permission to use the above photo |
Miscellaneous Occurrences in Aberdeen
1749 In the Raik fishing of Dee, 1500
salmon caught in one tide.
1752 William Wast, sailor, in Seaton of
Auchmedden, executed and hung in chains, at the Gallowhills, for
murdering his wife. At the same time and place, Christian Frane was
executed, for murdering her bastard child, and burning the body.
1756 A house in the Huxter-row burnt to the
ground, by an accidental fire.
1757 A Spermacete whale cast on shore on
the sands of Belhelvie, and claimed by the magistrates, who brought the
blubber to town, and exported it to London.
1776 Alexander Morison, wright, executed
and hung in chains, at the Gallowhills, on the 6th of November, for the
murder of his wife. He was the last malefactor executed at that place.
1785 In the course of the winter, there was
much rioting in the town, occasioned by attempts to prevent the servants
and apprentices of the artificers from making their processions through
the town on the anniversary of their elections, according to ancient
custom. Several of them were committed to jail, for disobeying the
orders of the chief magistrate; but they were liberated on bail, after
the mob demolished the town-house windows.
1789 The genuine dysenteria broke
out among the fishers of Futtie, and raged with considerable virulence.
The persons infected were removed to the battery which was fitted up as
a temporary hospital for their reception; money being raised by
subscription for supporting them.
Annals of Aberdeen by William Kennedy, 1818
|
 |
Did you know the world-famous escape artist Harry Houdini
visited Aberdeen? Well here's the proof - this photo shows him
visiting the grave of John Anderson, 'Wizard of the North' at St
Nicholas churchyard in Aberdeen City Centre. Houdini performed one of his greatest escapes in Aberdeen
harbour on 1 July 1909. A large crowd gathered to see him
chained, handcuffed and thrown into the sea!
Houdini who was born in the same year as John Anderson's
death, and revered Anderson as one of his inspirations and
in 1909 arranged for the upkeep of the gravesite which had
fallen into disrepair.
I'm pleased to report that this gravestone still exists -
though the background housing (and washing!) are long since gone
- replaced by the edge of St Nicholas shopping Centre.
Many thanks to John T Chiarella
of NYC for permission to use the photo and supplying the
background detail to this fascinating story! |
|
 |
War memorial to the fallen of both world wars to
be found outside Ruthrieston Church, Aberdeen. |
 |
The family grave of Alexander Burnett listing his wife
Isabel Coull and son Alexander. Alexander Burnett served with
the Northern Lighthouse Service for 30 years as a lighthouse
keeper and during that time was stationed at a total of 10
different lights along the east coast of Scotland. His son,
Joseph Coull Burnett, eventually settled in the Canadian
Prairies. The stone is located at Rossie Island Cemetery,
Montrose.
Many thanks to David Coull
Burnett the son of Joseph Coull Burnett for this photo and the
background story relating to it. |
| Dunnottar Public School,
Stonehaven |
| Dunnottar Public School photo circa 1907-11. Third from
right, front row of boys with crossed legs is Alexander Adam. Do
you recognise anyone else in this photo? If so, please get
in touch! |
 |
| Have a look at this fascinating school exercise from
Alexander Adam of Dunnottar Public School, Stonehaven, dating
from August 1913. Many of you will remember the same exercise -
yes, its the dreaded 'What I did on my Holidays' essay!
Most of these get consigned to the bin so seeing one that is
nearly 100 years old is a real treat. And such an interesting
story! Many thanks to Alexander (Adam) Macdonald (grandson of
the above) for the chance to show you these splendid family
heirlooms.
|
 |
|
 |
An entry from the Scotsman newspaper of 18 January 1847
relating the sad death of Joshua Middleton while attending the
church service in the Methodist Chapel of Stonehaven.
My thanks to Ian Hudson for this interesting
snippet. If you are related to Joshua Middleton or know more
about this story I'd love to hear from you! |
If you are related to any of the above I'd love to hear from
you! Contact me here
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
