James was baptised on Monday, September 4th, 1848 at Findochty. His parents were George Flett,"Yankie", fisherman and Jane Flett, who were married in Rathven parish on 30th September, 1838. James was their 5th and 4th surviving child; an elder brother also called James having died in infancy. The two witnesses at his baptism were both called James Flett.
In 1851, James, aged 2, was living with his parents and the rest of the family, George, (12), William, (7), Barbara, (4), and baby Jean only 8 days old. They lived at number 31 Findochty, owned by James's father, George Flett,"Yankie". A lodger, 13 year old George Flett,"Dodie" was also recorded in the house on that night of March 30th, 1851.
Jean did not survive, and another of James's sisters, Catherine, died in 1855, aged 22 months, after suffering from an unspecified illness for two weeks. In 1856, sister Jane Ann was born, the last of the family, who did survive to adulthood.
In 1861 the census records James, now aged 12, as a "fisher", and so he presumably has left school and employed as a fisher boy with his father. His father and eldest brother George were not recorded and so were probably at one of the other fishing grounds that April. At the family home were mother, brother William, (17), an apprentice shoemaker, and sister Jane Ann, (5). Barbara was not recorded and was probably the Barbara Flett,"Yankie" from Findochty recorded as a 15 year old servant with a Flett,"Cornal" family also from Findochty in the Latheron census.
Annie was baptised on Saturday, November 16th, 1850 in Findochty. Her parents were Alex Campbell, fisherman of Findochty and Ann McKenzie of Portessie, who were married on July 7th, 1850 after Banns were called at the parish church in Rathven. At Ann's baptism, the witnesses were James and David Flett. The family lived at number 94 Findochty, later renumbered to 127, which was owned by Annie's father, Alex Campbell.
In the 1851 CEB, Annie was recorded as an infant aged 3 months with her parents and living in, house servant, 14 year old Margaret Imlach, a niece of Ann McKenzie, from Portessie.
The family grew steadily with births of Alex in 1853, Jane Gordon in 1856, James in 1859 and in 1861 they were all recorded in Latheron for the fishing season. Helen was born in the following year and survived, but John and twins, David and Isabella were born in 1864 and 1867 but were not recorded in 1871 and so presumably died in infancy.
In October, 1870, a daughter Ann was born to James and Annie and so they were married after Banns at the United Presbyterian church in Findochty on Friday, December 23rd. The witnesses were David Flett, probably James's first cousin and James Campbell, one of Annie's cousins.
The couple occupied part of the Campbell house at number 94 which was renumbered to 127 in 1872, and where daughter Ann seems to have stayed on, seemingly being brought up by her grandparents. In 1872, daughter Jean was born and in 1875, Barbara arrived, and then three years later, son Alex appeared. By this time the family had moved house to #104 Findochty, which had belonged to George Campbell, Annie's uncle who may have died about this time. In 1878, James called Flett,"Campbell" was registered as owner and where, apart from daughter Ann, they were recorded in 1881. James was now 32, two years older than Annie. On January 27 of the following year, another daughter, Helen, middle name Campbell, usually called Nellie, was born and the family was complete.
James contracted TB and his health deteriorated until he finally succumbed in 1884. He died early on Thursday, May 15th, aged only 35. The informant was his father, George Flett,"Yankie" of 55 Findochty. He was buried in the Old Kirkyard at Rathven on Saturday, May 17th in plot number 32.
In 1890, Annie had an illegitimate daughter, called Jamesina. The father was not recorded on the birth certificate and at present remains unknown. In the following year the widow and her family were recorded at #104, apart from daughter Ann, who was helping to look after her maternal grandparents at #127. She married David Flett,"Tosh" in the following year. Jane was not recorded with the family in 1891, but was probably the 18 year old living-in servant at number 131 with her great uncle James Campbell and his family. Jamesina survived to adulthood as she was the informant on my father's birth certificate in 1908 and the latest information from Mrs Lena Gardiner, née Campbell is that she was known as "Teen" and married a James Sutherland. They had six of a family, Jim, Jeannie, Nannie, "Buff", Edna and Reena.
Annie returned to her family home, probably on the death of her mother in 1896, to look after her widowed father who was still alive and who died in 1905. She remarried in 1902 at the age of 50, a few months after the marriage of her only son Alex. Her husband was William Slater, the widower of her cousin Helen Campbell, daughter of John Campbell and Helen Sutherland. William was a boatbuilder, originally from Portessie who had moved to Stotfield with his parents, William Slater, also a boatbuilder, and Ann Farquhar. After her marriage, Annie moved to Branderburgh where she spent her remaining days.
Annie died at 9 Carvel Street, Branderburgh, Lossiemouth, on Friday, March 19th, 1920, of cancer, aged 69. The informant was her step-son, William, and she was buried in the old cemetery at Lossiemouth. Husband William Slater survived her by nine years.