THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF THE ROTTENSLOUGH IN 1781, WITH MARRIAGE DATES AND NOTES

Estimated Population: Total 130; Males 70; Females 60.

Notes:

N1....Eldest daughter Jean presumably died as a second baptismal record for Jean is recorded. Although undated, it could be a duplicate entry, except that a Jean Sinclair, presumed to be the second daughter, who had a son John and was recorded in 1841, born about 1780. A Janet Sinclair domiciled in Portessie was married in 1798 and it is assumed that she belonged to this family.

N2....Alex and Margaret Smith were original settlers.

N3....Helen Thain was Charles Mackay's second wife. She was the daughter of Alex Thain and Elizabeth Adamson of Findochty.

N4....John Smith was the widower of Jean Garden who died 31.3.1779, aged 68., (E & I).

N5....Daughter Margaret Garden married William Campbell from Findochty in 1772, but stayed in Portessie.

N7....Jean Matheson was the widow of John Farqhuar, the original skipper in 1727.

N8....Daughter Janet Farquhar had married James Murray in 1790 and probably moved to Buckie.

N10...Son Peter was possibly he who was married at Oxhill to Isobel Douglas and so he would have left Portessie in the 1780s preferring farming to fishing. The indications are that Margaret and Isobel may also have left in the 1790s. anet Campbell was Jean McBay's daughter from her first marriage to Alexander Campbell.

N12...Alex's wife Elizabeth Robertson died March 20, 1774. Sons Alex, William and George survived.

N13...Daughter Jean witnessed in Portknockie in 1790. Daughter Janet Sharp may have left the village or not have survived.

N14...Later records name a Mary Smith as a resident of Portessie but to which Smith family she belonged is not clear.

N15...A daughter Jean Garden, born in 1769, had died in infancy. Son John Seems not to have survived.

N17...Son Alex seems not have survived or left the village.

N18...William McKenzie was the son of Kenneth McKenzie and Margaret Sinclair. Margaret Sutherland was the daughter of William Sutherland and Isabel McKenzie in Findochty. Son William died in childhood and George also may not have survived.

N19...Margaret Garden was the daughter of Alex Garden and Jean Smith. William Campbell was the son of Jean McBay at S10 and her first husband Alexander Campbell. Later records suggest that a daughter Helen was born about 1779, but the family ceased baptisms for a decade.

N21...The last record for Elspet Gordon appears at Christmas 1775 and the family may have left the village.

N22...Isobel Runcie came from Cullen and Alex Smith,`Stripey', although local was seemingly an incomer to Portessie.

N23...Alex Clark was the son of James Clark and Jean Smith. Elspet Flett no doubt came from Findochty, but not identified, although probably the daughter of James Flett and Catherine Calder.

N26...Imlach,Cock family.

N27...Alex Garden was the son of Alex Garden and Jean Smith at S5 and Helen Smith was probably the daughter of Alex Smith and Helen Smith in Findochty.

N28...Anne Sutherland may have been the widow of John Sutherland, sons George's and Alex's father. She died during the 1780s and William remarried in 1790.

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