THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF THE ROTTENSLOUGH IN 1791, WITH MARRIAGE DATES AND NOTES

Estimated Population: Total 177; Males 87; Females 90.

Notes:

N1....Multiple entries for daughter Jean need to be investigated. 1891..p272 opr.

N2....Janet Smith,Laird was the daughter of Margaret and Alex Smith,Laird who died in 1790.

N3....Helen Thain was Charles Mackay's second wife. His first, Elspet Smith bore no surviving children.

N4....John Smith,Laird was the widower of Jean Garden and had possibly died by this date.

N5....Jean Smith was the widow of Alex Garden who is presumed dead by this date. George Garden Elder witnessed in 1790.

N6....Margaret Sinclair was the widow of Kenneth McKenzie assumed to be dead by this date. Alex McKenzie is a strong candidate for the ninety year old villager referred to in the Old Statistical Account.

N7....Elspet Geddes was the widow of William Farquhar. Son William was referred to as William `Senior' in 1790 and so his father is presumed to be dead by this time.

N9....Jean Clark married James Cowie in 1786 and moved to Buckie as did Janet Clark who married James Murray also from Buckie in 1791.

N10...Jean McBay and Alex Simpson probably died during this decade. Daughters Margaret and Isobel seemingly did not survive or moved away. Janet Campbell was Jean McBay's daughter from her first marriage to Alexander campbell.

N11...No sons were recorded and so this Wilson line did not descend and no record appears after 1789 for William Wilson and so it seems that he died. Daughter Margaret probably moved away or married outside the village.

N12...Alex Smith,Laird was the widower of Elizabeth Robertson. Alex died in March 1794.

N14...Jean Findlay was a witness in December 1785 but she and John Smith,`Laird' and Jean Findlay probably died during the 1890s decade as in 1801, daughter, Ann, was receiving parish aid. A Mary Smith from Portessie married Alex Slater from Buckie in 1793 but it isn't clear to which Smith family she belonged.

N16...Smith,Bodie family. Margaret probably married George Flett from Findochty in 1786, while Janet was probably she who married William McBay in 1789. Both daughters moved to Findochty.

N17...Smith,Latin family. It seems plausible that John was widowed and remarried in 1793.

N18...A son, William, born in 1777, died in infancy.

N19...Helen Campbell was married in 1800 and probably was a daughter of this family.

N20...Farquhar,Cosy family. Son William Farquhar seems to have left the village before marriage.

N21...Smith,Strypie family. Later records show that a daughter Janet was born about 1783 and survived.

N22...A Janet Clark, probably a daughter of this family, was described as a resident when she married in 1799. Son Alex did not survive.

N24...James Simpson was recorded as a witness in Portessie in 1785.

N25...Imlach,Cock family.

N27...Catherine Sutherland was the daughter of William Sutherland and Isobel McKenzie born in Findochty in 1761.

N28...James Cormack was the son of James Cormack and Mary Beattie in Kinneff. James and Jean stayed in Kincardinshire for a few years after their marriage before returning to Portessie. Jean Smith was the daughter of John Smith and Jean Findlay. Daughter Jane was possibly she who married James Thain of Findochty in 1805.

N32...George Garden was also described as a carpenter, (witness in 29.3.1793).

N34...James Farquhar acquired the teename Rhind perhaps because his wife Isabel Malcolm in-migrated from the Perthsire parish or village. James was the son of James Farquhar and Elspet Smith, (S8).

N35...Alex Smith married to Janet Farquhar was probably Alex Smith,Bodie, son of James Smith and Helen Flett, at S16;.

N36...Later Statutory and Census evidence names a son Alex born c.1783 in Rathven Parish.

N37...Alex Smith,Rummie was probably the son of John Smith and Margaret Reid at S17.

N38...John Clark seems to have been an incomer.

N39...Alex Smith, younger, was the father of son George Smith.

N40...Andrew Simpson and Jean Murray may not have settled in Portessie immediately after marriage. Their first child born in the village was recorded in 1805.

N41...Alex Smith,Laird was the son of Alex Smith and deceased Elizabeth Robertson, S12.

N42...William Farquhar was the son of William Farquhar and Elspet Geddes, S7. Son James was from his first marriage to Anne Sutherland from Findochty.

N43...William Farquhar was the son of James Farquhar and Elspet Smith, S8.

N44...Alex Garden, younger was the son of Alex Garden and Jean Smith at S5. Helen Smith was recorded as a witness in 1794 and 1812.

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