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Botriphnie
Botriphnie maps
Historic maps of Botriphnie and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Botriphnie maps
Botriphnie photos
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Botriphnie area books
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Memories of Botriphnie
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Botriphnie, Banffshire
Robert (Bob) and Margaret (Maggie) Urquhart, and family, occupied a croft named Drywells, at Bodinfinnoch, Parish of Botriphnie, County of Banffshire.
One of the Urquhart boys later described Drywells as: 'The most miserable croft that anyone could imagine... It was inaccessible; buried deep in the hills; surrounded by heather. The buildings were cramped and built in one long line, with sheet iron roofing. The lack of water, which had to be carted from a pump situated some quarter of a mile from the house, the encroaching peat and heather which had to be dug to supply fire for heat and cooking, the poor land which, we found, would not grow grass or decent oats, was all quite unbelievable... The family had increased and we boys huddled together scarcely more comfortable than the animals.'
Banffshire memories
DRUMMUIR STATION
I believe that Drummuir Station, Parish of Botriphnie, County of Banff, Scotland, was the starting point, in 1926, of a very long, life-changing journey:
My teen-age father, along with an older brother, headed for Southampton, England. There they boarded the ship SS 'Corinthic' and 'set sail ' for New Zealand, 26th Feb.
Their emigration had begun ...
Dufftown, Parish of Mortlach, County of Banffshire, SCT
My grandmother, Margaret Stuart, was born 26th December 1875, at Fife Street, Dufftown. Her father was George Stuart, Blacksmith. Her mother was Isabella Stuart, nee McIntosh. The couple were married at Botriphnie, 20th March 1872.
Grandparents/Great Grandparents Grave Revisited.
I recently made a trip to visit my ancestor's grave in the cemetery at Mortlach Parish Church. The tomb stone records the deaths of my Great Grandmother Margaret Stuart who died in 1897 aged 50 years and my Great Grandfather James Alexander Beaton who died in 1909 aged 72 years.Also their daughter Jessie Ann Beaton who died 15th January 1917 (interred in Allanvale Cemetery Aberdeen).Finally my Grandmother Elsie Mary Allen who died on September 1st 1964 aged 76 and my Grandfather Gordon Beaton who died on the 18th March 1969 in his 90th year.
Does anyone have any further memories of the Beaton family in Dufftown who may be related?
Maggieknockater : The Bee''s Knees.
'I gave up the idea of farming and took up employment as an apprentice blacksmith in the village close to home. The prettiest village in Speyside - Maggieknockater. I took to smithing like a duck to water. I had the magnificent salary of five old shillings per week which I afterwards supplemented by hoeing the gravel paths around the local church and the school for which I was paid two old shillings and sixpence, an increase of fifty per cent on my meagre salary...'
From the memories of an uncle of mine, written in 1985, but referring to the late 1920's...
Note 1: I understand the Motor Garage at Maggieknockater is still in the hands of the McLean family. Maybe the associated smithing activity has been discontinued ?
Note 2 : I have just seen the dance ,' The Bees of Maggieknockater ', demonstrated on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uL2svEJRcQ
Mulben Station 1901-1909
My grandfather, Robert Urquhart, was a Signalman/ Porter, employed by the Highland Railway. He had served at Forres and Elgin before transferring to Mulben, about 1901. Robert (Bob) and wife Margaret (Maggie) already had three children in 1901; however their brood increased by another three bairns during their occupancy of Mulben Station.
The Urquhart family's next move was to a house named 'Calternach', still in Mulben. The family occupied that house from about 1909 to about 1915, during which time another three children were born. Robert Urquhart had left his railway job in about 1909 and was subsequently employed by Glentauchers Distillery as a Maltman.
Keith Grammar School
While living at Mulben, in the Parish of Boharm, some members of the Urquhart family attended Keith Grammar School, about the time of the First World War. One of those Urquhart boys was Robert William Urquhart. He went on to eventually become Sir Robert. As a distinguished ex-pupil he is remembered by a plaque near the school gates.
