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Memories of Drumin
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Banffshire memories
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?
My Early Years in Craigellachie
We lived in a semi-detached house that joined a general stores at the top of the Hundred Steps. My brother was born in Elgin in 1943, and my father worked for the forestry with Polish workers, maybe prisoners of war. He was Gordon Hutchison and my mum was Ursula. I think we left Craigellachie when I was about 4 or 5 in about 1945.
WITHIN COOEE of CRAIGELLACHIE
Alexander (Sandy) Jackson URQUHART was an apprentice blacksmith at McLean's Garage in the small village of Maggieknockater. He later left his apprenticeship to join the Metropolitan Police in London, in 1929. Maggieknockater was quite close to where his parents' croft/s was/were situated. The crofts were named Shians and Greenhill, and were within walking distance of Balnellan, not far from Craigellachie. The crofts may have been on land which was part of the Arndilly Estate. The remains of at least one of these two crofts can be seen, albeit surrounded by forest. The modern-day address would probably be:
Balnellan, Craigellachie, Aberlour, Moray, Scotland.
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
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AT GRANNY JANE'S
My memories of Rothes are of spending wonderful holidays staying with my Granny at the Crudens in Rothes. I went every school holiday for many years. I loved my Granny and Auntie Greta, but adored my Aunty Nellie who took me everywhere with her. She worked at Simpsons Bakery and at 6 o'clock in the morning, I would be perched on the handle bars of her bike, whizzing up Green St.(No health and safety then) Mr Simpson the boss, always handed me a brown envelope with a shiny half crown in it for my wages.
Another fond memory is of helping out at the farm accross from Granny's house. Along with pals, I would be balanced on top of hay trailers and ricks. Little mice and other beesties running around my feet.(Wouldn't be so brave now) Funny! I always remember eating our lunch 'pieces' sitting in gloreous sunshine. A childs rose tinted glasses must be responsible for that.
Easter holidays brought another thing to... Read more
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.'
