gardeners apprenticeships Completed

[Mavals]

This also has an Aberdeenshire connection.

George Donaldson b Langholm 1825 son of George Donaldson and Joan Reid became a gardener at Keith Hall,Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, eventually becoming head gardener.

I have not been able to trace him on the 1841 and 1851 census yet, but he is at Keith Hall in 1861 aged c 36.

His parents worked in the weaving trade and I am curious about how George became a gardener. Is/was there a local "big house" where he might have learned his craft ?

[ev]

Mavals ,

Have you looked at the 1851 Census for George Donaldson b. c1826 "Langham" Dumfriesshire , living in Perthshire

ev

[1pds]

If you assume Keith Hall, Inverurie refers to Keith Hall, the ancestral home of the Earls of Kintore, there would have been plenty of opportunities to train as a gardener at this "Big House"...

See:  http://www.keithclan.net/gallery.htm

[Mavals]

Finally tracked down the 1841 census which has partially answered my question. He was working at Irving House in Langholm

Ev, I looked again at the 1851 census and agree it is him, so I have been able to track him as he progresses in his career .

And yes it is Keith Hall at Inverurie where he ended his career.

Now I need to find out why he was in Ireland a for a couple of years though. We know that as his son Percy won a prize at the local church!