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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Aberdeenshire => Topic started by: erica236 on Friday 13 November 15 16:54 GMT (UK)
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I know my ancestors, the Cran family, were tennant farmers in "Mains of Lesmoir", near Rhynie for many decades during the 18th/19th centuries.
Does anyone have any information about Mains of Lesmoir? I am unsure if this is just one farm or a whole area. I have seen a photograph online of the present house but don't know how old it is or if it might even have been rebuilt. On the 1861 census some of the family are listed at "Mill of Lesmoir" and others at No 1 Mains of Lesmoir. Could these be seperate places or all clustered on the same site?
I believe my x5 grandfather, John Cran, born about 1711, and a couple of his brothers lived here and would love to find out more.
Many thanks, Erica.
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It is very old, there was the Castle of Lesmore/Lesmoir which I believe was part of Wm or James Gordon's holdings. Around the time you mentioned your family first being there it was as was the Duke of Gorgon, but then he held all of he Parish with the exception of Rothmaise which was held by John Grant. A description of the Lesmore/Lesmoir list a manor house and Upper Lesmore Mill which we can assume is now Milltown of Lesmoir. http://maps.nls.uk/view/74480615
There is a ton of information online about its history. I would also suggest you try here http://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/welcome.aspx select Search and inter CRAN perhaps there are documents connecting the family to Lesmore/Lesmoir.
You can also look at the Valuations for the property which show owners/tenants which you can obtain from http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ for a couple of credits.
Don
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Thank you, I will follow these leads.
I am still not sure if "Mains of Lesmoir" is just the one farm or the name of a small village? From the map it looks like several dwellings.
Sorry if this is obvious but I don't live in Scotland and am unable to visit the area myself.
Erica.
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It is a large farm, the Mains is typically the main dwelling but typically these are occupied by the principal family plus household servants. There would be places for the ag. workers to live, if they had a dairy herd they would have had a dairyman so he would have had his own dwelling which was where the dairy cattle were. If they had pigs they would have a had a place for them as well as sheep, horses etc. Those that commercially produced butter/cheese would have had a smaller building adjacent to the dairyman's where these were produced and stored so as you see some of these farms became fairly large in structures and number of people employed.
Don
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Thanks Don,
That does make sense, considering the number of people who lived there.
Erica
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Hi Erica,
I have been researching this family and wondered if you would be interested in sharing our research. I have been trying to connect the William born Oct 1747 to the Cran's in Yorkshire.
William is the son of John Cran b 1710 and Isabel Harper.
regards
Jillian
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Hi Jillian,
William Cran, born 1747 was my 4x great grandfather who moved to Leeds sometime at the end of the 18th century. I am directly descended from William through his son James 1874, his son Edwin 1821, his son William 1865, his son Albert 1895 (my Grandad) and his son Peter 1925 (my Dad).
I think William's father John Cran was part of the family that lived at Mains of Lesmoir.
I have just started researching the Crans in Aberdeenshire but it's not easy - there are hundreds of them! Are you a member of this family?
I would be happy to share information. Are you on Ancestry? If so I can let you see my tree. If not perhaps you can give me your email and let me know what information you need.
Best wishes, Erica.
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I am still not sure if "Mains of Lesmoir" is just the one farm or the name of a small village? From the map it looks like several dwellings.
It was just one farm, but most farms had more than one house because they had cottages where the married farm workers lived with their families. 'Mains of xxx' indicates the most important farm on xxx Estate, something like 'Home Farm' in England. Sometimes the Mains would be worked by a manager or overseer employed by the landowner rather than let to a tenant farmer.
See http://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NJ4728
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Hi Erica,
Yes I am on Ancestry. Find me on there and I will send you an email address.
regards
Jillian Williams
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If you search the members area of Ancestry under JillianWilliams56 you will find me. I haver William Cran b 1747 to John Cran and Isabel Harper. William born in Belhinnny Scotland. William married Nanny Rothea and had 9 boys. John, James, Robert, William, Joseph, Peter, George, Thomas and Benjamin.
Jillian
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Hi
My name is Cynthia Cran Richards. I was born to Herbert John Cran Jr. whose dad was Herbert John Cran birthday in Rhynie. His mother had a cottage in The mains Rhynie, Aberdeenshire. My grandfather, Herbert John Cran sr. Had a brother James my dad called him Uncle Jim.
So there was Mabel. Herbert John, Mabel. Charlie, George, and Jim.
Herbert Cran sr came to New York. I think family members also went to New Zealand. Let me know what you know. I do have some photos.
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Hi Cynthia,
It seems we share a x5 grandfather - John Cran.
I am descended from John and his first wife Isobel Harper, through their son William who moved to Leeds, Yorkshire. The family never returned to Scotland.
I think you are descended from John and his third wife Janet Reid through their son James and his wife Mary Milne - they lived in Mains of Lesmoir.
I have been researching the Scottish Cran family for a couple of years and have visited the area where they lived. I do have quite a bit of information including a great photo of Herbert Sn. as a boy with his family outside Mains of Lesmoir Cottage.
I would love to see your pictures and share information.
You can contact me through Ancestry: boothroyd_heather, or let me know the best way to contact you.Best way to contact each other is by personal messaging.(flst, moderator)
Best Wishes, Heather (nee Crann) - my branch added an extra "n" !
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Hi Cynthia,
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Regards,
flst
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Hi Cynthia,
Welcome, I have also been researching this family for a while. My research started with the Crann surname in Dorset which lead me to the Cran surname in Scotland and Yorkshire. Herbert John Sr. did have a brother come to New Zealand. James he married Hannah Mary Lambert in 1920. I also have a Mary who married a Rev D Cook in 1914 in Rhynie. Look forward to swapping information.
Jillian
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Hi, My Auntie Beth (b Elizabeth Stout, Lerwick, Shetland in 1914) was married to Charles Cran, a farmer at Nether Wheedlemont, Rhynie. They had no children so I was tasked with sorting out her many possessions when she died in 2009. Among them is a slim booklet called Notable Men and Women of Strathbogie, The Cran Family, A record of singular talent. It was reprinted from the Huntly Express of June 12th 1908.
It mentions dozens of Crans all around Rhynie, including John (born 1790; died at Muir of Rhynie in 1849) who married (his cousin) Christian Cran of Mains of Lesmoir, and had two sons and two daughters....
It continues at great length and I will be very happy to post this wee booklet to whoever asks me first!! Please email me , including your full postal address and I will send it to you.(*)
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Hi Brenda, If you are still in possession of the book I would love to see it! I am a descendent of the crans living in glasgow
cheers