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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Aberdeenshire => Topic started by: lockhaven on Wednesday 02 May 18 14:09 BST (UK)
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Growing up, the biggest question in our family was do we descend from the Frasers of Lovat or Frasers of Philorth?
In the last couple years was able to trace our Fraser line back to Alexander Fraser (1790-1848) and Christina Burnett (1784-1860). Alexander was the head forester for the Lord Saltoun at the time. (also listed as gamekeeper & wright at other times) The story goes that Alexander & Christina were asked to name their child Thurlow after the Saltoun's wife's maiden name since she wasn't able to bear children.
That would lead me to believe that Alexander was quite close to the family... maybe even family? I was curious to know what others thought of this likelihood? Would a more prominent family like the Saltouns hire cousins, etc. to work for them? If a Fraser is working for the the Saltoun family, are they most likely a relative of some kind?
I have had no luck finding Alexander's parents. (as there are tons of Alexander Fraser's - and no concrete parish matches on Scotlands People have shown up) It sounds like the Saltoun Frasers were Episcopalian, and I'm not sure that those records are on Scotlands People? I couldn't find any specific Episcopalian records listed. It does list Episcopal Church 1549-2003 records on this site https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/church-records but I haven't figured out how to access them, and if they're even available online.
I've done my DNA, and ideally would love to compare my DNA with someone who has connected to the Saltoun line to see if there's any match there. I've put out the request on a couple sites a while ago, but have never had a response.
While searching, there's only one tree that connects Alexander to the Saltoun line, but it seems like a reach to me. https://www.ancestry.ca/family-tree/tree/5806665/ It links him to Hugh Fraser (1764-1837) and Elspet Peddie (1764-1846) and then up through a couple William Frasers. The facts just don't seem to line up.
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Multiple threads on this family...
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=773591.msg6267692#msg6267692
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I can't help with the Philorth connection, but I do have information about Alexander Fraser and Christina Burnett's daughter Margaret.
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To avoid any duplication of work, please see the following posts before replying to this one.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=753013
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=751332
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=750339
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It sounds like the Saltoun Frasers were Episcopalian, and I'm not sure that those records are on Scotlands People?
No, they are not.
I couldn't find any specific Episcopalian records listed. It does list Episcopal Church 1549-2003 records on this site https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/church-records but I haven't figured out how to access them, and if they're even available online.
The Episcopalian records are either still in the churches, or in diocesan archives, or in other local or academic archives, or lost altogether. They are not, by and large, available online and I doubt if anyone kinows exactly which ones have survived or where they all are.
While searching, there's only one tree that connects Alexander to the Saltoun line, but it seems like a reach to me. https://www.ancestry.ca/family-tree/tree/5806665/ It links him to Hugh Fraser (1764-1837) and Elspet Peddie (1764-1846) and then up through a couple William Frasers. The facts just don't seem to line up.
Probably because they are based on guesses or assumptions rather than facts.
See http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=714261.0
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Thanks everybody.
I'll go on the assumption that it's the Frasers of Philorth.
As for Episcopalian records, from Google searching it looks like St. Peters Episcopalian is the most likely. http://stpetersfraserburgh.org.uk/?page_id=44 Found this link where the current Lady Saltoun talks about her grandfather being involved with them. The only thing is the new building wasn't built until 1796. (6 years before Alexander was born) They met in a building before that, it sounds like it wasn't a good time to be Episcopalian. (it sounds like all of their files before 1745 were lost in a fire which is so sad)
There is a chance that Alexander might not have attended the same church as the Saltoun line, or that his record was lost.
In terms of finding the records I found a few possibilities listed online...
here...
1 - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F152624 but it says the Collection is held privately, and enquiries are to the National Register for Scotland
2 - http://calms.abdn.ac.uk/DServe/dserve.exe?dsqServer=Calms&dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=0&dsqSearch=%28RefNo%3D%27ms%203320%27%29
University of Aberdeen Special Collection under the Records of the Scottish Episcopal Church, Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney. It does list the church, hard to say what it would include, and if I could even have access to it?
It does list Research Enquiries on their website, has anybody had any luck contacting them and if so does it cost?
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I have James Fraser (my 5th x s great grandfather) born 1776 in Ardglessie...his daughter is living in Philorth House in 1841 with her husband Thomas Rigby...he's a gamekeeper. I'd not make any assumptions about them being relatives to the Frasers of Philorth. I've been in contact with people who have been trying to link the aforementioned James Fraser to the Frasers of Philorth for years - without success.
Jen
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If you can find the baptism of William Rigby, son of Thomas Rigby and Ann Fraser, about 1843/1844, please let me know! He married Janet Marshall, my 1st cousin 3 times removed. I have lots of info about their descendants.
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If you can find the baptism of William Rigby, son of Thomas Rigby and Ann Fraser, about 1843/1844, please let me know! He married Janet Marshall, my 1st cousin 3 times removed. I have lots of info about their descendants.
Forfarian,
I only followed through on their wee boy James (born Ireland) as he was with his grandfather James Fraser on the 1851 census showing aged 12. James Fraser's son Andrew got married by Rev Charles Gordon, Catholic clergyman in 1826 - perhaps the family were Catholic?
..I'm losing count of the number of ways we have connections ;)
Jen
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..I'm losing count of the number of ways we have connections ;)
Likewise. I think it's four now but it could be more!
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The thing is we have connections across my four branches which means we have connections that my parents wouldn't have had :o
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Yes, that's right.
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No relation but...
The further back we go there's so many people marrying into the same families as there wasn't the thought/transport/need/want to be 'elsewhere' & smaller communities all with same names.
I have a few of my ancestors separated within different trees as there were so many 'marry-ins' with each line, I couldn't work out things & this was on FTM with so many same forenames/surnames/dates, it had me completely baffled as to whether the 'prompts' for people were the correct folk but fun as my FTM must have been confused too ??? ::) ;D
Annie