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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Banffshire => Topic started by: Forfarian on Saturday 02 June 18 21:41 BST (UK)
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11 April 1862. Birth of Alexander Gordon, son of Alexander G and Jane MacDonald, at Clashmarloch, Aberlour
17 January 1866. Birth of John Gordon, son of Alexander G and Jane MacDonald
6 September 1868. Birth of Jane Rigby, daughter of William R and Janet Marshall
25 July 1872. Birth of Margaret Rigby, daughter of William R and Janet Marshall
15 October 1892. John Gordon, son of Alexander G and Jane MacDonald, marries Jane Rigby, daughter of William R and Janet Marshall
1 August 1898. Margaret Rigby, daughter of William R and Janet Marshall, gives birth to an illegitimate child.
5 September 1898. Maggie Rigby, 78 Moss Street compeared before the Keith Kirk Session confessing to having given birth to an illegitimate child and charging Alexander Gordon, coachman, Blairgowrie as the father, and who has admitted paternity.
12 May 1906. Death of Jane Rigby or Gordon, daughter of William R and Janet Marshall and wife of John Gordon
30 March 1908. William Rigby, husband of Janet Marshall and father of Jane Rigby or Gordon and of Margaret Rigby, applies to Keith Parochial Board. He states inter alia that his daughter Margaret is keeping house for a brother-in-law in Glasgow.
22 August 1910. John Gordon, son of son of Alexander G and Jane MacDonald and widower of Jane Rigby, marries his sister-in-law Margaret Rigby, daughter of William R and Janet Marshall
Question. Is Alexander Gordon, son of Alexander G and Jane MacDonald, the coachman in Blairgowrie who was the father of Margaret Rigby’s illegitimate child?
I have all the relevant birth, marriage and death certificates, and all the census records except those for Alexander Gordon after 1881. For the sake of simplicity I have not listed five children of Maggie's and six of Jane's, not all of whom were born in wedlock, or any of the siblings of Alexander and John or of Jane and Maggie, all of whom I know about.
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Where was Alexander in 1881 & what was his occ. then?
There's a young Alexander on 1881 Blairgowrie (born Blair) 18yrs b c1863 with parents David & Agnes at 6 Croft Lane, working as "Spinner Flax & Son"
I haven't yet looked for him being there prior/later
Annie
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Where was Alexander in 1881 & what was his occ. then?
D***! It is John whom I have in 1881, not Alexander.
However there is an Alexander Gordon, aged 18, born Glenrinnes, a farm servant in the household of John Innes at Wester Achmore, Mortlach, in 1881, who is a definite possibility for Alexander.
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Ok, 1891 this Alexander (assuming it's the same one from 1881) is now married with occ. Drapers Traveller!!!
Still in Blairgowrie at 18 Brown St.
So, where did he take the 'Drapery' & by what means...a 'Coach' ???
Annie
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However there is an Alexander Gordon, aged 18, born Glenrinnes, a farm servant in the household of John Innes at Wester Achmore, Mortlach, in 1881, who is a definite possibility for Alexander.
I did see him along the way!
So far it's looking like 2 different chaps after all?
Annie
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I can't see the draper in Blair being the culprit. If he was a married man the KS would have had to make a much bigger fuss, and refer it to the Presbytery, because it would have been adultery. Unless the wife (Emily) had died, and there's no death of a likely-looking Emily Gordon before 1898 in the SP index.
They're not in Scotland in 1901.
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Would seem strange to pick a place like Blair tho' if it wasn't true ???
I wonder how they would have gone about getting hold of Alexander & how easy it would be to omit having a wife :-\
If he was there on a regular basis it may have been a simple case of calling him in en route?
There's also the fact there would have been no need to lie about your James Alexander (if it's him with the Innes family) as he was single?
Annie
Edited...as Forfarian questioned my error ::)
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Aha! You gave me an idea, Annie, which led me to the marriage of Alexander Gordon, son of Alexander G and Jane MacDonald, to Isabella Fraser in Urray in 1887. There's no death of Isabella Fraser or Gordon before 1901, so the same objections tend to rule out this Alexander Gordon as rule out the draper in Blair.
So they didn't keep it in the family. Pity, it would have made a better story :(
And the question now is, "Who was the coachman in Blairgowrie?"
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1901 "Emily Pordon" yet hubby is "Alexander Gordon" (Fancestry)
SP...
GORDON EMILY
1901
41
282/1 31/ 15 St Peter, Angus
Hubby born Fife
Annie
Ooops, was laughing at your "Pity, it would have made a better story" & forgot to add Alexander (Blair) is now at 2 Anfield Row, Liff & Benvie as a Railway Carter.
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Would seem strange to pick a place like Blair tho' if it wasn't true ???
I wonder how they would have gone about getting hold of Alexander & how easy it would be to omit having a wife :-\
The usual way was to write to the Kirk Session there and get them to deal with him - either summon him to Keith (rather a long journey!) or get him to write a letter admitting paternity. So it wouldn't be easy for him to omit mentioning the wife.
There's also the fact there would have been no need to lie about your James (if it's him with the Innes family) as he was single?
What James?
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1901 "Emily Pordon" yet hubby is "Alexander Gordon" (Fancestry)
Classic Funcestry creative spelling :)
SP is correct - the reason I failed to find them before was that Alexander is on the page before the rest of them, and I forgot that a search using two names doesn't work if they are on different pages :-[
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There's also the fact there would have been no need to lie about your James (if it's him with the Innes family) as he was single?
What James?
OOhh....A typo ;D ;D
Too much going back 'n' forth & comp cutting out ::)
SP is correct - the reason I failed to find them before was that Alexander is on the page before the rest of them, and I forgot that a search using two names doesn't work if they are on different pages :-[
I often forget about that too but thankfully it only happens when you're desparate to find someone ;D
Annie (note to follow)
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Looked at marriages 1898 - 1918 - Blair 0, Little Dunkeld 1, Perth 2 & 3 Dunblane/Auchterarder areas.
So if you're feeling flush, not too many :D
He may never have married, moved on or immigrated...needle & haystack come to mind.
Annie
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Hang on...I don't see a marriage to Emily/Emma :o
So, the 'Blair' Alexander is back in the running :P
Annie
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False Alarm!!! ;D
Finally found their marriage;
GORDON ALEXANDER & MCLEAN AMELIA 1885
339/ 1 Clunie (Perth)
Annie
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The Alexander in Blairgowrie on VRs seems to be the one who married Emily i.e. a big mystery for now...
VRs 1885 but he's gone by 1895
GORDON ALEXANDER
Tenant Occupier
HOUSE UPPER MILL STREET
BLAIRGOWRIE
VR011300031-
Annie
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Thanks, Annie - you've been beavering while I've been asleep.
Haystack and needle, not in that order, is exactly what is going through my mind.
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Yep, it was quite a chase but enjoyable!
I'm still looking for the 'culprit'
Annie
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I'm still looking for the 'culprit'
Me too. But I will be amazed if I ever manage to nail him!
BTW Alexander son of Alexander Gordon and Jane Macdonald became a brewer and worked in various distilleries before returning to Dufftown where he was a publican. One of the places he worked was Ord distillery, where he presumably met his wife as they were married in Urray, and another was Jericho Distillery in Culsalmond in Aberdeenshire.
Ord is still going strong http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=84358086 but Jericho is not http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/54688 (I am not totally convinced that Jericho Distillery and Bennachie distillery are one and the same.)
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I found an Alexander Gordon in 1912 as a Postman...
Did he change occ. from a Coachman as it would still mean driving?
No other info. though.
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28641/page/6551/data.pdf
1901 - 40 Angle Cottage, Alyth (not quite Blairgowrie)
James Gordon 80 Retired Farmer
Isabella Gordon 18 Retired Farmers wife? (I think this should be 78)? Add...SP show 78
Alexander Gordon 40 (Appears to be single but may be widowed)? "Carton" = Carter?
Bella Davie 25
Was this Alexander in Blair, changed occ?
Annie
Red alert...
I think it will be hard to nail him too as he doesn't seem to be a full-time resident in Blair which makes it harder?
Will check out links!
Add...Alexander still in Alyth 1911 now aged 36!
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That looks quite promising. A carter is probably a step down from a coachman, but a similar occupation.
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Couldn't see a death for him in Alyth so he could have died anywhere.
Nearest to there was little Dunkeld (I think) or Perth (City)
Not that a DC would help unless the illegitimate son was the informant.
Annie
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Ord is still going strong http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=84358086 but Jericho is not http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/54688 (I am not totally convinced that Jericho Distillery and Bennachie distillery are one and the same.)
Hard to say looking at the pics here;
http://lostdistillery.com/07highlands-east/benachie.html
Although appears to be on the same land?
1905
BENACHIE DISTILLERY JERICHO NETHER ESTATE OF SHEELAGREEN, CULSAMOND
FARM JERICHO NETHER ESTATE OF SHEELAGREEN, CULSAMOND
Annie
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So it does look as if it's the same. It is on my list to things to research but I had never got round to thinking about it, so thank you for that.
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I actually enjoy looking at things like that, seeing changes, old buildings etc. & of course the history lesson it provides in a relaxing way!
Annie
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It would be interesting to know whether it has been bought & renovated within the 13 yrs since the pic was posted?
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/54688
Annie
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Well, next time I am passing I might remember to go and take a look.