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Thanks, Harry.  As the gamekeeper was a bachelor, it won't be the papa of my Humphrey Paterson (whose dad was Humphrey also).  It looks as though the Moffats reigned supreme, if the gamekeeper and 'master' (that wouldn't be the owner, I don't think) were both of that name...a case of nepotism perhaps!!

It's a bit tough, this one.  I think, as I said, I'll make it my 'go-to' place on our next visit to Scotland...it will be interesting to travel around the places mentioned in my records of the family and go grave-hunting once again (and this time, Himself won't be able to grumble too much as it will be HIS family we're looking for!).

I'll consider this closed now...thank you all for your usual help and guidance.

lydiaann

That sounds interesting, Alan.  I'll have to research that another day, along with the other stuff.  So far, a quick look suggests it is a red sandstone house, 17th century with 18th century additions.  Looking promising!  Thank you.

Thanks for the replies. 

The website you quoted, forfarian, gives a map of the area, 3 dates of 1792, 1792, and 1845 and the parish priest's names (obviously, the first 2 are the same man).  It also gives a description of the boundaries of the village.  Entering Friars Carse Farm (thank you for that titbit of info. CoIC!) in the Help box showed that:

"...After the Reformation, the ESTATE of Friars Carse was acquired by the Laird of Allisland or Ellisland, an adjoining farm...".

The map shows a couple of wooded areas and a loch (I don't think it's very big) so gamekeeping may have been a necessity.

It would appear that there is now a country house hotel "set in a 45-acre" estate, which maybe is the remains of a large estate way back when.

So, no sign of a 'big estate', but maybe the farmer needed a 'gamekeeper' for the land he did hold.  As my rellie (Humprey Paterson 1789 - bef. 1841) was only 11 when the 18th century ended, it would seem that he probably worked there from around 1810. 

I think I shall have to dig around a bit and maybe visit the village when next we visit Scotland.

But thank you, both, for your time and effort.

lydiaann

Doing several lines on each side of our marriage has meant much raising of eyebrows.  One always assumes that a 'tailor' in the 19th century is just that, living, getting married, having a child...until you suddenly find that he has defrauded customers and been transported for 7 years.  Well, I thought that was it until I found out that he ended up being the governor of the same gaol to which he had first been brought - who knew! Or that a 'Turner' (woodworker/carpenter) could morph into (in his 'former life') a Napoleonic hero fighting in Europe, the West Indies and at the Battle of Copenhagen, ending up wounded, being awarded a Medal by Nelson himself, and attaining civilian life at only 23 - again, who knew!  It seems as though life wasn't always just being a farm labourer, a servant, a blacksmith, etc. They had as many 'lives' as people of today whom we believe to be 'special' in some way.  They were adventurers and chancers, good people and bad, caring and callous - and I think that's why I continue on despite (once again), hitting 5 brick walls!

'My' John & Lydia married in 1808. Lydia would have been only 14 and John 15 in 1802.  It would appear from all that has recently been found that my family had nothing to do with Worcs. at all...the whole family, including extensions, were all from around the Melbourne area, with John having been born in Staffs but obviously moving to Derbyshire on or before marriage..in fact in Derbyshire in the 1841 census.  He is working in Leics. in the 1851 census but still married to Lydia who remained in Melbourne and, in fact, died in Castle Street in Melbourne in 1858.  Thanks anyway; I shall probably park this later information on David in my 'Shoebox' as, providing I can get back a little further, I may find that they originally moved from Worcs...stranger things have happened!

DCB: It is interesting, however, that the 20 Feb 1802 baptism notes the 'Residence' as Stafford.  Perhaps this John is the one that moved away from the E. Midlands...maybe a cousin?  Thinks, more research will be coming up !! 

I shall, of course, let you all know if something definitive turns up, but I'll still count the Stafford baptism of Hannah Lydia in 1813 as the 'correct' one as far as my tree is concerned.

 

lydiaann (no prized for guessing where my name comes from!!)