Hi Stewart 1
Thanks for extra info on Geo Taylor at Cultain. Re its name, in the OS Name Books it's recorded as simply 'Cultain' (by its tenant George Lawtie and its proprietor, so I take that as being definitive), and as such in 1861 too. There is no 'Little Cultain'. This suggests Cultain only became Meikle Cultain when Little Cultain was built. George Taylor was ensconced by 1871, with mother and sister.
<<The Taylor that was here -Cultain -retired to Keith I was told naming his house there Cultain>>
Yes, it was 'Cultain Cottage' Back St, Keith, which I suggest is today's 'Cultain House', 78 Back St, Keith.
<<His wife died before that extract from McWillie Diary's.>>
I don't understand that. His wife Jessie Geddes died 18-6-1925.
He married age 50 in 1889, giving himself as a bachelor, which is confirmed by earlier censuses.
Re John Cooper vet. His wife Jessie Gray is related to me down a collateral line - 3rd cousin 4-times removed to be precise. Her father, George Gray, and John George Gray's gdfather, Walter Gray, were brothers. Their mother was Janet Wright, d/o Anne Andrew, d/o Walter Andrew my 6x-gtgdfather who was born 1708 in Pittenbringand, Cullen.
<<Also have John Gray in France Nov 14 along with the rest of the Stuart bros he is down as born Fordyce however listed as killed.>>
I don't know him, but my records are by no means complete.
<<Geddes were in Cotton Croft my Grandad and them were friendly cycled to Broughty Ferry and back in a day to see my grandad s sister.>>
That's one heck of a journey on one day by pushbike - that's a 240 mile round trip. Somebody's exaggerating, unless it was by motor bike!
My gtgdfather Peter Geddes was born at Cotton Croft in 1854. His mother, Margaret Smith, was the oldest person in Scotland when she died at Cotton Croft in 1921 aged 104, her gdson George Geddes (Postie) taking over the croft.
So, it sounds as though it was Postie who had a postman's holiday to Broughty Ferry!
Have you any other tidbits about Cotton Croft? Postie's gdson is still alive and kicking in Buckie, and interested in the family history - he's never mentioned the Broughty Ferry trip (but why would he?) so anything you can add would really be appreciated.