Historical family document discovered: Brechin

[Martin Guthrie]

Hi All,

A little bit on an odd question perhaps but I wasn't entirely sure where else to post this...

I've been researching my family tree for a number of years but recently my mother discovered a handwritten hardback book in her attic.  This turned out to be a journal written by my Great Great Grandfather, Andrew Brechin, in 1852-3.  In it he describes his life and times in Aberdeen from earliest schooldays up to his getting married and describes many places, people, and events in Aberdeen in the mid-1800's.  I'm in the process of transcribing his book just now and I'd estimate that it'll come to about 20,000 words in total.

Quite apart from the book being an amazing family history document, it's arguably an important historical document for Aberdeen and might bear some limited publication.  Does anyone have any suggestions as to the best way to approach this?  I've looked at the Aberdeen & North-East Scotland Family History Society web site but it's not obvious whether this would be of interest to them.

Many thanks,
Martin

[mitchell]

Hello Martin,

Wow, what a terrific find  Being from Aberdeen myself, I would definitely be interested in reading the journal if you decide to publish it (which I think you should) and I'm sure that many other people would be too.

As for who else might be interested...I would contact the Local Studies Library in Aberdeen
http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ACCI/web/site/Libraries/NS/Lib_LocalStudies.asp  I think that they would be able to advise you on publishing it too.

There is also the Aberdeen City Archives
http://www.rootschat.com/links/02m7/  ...records of individuals can be deposited for permanent preservation.

Elaine

[Grothenwell]

Hi Martin,

What a wonderful discovery  .

As I am a Brechin from Aberdeen, it caught my eye obviously, but even without that connection it would have. Please do contact the ANESFHS, I am sure they will give you good advise on what to do about limited publishing. Indeed they have an annual Bruce Henderson award for original genealogy work, and I would think yours would be a wonderful entry for this.

Unfortunately I can find no link to an Andrew Brechin in my family tree, but perhaps their is a distant link further back.

Good luck with your work.

Grothenwell 

[Martin Guthrie]

Hi Elaine, Hi Grothenwell,

Thanks for the links Elaine - very useful and I'll certainly be following them up in due course.  There's really two aspects to his book - the first being the publication of the words themselves (together with transcription notes which I'll add as an overlay once I've finished typing it up - currently 11,000 words and counting - since there are some interesting genealogical aspects to it as well as Aberdeen-related points).  The second is the book itself which a local history society might be interested in displaying - but I guess I should deal with the publication first since I'll need the book to prove authenticity perhaps.

I will contact the ANESFHS as well Grothenwell.  And in terms of us being related; well, if you can find any relatives in your tree buried in the Spital Burial Ground (now part of St. Peters) then I'd suggest we talk since I'm related to about 2/3 of them!     At most I think there were only 2 or 3 distinct families of Brechins in Aberdeen in the 1800's...

Best regards,
Martin

[genjen]

Hi Martin,

If and when you have the book published, please can you post a message, letting people know about it, as I'm sure you will have many takers.

My interest in Brechins is, as far as I know, from further afield in the county rather than Aberdeen city so would be very interested to know if you have, in your Brechin line, any who hailed from the Methlick area.

Regards

Jen

[Martin Guthrie]

Hi Jen,

Not Methlick per se but probable connections in Tarves and New Deer - neither of which are a million miles away.  I suspect that there's a common root somewhere in there but finding anything with any certainty pre-1800 is difficult at best!

Martin

[genjen]

Hi,

All I know is that Mary Brechin married William Crichton, 10th Feb 1798, Methlick and died 15th November, 1826, Methlick. which means, of course, that she could have been born anywhere within striking distance.
If you come across any likely candidates, I should be immensely grateful as she has been a sticking point for ages.

Jen

[Martin Guthrie]

Let me look at it and get back to you Jen.  I haven't much explored the pre-1800 Brechin connections much because a) I had to re-investigate that section of tree when my G.G.Grandfather's book pointed out an error I'd made previously, and b) because without censii and death records, pre-1800's often becomes educated guesswork at best usually!  LOL  A Mary does vaguely ring a bell somewhere but I've seen way too many names over the years to be sure of anything any more!

Martin

[genjen]

Thank you, that would be kind. No hurry, I have waited a long time so a bit longer won't hurt.

Jen