Mill of Rathen Information

[Shand-Aberdeenshire]

Have a picture of the headstone as my screen saver.

In case you don't have this...

6 Nov 1823 • Rathen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Monumental Inscription: Death Information Kirkyard of Rathen-Erected by Robert Shand Mill of Rathen to the memory of his father William Shand d. 16 Nov. 1823 aged 73; his mother Isabel Bruce d. 16 Oct. 1836 aged 85. Of their children William and John died in infancy; his daughter Isabella d. 20 Nov. 1845 aged 27. Said Robert Shand d. 26 July 1848 aged 60; his wife Isabella Weir or Shand d. 9 Jan. 1851 aged 58
www.wikitree.com/wiki/Shand-61

Monica

[MonicaL]

Good that you have it 

Have you looked at Scotlands Places for a description of the mill? See https://scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/digital-volumes/ordnance-survey-name-books/aberdeenshire-os-name-books-1865-1871/aberdeenshire-volume-76/73

Monica

[Shand-Aberdeenshire]

Hi Don,

Can you give me more info on James Shand of Craigelly? I know there was a William Shand of Craigellie born in Banff on the property/house in Lonmay during the same time my William Shand was at Mill of Rathen. Also, on the 1841 census it shows others who were from the Mill of Rathen. Was this Mill used by many? Thank you.

Following Malky's post the previous owner was a James Shand of Craigelly House which was in Lonmay.

There are a couple of entries for this family in Wills and Testaments section of Scotland's People.

Don

[GR2]

Mill of Rathen was about 14 acres, Scots measure, which would be nearly 18 acres imperial measure. As well as the Shand family and any domestic servant, unmarried farm workers would live at the farm and be listed under the household. Alexander Stewart, who worked at the mill is listed separately in 1841. He was still there in 1847 when there was a fire at the mill. I will send you a p.m.

[DonM]

Sorry I know nothing of James Shand other than he was the owner of Craigellie and the Mill. 

Everyone could use the Mill providing it a had capacity and you could pay the Miller's fees.  Fees depended on grade.  If you had a lot of sprouting or mould in your crop you paid more and milled grain (flour) yield would be less.  A quality crop would cost less to mill so the farmer's return would be higher.  Miller's like the Shand's were likely also merchants so they would buy your crop and sell it for you for a fee of course. Up until 1824 a bag of flour weighed 47 pound bag so 3 bags = 1 boll for flour (140 lbs), which was the Scot's standard at that time.  Oatmeal was the lightest, Barley the heaviest. After about 1825 many began converting to the Imperial system as more an more of the flour was being sent to England.  And, by the 1880's independent miller's were starting to disappear as more crops were graded and shipped to bulk storage and distribution facilities that fed the large scale milling operations.

Miller's also employed ratoner's who along with their terriers controlled the rat population especially during harvest as it was serious problem or for those who would inventory a finished crop. Btw...you can tell when a rat has been into the wheat flour it becomes bloated some so bloated they can't move and many die.

Don

[GR2]

According to a paper delivered by Dr Cramond to the Banffshire  Field Society in 1896:

The first Shand of Craigellie was James Shand (1712-1795), three times Provost of Banff. He married twice: first to Jane Russel, daughter of Russel of Montcoffer; secondly to Margaret Calder, said to be a daughter of Sir Thomas Calder. James's eldest son, William, died in 1810, aged 80. He married Helen Ogilvie and had a son, William, born c. 1778 and died 14-6-1848.

The following is from a stone in Lonmay kirkyard:

In memory of William Shand of Craigellie Esq. d. 28 Apr. 1871 aged 64. Helen Duncan dau. of the above and Frances Mary his wife b. 24 Feb. 1836 - d. 18 March 1859. Annie Elizabeth their dau. b. 5 Sept. 1857 d. 2 Apr. 1861. Edward Erskine Tustin their son b. 23 Jan. 1849 - d. 7 Aug. 1869. Clementina Seppings their dau. b. 7 Jan. 1844 - d. Edinburgh8 Nov. 1876. Framces Anne their dau. b. 7 March 1841 - d. 4 Aug. 1899. Alao of Mary Erskine their dau. b. 31 Oct. 1854 - d. 25 July 1905. Frances Mary widow of the above William Shand b. 8 March 1815 - d. 15 Sept. 1907. Also of Ann Brown for 25 years nurse in the family of the above d. 9 Jan. 1868 aged 56.

The inscription on the neighbouring stone reads:

In memory of Stewart Rolland Shand b. 20 May 1847 - d. in the Argentine Republic 17 Oct. 1886. William Robertson Shand b. 13 Apr. 1853 - d. in South Australia 27 Oct. 1903. John Loudon Shand late of Ceylon b. Oct. 1845 - d. 25 Feb. 1932. Peter Rolland Shand b. 1851 - d. in Ceylon 30 Dec. 1933.

[Shand-Aberdeenshire]

William Shand b1750 Methlick to John Shand b1713 Methlick. William died 1723 in Rathen. His son Robert was at Mill of Rathen until 1848 when he died. These Shands and the Craigellie Shands in Lonmay were so close to eachother but I can't make a connection. Any thoughts?

According to a paper delivered by Dr Cramond to the Banffshire  Field Society in 1896:

The first Shand of Craigellie was James Shand (1712-1795), three times Provost of Banff. He married twice: first to Jane Russel, daughter of Russel of Montcoffer; secondly to Margaret Calder, said to be a daughter of Sir Thomas Calder. James's eldest son, William, died in 1810, aged 80. He married Helen Ogilvie and had a son, William, born c. 1778 and died 14-6-1848.

The following is from a stone in Lonmay kirkyard:

In memory of William Shand of Craigellie Esq. d. 28 Apr. 1871 aged 64. Helen Duncan dau. of the above and Frances Mary his wife b. 24 Feb. 1836 - d. 18 March 1859. Annie Elizabeth their dau. b. 5 Sept. 1857 d. 2 Apr. 1861. Edward Erskine Tustin their son b. 23 Jan. 1849 - d. 7 Aug. 1869. Clementina Seppings their dau. b. 7 Jan. 1844 - d. Edinburgh8 Nov. 1876. Framces Anne their dau. b. 7 March 1841 - d. 4 Aug. 1899. Alao of Mary Erskine their dau. b. 31 Oct. 1854 - d. 25 July 1905. Frances Mary widow of the above William Shand b. 8 March 1815 - d. 15 Sept. 1907. Also of Ann Brown for 25 years nurse in the family of the above d. 9 Jan. 1868 aged 56.

The inscription on the neighbouring stone reads:

In memory of Stewart Rolland Shand b. 20 May 1847 - d. in the Argentine Republic 17 Oct. 1886. William Robertson Shand b. 13 Apr. 1853 - d. in South Australia 27 Oct. 1903. John Loudon Shand late of Ceylon b. Oct. 1845 - d. 25 Feb. 1932. Peter Rolland Shand b. 1851 - d. in Ceylon 30 Dec. 1933.

[GR2]

I doubt if there is any link between the two families, at least not any recorded one. The Shands of Craigellie were estate owners and lived in Banff in earlier times. The Shands from Mill of Rathen were tenants of Lord Saltoun.

[GR2]

There are two gravestones at Banff for the Shands of Craigellie. One with a Latin inscription begins with the father of James Shand, the first of Craigellie. He was also provost of Banff and died 5th March 1736 in his 58th year. The same stone commemorates his son James (d, 10-12-1795, aged 84), his son William (d. 3-3-1810 aged 70). Their wives are also commemorated.

The stone next to it commemorates William's son, William Shand (d 11-6-1848), and two of his sisters.

It would seem that the Shands were not necessarily resident at Craigellie, but mostly, lived in Banff where they had been since the 17th century.