Help reading Kirk Session record...

[Fogmoose]

Hello Everyone! Been away awhile, but back and happy to be so! Hope all here on the Forum are well and safe! Happy Spring!!

I think I got lucky in the New Deer Kirk records, but I am having a tough time decipering them. The attached paragraphs appear to mention my 3rd great grandparents Jane Fowlie and Alexander Hutcheon.

Any help appreciated!

[GR2]

The Session being met & constituted Sederunt
the moderator & Elders. It was intimated to the
Session by one of the Elders, that a Girl Sert. to Geo.
Fowlie Auchmenziel was believed to be with child
but was denying. The Session instruct Wm. Wright
Elder to call on her & if she denied it to get a
Doctor to examine her, but upon one of the mem-
bers stating that he had known her for some time
& that she always appeared to be in this condition
it was thought better that he shd. consult her mis-
tress in presence of the Girl & if her mistress believ-
ed her to be in a state of pregnancy, which the
Girl denied it, he should get a medical person
to see her.    Session closed &c.

The Session being met &c. Compd. Jean Fowlie presently
residing  with Wm. Greig Auchmunziel, who confess-
ed herself with child accusing as the Father thereof
Alexr. Hutchison Servt. to Geo. Fowlie Auchmunziel.
Compd. the said Hutchison & acknowledged himself
the Father of said child. They are desired to go
on in the profession of their Repentance.

Moderator = the minister
Sederunt = Latin for "they sat" - introduces a list of those present
Sert. = servant
shd. = should
Compd. = compeared = appeared (before a body like a kirk session)

[Fogmoose]

Awesome, thanks so much!

So it says she's a servant of George Fowlie, so would that mean he is certainly not her father? But can I assume she was somehow related to him considering they share a last name?

Or should this be discussed in another section of the forum? Again, much thanks!

[GR2]

You can't be certain, although it doesn't sound as if George Fowlie is her father. What year is this?

[Fogmoose]

1844, which is the last year of the New Deer Kirk records.

[GR2]

I had a look at the 1841 and 1851 censuses for The Fowlies at Auchmunziel and George can't be Jean's father. George is "25" in 1841 and 34 in 1851, so would be too young.

There are later New Deer kirk session minutes, as I have read them, but for some reason all the KS minutes have not been put on ScotlandsPeople. For example nothing appears for Monquhitter, although I have read them too.

[Fogmoose]

Interesting. If I remember correctly Jane is 19 or 20 in 1841, so not much younger than George. Maybe a brother or step-brother?

I certainly hope they get around to digitizing the rest of the KS for New Deer, as Jane and Alexander had another illegitimate child in 1847 and yet another ~1850 (My 2nd GG). Birth records exist for the two earlier children, both boys, but I have been unable to find any birth record for the last child. I was hoping there might be something about it in the KS records.

Thats a shame about Monquihitter as well, as I have relatives there as well and would love to be able to research those records. Maybe someday!

Thanks again!

[GR2]

Have you found Jean's death certificate with her parents' names?

[Fogmoose]

Yes. She died in 1873 in Methlick of Scarlet Fever. Her fathers name is stated as Thomas Fowlie, crofter, and her mothers name is ? Greig, most likely a daughter of the William Grieg she resided with at Auchmenziel. see  https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=764025.36 for (a lot!) more info.