The French composer Erik Satie (1866-1925) is mainly famous for his quirky piano pieces like "Gnossiennes" and "Gymnopédie", and for his rather eccentric lifestyle. Having read that he had Scottish ancestors, I decided to investigate.
Satie's parents Jules Satie and Jane Leslie Anton were married in 1865 at Barnes, south London. Jane had been born in London in 1838 to George Anton and Elspet "Elsie" Davidson. This couple were married in 1835 at Monymusk, Aberdeenshire. George was of Corn Exchange, London, but Elspet was "in this parish".
Given that she called her daughter Jane Leslie Anton, I think Elspet was the child of that name born in 1813 in Aberdeen to Robert Davidson and Jane Leslie. She was baptised in the presence of William Davidson and William Leslie, merchants.
Robert Davidson, "Soapboiler", and Jane Leslie were married "in the bride's house" in Aberdeen in 1810, witnesses John Leslie, goldsmith, and William Davidson, merchant. That's as far back as I've gone.
Satie was not the only famous composer with Aberdeenshire ancestors. The Norwegian Edvard Grieg also had ancestors from Aberdeenshire, and is supposed to have been related to the Aberdeenshire teacher and folksong collector Gavin Greig.
Harry
