William Buchan & Mary Bruce

[moresmall]

Hi Sarah

Only have George in one census 1851 ( I think its him) aged aged 25, working as a farm servant in Sandhole.

Any more details are gratefully received.

Away to work now, catch up later on.

Thanks

Maureen

[SarahND]

Hi Maureen,
Here's the whole lineup for George Sr. It is impossible to know which farm servant he is in 1841, since he is not with his parents and the precise birth place and age are not given in that census. As AnneM said, there are so many Buchans in that part of the world!

You already have the 1851 in Sandhole, Landward, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire

1861
Glenhouses, Aberlour, Aberdeenshire
George Anderson, Head
Hellen Both, 34, Servant, born Cruden, Aberdeenshire, House Keeper
Ann Fordyce, 15, Servant, born Aberdour, Aberdeenshire, Domestic Servant
John Murray, 27, Servant, born Aberdour, Aberdeenshire, Ploughman
George Buchan, 39, Servant, born Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Ploughman
James Murrison, 19, Servant, born Old Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Shepherd
James Hepburn, 19, Servant, born Gamrie, Banffshire, Cattleman
James Smith, 16, Servant, born Aberdour, Aberdeenshire, Cattleman
Elisabeth Stephen, 19, Servant, born Aberdour, Aberdeenshire, Field Worker

1871
Crookohill, Aberlour, Aberdeenshire
Ann Simpson, 69, Head, born Aberdour, Aberdeenshire, Occupiers 50 Acres
Isabella Simpson, 39, Daughter, born Aberdour, Aberdeenshire, Widows Daughter
Penelope Simpson, 43, Daughter, born Aberdour, Aberdeenshire, Widows Daughter
George S Nesbet, 9, Grandson, born Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scholar
Ann Gerrard, 15, Servant, born New Deer, Aberdeenshire, General Servant
George Buchan, 48, Servant, born Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Farm Servant

1881
Knowhead, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire
Alexander Milne, 50, Head, born Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Farmer (Of 170 All Arable Emp. 4 Men, 2 Boys, & 2 Girls
Christian Milne, 38, Wife born Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire
James Milne, 12, Son born Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scholar
Alexander Milne, 10, Son born Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scholar
John Milne, 7, Son born Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scholar
Margaret A Milne, 3, Daughter born Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire
George Elphinstone, 24, Servant born Rathen, Aberdeenshire, Farm Servant
William Pratt, 21, Servant, born Tyrie, Aberdeenshire, Farm Servant
Alexander McRobert, 16, Servant born Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Farm Servant
Alexander Birnie, 26, Servant born New Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, farm Servant
George Buchan, 58, Servant, born Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Farm Servant
Alexander Maitland, 13, Servant born Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Farm Servant
Ann Suitor, 18, Servant born New Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, General Serv. (Domestic)
Mary Shand, 15, Servant born Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Housemaid

1891
9 Cross St, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire
George Buchan, 68, Head, born Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Retired Farm Servant

[SarahND]

And now the earlier ones for Rachel, in case you don't have them. This is possibly her in 1841:

Killggham, Aberlour, Aberdeenshire
William Leask, 20, born Aberdeenshire, Ag Lab
William Angus, 15, born Aberdeenshire, Ag Lab 
John Hendery, 20, born Aberdeenshire, Ag Lab 
Charles Smith, 20, born Aberdeenshire, Ag Lab
Joseph Rannie, 5, born Aberdeenshire, Ag Lab
Anne Rae, 15, born Aberdeenshire, Housekeeper 
Rachel Grant, 15, born Aberdeenshire

1851
Low Street, New Aberdour, Aberdeenshire
Rachel Buchan, 26, Head, born Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Farm Labourer's Wife
Mary Buchan, 1, Daughter, born Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire
Charlotte Barried, 24, Visitor, born Strichen Aberdeenshire, House Servant

As for the children... I assume you have the censuses for Mary after she left home, since she is your ancestor.

Christian is with her mother in 1861, could this be her in 1871?

1871
Huron Grove, Old Machar, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
...
Christina Buchan, 19, Servant, born Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Domestic Servant

Since she died in 1879, that is the last census for her.

Jean/Jane-- not sure about her after 1861-- do you know if she survived?

George - I think this is probably him:

1871
Knapperty, Old Deer, Aberdeenshire
...
George Buchan, 14, Servant, born Aberdour, Aberdeensh, Farm Servant

And then there are the military ones.

Eleanor is proving difficult to find, although one knows she must be there if she lived until 1937! Later: I think I found her in 1901 as a housemaid in London. She is called Ellen. Given that, I think I also see her in London in 1891, called Helen Well, those three names were equivalent in those days.

Margaret, the youngest, appears to have died in childhood. There is a death that corresponds to it on Scotland's People, anyway. I think her age is as in the IGI record, and not as (mis)transcribed in the 1871 census record. If you have the original image, you probably know what is correct.

All the best,
Sarah

[Currie]

Hello Maureen,

A couple of newspaper articles regarding young George:

You probably have this one which reports the inquest.
Aberdeen Weekly Journal (Aberdeen, Scotland), Friday, March 6, 1896

But not this one which confirms the military connection and has a wild guess at his age.
Aberdeen Weekly Journal (Aberdeen, Scotland), Friday, February 28, 1896

EXPLOSION AT CRUDEN RAILWAY WORKS.
MAN SERIOUSLY INJURED.
Yesterday morning George Buchan, about 33 years of age, a native of New Aberdour, employed on the Cruden Railway, was charging a dynamite shot with a wooden ramrod, when an explosion occurred, with the result, that the wooden rod went right through the palm of his right hand, entered his chest near his right lung, and went through his body under the shoulder blade. His face and upper limbs were also fearfully lacerated. Dr Carmichael was soon in attendance, but could do little to relieve the man's sufferings, and at four o'clock yesterday afternoon no hopes of his recovery were entertained. Buchan, who is a powerful man, is unmarried, and lives in lodgings in Boddam. Several fellow-workmen, who were within a few feet of the bore, were not injured by the explosion.
George Buchan has more than a local history. He was in the Ashantee and Egyptian campaigns, and not only wore the medals for these services, but he had special recognition for rescuing his captain in the immediate front of the enemy's fire. He was a member of the Lancashire police for a time, and was a sergeant in the Aberdeen militia.

The Ashanti campaign was 1873/74 and the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot, The Black Watch, were involved. The Egyptian campaign probably refers to that of 1882. http://www.princeaugust.ie/808-1/ (Interesting site – may well replace regiments.org)

I wonder if this is him, and they’ve misread the initial, although it is C in the Gazette “1610 Private C. Buchan, gunshot wound of back; slight.” http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/britis ... y_1874.htm In which case his medal is for sale here. http://www.rdhmedals.com/prodtype.asp?c ... istory=cat

If you want the newspaper image please send an email address via PM.

Hope this helps,
Alan

[SarahND]

Fascinating find, Alan! And nice to have the military connection confirmed. What a ghastly way to die, though, poor man
Regards,
Sarah

[moresmall]

Hi Alan & Sarah

Thanks for all your help, was saddened to read how my gt grand uncle died, how he must have suffered in his last hours.

I have all the details I need regarding my Mary, she died in 1913 in Fraserburgh, and is buried in the Kirton Cemetery along with her husband Alexander Cardno who died 1919.

Jean / Jane died 5 February 1864 aged 11 yrs, and Margaret died 17 April 1875, aged 13 yrs.

I have a copy of the inscription from their gravestone.

Thanks again for all your help its very much appreciated.

Maureen

[Currie]

Maureen,

I was only too pleased to be able to make a small contribution to the thread.

Here’s a bit of info on the two campaigns George Buchan was reported to be involved in.

The Ashantee Campaign of 1873.
http://www.electricscotland.com/history ... h/bw27.htm

And in Egypt from 1882.
http://www.electricscotland.com/history ... h/bw28.htm

All the best,
Alan