Andrew Beattie, Culsalmond, Aberdeenshire - Body Snatcher?..

[Douglas Williamson]

Andrew is my great grandfather and I am desparately trying to find details of his birth, marriage, death and his parents. I know he married a Barbara McRobbie prior to 1834 when his only child ? John Beattie was born in Culslalmond. Barbara remarried a James Robertson in 1840, so Andrew must have died between 1834 and 1840. I remember my late mother telling me that there was some talk of a possible body snatcher in the family. I also have notes from her cousin from Canada, a Charles Conn who was born in Inverurie in the early part of 1900's stating that Andrew was that person. He suggests that he was "the celebrated doctor of the Garioch". The Beattie family farmed at The Hillocks, Wartle for the best part of 50 years before moving to Longcroft, Oyne.

Any help about Andrew would be greatly appreciated.

[Liz Turner]

Hi there Douglas

Sorry you've not had any replies to your post. I presume that you've checked on the IGI for all Beattie births? I found a whole list ranging from 1771-1854 in batch number C111864 Culsalmond, Aberdeenshire. The LDS site is playing up at the moment and is not letting me search further - it's very slow so probably there are lots of us using it!

Anyway let us all know if you've managed to make some progress.

Cheers

Liz

[Douglas Williamson]

Have been busy decorating outside of my house recently so have not had much time to spend on family tree. I have checked IGI but am really needing to get Andrew's marriage or death. I have checked also in Register House, but to no avail. If you have any other suggestions I would appreciate them. I think he has done a bunk at some time!!!

Thanks for your interest Liz

[baldeagle]

Hello Douglas, hope the following answers your query?

Culsalmond Parish Records

28th January 1834

Andrew Beattie residing at Dunnideer had a child Born in Fornication here and Baptised named John Witnesses John Wilson and John McRobie.

Andrew Beattie, although he accepted responsibility for his son, did not marry John’s mother.

Andrew (Knight) Beattie married Elizabeth Robb in Insch in 1838. In 1837 he inherited his father’s Feu (130 acres) Dunnideer, Insch. He died there in 1866.

His father (I believe) was the Doctor of the Garioch.

Death Register Insch

Andrew Knight Beattie, farmer widower of Elizabeth Robb
1866 February seventh 6AM [Duunnydeer] Insch
M: 64 years
parents: Peter Beattie, surgeon (deceased) & Janet Beattie ms Jopp (deceased)
cause: concussion of brain, as certified by Wm McCracken MD Insch
informant: [Alex] Beattie, son not present, 2 Storys Gate Westminster, London
1866 February 9th at Insch.


MI Insch

To the memory of Peter BEATTIE surgeon fuear Insch died 21st March 1837 age
76 years.
Janet JOPP his wife who died 7th Dec 1830 age 66 years
Erected by their sons as a tribute of affectionate regard 1842


Both Peter and his son died testate; their Wills can be found on the ‘Scotland’s People’ Website

Best Wishes

Baldeagle

[paddyscar]

Welcome to TalkingScot, Baldeagle!

What a find! Definitely a lesson that patience pays off!

Frances

[SarahND]

Welcome to Talking Scot! I hope Douglas looks in to see what you have posted. A real mine of information.

As an aside, can anyone tell me why, although having posted such an informative message, the sidebar indicates that Baldeagle has posted 0 messages? Seems to me that as a first message, it was worth at least 5
Regards,
Sarah

[AndrewP]

... the sidebar indicates that Baldeagle has posted 0 messages? Seems to me that as a first message, it was worth at least 5

Hi Sarah,

I have seen the zero posts beside a new member's first post before. It makes no sense and I have no good explanation for it.

All the best,

AndrewP

[Douglas Williamson]

Thanks Baldeagle for your posting. Read it last night and have spent most of today double checking your data against mine. I had looked at Andrew Knight Beattie some years ago, but had never checked the OPR records for birth of my John Beattie. I had looked at the OPR summary of John's birth in 1834, but it did not give the mother's name. His mother is show on his death certificate as Barbara McRobbie. John seems to have been abandoned by his mother as well as his father. He was brought up by Barbara McRobbies' parents, John McRobbie and Jean Wilson. I am sure that his grandfather John McRobbie is one of the witnesses on his baptism, the other one (John Wilson), is probably the brother of his grandmother, Jean Wilson). I have viewed the will of Andrew Knight Beattie (13 pages), but it only mentions his son Peter Beattie and is full of legal jargon with no detail.

I am planning a visit to Insch Churchyard soon to add to my Beattie surnames.

Thanks again for your help.

PS You should have joined Talking Scot a lot earlier than 5th March !!!!

[baldeagle]

Hi Douglas, my apologies for not getting back to you sooner; I've been reseaching some German ancestors and this has monopolised most of my time. Now they are all sorted out I can get back to Culsalmond, Insch and Premnay. I have a long term aim of sorting out the Beatties who lived and worked in this region of Aberdeenshire.

Have you made your visit to Insch yet? If not I can supply you with the MIs for both cemeteries. I haven't yet traced Peter Beatties ancestors with a high percentage of certainty but I do know the origins of Janet Jopp.

Dr. Peter Beattie and Janet Jopp were married July 1st 1800, at Insch, Aberdeen, Scotland.

Baptismal Records of their children:

24/06/1801 BEATTIE, ANDREW KNIGHT - PETER BEATTIE/JANET JOPP Insch, ABERDEEN

26/11/1802 BEATTIE, ALEXANDER - PETER BEATTIE/JANET JOPP Insch, ABERDEEN

06/05/1804, Insch, Aberdeenshire, "Doctor Beattie in Insch had by his wife Janet Jopp a child baptized named James Forbes."

08/05/1808 BEATTIE, JOHN - PETER BEATTIE/JANET JOPP Insch (Aberdeen)/ABERDEEN
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Extract from the Last Will and Testament of Peter Beattie, 12th January 1839

In an Inventory of the personal Estate of Peter Beattie, Andrew Knight Beattie, eldest son of Peter Beattie and farmer at Dunnydeer, states "Peter Beattie died upon the twenty first day of March Eighteen Hundred and thirty seven."

At Aberdeen the twelfth day of January in the year One Thousand eight hundred and thirty nine. In presence of Andrew Murray esquire Advocate Commissary of the Commissariot of Aberdeen compeared Robert Shand Advocate in Aberdeen as procurator and given in the Testament underwritten of the aftersigned now deceased Peter Beattie and craved that the same might (along with an Inventory of the said deceased's personal Estate) be insert and registered in the Commissary Court Books of Aberdeen in terms of the acts of parliament 44 Geo: III Cap 98 and 48 Geo: III Cap 149 which request the Commissary foresaid finding reasonable ordained the same to be done accordingly and of which Testament the tenor follows viz: Insch 26 June 1829. By the statement of my affairs on this day taken, it appears that my heritable and moveable free subjects may be about Two thousand two hundred pounds Sterling. It is my will that on my decease the oldest of my Sons
then alive and residing in Aberdeenshire shall be my Executor and Intromitter with all the property belonging to me and by and with the assistance and advice of his cousins Alex. & John Jopp that the same be divided as follows:

1. That my wife have the use of the fees and rents of them with fifteen pounds yearly or thirty pounds yearly if she chooses to reside otherwise.

2. That Andrew my oldest son presently occupying the farm of Dunnydeer which I have on lease having entered therewith valued at 1200 pounds do pay over therefrom Two hundred pounds to each of his brothers or set apart that sum for each with legal interest until paid. That having paid that allowance he take an acknowledgement for the same as being all that can be claimed until
my decease.

3. That after my decease and that of my wife it is my will that six hundred pounds be divided share and share alike among the surviving brothers of the executor and the children of any of the brothers who may not be alive that the children or family may have the share of the deceased parent.

This I declare to be my last Will and order my Executor to pay all my just and lawful debts.

(Signed) Peter Beattie.
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Andrew Knight Beattie and Elizabeth Robb were married 14th January 1836 in Culsalmond, Aberdeenshire

Children born prior to marriage: (From Insch Old Parish Records)

Alexander Beattie – b. 17 Oct.1825
Elizabeth Beattie – b. 13 Sept.1829


1841 Scotland Census, Insch, Aberdeenshire, Dunnydeer, page 2
Andrew Beattie, 35 born Aberdeenshire
Elizabeth Beattie 35
Mary Beattie 4 (b. 22nd Aug. 1836)
Peter Beattie 3 (b. 28th Jan. 1838)
Janett Beattie 1 (Janet Margaret b. 20th Feb. 1840)


1851 Scotland Census, Insch, Aberdeenshire, Dunnydeer, page 4
Andrew Beattie, 49, farmer of 316 acres, employing 11 lab
Eliza Beattie 46
Mary Beattie 14

1861 Scotland Census, Insch, Aberdeenshire, Dunnydeer, page 1
Andrew K. Beattie 50, farmer of 465 acres, employing 17 labourers and 3 women.
James F. Beattie 18 (Born August 17, 1841)
Janet M. Beattie 21
Mary Beattie 24
Peter Beattie 23

Peter Beattie, married to Helen Grant Murray, died April 16, 1876 at Dunnydeer, Insch, Aberdeenshire (father Andrew Knight Beattie, mother Elizabeth Robb).

1871 Scotland Census, Insch, Aberdeenshire, Dunnydeer, page 2
Peter Beattie 33, farmer of 571 acres employing 16 servants and 2 boys
Helen Grant Beattie 25
Andrew Alexander Beattie 7 months

1881 Scotland Census, Insch, Aberdeenshire, Dunnydeer, page 2
Helen Grant Beattie, head, farmer of 575 acres
Alice Mary Beattie 5 daughter
Andrew A. Beattie 10 son
Charles William Beattie 8 son
James F. Beattie 9 son
Janet M. Beattie, sister-in-law 41
Alexander Beattie 55 brother in law, Civil Engineer

1891 Scotland Census, Old Machar, Aberdeenshire, page 10
Alexander Beattie 65 retired engineer
Alice M. Beattie 15 niece
Andrew A. Beattie 20 nephew
Charles W. Beattie 16 nephew
James F. Beattie 19 nephew
Janet M. Beattie 51 sister
Mary Hay 38 servant

Andrew Knight Beattie died February 7, 1866 in Insch, Aberdeenshire (father Peter Beattie, surgeon; mother Janet Jopp)

Death certificate of James Forbes Beattie:
He died Jan. 10, 1877, St Cyrus, Kincardine, Scotland aged 72 years
He was a Civil Engineer.
His father was Peter Beattie, a Physician, M. D., deceased
His mother was Janet Beattie, Maiden Name Jopp, deceased
He was married to Jane Byres Copeland.
His usual residence was No 6 East Craith Street, Aberdeen

Alexander Beattie died March 16, 1895, aged 69. He was a retired Civil engineer. He does not appear on any census with Andrew Knight Beattie's family. A Baptismal record shows he was born Oct. 17, 1825, in Insch, Aberdeenshire to Andrew K. Beattie and Elizabeth Robb.

Regards,
Baldeagle