Helen Cheyne born Kintore 1886 ** birthday bumped post **

[imlincs]

I've posted those photographs (I think).

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-1660
http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-1661
http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-1662

The bearded man is identified (in my handwriting although I have no recollection of writing it - I must have received the information from my Mother or from Helen herself) as

Nan's grandfather c1890

The non-photo image is the back of the photo.

The family group shows Aunt Maggie. She is, I think, the lady standing on the left wearing a hat.

Ian
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Gallery URLs added - AndrewP

[SarahND]

Great photos, Ian! Thanks for sharing them

Now if only we could talk to those people, they could tell us a few things!

Regards,
Sarah

[AnneM]

Love the photos Ian. Do you think that is William Simpson the miller then?

The group photo looks as though it was taken in the 1920s. Have you any idea where it was taken. In Aberdeen itself there are few houses of that cottage type. The ones which there are are mostly in Grandholme and Footdee as far as I know. Having said that there may have been more in the 1920s.

Anne

[Archiver]

Unfortunately, a lot of cottage style houses were cleared from the 1930s onwards. There were buildings like that on Hutcheon Street and the surrounding area which now sadly no longer exist, as well as on the Gallowgate. There may be cottages like that in Torry as well as Footdee and Granholm. It's a case of trying to find out now! Valuation rolls may help, but of course you'd need the street really.

[Susan]

There were/still are some houses of that style along King Street, Pittodrie, Sunnybank, Causewayend, Kittybrewster, Woodside, Old Aberdeen, Ferryhill, Rosemount, Holburn and other various places in Aberdeen.

Susan.

[Currie]

Very nice photos Ian,

The fellow with the beard has his top button undone which is probably a bit unusual for a formal studio portrait of the time. His coat looks a bit unusual, maybe more like a Frock Coat or a Dust Coat than a Suit Coat. Unless it’s just my imagination maybe that photo was taken in an employment or some other setting different to the usual get dressed up and go to the Photo Studio variety. That’s unless he’s a bit of an individualist.

From around Jan 1878 to at least June 1878 the photographer advertised regularly in the Aberdeen Weekly Journal that he had disposed of the Photographic Premises in Donald’s Court, Schoolhill and that his only address now is 115 Union Street. He had then been in business for the past fifteen years. He is still using old card stock at the time the photo was delivered and over-stamping it with the new address. I can’t imagine that would have gone on for too much longer so maybe the photo is just before 1880. His name appears to have been George W. McPherson. I can’t find easily any mention of him after mid 1878.

From what appeared in the newspapers the property at 115 Union Street may have been a mix of residential and commercial used over the years by an auctioneer, photographer, auctioneer again and as a Union meeting place. Funnily enough the address crops up in 1881 as that of a George Cheyne and Family and in 1888 as that of a John M Simpson and not many other people at all really.

It would be interesting to know who was living at 115 Union Street, Aberdeen, in 1881. If Mr McPherson is still there but not as a photographer or has left it would certainly lock the photograph into a time period of only a couple of years.

Alan

[SarahND]

Hi Alan,
Here are the inhabitants of 115 Union St in 1881:

1881
115 Union St, Aberdeen St Nicholas
James Garrow, 57, Head, born Foveran, Aberdeensh, Collector of Customs
Elizabeth Garrow, 61, Wife, born Foveran, Aberdeensh
Jeannie Garrow, 28, Daughter, born Aberdeen, Aberdeensh
James Garrow, 25, Son, born Aberdeen, Aberdeensh, Fishmonger
Robert Garrow, 23, Son, born Aberdeen, Aberdeensh, Fish and Game Dealer

Did the references you found give an occupation for George Cheyne and John M Simpson?

Regards,
Sarah

Later:

I think the John M Simpson you found must be this one... born in Kintore, of course Must be a relative of some sort. And his wife is Margaret-- another contender for an honorary Aunt Maggie?

1891
Varvill Bank, Aberdeen Old Machar
John M Simpson, 38, Head, born Kintore, Aberdeenshire, Granite Merchant
Margt Simpson, 39, Wife, born St Nicholas, Aberdeeshire
Anne K Simpson, 13, Daur, born Old Machar, Aberdeenshire, Scholar
David B Simpson, 10, Son, born Old Machar, Aberdeenshire, Scholar
Ernest J Simpson, 8, Son, born Old Machar, Aberdeenshire, Scholar

John appears to be this birth on the IGI:

John Milne Simpson
Birth: 14 Aug 1852
Christening: 10 Oct 1852 Kintore, Aberdeen
Father: James Simpson
Mother: Agnes Snowie

[imlincs]

Hello Sarah

I don't think that this is Aunt Maggie as she would have been 95 in 1947 which is the last date for which I have documentary evidence of her existence (as opposed to my own hazy recollections that suggest she was still alive in 1950). I realise this is not impossible but think it unlikely.

Regards,

Ian
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[SarahND]

Hi Ian,
I didn't really think it was Aunt Maggie either, but every time I see the name Margaret Simpson, it jumps out at me!
Regards,
Sarah

[Currie]

Hello Sarah and Ian,

In the Aberdeen Weekly Journal, 27 June 1881. Births: At 115 Union Street Aberdeen, on the 25th inst., the wife of G. I. Cheyne, Royal Restaurant, of a daughter.

I’m sure there was another item mentioning George Cheyne of 115 Union Street between these two but I can’t find it just now. It didn’t say much.

AWJ, 23 December, 1881. In an article about the Banchory U. P. Church Bazaar. There’s a list of stalls and those looking after them. St Paul Street UP Church stall includes a Mrs George Cheyne, 115 Union Street.

AWJ, 19 March, 1884, George Ironside Cheyne, late restaurant keeper, residing at Lilybank House, Belmont road appeared in Court on charge of assaulting wife and step-daughter. Fined 40s. etc.

AWJ, 21 May, 1888, Town Council’s approval of plans of new buildings in Aberdeen “Two dwelling houses on the west side of King Street Road, for Mr William Georgeson, Wales Street, per Mr John M Simpson, 115 Union Street.”

Maybe the Cheyne’s were living there only temporarily, or only using it for mail and birth of children purposes. There is probably part of the building set aside for auction rooms, offices, studios etc but nobody normally lives there.

I’m off to the land of Nod.

All the best,
Alan