52 Ancestors Week 26 - Halfway is Robert FORSYTH

I decided that my halfway subject would be whoever was born halfway between my earliest confirmed direct ancestor (1748) and myself (1958).

This turned out to be my great great grandfather, Robert FORSYTH who was born in 1852 at New Aberdour in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Robert's parents were Robert FORSYTH and Helen nee THOMSON.  The FORSYTH men were meal millers in Aberdeenshire for many generations.  

In fact back to my earliest confirmed ancestor, Robert's great grandfather James FORSYTH who was born in 1748 and perhaps even earlier generations.

In 1871 Robert FORSYTH was a meal miller at the Mill of Aberdour along with his father Robert FORSYTH senior.

Remains of the Mill of Aberdour.  Mill wall date says 1791.

On the 8th of February 1873, young Robert married Jessie FARQUHAR at the Manse of Aberdour.

Manse of Aberdour

Robert and Jessie then decided to emigrate to New Zealand.  Along with their first born son, Alexander Farquhar FORSYTH (1873-1943), they sailed on the ship Crusader to Littleton harbour in 1874.

Robert and Jessie went on to have another nine children born in New Zealand.

1. Robert (1876-1967)
2. Margaret Ann Hay (1877-1929) my great grandmother.
3. John (1879-1973)
4. George (1882-1882)
5. Ellen "Nell" (1883-1967)
6. Jessie "Nette" (1886-1967)
7. William James (1888-1971)
8. James "Jimmy"(1890-1966)
9. Jane "Jean" (1893-1981)

Robert wrote a letter home to his mother in September 1896.

My Dear Mother,

I now write you this few lines to let you know that we are all well at present hopping (sic) that this will find you all the same.  You will remember the Simpsons that lived near the Cranbog there is one of them come to live on our Island.  She is housekeeper for a man about 2 miles from us. She has been calling on us twice.  Maggie is her name she came out here about 12 years ago to keep house for her brother but we have never seen her till she came up here.  I hope Helen is getting on all right you was to write and let us know how she was but we never had any word so I suppose she is all right.  

I forget if I ever told you that there was another Aberdour man here Alex Mitchel a son of old Cork Mitchels the soutar.  He is a grocer to trade but is worse for drinking than the old man was.  I don't know what he is doing now I have not seen him for the last 7 or 8 years.  You was asking how Willie Dickie was doing Him and his wife have been separated for years.  She lives in Kaipoi (sic) and goes out washing and he goes about the country working and drinks all the money he makes.  Sandy Dickie is married and has a place about 40 miles from here.  He is fairly steady.  

We had a grand harvest here this year The best for years and very good prices but there was a lot of people that lived near the hills had there grain nearly all shaken out with the wind.  All round we can't complain.  We have had a very wet winter here more rain than there has been for the last ten years.  Last year we had plenty of snow but no rain.  

How is John always getting on with his farm.  I have never written to him yet but will have to make a start sometime.  Tell him he might write sometime he would be able to give us more news than we could give him.    How is George and his wife getting on.  

She has got a bad leg or something hasn't she. But I think he ought able to give you a little help when they have no family but just themselves two to keep.  

I ought to have written long before this time but it is better late than never.  We have been very busy for a good bit we have been having additions made to the house 2 new rooms ...?... that takes time & money to pay.   Must thankyou very much for sending the Peoples Journal.  No more at present but I herewith enclose you a post office order for two pounds.  Write soon with love to all.  We remain your loving son & Daughter

R . J  Forsyth

Robert FORSYTH died on the 20th of July 1897 and is  buried at Kaiapoi cemetery, Canterbury.

  

52 Ancestors Challenge 
  by Amy Johnson Crow at "No Story Too Small"

Tombstone Tuesday - Forsyth's at New Aberdour

Aberdour Graveyard, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

There are more graves around behind the old building and that is where my Forsyth family headstone is situated.  My 3rd great grandparents, Robert Forsyth and Helen nee Thomson, are buried here with their second youngest son, Edward Gerrard Forsyth and his family.  The following two photos were taken a couple of years ago for me by Robert and Helen's grandson, Patrick.  As this is in Scotland and I am in Australia I am extremely grateful to have these photos.

FORSYTH

Errected by Edward G Forsyth, Mid Cowbog, in loving memory          of his wife Helen Y Jamieson b. 1871-d. 1918; 

Also their sons Henry Alexander died in infancy;

Gnr Edward Gerrard b. 1894 d. in France 1916 - interred in St. Sever, Rouen;

John b. 1896 d. 1918. 

His father Robert Forsyth b. 1824-d. 1886;

And his mother Helen Thomsonb. 1825-d. 1917; 

His grand daughter Elizabeth Ingram b. 1907- d. 1914. 

His mother in law Elizabeth Thom b. 1838- d. 1915; 

His daughter Annie b. 1911- d. 1953 

The above Edward G Forsyth b. 1863-d. 1956.

Also their daughter Georgina who died 22nd June 1986 aged 77 years.

Also their daughter Jane Helen who died 8th Sept 1988 aged 87 years.

52 weeks of abundant genealogy - Historical documents - Week 7

Helen Forsyth nee Thomson, daughter of Jean Hay.

The historical document I was so excited about getting was a transcription of the Kirk Session minutes for Turiff, (St. Ninians) Aberdeenshire, Scotland.   NAS- CH2/871/2

These minutes were badly damaged by water so are very very patchy but enough information could be gleaned to get the general drift of the happenings.

My 4th great grandmother was Jean Hay born at Alvah, Banffshire, Scotland to James Hay and Janet Christie.
James Hay, being such a common name in the area, was a bit difficult to research.

Finally, through the process of elimination, the Church records for Alvah  and most importantly the Turiff Kirk session minutes it was revealed that James Hay had first married a Margaret Dustan in 1784.  They had 2 children, Catherine born 1784 and James born 1786.  No death for Margaret has been found so I researched Catherine and found she had married a George Webster at Turiff in 1820.

James married Janet Christie in 1791.  No birth registration has been found for Jean Hay but heaps of further records of her life have come to light.

Jean was always listed as a midwife and Unmarried in all the census.
Her daughter, Helen Thomson, was born in 1825 at Turiff.

Helen married Robert Forsyth in 1847 at the Manse of Aberdour.
In the 1861 census, Jean Hay was head of household at 59 High Street, New Aberdour, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.  Also living there were, Alexander and Jean Forsyth, the parents-in-law of her daughter Helen.

Photos courtesy of Patrick and Dorothy Forsyth of Fraserburgh.

A James Thom(p)son, seemingly of Huntly, was brought before the Kirk to answer to allegations by Jean Hay that he was the father of her child.

The patchy transcription is as follows:

November 7th 1874

------------------------   that James Thompson lately-----------------in Turiff-----by Jean Hay in Turiff as the--------------------------------------- and lodged with -----------------------------in Huntly and instructions ----------------------------------------------to appear be ------------------------------ the 26th day of December
                   Closed with Prayer.


26th December 1824   (next entry)
-----------------------------------------------confirmed lately------------------------- ---------Turiff and now ------------------------------------the charge brought --------------Jean Hay in Turiff on the 31st day of ------------------(denying?) that he is the father of ------------------------had any criminal connexion ------------------------her former child of which-----------------------------------himself the father.


(p26)
Being further interrogated he declared that he has not (been?) with the said Jean Hay nor Thomson in her sisters house since the birth of her former child and never was there with her alone. That he never was in her own house by night or day since the birth of her former child except upon the Sunday evening previous to his leaving Turiff about the end of --?   
But when he called in consequence of receiving a letter from her regarding---------------------that he never----------------------------------------the said Jean Hay to meet her-------------------since the birth of her former child.
He was then directed to call on her again this? Day week and the officer------------------------------the woman to attend at the same time.
                          Closed in Prayer

27th January 1825  (next entry) 
(entry on Davidson then:)
Compeared Jean Hay----------------------------- accusing James Thompson------------------child
The said James Thompson-----------------persistent? in his former objections.
Thereupon the ----------------------------------------last to two of ---------------------------------------- as she can--------------------------------------------who will---------------------------------------------here this day---------------------------------------- the parties were-----------------------------------
                    Closed in Prayer.

? January 1825
The Session being --------------------------------Jean Hay  who----------------------------------As the father of her child-----------------------
(p26A)

Being called upon to bring forward any witness she might have to consolidate her accusations.
Compeared Mary Shine? Wife of Charles Bly, the late servant to rt Chisholm in Turiff, who being interrogated stated that she lived before Whit Monday 1824 in the same house with Catherine Hay, spouse of George Webster, carter? in Turiff - that she the declarant frequently saw James Thompson and Jean Hay together and that it is consistent with her 
----------------that they not only met but were often in the house by themselves.
Compeared Catherine hay, Spouse of George Webster in Turiff and upon being interrogated declared  that James Thompson and her sister frequently met in her? House - that she has often left them there, and found them there, -----and positive that either in the one case or the other they were alone .
Compeared Isobel Stuart, residing in Turiff who being interrogated declared that on passing
---------------------she accidentally called there ---------------------Whit Monday 1824 - that she then found James Thompson & Jean Hay , and -----------------------in the house, and that she ---------------------------------------------------------.

                    Closed with Prayer. 

I was told that normally the kirk would strongly instruct the couple to marry unless of course the male involved was already married.

I would dearly love to fill in all those gaps!