The People of Auchtavan
The Following information was kindly donated, and came from research carried out, by Sharon Jameson from Australia – https://www.birsefolk.id.au
The authors personal comments are included for completeness.
Any clarification you may have of the information below would be gratefully received.
AUCHTAVAN : field of the two kids – (two kids represented the rent in old times)
| Year | Name |
| 1766 | Peter Riach |
| 1767 | James Mitchel |
| 1768 | Alexander Symon |
| 1772 | Alexander Coutts |
| 1774 | William Bowman |
| 1805 | James Coutts possibly son of above Alexander |
| 1809 | Donald Abercrombie (spouse was Jean Mitchell) |
| 1816 | Charles Coutts possible son of above Alexander |
| 1841 | James Coutts possibly son of above Alexander |
| 1851 | Anne widow of James Coutts (Anne Bowman parents William Bowman and Janet Cattanach)
William McHardy / May Coutts (parents James Coutts and Ann Bowman) |
1766 April 28 Peter Riach Achtavan had two daus and baptised the one named Janet and the other named Isobel.
(Not found on IGI) 1767 February 8th: Ja Mitchel in Achtavan a child Margt baptised.
(From IGI) 1768 July 6th: James Mitchel a son Alexander (James Mitchel may have been at Ballachlaggan at this time 1868 April 3rd: James Mitchell in Bellachlagan a child Alexr baptised date needs checking)
1769 June 11th: Jas Mitchel in Auchtavd a daugh Elizabeth baptised
James Mitchel in Achtivan and Amelia Charles his spouse had a child baptised the 15 day of April 1792 named Alexander
(From IGI) May – 6 August 1784
1797 Aug 29: James Mitchel in Achtivan and Amellia Charles his spouse a son Donald.
1804 May 13th: Peter Mitchel in Rattlich and Mary Bowman his spouse had a son baptised and named Donald.
1808 Jan 23rd: Peter Mitchell in Rattlich and Mary Bowman his spouse had a son baptised and named Charles.
1810 Apr 9th: Peter Mitchel in Rattlich and Mary Bowman his spouse had a son baptised and named William.
1813 April 11th: Peter Mitchel in Rattlich and Mary Bowman his spouse had a son baptised named Peter.
1818 July 26th: Peter Mitchell Ratlich and Mary Bowman his spouse had a son baptised named James.
Crathie kirkyard
Erected by DONALD MITCHELL in memory of his parents PETER MITCHELL d. Balchlaggan 1830 aged 72; MARY BOWMAN or MITCHELL d. 1835 aged 60. And family MARY d. 3 July 1881 aged 82, DONALD d. 10 May 1883 aged 68 (Birth date according to this stone would have been c1815. Perhaps the Donald baptised 1804 died and another child named the same).
Authors Personal Comment: Given the proximity Peter Mitchell may be an unregistered son of James Mitchell in Auchtavan.
1768 March 23rd Alexr Symon in Achtavan had a child Margaret baptised.
1772 April 29th: Alexr Symon in Achtavand a child Jean baptised.
(From IGI)
Isobel 17 Nov 1767
Christian 14 September 1773
Elizabeth 23 April 1777
Don 21 April 1782
John 29 August 1784
Daniel 26 Dec 1785
1772 March 22nd: Alexr Couts in Achtavand had a child Jean baptised.
1774 2nd May: Alexr Couts Auchtavan a son named John.
(From IGI)
Elizabeth 21 Feb 1775
Charles 16 May 1791 Authors Personal Comment: see Charles also at Auchtavan bet. 1816 1819 is he this bro. of James?
Alexander 17 Oct 1765
Alexander 1 Jan 1769
Mary 4 Feb 1773
Peter 15 Feb 1767
Ann 6 Sept 1763
John 16 Mar 1779
James 17 May 1783
Donald 29 Mar 1781
Unnamed Coutts 15 Nov 1791
Authors Personal Comment: The above Coutts entries extracted from the IGI may not all relate to the family at Auchtavan.
Authors Personal Comment: A submission on the IGI states that an Alexander Coutts was married to a Margaret Mitchell in Crathie on 19 June 1762. Submissions are not extractions from parish registers but rather information added by members of the LDS. If you have a look at the first child (Alexander) for James Coutts and Ann Bowman sponsors are given as Alexander and Janet Coutts. Alexander may be his grandfather and Jannet may be his grandmother. This would disprove the theory that Margaret Mitchell married this particular Alexander really its a lot of guesswork in this sort of timeframe.
| & Braemar 1841 | |||||||||
| U/H | Residence | Surname | Forename | Sex | Age | Occupation | Where Born | ED | Page |
| 1 | Achturnan | COUTTS | James | M | 56 | farmer | this County | 5 | 1 |
| Achturnan | COUTTS | Ann | F | 55 | this County | 5 | 1 | ||
| Achturnan | McDONALD | Christian | F | 15 | this County | 5 | 1 | ||
| Achturnan | RATTRIE | Jane | F | 12 | this County | 5 | 1 | ||
| Achturnan | COUTTS | James | M | 7 | this County | 5 | 1 | ||
| Achturnan | LEYS | William | M | 15 | this County | 5 | 1 | ||
| Achturnan | MILLER | James | M | 14 | farm serv | this County | 5 | 1 | |
| Achturnan | LAMOND | Charles | M | 12 | farm serv | this County | 5 | 1 | |
Authors Personal Comment: James Coutts aged 56 = dob c1785. Possibly the son of Alexander Coutts in Auchtavan baptised 1783, Stone given below would give dob c 1778. This gives continuity of Coutts at Auchtavan for at least 70 years.
Crathie kirkyard:
Erected by WILLIAM COUTTS in memory of his late father JAMES COUTTS farmer Auchtavan d. 30 June 1850 aged 72. His mother ANN BOWMAN d. 5 May 1859 aged 84.
1851 census Crathie and Braemar
| Auglavean | COUTTS | Ann | Head | wid | 76 | formerly farmer | ABD Crathie | CraBraemar | 3 | 8 | ||
| Auglavean | COUTTS | James | Serv | Un | 17 | farm servant | ABD Braemar | CraBraemar | 3 | 8 | ||
| Auglavean | CATTANACH | Janet | Serv | Un | 21 | house maid | ABD Braemar | CraBraemar | 3 | 8 | ||
| Auglavean | HELLAS | George | Serv | Un | 32 | farm servant | ABD Strathdon | CraBraemar | 3 | 8 | ||
| Auglavean | LEYS | Eliza | visitor | Un | 15 | ABD Crathie | CraBraemar | 3 | 8 | |||
| Aughtavean | McKENZIE | John | visitor | Mar | 35 | ag lab | INV Isle of Skye | CraBraemar | 3 | 9 | ||
| Aughtavean | McDONALD | John | visitor | Mar | 40 | ag lab | INV Isle of Skye | CraBraemar | 3 |
Death certificate (Crathie & Braemar #10) dated 5 May 1859 records the death of Anne Coutts, widow of a farmer at Inver, Crathie. Ann was aged 84 and her parents are given as William Bowman, farmer (deceased) and Janet Bowman m.s. Cattanach (deceased). Cause of death was old age and she was buried in Crathie churchyard. William McHardy her son-in-law was the informant. Death was registered by James Munro at Aberarder on 6th May 1859.
Children of James Coutts / Ann Bowman
(Alexander was recorded in the RC Register others from the C of S Registers)
1805 Apr 28: Coutts James and Ann Bowman Balno, Aberarder Parish of Crathie, a son Alexander born 26th curt. Susceptors: Alexander (Possibly the father of James Coutts, Jannet may be his mother or other female relation ) and Jannet Coutts, Belno, same place.
1806 November 1st: James Coutts Achtavan and his wife Ann Bowman had a daughter Janet.
1809 December 12th: James Coutts Achtavann and his wife Ann Bowman had a son baptised and named John.
1811 September 26th: James Coutts Achtavan and his wife Anne Bowman had a daughter born named Margaret
1813 April 29th James Coutts Achtavan and Ann Bowman his spouse had a son born and named James.
1815 August 29th: James Coutts Achtavan and Anne Bowman his wife had a son named William.
May – 8 October 1818 (From IGI) named as Marjory McHardy on 1881 census.
Also at Auchtavan at the same time as James (his brother?) –
1816 September 14th: Charles Coutts in Auchtavan and Ann Abercrombie his spouse had a son baptised named John.
1819 August 17th Charles Coutts Achtavan and Ann Abercrombie his spouse had a daughter baptised named Jannet.
Crathie & Braemar 1851
| ID | RESIDENCE | h/
INH |
SURNAME | Forename | Relat | M-Stat | Age
M |
Age
F |
OCCU | BORN | PARISH | E-Dist | Page |
| 782 | Auglavean | McHARDIE | William | Head | Mar | 32 | cattle dealer | ABD Braemar | CraBraemar | 3 | 8 | ||
| 783 | Auglavean | McHARDIE | Mary | wife | Mar | 31 | ABD Crathie | CraBraemar | 3 | 8 | |||
| 784 | Auglavean | McHARDIE | James | son | 2 | ABD Crathie | CraBraemar | 3 | 8 | ||||
| 785 | Auglavean | McHARDIE | Ann | dau | 1 | ABD Crathie | CraBraemar | 3 | 8 | ||||
| 786 | Auglavean | PRINGLE | Helen | serv | Un | 13 | house maid | Fifeshire | CraBraemar | 3 | 8 | ||
Crathie kirkyard
Erected to the memory of WILLIAM McHARDY farmer Auchtavan, Crathie d. 4 April 1878 aged 60: his wife MAY COUTTS d. 15 Jan 1902 aged 83. Their family JOHN d. 25 June 1886 aged 24, ANNIE d. 19 Dec 1887 aged 38, WILLIAM d. 23 May 1903 aged 49. JANE McHARDY d. 15 Dec 1912 aged 55, JAMES McHARDY d. Torphins 8 Dec 1929 aged 81. (LHS) Also in memory of CHARLES d. 30 Nov 1922 aged 64 interred at Foot of Gairn, Ballater.
William McHardy was Catholic; his baptism is recorded in the RC Registers for Glengairn and Braemar:
1817 Sept 16: McHardy, James and Jean McHardy Balloch Aberarder parish Crathie a son William born 14th curt. Sponsors: Ipse (Ipse means himself appears frequently in these registers) and Jannet Davie Balloch.
His death certificate Crathie & Braemar #6 records him as farmer, married to May Coutts. He died at 6hr30m am at Auchtavan aged 60 years. Parents were James McHardy, farmer (deceased) and Jane McHardy m.s. McHardy (deceased). Cause was cancer of the face certified by William Haldan MD at Braemar. His son James was the informant. William Michie at Tullochcoy registered the death.
An older son James was also recorded in these registers:
1809 Aug 6: McHardy James and Jane McHardy, Balloch Parish of Crathie a son James born 5th curt. Sponsors: James McDonald, Lary and Margaret McHardy, Tamnavey.
Family on the 1841/1851 census Authors Personal Comment: from this I would say there were other children whose baptisms were not recorded (Charles and Elizabeth)
| Crathie & Braemar 1841 | |||||||||
| U/H | Residence | Surname | Forename | Sex | Age | Occupation | Where Born | ED | Page |
| Balloch | McHARDY | Chas | M | 30 | farmer | this County | 6 | 7 | |
| Balloch | McHARDY | Jean | F | 60 | Ind | this County | 6 | 7 | |
| Balloch | McHARDY | James | M | 26 | ag lab | this County | 6 | 7 | |
| Balloch | McHARDY | Willm | M | 23 | ag lab | this County | 6 | 7 | |
| Balloch | McHARDY | Elizbeth | F | 21 | ag lab | this County | 6 | 7 | |
| . | Balloch | PHERSON | James | M | 14 | ag lab | this County | 6 | 7 |
| Crathie & Braemar 1851 | |||||||||||||
| ID | RESIDES | h/
INH |
SURNAME | Forename | Relat | M-Stat | Age
M |
Age
F |
OCCU | BORN | PARISH | E-Dist | Page |
| 1034 | Balloch | McHARDY | Jane | Head | widow | 71 | Annuitant | ABD Crathie | CraBraemar | 4 | 9 | ||
| 1035 | Balloch | McHARDY | Elizabeth | dau | Un | 31 | general servant | ABD Crathie | CraBraemar | 4 | 9 | ||
| 1036 | Balloch | McHARDY | Elizabeth | g’dau | 13 | scholar | ABD Ballater | CraBraemar | 4 | 9 | |||
1881 census:
Dwelling: Auchtavan Farm
Census Place: Crathie & Braemar, Aberdeen, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203454 GRO Ref Volume 183 EnumDist 3 Page 3
Marr AgeSex Birthplace
James MC HARDY U 32 M, Crathie, Aberdeen, Scotland Rel: Head Occ: Farmer (30 Acres Arable)
Marjory MC HARDY W 63 F Crathie, Aberdeen, Scotland Rel: Mother Occ: Farmers Mother
Jane MC HARDY U 23 F Crathie, Aberdeen, Scotland Rel: Sister Occ Acting As Domestic Serv
John MC HARDY U 18 M Crathie, Aberdeen, Scotland Rel: Bro Occ: Acting As Serv
Spouse of William Bowman was Janet Cattanach see death certificates of John and Ann Bowman. It does not appear that John has his baptism recorded in the parish registers.
1774 20th Novr William Bowman Auchtavan a son named William
1782 Mar 30 Willm Bowman in Actavan a daur Mary.
(From IGI)
Ann 12 Mar 1777 (married James Coutts)
1798 Aug 19: William Bowman in Achtavan and Ann Clark in Delchork had a son baptised named Charles. (This is probably the son of William who was born 1774)
1802 July 26th: John Bowman in Achniquinlan (Auchnagymlin – It appears in Place Names of Upper Deeside as Ach nan Cuithe Iomlan,and was west of Auchtavan.) and Margaret McHardy his spouse had a son baptised named Alexander.
1804 March 11th: John Bowman in Achniquinlan and Margt Mchardy his spouse had a daughter baptised and named Janet.
1806 May 18th: John Bowman in Achniquinlan and Margaret McHardy his spouse had a son baptised named William.
1808 November 22nd: John Bowman in Achnaquinlin and Margaret Mchardy his spouse had a daughter baptised and named Mary.
1812 Sept 29th: John Bowman in Hilloch (?This was very hard to read and could be Ritloch did the family of John Bowman/Margaret McHardy finish up at Ratlich?) and Margaret McHardy his spouse had a daughter baptised and named Ann.
1814 March 15th John Bowman in Rilloch and Margaret McHardy his spouse had a son baptised and named James.
Margaret Bowman 26 May 1810
Marjory Bowman 1 Feb 1818
Elizabeth Farquharson Bowman 3 August 1820
Catharine Bowman 12 April 1825
Jane born c1817 appears to be missing from parish registers.
Crathie Kirkyard
Here lies the body of the deceased WILLIAM BOWMAN who died in the year 1807 aged 68 also his son JOHN BOWMAN gamekeeper Ballochbuie d. 18 May 1866 in 98th year and MARGARET McHARDY his wife d. 15 Apr 1839 aged 58. Their son ALEXANDER d. in 1814 aged 12, JAMES d. 9 Sept 1885 aged 71.
| Crathie & Braemar 1841 | |||||||||
| U/H | Residence | Surname | Forename | Sex | Age | Occupation | Where Born | ED | Page |
| 1 | Ballachbui | BOWMAN | John | M | 70 | male serv | this County | 2 | 7 |
| Ballachbui | BOWMAN | James | M | 25 | male serv | this County | 2 | 7 | |
| Ballachbui | BOWMAN | Jane | F | 20 | female serv | this County | 2 | 7 | |
| Ballachbui | BOWMAN | Catherine | F | 15 | this County | 2 | 7 | ||
| Crathie & Braemar 1851 | |||||||||||||
| ID | RESIDES | h/
INH |
SURNAME | First
Name |
Relat | M-Stat | Age
M |
Age
F |
OCCU | BORN | PARISH | E-Dist | Page |
| 416 | Ballochbuy | / | BOWMAN | John | Head | Widr | 83 | gamekeeper | ABD Crathie | CraBraemar | 1 | 22 | |
| 417 | Ballochbuy | <!–[if | BOWMAN | Jane | dau | Un | <!–[if | 34 | housekeeper | ABD Crathie | CraBraemar | 1 | 22 |
Death certificate of William Bowman (Crathie & Braemar #10) states that he was a widower and gamekeeper, he died at the Toll Bar at Braemar on 18 May 166 at 7am. His age was 98 years and parents were given as William Bowman, farmer (decd) and Janet Bowman m.s. Cattanach (deceased). Cause of death was inflammation of the bladder for two weeks and the informant was his son James who was not present at the time of death. Death was registered by James Munro at Aberarder on 23 May 1866.
The McHardy�s of Ordachoy website:
https://www.geocities.com/mchardyofordachoy/index.html
Crathie & Braemar 1841
| U/H | Residence | Surname | Forename | Sex | Age | Occupation | Where Born | ED | Page |
| 1 | Coryatty | ABERCROMBIE | Donald | M | 70 | ag lab | this County | 11 | 3 |
| Coryatty | ABERCROMBIE | Jane | F | 64 | this County | 11 | 3 | ||
1809 May 30th Donald Abercrombie in Achtivan and Jean Mitchell his spouse had a son baptised and named Alexander.
1810 Oct 7th: Donald Abercrombie in Auchtavan and Jean Mitchel his spouse had a son baptised named Charles.