Scotland Visit

Scotland Visit – Rhynie and Campbeltown

Gary and I had a brilliant time visiting the Laing and Thomson's homelands.  Couple things I didn't accomplish were finding were my Great Grandfather George Laing was buried and also I couldn't find any Thomson's that were buried in Campbeltown.  I don't think any of them died! 

We stayed at the Kildrummy Inn and are ready to go back except for the weather.  We had enough rain and cool days, of the two weeks we had three days without or a little rain.  We were going from morning until night and are considering returning when we visit Ireland. Maybe if we hadn't drank so much tea and eaten numerous scones we would have had a little more time.  There are still cemeteries and farms that we didn't see.  We also were in need of a break as I was on overload and wanted to regroup for our visit  to Campbeltown  and Skipness.  But we had such a great time meeting the natives and finding information about the area. 

Places we visited on our Laing journey -

Rhynie 

Rhynie Main Street

James Alexander Laing -  my Grandfather - Born in Rhynie - Lived on Main Street in the 1891 Census
Rhynie town and countryside looked like the picture my Grandfather had painted.

Visited the Rhynie and Essie Cemetery looking for Great Grandfather George Laing - no luck, a number of the headstones are not readable. 

At the Library  in Alford we found a book called Walking Backwards in Rhynie. 

This book listed that in 1877 George Laing at Nether Ord as a Farmer. 

Listed in the Rhynie Congregational Church – Membership 1841-1850, John Laing, Macharshaugh Baptisms 1843-1859

Church in Rhynie

View of Rhynie

Landscape south of Rhynie

Painted Picture of Rhynie

Brea of Scurdargue - William Laing -  This farm is now for sale and went into receivership.  Gary and I looked in the windows of the farmhouse and whoever was in the house left in a hurry as there were still belongs inside.  Coins left in a glass, clothes, furniture, dishes etc.    

One year after the death of Thomas Laing, his son John, who was living at Auchline (Auchlyne) moved first to Brae (hillside) of Scurdargue (1766) , then to West Auchmar (1770) and finally to Millfield in 1778.

Scurdargue - Building shown below

Nether Ord Farm - 1881 Census- -George and Margaret(Innes) Laing   Great Grandfather and Great Grandmother. 

There was a gate so we couldn't get to close to the farm.  If we had more time we were told that the lady that owns would have more than willing to show us around. She raises sheep.

Alford - visited the library and then returned for a Genealogy meeting.  I now have a contact name if I need any help.  The librarian in Alford suggested that we visit Inverurie Library as they have more information on the area.  From the library we were directed to go to the Aberdeenshire Council at Gordon House in Inverurie as they have the cemetery records.  We didn’t have an luck. 

The lady organizing the Genealogy group suggested that we visit her brother as he had lots of information.  His name is James Lumsden and he checked is records back but we couldn't make any connect to the Laing's.  After tea and scones he took us to the Tullynessle cemetery where he thought there might be some Laing’s but no luck.  As it turned out James and 10 other people have bought the Tullynessle Church.  They hold weddings, baptism, funerals and three services a year.  James had a glint in his eyes when he told us they were actually making money.  James farm is Terpersie.  The castle Terpersie next door to him is for sale.  It has had a complete remodel done. 

Postcard James showed us of the Lumsden family

Tullynessle Chruch

James Lumsden

Millfield and Suie Cottage

From there we went back to Suie Hill as in the morning you could hardly see anything as it was raining so hard.  I was looking for Suiefoot Cottage.  We missed it and stopped a couple to ask direction.  They were from Fyfe and just staying will friends.  They suggested we wait a minute until the owner of the place came home.  And of course he invited us in for tea and scones.  His name is Thomas Duncan Muirden (farm Viewfield) and his son who came along shortly after is James.  They told us we just drove by Suifoot Cottage  about 1/2 mile back. Thomas was using Doric and I think he was putting it on a little thick as the friends said he was playing with us.  I then asked if they knew of the farm Millfield.  And low and behold they own it. (They also own Suiefoot Cottage).  So our next adventure was a visit to Millfield.  James was more than willing to take us over and show us around.  They are just starting to remodel the house and will rent it out, maybe as a vacation property.  So on your next visit to the area you could stay in the house.  The reason they bought the farm was because of the soil.  It is a special kind of soil that isn't found anywhere else in the area.  And at the moment the name of the soil is gone.   I also had the privilege of seeing the Cash Book of Kirk Session of Clatt - 29 Nov 1798 to 20 June 1846.  I did ask Thomas if he was going to donate it to a library but he is not and will pass it on to his son.  It is sad, as so many people would like to have a look at it and I think it should be in the Scotlands National Archives. 

Home of Thomas and James Muirden

James and Thomas

Cash Book of Kirk Session of Clatt

Sally had mentioned she had met Mrs Taylor the previous owner of Millfield farm before Thomas and James.  Thomas told us that it was a sad story as Mrs Taylor had committed suicide.  As the story goes her husband was an alcoholic and apparently not very nice to her. 

Laing’s at Millfield from 1778 until 1882.

(Millfield Farm, home of the Laing family from 1778 until at least 1882. First farmed by John Laing (b. abt. 1710) and his son William (b. abt. 1759). This John was the son of Thomas and Isabelle Laing.
John Laing (Papajohn b. 1795) lived at Millfield until his brothers Peter and James took over sometime prior to 1846.)

The following are pictures of Millfield -the house inside and out, farm buildings and the landscape around Millfield

Isobell Laing - parents James Neill and Jannett Bettie Neill resided at Suiefoot Cottage

Suie Hill

West Auchmar

Asked James how to get to the West Auchmar (Laing’s 1770).  It is across the road from Millfield and James told us to tell the owner he said to visit.  The owner had never heard it called West Auchmar just Auchmar. 

Mills of Barns Farm- Jean Robb - Gx4 married William Laing. 

The original Mills of Barns is across the road from the farm house now called the Mills of Barn. We were invited in by the owner Denis Knowles and he has given me his email if he can assist with any information. 

William Laing (b. 1759) & Jean Robb
William Laing moved to Millfield with his father John in 1778. They were tenant farmers. William married Jean Robb of Mill of Barns, Premnay Parish, which is near the present village of Auchleven, Scotland in 1794.

Across the Road

Newbigging Farm- Thomas and Isobell(Neill) Laing 1680-1765.  Talked with the owner James Petrie.  He has lived on the farm since 1956 and purchased in 1998 with his three sons.  My question to the genealogy group was how can we know for sure that is the farm they were at as there are 3 other farms called Newbigging.  Maybe the CCCs can help.

Macharshaugh - 1851 Census - John  and Ann (Anderson) Laing (Great Grandparents x3)

This farm is now used to raise pheasants for hunting.  The pheasants had recently be released for the upcoming hunting season. They also have about a dozen dogs used for the hunt.    A number of the hunters stay at the Kildrummy Inn.  On our visit the owner wasn't home, the mother-in-law was there.  We were planning on returning but time ran out.

Road into Macharshaugh

Farm across the road

Other places we visited were the Laing’s resided  -

Drumgowan Farm - Laings there about 1595

Duncanstone
Laing Family lived in this area about 1710.

Leslie

Kirkyards we visited
Thomas Laing & Isobel Neill  - (Great grandparents x6) Gravesite at

St Mary's Church - Old Auchindoir Cemetery 

Gravestone of Thomas Laing and Isobel Neill

Clatt cemetery and placed flowers at John Laing's grave.

Kildrummy Cemetery

Auchintoul Church Cemetery

The Kildrummy Inn 1866 - Volunteer Hall –  

Although yet we are unsure as to when exactly the inn was built. It is at-least several hundred years old. Adjoining the Inn is the Volunteers hall. We understand that the Volunteers hall was the part of 'F' Coy - Alford, Kildrummy and Strathdon (Volunteers) of the Gordon highlanders. This will explain to coat of arms inside the Hall door! It’s believed the hall was used by then to train prior to going to the Great War.

http://www.kildrummyinn.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=62

The last stop was at the Gordon Castle in Fochabers.  We had the good fortunate of meeting the groundskeeper for the castle outside our home in Calgary.  He invited us to visit him at the castle.

Now on to Campbeltown and Skipness to find the Thomson's