Monumental Inscriptions Strathdon Old Kirkyard


The inscriptions below are mainly taken directly from gravestones on 15 February 2000. Additional information, including the numbers assigned to each inscription, comes from an unpublished draft of Strathdon MIs produced by Aberdeen and North East Scotland Family History Society.

My notes are in square brackets.

Where there is a likely connection with a place name and Census entry, there is a link to the relevant entry.
 

No 32

In Memory of Jean Downie, Spouse to James Miln, in Bressachiel, who departed this life 20 Decr 1819 aged 45 [MI says 45 but inscription is definitely 15].
The above mentioned James Miln who died 9th Janry 1855 aged 62.

[Bressachiel is in the detached section of Tarland Parish (enumeration district 5 in 1851 Census) which lies inside Strathdon Parish between Bellabeg and Corgarff]. This couple had sons Charles in 1804 and John in 1805, both born at Bressachiel, which makes it impossible that Jean could have been 15 at the time of her death in 1819. On the other hand, if James's age at death is accurate, he would have been only 11 at most at the time of the birth of Charles in 1804. It appears likely that the date of James's death is incorrect; in the 1841 and 1851 Censuses, Bressachiel was occupied by John Milne, Farmer aged 30 in 1841 and 45 in 1851, most likely the son of James Milne and Jean Downie.

No. 34

Hocce in sepulchro Jacet Donald Downy Vir pietatis incorrupta fide.
Pauperium fautor Pater non contempta prole beatus.
Obut AD 17?2 (stone broken)
Natus.

[Jervise: In this tomb lies Donald Downys, a man of genuine piety, untainted honour, a benefactor to the poor, and the father of no contemptible off- spring. He died happy A. D, 17 . . aged , .]

Joseph Downie
Son of John Downie Delnine
Died the 22nd November 1873 aged 31 years

[Donald Downy may have been the Donald whose 13 children by his wife Margaret Gordon were among the very few births which took place in a gap in the parish records - recorded all together on 22 June 1760). The couple had lived at the Mill of Garchory, and there was a Joseph among the sons. John Downie, father of Joseph who did in 1873, was the illegitimate son of Joseph Downie and Isobel Munro and may have been Donald's grandson. ]

No. 87

To the Memory of David Downie Farmer in Beilhandie
Born 1782 died 23rd April 1854
Erected by his Widow and Family
Also in memory of Charles Downie Sergt Major in the 53rd Regt who died at Beilhandie in 1810 aged 33.

[David's parents have not been identified - his birth is not recorded in Strathdon (or Tarland and Migvie) though the 1851 Census gives his birthplace as Tarland.. His wife was Isabell Farquharson whose death in March 1855 is recorded on her son David's gravestone in Bronte Pioneer Cemetery, Milton, Ontario, Canada. She may have emigrated to Canada after her husband's death; David Junior had gone there in 1851, and her two daughters Margaret and Jean, plus youngest son Charles, also went to Milton. Only Robert stayed in the UK, where he was a servant in the Royal Household (Footman to the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII).]

No. 89

In memory of Catharine McHardy died at Shiunnach Corgarff Febry the 3rd 1843 aged 84.
Charles Downie her son died November 22nd 1850 aged 50.
In testimony of maternal and fraternal affection this stone is erected by her eldest son George Downie died 14 July 1869 aged 71.

[Catharine McHardy was married to George Downie, Merchant, whose birth and death have not so far been identfied.]

No. 79

In memory of James Downie farmer Ettenbreck died 1 January 1885 aged 82
His wife Barbara McRobert died 19 July 1886 aged 78.

[James was born at Belniden where there were Downies as far back as 1675, son of Charles Downie and Margaret Bremner. He was the father of John (stone 81).]

No 80 (not seen)

Erected by William Merchant, Wellington N. Z. in memory of his wife Ann Downie died Ettenbeck, Strathdon 29 Dec 1897 aged 31.

[Ann was the youngest child of James Downie and Barbara McRobert]

No. 81

In loving memory or our father John Downie Ettenbreck died 29 August 1930 aged 90;
Our mother Eliza Mitchell Smith died 16 October 1884 aged 40 buried in Tarland.
Their eldest son James died 18th April 1938 aged 83 [MI says 68];
Their daughter Harriet died 11 May 1951 aged 76 buried in new cemetery.

[John was the eldest son of James Downie and Barbara McRobert but he appears not to have taken up the tenancy of Ettenbreck after his father's death, his younger brother Charles being there in 1891. In the 1895 Valuation Roll, Charles is listed as Tenant and John as Occupier, and in subsequent rolls, up to 1930, John is listed as Tenant Occupier, suggesting that he took over the lease of the farm.]

[There is a Downie Lair holder named in Strathdon (New) Burial Records - Section P Lair 12:
DOWNIE: Charles Downie Elmbank Montgarrie Alford
May 1950 12th Harriet Downie, 75
Sept 1968 7th Charles Downie, no age recorded]

No.82 [flat, not seen]

James Downie.
Under this stone lies the dust of Francis Downie some time farmer in …….. died 14 June 1797 aged 57.
Also his spouse Jean Downie died 12 June 1794 aged 53.
Done by the care of their two sons viz. John & Joseph Downie. Jane Downie died 18 November 1851 aged 49.

[Jean Downie was probably the daughter of Donald Downy and Margaret Gordon (mentioned in connection with stone 34. None of the others on the stone has so far been identfied, the only known son for Francis and Jean being Francis Downie (ca. 1780-1759), who was a farmer at Colnabaichan and was buried in Strathdon Kirkyard according to his death certificate.]

No. 83 [not seen]

This stone is erected by James Downie shoemaker in ………. to the memory of Agnes Allanach his affect. Mother & ……….. spouse to William Downie some time in Culquioch.
She dep. 27 Sept. 1780 aged 47; her husband William Dounie died Drumanettie 2 June 1826 in the 94th year of his age.

[the only trace of this family found so far is the death certificate of James's sister Eliizabeth who died at Burnside, Tarland in 1858 and is buried in Tarland Kirkyard]