March 25th

On this day in 1779 - that's 240 years ago!! - your 4xgreat grandfather, Alexander Matthew, was born.      It's unlikely that he was an only child but I cannot find his siblings - but his parent's names were Peter Matthew and Barbara Bruce - these would be your 5x great grandparents!   Alexander was born in Old Deer in Aberdeenshire and his family would be crofters or agricultural workers.

The photo is of the ruins of Deer Abbey which would have been near to where the Matthews lived.  The abbey was built in 1219 and remained structurally complete until 1809 when, like many other stone structures, it was dismantled to build other projects.  So it was in fact a  ruin even 240 years ago.

And also on this day - in 1867 - James Gordon Christie was born.  He is your first cousin 3x removed.    His grandfather, John Christie is your 3x great grandfather.  James was the 10th child of 11 born to Andrew Christie and Hannah Hendry.  James was born in Wellfield, Banffshire into a farming family.  There seems to be some indication that James emigrated to the United States - to Maine - but I still have to confirm this.