April 21st

On this day, April 21st, we go way back to 1795 for the birth of James West who is your 5X great uncle!  The name WEST means we're on Grandma's side of the family and in Ferryden.  James was the first of the eleven children born to Fisherman John West and Janet Simpson.  (it seems to me that I have written quite a few times about families with 11 children.  Just couldn't make the round dozen I guess).

Next we have a marriage on this day (and a death actually - see below).  In 1860 Helen Morrice married James Lamb.  Helen is your first cousin 4X removed and James is also your first cousin 4X removed!  Yes, Helen and James are first cousins to eachother (their mothers are sisters) and you are connected by blood to both of them through the Christie/Donald/Matthew line.

They were married in the manse of Monqhitter.  James was 22 years old, a bachelor and a farm labourer.  Helen was 33 years old - never previously married.  They don't seem to have any children but they lived and worked on Graystone Farm in Monquhitter, Aberdeenshire for four plus more decades.  Helen died in 1905 but oddly enough, James died on this day - April 21st in 1913.

And finally, on this day - in 1933 - Francis McNee West was married. He's your first cousin 2X removed (he was a first cousin to grandma).  I bet you're thinking WEST!  Must be Ferryden!  But no.  As we get into more recent times, a lot of the Ferryden folk have moved away from the east coast.  Most to the west side of the country - to Clydebank and Glasgow.  Francis married Rose Dolan in the Church of Our Holy Redeemer in Clydebank, Dunbartonshire.  He was 38 at the time, a bachelor and a butcher's salesman by trade.  She was a spinster aged 26 and worked in a garage.

I'm interested in pursuing a bit more research into this family unit.  Francis and Rose seem to have had twin daughters.  And there was movement to New Zealand via Australia by one of them, if not both - and also Francis.  A grandson in New Zealand was in contact with me a while back.  Not sure what happened to Rose the bride of this day 86 years ago.