part two 1857 disaster - axford's abode · unfortunately this was not in place when the...

© John Crawford The Storm of 23rd November 1857 1

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The Buckie boats

Just a brisk walk along the coast from Portknockie and you reach Buckie the largest fishing port

in the area, most of the boats that had been out that day come from Buckie and the small

villages adjacent.

Buckie was quite a lot smaller in those days but was a thriving and burgeoning fishing port. It

was to gather in the small villages in its vicinity as the century progressed. Each village holding

on to its independence from its larger neighbour on the hill but each inexorably moving into the

out environs of what became the town of Buckie.

At the time however the last thing on the minds of the people were who belonged to where, all

they knew was that their men were at sea, a terrible gale was blowing and their men faced the

greatest danger.

In Buckie, the results of the gale were scarcely less disastrous than at Portknockie. The number of

fishermen here, however, is larger than in any other town in Scotland. Buckie has a population of

upwards of 3000 and the fishing is its main support. No fewer than twenty-nine large boats were

out here; and like the Portknockie boats, the fishermen ventured far out to sea. They cast their

lines from 25 to 30 miles off the land, about north-east from the Bin Hill of Cullen. The boats lay

all pretty close together, and seeing the morning getting rather rough, they commenced to haul

about seven o’clock. They proceeded as fast as possible, and by half past eleven, when the wind

was getting very high, they were all nearly ready to proceed home. Some, however, had a few lines

to draw. These were cut and left, the crews finding it necessary to run for the shore. By this time

however, several were a considerable distance on the way homeward; but most of them left the

fishing ground just as the gale began, or very shortly previous. A little before twelve the wind was

getting very high; in fact, it blew little higher even in the height of th gale, but continued without

abatement at the extraordinary violence to which it rose almost in an instant, the sea

comparatively peaceful at first, gradually becoming more and more agitated, till the waves were

perfectly terrific.


This map dates from 1870 and is a bit difficult to locate the various parts of the town. The Nook is clearly visible and it is here that one of the boats was tragically lost. By the time this map was drawn a Lifeboat shed had been built and can barely be made at almost the extreme left of the Nook. Unfortunately this was not in place when the disaster overtook the fishing fleet.

Some succeeded in taking a far more direct course homeward than others; hence the difference in

the time of their arrivals. Two boats came in sight shortly after 12 o’clock, and got into the new

harbour without much difficulty ere the wind had taken much effect in raising the waves. The full

strength of the gale only overtook these early boasts when about a mile from shore, but all who

noticed from the land the rise of the hurricane agree in this – that a boat a couple of mile behind

these two, or twenty minutes later in reaching the land, could not have approached the harbour

with any but the merest chance of being saved.

From Portessie to Buckie, it may be stated, is a mile, and the coast between the two towns is

chiefly sands. It is divided into three or four separate sections by comparatively narrow ledges of

rocks jutting out from the land a little way into the sea. One of these divisions, close to the

Coastguard Station, is known as “The Neuk”, the next, eastwards, as the “Sauters”, the next being

known as the “Burn of Rathven” etc. When a storm at sea rises, which renders it dangerous to

approach such harbours as they have in that locality, the fishermen’s only safe alternative is to run

their boats ashore on these broad sandy beaches, where they stick fast, and there is nothing

against which the sea can dash and break or damage their bottoms.


Just along the coast from Buckie is the port of Portessie, the corner of the Nook can be seen at

the top right of the picture. It was in this area that many of the boats came ashore. The men

of Portessie had taken a vote on the morning of the storm having looked at their barometers

(glass) and decided that it was likely the weather would worsen swiftly that day.

When it was seen how the sea rose, the greatest possible excitement was created in Buckie. People

seemed disposed to run everywhere, and no one knew where to run. It was nearly an hour after the

first two boats got into the harbour ere the others came in sight. Bye and Bye however, they began

to appear, most of them evidently making for these sands opposite and east of the new town of

Buckie – some for “Craigenroan”. The place of shelter already alluded to east of Portessie. The

attention of the Buckie people was chiefly centred in the arrivals at their own shore, as the others

were scarcely seen; and while their own boats were every now and then, from two to three o’clock,

dropping in at home, there was the chance of those running for “Craigenroan” belonged to other to

other towns.

The media of the day describes it as the ‘greatest possible excitement’ but reading it in the

cold light of day some 150 years later it was nothing short of mass panic as people did not seem

to know what to do for the best.

It would be easy of us today to dismiss it as just that, but we must remember how much man

has progressed since that time, not very long in terms of mankind but the progression in

technology and education to name but two have been nothing short of staggering.


Portessie Bay on a quiet summer morning is one of the most beautiful sights imaginable, a sight

which is common along most of the Moray coast which is a place of outstanding natural beauty.

The sea however can be fickle; it can turn into a savage beast within hours. With danger riding

with baleful menace on the top of every wave. The wind screaming like a banshee when just

hours before it was whispering softly. Men scurrying around on their suddenly rather flimsy

boats to make things fast as it seemed all hell had broken loose among them.

The tempest was nearly at its full height by two o’clock, and as boats came each in sight (they

were only seen a short way off land) there was a shriek, while the utmost anxiety prevailed till

they were each ashore and the men landed, everyone providing themselves with ropes and

whatever could be supposed likely to be useful in putting forth efforts to save life. The crowd

ran from one point to another along the coast to whatever place it was likely the boats would

strike, and most enthusiastic were the exertions made by one and all, to let the imperilled men

out of jeopardy as soon as ever they came in reach. The boats, as they arrived, were secured

with mooring ropes, and a hand or two left to take care of each, while the spare men spread

themselves along the beach to assist in saving the lives and property of their fellows in

distress.


The newspaper reporter of the day then follows the story of the crew of a boat which

foundered about 20 yards off shore at Buckie at around 1.30 – 2 pm on the day. The men had

fought strenuously to get back to safety but were overwhelmed when it was swamped by a

series of huge waves and all the crew were washed over the side. They were all lost within

minutes. Most were recovered from the sea.

Name Age M/S Parents Regd By 1. James Clark 36 M John Clark (Dec) Body found John Clark Helen Murray Brother 2. George Thomson 43 M George Thomson (Dec) Body found Alexander Thomson ‘Caukie’ Ann Reid (Dec) Brother 3. William Thomson 24 S John Thomson Body found Alexander Thomson ‘Caukie’ Helen Murray Cousin 4. John Jappy 23 S George Jappy (Dec) Body found James Jappy ‘Turley’ Margaret Wilson Brother 5. William Main 32 M Hugh Main (Dec) Body found George Main Mary Murray (21/12/1857) Brother 6. Peter Murray 28 M James Murray Body found James Murray ‘Costie’ Jane Murray (Dec) (04/01/1858) ‘Costie’ – brother 7. John Murray 19 M George Murray ‘Gouk’ Body not found George Murray Mary Flett Father 8. George Murray 22 M George Murray ‘Gouk’ Body not found George Murray ‘Gouk’ Mary Flett Father

Reading of their death in such circumstances it is quite difficult to come to terms with it all,

they were so near to safety; they had battled their way almost to shore only to be plucked

from life when safety was just a stones throw away. It must have been terrible for the men to

die in such circumstances, elation one minute on seeing how close they were to complete

safety and the next moment they were gone. Those watching from the shore must have gone

through many emotions as they stood virtually helpless watching these men being drowned

before their eyes.

There was little anyone could do to save the men who struggled in the water so near to safety

and yet so very far, the exhausted men disappeared one by one into the maelstrom.


The press report of the day captures the drama in their reporting of the incident.

Great as the danger of landing was, four boats came in at the “Sauters” in safety, and the people

on shore had almost begun to hope that all their friends might yet be rescued. But about half pas

two o’clock, a fifth boat, like the others, without a stitch of canvas, came in sight. This one was

pretty far west, and was expected to land at “The Neuk” opposite New Buckie. Tossed mountain

high at one moment, and the next down between the gigantic waves, all out of sight but the top of

the masts, she came along in much the same circumstances as the others. Hundreds were gathered

at the point she was expected to reach. She had come so near that the men on board were perfectly

well recognised by their friends on shore, among whom there were wives in the very depths of

anxiety to rescue their husbands from the angry deep, fathers to rescue their sons, brother to

welcome brother etc. But how sad it was! Within a hundred yards of the shore, a tremendous sea

all at once struck the boat on her broad-side and turned her right over, as quick as a man would

turn his hand, the crew of course being all cast into the water. The crowd on shore, as if

thunderstruck, held up their hands, and cried and shrieked, many of them in perfect distraction.

The scene was heart-rendering. The first sudden manifestations of grief and alarm, bye and bye

toned down to mournful wailings, but the excitement and confusion were still very great. Three of

the men were never seen.

On that very spot they had sunk to rise no more. Two seemed to get on to the bottom of the boat,

his but one very shortly disappeared. The other one, however, stood up on his feet, and put his

hands to his waistcoat near the buttons, from which act it was supposed he was preparing to strip

and be in readiness to swim. The interest of those on shore in seeing him in this perilous position

will be more easily imagined than described, as will also the grief of his friends, when they saw the

first heavy sea wash him away from the footing he had gained, and, in its rolling fury, hide him

forever, it would appear, from human eyes. The remaining three of the eight who were on board

(the crew numbered eleven, but three had not gone to sea that day), also disappeared for a little,

but in a short time they were seen floating about on spars and pieces of masts; and hope still

existed that rescue might be extended to them. They were driven from one point to another with

fearful velocity, and indeed were only now and again visible. Anxiety was felt in every breast still

more acutely than ever, as these three were wafted nearer and nearer the shore; and so sorely did

they struggle, that, even against every probability, hope insinuated that their safety was possible.

So who were these poor men, who were their parents, their wives and their children? What

happened to them after the events of this terrible day? How would they cope with the heavy

weight of grief that lay before them once the tally had been completed following such scenes

as never witnessed in such magnitude before?


1. James Clark (36), son of John Clark (Deceased) and Helen Murray. At the time of the

1851 census record it seems that James Clark was not married and was living with his uncle

William Murray a 62 years old fisherman. John Clark was aged 30 and a fisherman at the time

the census was taken in 1851.

Piece: SCT1851/164 Place: Rathven-Banffshire Enumeration District: 3 Civil Parish: Rathven Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: - Folio: 123 Page: 26 Schedule: 110 Address: 102 Village Of Buckie Surname First name Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Born

Murray William Head M M 62 Fisher Buckie

Murray Jane Wife M F 63 Buckie

Murray James Son U M 26 Fisher Buckie

Murray Margaret Daur U F 24 House Servant Buckie

Murray William Son U M 22 Fisher Buckie

Cowie Helen Daur M F 32 Buckie

Cowie James Grand son M 9 Scholar Buckie

Cowie William Grandson M 7 Scholar Buckie

Cowie Jane Grandaur F 1 Buckie

Clark James Nephew U M 30 Fisher Buckie

Jappie Jannet Servant U F 48 House Servant Buckie

If he married in the period between the 1851 census and the day of disaster on 23rd November

1857 then I have to concede that I can find no trace of his marriage. I cannot check any

further census records as he was deceased in 1857 and the next census was not taken until

1861.

His record will have to remain in this uncertain state until other information of James Clark

comes to light and we can then perhaps trace his line to the future.


2. George Thomson ‘Caukie’ (43) son of George Thomson (deceased) and Anne Reid

(Deceased)

George Thomson had been born on 12th June 1814 and had married Lesinda Petrie on 26th June

1842 at Rathven. She had been married before to George Wood of Portknockie, they had two

children in that marriage, James Wood being born on 12th July 1838 and his sister Jane Wood

born on 11th April 1840. Sometime between 1840 and 1842 George Wood had died and the

widow Wood had married and taken her children with her.

The 1851 census record shows the following;-

Piece: SCT1851/164 Place: Rathven-Banffshire Enumeration District: 3 Civil Parish: Rathven Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: - Folio: 123 Page: 13 Schedule: 55 Address: 52 Village Of Buckie Surname First name Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Born

Thomson George Head M M 37 Fisher Buckie

Thomson Lascincha Wife M F 34 Fishers Wife Banff

Thomson Ann Daur F 8 Scholar Buckie

Thomson George Son M 5 Scholar Buckie

Thomson Margaret Daur F 3 Scholar Buckie

Wood James Stepson M 13 Scholar Portknockie

Wood Jane Stepdaur F 11 Scholar Portknockie

Anderson Ann M-in-Law W F 60

Portknockie

This record in itself tells a great deal, George’s wife Lascincha had obviously been widowed

with her first husband from Portknockie with a surname of Wood. Lascincha’s maiden surname

prior to marriage was found to have been Petrie with her father having died before this census

date as indicated by the W for Widow in the ‘status’ field of Ann Anderson who had reverted to

her maiden surname following the death of her husband.

Mrs Thomson was again left without a main bread-winner, she now had five children to care for

along with her mother. The eldest child at the time of the death of their father would have

been James Wood now aged 19.


The 1861 census tells us a little more

The family have increased in size since the 1851 census record was taken; Lousindea

Thomson is now a widow aged 43 and is described as formerly a fisher’s wife born in

Banff. James Wood her eldest son to her first husband George Wood is now 20

years of age and a Whitefisher. Ann Thomson who had been her first child to George

Thomson was no 17 years of age. Her brother George is now a 14 years old scholar

as is his young sister Margaret who had been 3 years old in 1851 but was now 12

years old.

George Thomson had obviously had three more children between the 1851 census

record being taken and his death in 1857. Additions to the family were Alexander

Thomson born circa 1851 just after the census and now 10 years of age in 1861. He

has two younger sisters in Lousindea is six years old and had been born circa 1855

and young Mary Thomson who was now 3 years of age and had been born in Buckie

on 4th April 1858 some five months after her fathers death. Her step-brother James

Wood registered her birth at Buckie.

For fully twenty minutes they floated about in this situation, latterly coming within about

twenty yards of where the people were standing – so near that, had the sea been ordinarily

calm, hundreds were there who would have considered it no difficult task to go into the water

and give them a hand. One man cried to his brother to put his hair away from his eyes, when,

by the motion the latter made, it was evident he heard quite distinctly. Two or three different

times he obeyed, putting up his hand, and rubbing his hair over his forehead. An anxious wife

actually, we believe, rushed into the tide nearly to the neck, in an endeavour to rescue her

husband, but her heroic effort was completely unavailing. The tide was ebbing at the time, but

the waves, in terrible force rushed far up the beach, and swept back again with fearful power.

No one could keep a footing in it. Attempts were made to join hands and thus extend help to

the unfortunate men, but besides the weight of water itself, the backgoing of the waves hurled

the gravel beach from below their feet, so that to stand on it was impossible. While these vain

efforts were being made at rescue, the men, worn out in the raging surf, sank, one after

another, amide the cries and shrieks of their despairing relatives.


3. William Thomson ‘Caukie’ (24) son of John Thomson and Helen Murray. His parents

had been married on 21st April 1816, John Thomson was the son of William Thomson and

Catherine Wood and Helen Murray was the daughter of George Murray and Margaret Jappy.

Despite best efforts I can find no record of birth registration for William Thomson who would

have been born in circa 1833.

As is usual when you find one way I looked for other ways to get some information about his

siblings and family descendants in order for any current related person to try and find out

more. His father John Thomson died aged 69 years on 29th October 1859 at Buckie, he was

buried in Rathven churchyard; his wife Helen was still alive at the time of his death which was

registered by his son George Thomson ‘Caukie’. I then looked for anything on George Thomson

but he proved to be equally elusive. His mother Helen Murray died aged 77 years on 17th

February 1873, her death was registered by her grandson Thomas Sutherland. I was then on

track with Margaret Thomson who was a sibling of William Thomson and I have tried to trace

her family from that point.

Through Thomas Sutherland I traced his mother who must have been a Thomson. He was the

son of Robert Sutherland and Margaret Thomson ‘Caukie’; they had married at Rathven on 23rd

November 1845. Robert Sutherland was the son of James Sutherland a General Labourer and

Ann Davidson. He was a mason by occupation and it looks like they moved, briefly, to the

Leith area of Edinburgh where their first son George Sutherland was born on 6th January 1847. I

have tried in vain to find the family on the earlier census records when they moved back to

Banffshire. I did find them on the 1881 census record. They were resident at 35 Seatown

Buckie.

Name Rel Occ M/U Age Sex Birthplace

Robert Sutherland Head Mason M 66 M Buckie

Margaret Sutherland Wife M 56 F Buckie

Mary Sutherland Daur Gen. Servant U 20 F Buckie

James Sutherland Son Plasterer U 17 M Buckie

Robert Reid Grandson Scholar 8 M Buckie

This record is interesting inasmuch as it shows the young brother of Thomas Sutherland; he

registered his brother’s death as shown below. It also shows Robert Reid an 8 years old

grandson which means that another daughter of Robert and Margaret’s married a man called

Reid.


Their son Thomas Sutherland must have been born in the latter months of 1846 as his death

record shows that he died on 27th December 1887 at 5 Mid Street, Buckie; he was aged 41 years

from Phthisis (stone dresser) which he had suffered from for two years. He too was a mason

like his father and it was obviously an occupational hazard. His death was registered by his

brother James Sutherland which means that Margaret Thomson had at least three sons.

Thomas Sutherland had married Margaret Blair.

A check of the 1881 census revealed the family of Thomas Sutherland residing at 35 Seatown in

Buckie. The same address as Thomas’s parents.

Name Rel. Occ. M/U Age Sex Birthplace

Thomas Sutherland Head Mason M 34 M Buckie

Margaret Sutherland Wife M 34 F Buckie

Margaret-Ann Sutherland Daur Scholar U 9 F Buckie

Mary Sutherland Daur Scholar U 7 F Buckie

Georgina Sutherland Daur 1 F Buckie

Ann Blair Mother in Law Retd. Dressmaker W 60 F Keith

Unfortunately Georgina Sutherland died aged just 11 years at home at 10 Mid Street, Buckie on

13th May 1891, her father Thomas was died by that time having succumbed himself some two

years earlier from Phthisis, her mother’s maiden name on this certificate is given as Margaret

Sutherland m.s. Ogilvie. This would appear to conflict with Thomas’s death certificate where

her name is given as Blair. The death of Thomas was registered by his brother James and the

death of Georgina was registered by her grandfather Robert Sutherland. He made his mark on

the certificate and may not have noticed the written error on the certificate if that is what it

was.

Robert Sutherland died in 1899 at his home at 10 Mid Street, Buckie on 21st May 1899, he was

83 years of age and his death was registered by his son James Sutherland who was then living in

Dufftown. Margaret Sutherland his wife, was still living and she herself did not pass away until

the 21st August 1903 when she was 76 years of age and following a bout of Bronchitis she died

at home at 10 Mid Street, Buckie with her Grandson Robert S Reid registering her death.

That was the last direct link I could find to William Thomson ‘Caukie’. I went on to try and find

what happened to her grandson who would be distantly related to William – Robert Reid was,

you will remember, 8 years of age and living with his grandparents at the 1881 census.

Robert Reid the Grand Nephew of William Thomason ‘Caukie’ was born on 13th March 1873 at

his home in Port Gordon, his father was George Reid a Seaman in the Merchant Service, and his

mother was Anne Sutherland, they had been married on 8th October 1869 at Enzie, His birth

was registered by his uncle Alexander Reid also of Port Gordon.


On the 11th January 1899 at 9 Richmond Place Portgordon, Robert Sutherland Reid a 25 years

old Master Plasterer and a bachelor married Margaret Coull a 23 years old spinster of 9

Richmond Place Port Gordon, her father was William Coull and her mother was Margaret Innes.

The ceremony was celebrated in the Free Church of Scotland and was taken by Archibald Kerr

of Enzie, the witnesses were William Garden and Annie Coull.

The 1901 census for the family of Robert Sutherland Reid was found and shows as follows:-

The family shared the house at 9 Richmond Place Portgordon. The principals in the house were

James Cowie a 44 years old fisherman and his wife Maggie Cowie who was 38 years of age, they

had a 17 years old daughter Jeannie at home working as a General Servant, she had four

younger siblings in James aged 14 years, Maggie Bella who was aged 11, both scholars and their

younger sisters Lily aged 4 years and May aged 10 months. In another part of the house lived

William Coull and his wife Margaret Coull, he was also a 47 years old fisherman, his wife being

44 years of age, they had their daughter Margaret Coull REID staying with them, she was aged

30 (according to the census taker), her two young sisters Williamina aged 18 and Isabella aged

14 were also living with their parents along with Violet M. C. Reid the granddaughter of William

Coull who was aged 2 years of age.

I found the birth certificate for Violet Marguerite Coull Reid, she was born on 2nd November

1899 at 9 Richmond Place, Portgordon, Enzie, Banff, the daughter of Robert Sutherland Reid

and Margaret Reid m.s. Coull who had been married on 11th January 1899 at Enzie. Their

normal place of residence was at 1 The Square Dufftown. Her birth was registered by her

father Robert Reid.

The masters of the coastguard were there like the others, anxious for the opportunity to save

life; but they have no “Mamby apparatus” at Buckie, nor life-boat, scarcely, in fact, any life-

buoys. It is not supposed that in this case, however, either of these preservatives could have

been of much avail, yet it would have been gratifying to the poor disconsolate friends of lost

men to have seen them tried.


4. John Jappie ‘Turley’ (23) son of George Jappie (deceased) and Margaret Wilson

As can be seen from the death notice, George Jappie the father of John was already deceased

when his son John drowned near Buckie in the terrible gale of 23rd November 1857. It would

appear that he had been dead prior to the 1851 census record being taken as the following

shows;-

Piece: SCT1851/164 Place: Rathven-Banffshire Enumeration District: 3 Civil Parish: Rathven Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: - Folio: 123 Page: 24 Schedule: 103 Address: 95 Village Of Buckie

Surname First Name Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Born

Jappie Margaret Head W F 53 Fishers Widow Buckie

Jappie William Son U M 27 Fisher Buckie

Jappie Mary Daur U F 24 Fishers Servant Buckie

Jappie Alexander Son U M 16 Fisher Buckie

Jappie Helen Daur F 13 Fishers daur Buckie

Jappie James Son M 11 Fishers son Buckie

While the above record of census shows the family of John Jappie, there is no note of John

being with the family. It would appear that John had been lodged with his uncle Peter Jappie.

Piece: SCT1851/164 Place: Rathven-Banffshire Enumeration District: 3 Civil Parish: Rathven Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: - Folio: 123 Page: 3 Schedule: 12 Address: 11 Village Of Buckie Surname First Name Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Born

Jappie Peter Head M M 35 Fisher Buckie

Jappie Jannet Wife M F 32 Fishers wife Buckie

Jappie Margaret Daur F 12 Fishers daur Buckie

Jappie Alexander Son M 10 Scholar Buckie

Jappie Peter Son M 11m Buckie

Jappie Peter Nephew M 14 Pauper Scholar Buckie

Reid Jannet Servant F 15 Fishers Servant Buckie

He is given as a Pauper and a scholar in the following record which is the only one I found for a

boy aged around 16 years. In the census record he is given as 14 years of age which would fit

with the gap between Alexander and Helen Jappie shown above. Of course it does not agree

with the age given at death which was registered by his younger brother James who himself

would have been 16 years of age at the time of the tragedy. I cannot be absolutely certain of


course but I am as certain as I can be that the John Jappie nephew of Peter Jappie and the son

of Margaret Jappie is one and the same.

I researched his brother Alexander who is shown on the 1851 census at 95 Village of Buckie

above aged 16 years. In the 1881 census record I found him at West Street as follows:-

Occupation Status age Sex Where Born

Alexander Jappy Head Fisherman Married 47 Male Buckie

Mary Jappy Wife Married 45 Female Buckie

Alexander Jappy Son Fisherman Single 15 Male Buckie

Mary Jappy Daur Scholar Single 11 Female Peterhead

John Jappy Son Son 3 Male Buckie

Jane Cowie Serv General Servant Single 30 Female Buckie

I could find no trace of the birth of either of his sons or his daughter Mary, it is possible that

they just did not register them. I then moved on to John Jappy the youngest of the family of

the brother of the John Jappie ‘Turley’ who had perished on 23rd November 1857.

I resorted to the census records in an attempt to find out what happened to him.

The 1891 census record for him

This shows that his father (and the brother of John Jappie ‘Turley’) is now 57 years of age, his

wife Mary is still alive and is 56 years of age. Their son Alexander is still at home and is now 26

years of age, daughter Mary is 20 and John the youngest in the family is 13 years of age. The

family are living at 6 West Street, Buckie.

I then moved to the 1901 census record and found the family at the same address, 6 West

Street, Buckie;-


This latest record available shows that Alexander Jappy the father is still alive and aged 66

years and his status is now as a Widower; his wife Mary has obviously died between 1891 and

1901. His son Alexander has left the family home. Mary is still there and is now aged 30 years.

Her brother John is also still there, he is given as a fisherman and is still single.

With no further census records available to research I was left with the possible marriage of

John Jappy and his death. I found his death first which led me to his marriage.

He married on the 20th November 1918 at the Crown Temperance Hotel in Stornoway under the

forms of the Free Church of Scotland, he was given as a 35 years old bachelor, a fisherman

serving as a mate in the Royal Naval Reserves, his home address was given as 6 West Street

Buckie and his parents as Alexander Jappy (Deceased) and Mary Jappy m.s. Cowie – at long last

I was able to identify Mary as a Cowie. His bride was Catherine Graham, a domestic servant,

single aged 24 and living at 38 Point Street, Stornoway, her father and mother were still alive,

he was Hugh Graham a fisherman and her mother was Mary Graham m.s. MacLeod. The service

was taken by Kenneth Cameron of the Free Church of Stornoway, witness were Alexander

McLeod and Christina Graham.

Sadly his death ultimately followed, he died on Stornoway on 8th May 1950, a retired House

Painter, his home address in Stornoway. He was 72 years of age and his wife Catherine was

still living. His son A Jappy of Taunton in Somerset registered his father’s death; it is possible

that he is named Alexander after his Grandfather and Great Grandfather

I may need to assist the reader to track back to the man we were talking about in the first

place, he was John Jappie ‘Turley’ aged 23 when he perished and the son of George Jappie and

Margaret Wilson. We have travelled many miles and almost a hundred years to reach his

brothers great grandson who lived in Taunton in 1950. It is possible that this grandson is still

alive and no doubt has family of his own – perhaps they may even catch a glimpse of this at

some time and read of their Great Grandfather’s brother who was another victim of the killer

storm of 23rd November 1857.

Ere the above tragic scene had closed, it was about half past three. In the earnestness of the

desire to save the three men , the boat had almost been lost sight of. In about an hour,

however, it was cast upon the rocks close by the coastguard station. In the course of a few

minutes after, on its being looked at, strange to say, the body of one of its crew was discovered

in its bottom partly entangled in a sail, partly in ropes. It is one of the most singular incidents

of the catastrophe how he could have stuck in the boat, seeing that it was several times bottom

upwards. When the body of the man was taken out, some signs of life were manifested, but,

though medical aid was on the spot, and every exertion made to restore life, it was all

unavailing.


3. William Main (32) son of Hugh Main (Deceased) and Mary Murray

Once again the census records for the family show just what has happened to them insofar as

official records are concerned. It is obvious from the 1851 census records that Hugh Main his

father had died before the census record was taken. I could find no record of his parents being

married but did find his siblings;-

James Main born 29th March 1827

George Main born 8th February 1829.

William Main married Jane Murray the daughter of William Murray and Annie Cowie and the

first documented record I could find was that of the 1851 census record.

At the 1851 census record his brother George is staying with him at the West End of Little Yard

in Buckie and his widowed mother Mary Murray (Main) is with him there too, her age is given as

50 years which gives her date of birth around 1801. His brother James is not on the family list

and it is presumed that he is out on his own and perhaps married. William and his young wife

Jane have one son Alexander who as can be seen is just born prior to the census record being

taken.

Piece: SCT1851/164 Place: Rathven-Banffshire Enumeration District: 2 Civil Parish: Rathven Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: - Folio: 123 Page: 18 Schedule: 68 Address: West End Of Little Yard Surname First Name Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Born

Main William Head M M 24 Whitefisher Buckie

Main Jane Wife M F 22 Buckie

Main Alexander Son M 4m Buckie

Main George Brother U M 22 Whitefisher Buckie

Main Mary Mother W F 50 Buckie

I have obtained the 1861 census record, four years after the death of William Main and things

have changed in the family – Jane is now 32, she now has two other sons, William and James

and a daughter who must have been born just after her father’s death in November 1857. Her

mother in law Mary Main is still 50 years of age for some reason and her brother in law George

is still living with his mother. His mother’s sister Ann Murray is now living with the family, she

too is unmarried.

The family are staying at Low Shore and now include

Jane Main Head Widow 32 Fisherwoman Alexander Main Son 10 Scholar William Main Son 8 Scholar James Main Son 6 Scholar Mary Main Daur Infant 4 Scholar In the same house and still living with the family are;-

Mary Main Head Widow 50 Fisherwoman George Main Son U 36 Whitefisher Ann Murray Sister U 46 Domestic Servant


Above is a transliteration of the record below

The 1871 census record for the family shows as follows;-

They have moved back to Buckie and are now in the resident at No 4 Yardies as you can see

below.

Jane Main is still the head of the family, remaining a widower, now aged 42 years of age. Her

son William is still unmarried and is now 19 years of age, he is now at the fishing as is his young

brother James Main who is now aged 16 years. Their sister Mary Main is 14 years of age and

still at school albeit about to complete her education.

The mother of William Main and mother in law of Jane Main is still near the family now aged 72

with her sister Ann unmarried and aged 48 years of age.

I took the family on a bit further and found the following;-

On 5th April 1878 James Main (23) married Helen Farquhar (22) the daughter of Peter Farquhar

and Janet Clark of Portessie, they were married by Robert Shanks the Free Church Minister in

the Presbyterian Church of Scotland in Buckie.

On 18th January 1884 James Mains’ sister Mary was married to William Murray a 24 years old

fisherman of the Seatown, Buckie. He was the son of Alexander Murray and Janet Thain both

of whom were still living at the time of the wedding in the Free Church of Scotland.


On 2nd September 1881 James Main and Ellen Farquhar had a son, William Main who was born at

20 Port Henry Road, Peterhead with the usual residence being at Yardie Buckie. His father

James registered his birth.

On 5th February 1906 Jane Main the widow of William Main who perished on 23rd November

1857, died at 69 Yardie, she was 77 years of age and had suffered bronchitis for 9 days prior to

her death. Her son James Main registered his mother’s death.

James Main died aged 62 on the 2nd November 1915 in the Chalmers Hospital in Banff; his usual

residence was 68 Yardie, Buckie. His wife Ellen (Helen) Farquhar had pre-deceased him.

James died from ulceration of the colon and his death was registered by his son William Main.

William Main Jnr. was still living in 1955 and I have not gone further than that just in case

some of the family are still living.

After witnessing such a distressing scene, which arose from no more unfavourable

circumstances than those to which the other boats might be subjected before they reached a

landing-place, the forebodings of the people were melancholy in the extreme, for there were

many boats unaccounted for at the time. Literally “men’s hears were failing them for fear”. Up

to four o’clock however, boats continued to come ashore on the beach between Buckie and

Portessie. They only made the passage with great difficulty and peril, and it was at extreme

risk that the men got out of the boats, and, through the dashing spray and foam, reached the

beach, to receive the enthusiastic congratulations of friends on their marvellous escape. Some

six or seven boats landed in the same neighbourhood after the accident, and had their crews

saved, though most of the boats are more or less damaged.


6. Peter Murray ‘Costie’ (28) was born on 26th October 1828 the second youngest son of

James Murray and Jane Murray who had married on 9th July 1815 at Rathven. They had the

following family;-

i. George Murray Born 17th May 1817

ii. Jane Murray Born 8th September 1819

iii. John Murray born 18th April 1821

iv. William Murray Born 12th December 1823

v. Janet Murray Born 29th March 1825

vi. George Murray Born 14th July 1827

vii. Peter Murray Born 26th October 1828 Perished at sea 23rd November 1857

viii. James Murray Born 8th August 1829

His younger brother James Murray registered his death.

I tried in vain to find the marriage record of Peter Murray so had to resort to his brother George

Murray to try and relate Peter’s death to his family descendants of today.

George Murray had married Elizabeth Legg the daughter of George Legg a crofter and Isabella

Runcie. Their son James Murray was born on 8th April 1853 at Buckie. Sadly his father George

the brother of Peter Murray above died of Typhus Fever a killer disease which he suffered from

for four weeks before his death at aged 37 years. He died on 2nd October 1864 at Buckie; his

death was registered by his brother James Murray.

His widow Elizabeth did not remarry and died on 7th November 1895 at 29 Yardie Buckie from

acute Bronchitis, her brother in law William Thomson of 30 New Street, Buckie registered her

death.

In the interim period her son James Murray had married Ann Reid the daughter of James Reid

and Catherine Thain. They had married on 12th November 1875 at Rathven. Their child George

Murray, named after his now dead grandfather, was born 28th April 1887 at 62 Yardie, Buckie,

his birth registered by his father James Murray.

Unfortunately his mother suffered from Puerperal Peritonitis (Childbed fever) following his

birth and died on 8th May 1887 at their home at 62 Yardie, Buckie. Her brother in law George

Murray registered her death.


In 1895 James Murray remarried aged 42 to Jessie Murray a widow of 34, on the 2nd July 1895 at

2 Cathedral Street, Buckie after banns of the Church of Scotland. James Murray was living at

29 Yardie and his new wife at 2 Cathedral Street, Buckie. She was the daughter of James

Murray and Ann Mair. The ceremony was conducted by the Reverend James Boath Wood with

witnesses being Elizabeth Murray (Legg) and William Murray.

George Murray the son of James Murray and Annie Reid was himself married on 21st September

1917 at 15 Hall Street, Buckie under the auspices of the Baptist Church, he was 30 years of age

and a fisherman currently serving on HM Drifter “Coulard Bank” (?), his home address was 8

Pringle Street, Buckie. His new wife was Jeannie Jappy aged 24 of 15 Hall Street Buckie and

daughter of George Jappy and Elspet Findlay (Deceased) the minister was Walter James Patters

and James Murray and Maggie Jane Jappy were the witnesses.

James Murray the son of George Murray and Elizabeth Legg and who would have been the

nephew of Peter Murray who was lost on 23rd November 1857 died on 13th June 1937 at 8

Pringle Street, Buckie. He was aged 84 years. His son George of 39 Gordon Street Buckie

registered his death.

About 2.15 pm a boat, William Clark’s, was seen drifting in the direction of the harbour – we

say ’drifting ‘for it was merely a chance where most, if not all, of the boats struck; or, as the

men say, “it was just wherever wind and sea drove them”. Coming close in, this boat went

crash against the very point of the new west pier. One of her sides near the stern was

tremendously broken, and she immediately sunk. The water was comparatively shallow,

however, and so near the water’s edge , the breakers had tremendous power. The men clung

to the boat with great pertinacity, except two who, while standing at the bow, were swept

away without getting a hold of anything. The cool presence of mind, and power of action in the

other men, in this trying moment, was truly remarkable. As the two men were being washed

alongside of the boat, the rest, who were near the stern, stretched over the boat’s edge and

hauled them in over, and thus saved their lives. The boat was as likely to be driven up the

backside of the west pier as anywhere else, and there she could only have been dashed against

the rocks, and nothing could have saved anyone on board from perishing. Luckily, however,

the sea swept her right into the harbour, in the middle of which two or three heaves sent her

right upon terra firma and the men were got out quite easily, one of them, however, being a

good deal bruised, and the boat itself, to all appearances, being so damaged as to be

irreparable.


7. John Murray (19) son of George Murray ‘Gouk’ and Mary Flett

8. George Murray (22) son of George Murray ‘Gouk’ and Mary Flett

The two brothers died together when the boat went down. Both parents were still alive at the

time and to lose two sons in one accident must have been a terrible experience to them and

the siblings of George and John.

The 1851 census record for the family some six years before their death shows the family thus;-

Piece: SCT1851/164 Place: Rathven-Banffshire Enumeration District: 2 Civil Parish: Rathven Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: - Folio: 123 Page: 12 Schedule: 52 Address: East End Little Yard

Surname First Name Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Born

Murray George Head M M 40 Whitefisher Buckie

Murray Mary Wife M F 40 Buckie

Murray James Son U M 17 Whitefisher Buckie

Murray George Son U M 15 Whitefisher Buckie

Murray John Son U M 13 Whitefisher Buckie

Murray Jannet Daur F 11 Buckie

Murray Mary Daur F 8 Buckie

John Murray and George Murray parents were both still alive when there two sons were lost at

Buckie that day. George Murray Snr had been born circa 1811 see record of death in 1857

folder and was the son of James Murray and Janet Clark. George Snr died 12th December 1886

at Yardie Buckie from Bronchitis and his death was registered by his daughter Janet. Mary Flett

his wife died aged 79 years on 30th January 1890 at Portessie, her parents were William Flett

and Mary Sutherland, Mary Flett died of gradual decay through age and her death was

registered by her son James Murray.

As you can see from the census record above there is no mention of the oldest brother of the

family and first son, he was William Murray born 23rd December 1831. He has obviously left

the family home perhaps to set up his own home as he would have been 20 years of age at the

time of the census record. That was a fairly standard age for young fishermen to get married.

The other older brother of John and George Murray was James Murray born 20th September

1833. He was married on 12th December 1856 to Mary Findlay the daughter of William Findlay

and Margaret Bruce. He was a 22 years old fisherman and Mary Findlay was aged 22 and a

domestic servant. They were married in Buckie by the Reverend James Crichton with witnesses

being William Gaitland and John Murray (presumed to be brother John who perished at sea on


23rd November 1857) Like many young people of the day the young couple had little schooling

and both made their mark on their wedding forms. They had at least one son George Murray

who registered his father James Murray’s death aged 63 years on 12th April 1895, he died at his

home address of 32 Yardie Buckie, his wife Mary Findlay was still alive at the time of his death

from Apoplexy. His wife Mary Findlay died aged 64 on the 14th June 1898 at her home address

at 32 Yardie Buckie. Her death was registered by her Daughter Margaret and her death was

caused by Chronic Nephritis and General Dropsy.

Their son George Murray later married Helen Garden, the daughter of George Garden and

Jeannie Simpson. The couple had a son who followed the long line of George Murrays. His

father George Murray pre-deceased his wife Helen Garden when he died aged 57 years of a

Cerebral Haemorrhage at his home address 2 Blantyre Street, Ianstown Buckie on 23rd February

1920. His brother in law, George Garden of 6 Seafield Street, Buckie registered his death.

His widow Helen Garden died on 14th September 1932 at her home in 6 Blantyre Terrace,

Ianstown, Buckie from Syncope, Gastritis, and Myocarditis with her son George Murray

registering her death.

It is possible that this latest George Murray is also deceased but his children, presuming he had

children, will still be living around the Buckie area.

Another boat, George Buie’s, in this vicinity had a startling escape. Nearing the harbour the

boat lost her helm, when, turning round, William Geddes “Bozen”, laid hold of an old one which

was lying in the bottom of the boat, leaned over the gunwhale, and steering with it as well as

he could, in the direction of Portgordon, the boat actually reached that port, a distance of

nearly a couple of miles westward, and was carried up the west side, where assistance was

immediately rendered, and, by the praiseworthy exertions of those on shore, boat and crew

were safely hauled round to the harbour.

Of the twenty nine boats out they are accounted for as follows;- Seven landed at Craigenroan;

one at the mouth of the Burn of Rathven, eleven at the “Sauters”, three at the Neuk; three at

the harbour; one at the mouth of the burn of Gollachy; one was lost at the Neuk as above

described.


Another boat, the “Pink”, however, which we have not yet noticed, was the cause of great

alarm and excitement. Night arrived, and it was still amissing, and no intelligence was got

respecting it until Wednesday, when news was received that it had gone ashore at Nairn, or

rather a little to the west of the port. Not a soul was on board this boat when it was found

lying much damaged upon the shore. The men’s chests were also found at different points

scattered along the beach in the same vicinity. Nothing is known, of course, as the exact

circumstances under which the crew had perished, although it is probable that, as in the case

of the others, the boat had swamped near the shore. None of the bodies of this crew, however,

have been found up to Saturday last. It is, of course to be understood that the men, from being

so far up the Firth, had been trying to make for Cromarty.

The Portgordon boat Pink was found in bits along the shore line at Nairn, there was no sign of any of the crew whose

bodies were never recovered from the sea.


Pink

The remains of the Pink found having been wrecked ashore near Nairn. None of its crew were

ever recovered despite extensive searches being carried out.

Name Age M/S Parents Regd. By 1. Alexander Stuart 48 M John Stuart (Dec) Body Not Found George Stuart ‘Skipper’ Helen Reid Brother 2. James Coull 19 S Peter Coull Body Not Found Peter Coull ‘Dumpie’ Mary Smith Father 3. John Stuart 19 S George Stuart Body Not Found George Stewart ‘Lordie’ Isabella Reid Father 4. Alexander Geddes 35 M William Geddes (Dec) Body Not Found Peter Geddes

‘Sewty’ Elizabeth Edward (Dec) Nephew 5. John Hay Snr. 51 M James Hay (Dec) Body Not Found Alexander Hay Ann Geddes (Dec) Brother 6. James Hay 25 M John Hay (Dec) Body Not Found Alexander Hay Margaret Bruce Uncle 7. John Hay Jnr 17 M John Hay (Dec) Body Not Found Alexander Hay Margaret Bruce

We shall follow the lives of the crewmen as much as we can to give a picture of the men and

the families they left behind. Sometimes this task is fairly straightforward, at other times the

vagaries of the time sometimes hinder any searching. Some of our ancestors were less than

scrupulous when dealing with the registration of their children. I think that sometimes they

may have thought that they had better things to do in ensuring their children survived in the

difficulties of the times they were born – rather than worry too much about getting the details

down on paper.

John Hay and his two sons James and John Junior died together on the Pink. In common with

many of the fishing boats it was family members or relatives who made up the crews of

individual boats. The familial ties held them together in life and in death.


1. Alexander Stuart ‘Skipper’ 48 was born 25th September 1808 the fourth child of John

Stuart and Helen Reid, they had been married on 9th May 1801 at Rathven and had the following

family. John Stuart (the name fluctuated with its spelling) had died before his son Alexander

was lost at sea. His wife Helen died 24th March 1865 aged 86 years; she was the daughter of

James Reid and Margaret Farquhar. Her son Peter Stewart registered her death.

Margaret Stewart Born 17th January 1802.

Elspet Stewart Born 12th August 1804

James Stewart Born 27th July 1806

Alexander Stewart Born 25th September 1808 perished on 23rd November 1857

John Stewart Born 8th June 1811

Peter Stewart

Alexander Stewart had married Janet Thain the daughter of Alexander Thain and Janet Reid.

The family of Alexander Stewart ‘Skipper’ at the census in 1851

Piece: SCT1851/164 Place: Rathven -Banffshire Enumeration District: 5 Civil Parish: Rathven Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: - Folio: 123 Page: 4 Schedule: 14. Address: 14 Nether Buckie Surname First Name Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Stewart Alexander Head M M 43 White Fisher

Stewart Janet Wife M F 37

Stewart John Son U M 14 White-fisher

Stewart Margaret Daur F 10 Scholar

Stewart Alexander Son M 8 Scholar

Stewart Helen Daur F 6 Scholar

Thain Ketty Servant U F 20 Servant

His widow Janet Thain died on 2nd July 1888 at her home 83 Main Street, Buckie; She was 77

years of age. Her son John Stewart registered her birth.

John Stewart had been born in 1838 and was the first born son of Alexander and his wife Janet,

he married on 26th November 1859 at Buckie at the Established Church of Scotland, he was 21

years of age and was a fisherman. He married Margaret Coull also aged 21 and of Nether

Buckie, she was the daughter of William Coull and Margaret Reid. The minister James Crichton

officiated at the ceremony and the witnesses were John Stewart and George Coull.

Their son George Stewart was born on 31st October 1868 at Nether Buckie, his father John

Stewart registered the birth.

This grandson of Alexander Stewart - George Stewart got married on the 14th September 1900

when he was 29 years of age and at 83 Main Street Buckie, he was married after banns of the

Church of Scotland at 5 Bowie Lane Buckie the home of his bride, a widow, Jane Stewart also


aged 29 and the daughter of Charles Stewart and Catherine Clark. The minister was Robert

Galbraith and witnesses were John Stewart and John Grant.

The next event in the lives of the descendants of the family of Alexander Stewart was the

death of Margaret Stewart wife of John Stewart, she died on 7th March 1913 at 88 Main Street,

Buckie, she was 72 years of age and her death was registered by her son George Stewart of 66

Main Street, Buckie.

The husband of Margaret Stewart and son of Alexander Stewart followed when he died on 6th

August 1925 at Seafield Cottage, Buckie with his usual residence at 14 Lennox Place

Portgordon. He was 86 years of age. His daughter in law Jane Stewart of 66 Main Street,

Buckie registered his death.


2. James Coull ‘Dumpie’ 19 Son of Peter Coull ‘Dumpie’ and Mary Smith who

married on 21st October 1837 had the following children. Peter Coull was the son of Peter Coull

‘Dumpie’ and Margaret Reid and was born in 1811. Mary Smith was the daughter of James

Smith and Margaret Flett. Peter Coull died on 10th September 1880 aged 69 years with his son

Peter Coull ‘Dumpie’ registering his death. Mary Coull died on 15th January 1897 at 129 Main

Street, Buckie; her death was registered by her daughter Margaret Geddes of Seaview Road,

Buckie.

They had the following family.

James Coull born December 1837 – lost at sea 23rd November 1857

Peter Coull Born 1840

Margaret Coull Born 1844

William Coull Born 1846

John Coull Born 1850

Mary Coull Born 1855 died 6th February 1857.

Piece: SCT1851/164 Place: Rathven -Banffshire Enumeration District: 5

Civil Parish: Rathven Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: -

Folio: 123 Page: 11 Schedule: 41 Address: 41 Nether Buckie

Surname First Name Rel Status Sex Age Occupation

Coull Peter Head M M 39 White fisher

Coull Mary Wife M F 38

Coull James Son U M 13 Scholar

Coull Peter Son M 10 Scholar

Coull Margaret Daur F 8 Scholar

Coull William Son M 4

Coull John Son M 1

Coull Janet Servant U F 21 Servant

James Coull’s younger sister Margaret married James Hay the son of George Hay and Ann

Thomson on 30th September 1865 at Buckie at the Free Church of Scotland, she was 21 years of

age at the time, the same age as her husband James , the minister was Robert Shanks and the

witnesses were Peter Coull and James Hay.

The young couple had only been married three and a half short years when James Hay was lost

at sea in the Moray Firth between Helmsdale and Buckie on 28th February 1869 along with seven

of his crew mates when their fishing boat the Preshome was lost with all hands.


Margaret Coull remarried on 17th January 1880 at Buckie under the forms of the United

Presbyterian Church. She was aged 33 years at that date. She married James Geddes, a 34

years old widower, son of James Geddes (Deceased) and Margaret Innes. The Rev John Cook

presided with William Coull and Margaret Geddes as the witnesses.

Margaret Coull died on 2nd February 1924 at 18 Seaview Road, Buckie aged 79 years. Her

husband James Geddes had pre-deceased her. Her son William Geddes registered her death.

John Coull was 7 years old when his older brother James was lost at sea. The first trace I found

of him was his second marriage to Jessie Cowie a 28 years old widow. He was 33 years of age,

a fisherman living in Nether Buckie. Jessie Cowie was living at the Seatown Buckie and was the

28 years old daughter (and a widow) of John Cowie and Janet Cowie. The couple were married

at Buckie after banns according to the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, they were married by

Alexander Miller the Free Church minister of Buckie with William Reaich and John Black being

the witnesses.

John Coull died on 23 June 1923 at his home at 129 Main Street Buckie; his son Peter Coull


Peter Coull was 16 when his big brother died at sea. Peter went on to marry Hellen Stewart at

the Established Church of Scotland in Buckie on 18th January 1867. Hellen Stewart was the

daughter of Alexander Stewart and Janet Thain, The reverend James Mack officiated with John

Stewart and Peter Coull as the witnesses. At the time Peter was 34 years old and Hellen was

20 years.


3. John Stuart ‘Lordie’ 19 years; was born c1837 the eldest and first born son of George

Stuart and Isabella Reid. George Stuart was the son of John Stuart and Helen Reid who had

married on 9th May 1801 at Rathven. Isabella Reid was the daughter of James Reid and Isabella

Sinclair who had married 13th October 1809. Isabella had been born 27th September 1815 at

Rathven

The 1851 census record for the family of George and Isabella Stewart who resided at 81 Nether

Buckie.

Piece: SCT1851/164 Place: Rathven -Banffshire Enumeration District: 5 Civil Parish: Rathven Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: - Folio: 123 Page: 21 Schedule: 85 Address: 81 Nether Buckie Surname First Name Rel Status Sex Age Occupation

Stewart George Head M M 35 White Fisher

Stewart Isabella Wife M F 35

Stewart John Son U M 14 White fisher

Stewart James Son U M 12

Stewart William Son M 9

Stewart George Son M 2

Stewart Isabella Daur F 5m

George Stewart died on 30th May 1890 when he was lost overboard 3 ½ miles off Buckie, he was

on the helm at the time. His body was never recovered. His death was registered by a

neighbour John Bowie. At the time of his death George was resident at 1 Seaview Road, Buckie

and he was aged 74 years.

His wife Isabella died aged 81 years at home 1 Seaview Road, Buckie on 1st April 1895. Her

neighbour John Bowie of 2 Seaview Road Buckie registered her death.

I have concentrated on John’s sibling William Stewart who was born in 1842 to try and trace

descendants of the family. William Stewart married when he was 28 years old, he married on

5th November 1869 at Buckie after banns according to the Free Church of Scotland, his wife


Mary Coull was the daughter of Peter Coull and Margaret Jappy. She was also aged 28 years.

The minister Robert Shanks officiated with John Stewart and John Sinclair being the witnesses.

Mary Coull died aged 54 years on 15th March 1891 at 22 Seaview Road, Buckie from Pneumonia,

her husband William Stewart registered her death.

William Stewart remarried on 21st October 1891 at 1 Seaview Road, Buckie under the Free

Church of Scotland. He was aged 45 years. He married 29 years old Margaret Kinnaird

daughter of Alexander Kinnaird and Isabella Mayne. The minister Alexander Miller conducted

the ceremony with John Stewart and George Sutherland as witnesses.

William Stewart died on 9th November 1920 at 18 Land Street, Buckie, he was 76 years old. His

step-son William Campbell of 25 Land Street, Buckie registered his death.


4. Alexander Geddes ‘Sewty’ was the 35 years son of William Geddes (Deceased) and

Elizabeth Edward (Deceased). His parents had married on 16th April 1820 at Rathven.

Alexander had been born on 18th December 1822.

He had the following siblings;-

William Geddes Born 31st December 1820 at Rathven.

Janet Geddes Born 21st April 1827 at Rathven

On 17th October 1847 Alexander Geddes married Jane Thain the daughter of James Thain and

Janet Anderson; Jane was born on 30th July 1826. The young couple had three children

Margaret Geddes was born in 1848 and Alexander born in 1854 and Jane whose family are noted

below.

The 1851 census record sees the family at 31 Nether Buckie.

Piece: SCT1851/164 Place: Rathven -Banffshire Enumeration District: 5 Civil Parish: Rathven Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: - Folio: 123 Page: 9 Schedule: 31 Address: 31 Nether Buckie Surname First Name Rel Status Sex Age Occupation

Geddes Alexander Head M M 28 White Fisher

Geddes Jane Wife M F 23

Geddes Margaret Daur F 3

Geddes Margaret Servant U F 20 Servant

His widow Jane died on 27 February 1915 at her home in 4 Commerce Street, Buckie aged 88

years. Her death was registered by her son-in-law Peter Taylor.

Peter Taylor was the son of Alexander Taylor and Jane Geddes and was born on 14th June 1859

at Portgordon. He married Jane Geddes on 18th November 1887 at Gollachy Village after banns

according to the Wesleyan Methodist Church, Peter Taylor was resident at the Square

Portgordon and Jane at Buckpool; both of their fathers were deceased. The Ceremony was

conducted by John E Lewis with the witnesses Alexander Forbes and Peter Sudding.

Jane Taylor died on 31st October 1933 at 33 Gordon Street, Portgordon; her death was

registered by her son John Taylor. Her husband Peter died on 15th January 1946 at the same

address. He was aged 86 years. His death was registered by his son Alexander Taylor.


The son named Alexander Geddes after his father, who was born in 1854, was just three years

old when his father was lost at sea. He married on 18th January 1878 at Buckie under the Banns

of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland when he was aged 23 to Margaret Cowie also 23 years of

age and the daughter of Alexander Cowie and Margaret Murray. They were married by the

minister of the Free Church of Scotland Rev. Alexander Miller with James Thain and John

Murray as witnesses.

Margaret Geddes died aged 40 years on 25th November 1895 at her home at 104 Main Street,

Buckpool; the cause of death was Puerperal Eclampsia. Her brother in law James Geddes of 35

Great Western Road, Buckie registered her death.

Alexander Geddes remarried on 31st December 1897 at The Hall, Portgordon after banns

according to the Free Church of Scotland. He was 41 years of age and residing at 104 Main

Street, Buckpool. He married Jessie Geddes aged 25 of 1 Duke Street, Portgordon who was the

daughter of Alexander Geddes and Margaret Thain. The Free Church minister of Enzie

Reverend Archibald Kerr officiated at the ceremony with witness Peter Taylor and William

Geddes being the witnesses.

Alexander Geddes died on 25th March 1942 at 104 Main Street, Buckpool with his death being

registered by his son Alexander Geddes of 14 Anton Road, Buckie registering his death.


5. John Hay Snr. 51 years, son of James Hay and Ann Geddes who had married on 18th

October 1798 at Rathven. John Hay married Margaret Bruce the daughter of James Bruce and

Margaret Hay on 27th February 1831.

6. James Hay 25 years son of John Hay (Deceased) and Margaret Bruce

7. John Hay Jnr 17 years son of John Hay (Deceased) and Margaret Bruce

The family were all together in their home in Nether Buckie in 1851 when the census was

taken.

Piece: SCT1851/164 Place: Rathven -Banffshire Enumeration District: 5 Civil Parish: Rathven Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: - Folio: 123 Page: 32 Schedule: 135 Address: Nether Buckie Surname First Name Rel Status Sex Age Occupation

Hay John Head M M 48 White Fisher

Hay Margaret Wife M F 41

Hay James Son U M 20 White Fisher

Hay Ann Daur U F 13

Hay John Son U M 11 White Fisher

Hay Alexander Son M 9

Hay George Son M 6

Hay Margaret Daur F 2

What a severe blow it must have been to Margaret Hay, she had lost her husband and two

eldest boys in one severe and cruel storm. What devastation it wreaked on the family, she was

left to pick up the remnants of her family and had no choice but to struggle on without the

support of her husband John and suffering the loss of her two eldest sons. It is almost

impossible to comprehend the grief, sorrow and heartache the woman must have gone through.

John Hay died along with his two eldest sons, James and John who were like him White-fishers.

Margaret Hay m.s. Bruce died on 19th December 1886 at 6 Sutherland Street, Buckie. Her son

George Hay registered her death.

Alexander Hay, who was aged 15 when he lost his father and two elder brothers, was married

to Mary Reid, he was aged 22 and she aged 23, they were married on 26th November 1864 at

Buckie in a Church of Scotland ceremony by the Reverend John Webster, Mary Reid was the

daughter of John Reid and Mary Cowie m.s. Thomson, witnesses at the ceremony were William

Cowie and Peter Hay.

Alexander Hay died aged 69 years on 8th July 1912 of heart failure in his home at 2 Hay Street,

Buckie; his nephew John Hay of 9 James Street, Buckie registered his death.


This is the vicinity where the second unnamed Portgordon boat was lost, on the left at the top of the map it shows

Logie Head, to the west of that lies Cullen Bay and the village of Cullen.

Like many other boats in this day of severe winds and mountainous waves, the men out in the

boats were at the mercy of the sea. Their skills were somewhat negated when they were left

with nothing to use their fine honed skills on, no steerage, no sails, no control, they went

where the wind and sea took them and had little they could do to change that direction.

Portgordon Boat

Name Age M/S Parents Regd. By 1. Alexander Reid 46 M James Reid (Dec) James Reid ‘Brave’ Ann Reid Son 2. Peter Coull 55 M Peter Coull (Dec) James Coull ‘Skipper’ Isabella Thain Brother 3. James Coull 29 M Peter Coull (Dec) James Coull ‘Skipper’ Margaret Clark Uncle 4. John Reid 44 M James Reid (Dec) James Coull Ann Reid (Dec) Neighbour 5. James Cowie 54 M James Cowie (Dec) John Geddes Mary Jappy (Dec) Neighbour 6. John Coull 45 M William Coull (Dec) Alexander Coull Jane Reid (Dec) Brother in Law 7. James Cowie Jnr 19 U James Cowie (Dec) John Geddes Margaret Reid Neighbour 8. Alexander Geddes 16 U William Geddes John Geddes Mary Cowie Cousin


1. Alexander Reid ‘Brave’ 46, was born circa 1811 the son of James Reid (deceased) and Ann Reid who had married on 27th September 1805.

The 1851 census record for Alexander Reid and his wife Janet shows as follows.



Folio: 123 Page: 14 Schedule: 53 Address: 53 Nether Buckie


Reid Alexander Head M M 39 White fisher

Reid Janet Wife M F 39

Murray Helen Servant U F 23

From the information above it looks as if the couple had no family which would allow

the tracing of their descendants. This is the only census record I could find for the name

Alexander Geddes of that age group in that location.

I shall have to content myself with that unless further information comes forward which would

give some sort of indication that there were family members following on. I could not even

find any family for James Reid and Ann Reid. It is possible that they did not register the births

of their children. It was a fairly common occurrence prior to 1855 when it became a statutory

obligation to provide details of births, marriages and deaths to the local registrar.


2. Peter Coull ‘Skipper’ 55 was born circa 1802 at Rathven the son of Peter Coull and Isabella Thain. He married Margaret Clark the daughter of William Clark and Ann Smith on 17th January 1826.

She died aged 80 years on 4th November 1881 at Portgordon. Her son Peter Coull registered her

death.

Quite by accident while researching another fatality from the same boat, I found Peter Coull

who was the eldest son of Peter Coull and his wife Margaret Clark.

The family as they were at the 1851 census



Folio: 123 Page: 5 Schedule: 15

Address: 15 Nether Buckie


Coull Peter Head M M 50 White Fisher

Coull Margaret Wife M F 47

Coull Peter Son U M 31 White Fisher

Coull Jane Daur W F 28

Coull Elspet Daur U F 26

Coull John Son U M 20 White Fisher

Coull Mary Daur U F 15

Coull Alexander Jappy Grandson M 4m

Their son James, who also perished on the same day as his father, had already left the family

home and was married to Margaret Reid.

Peter Coull the elder brother of James Coull died on 19th August 1919 at 10 Hope Street,

Portgordon he was 77 years of age and the widower of Helen Fraser. His nephew Alexander

Garden of Seaview Portgordon registered his uncles’ death.

Helen Coull had pre-deceased her husband on 11th January 1917 at 5 High Street West,

Portgordon; she was 72 years of age and the daughter of Thomas Fraser and Margaret Bruce.

Alexander Garden who is listed as a neighbour of Seaview Portgordon registered the death.


3. James Coull ‘Skipper’ 29 years was the son of Peter Coull and Margaret Clark above. He had married Margaret Reid on 21st October 1847 at Rathven and their son Peter was born in 1850.


Civil Parish: Rathven Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: Enzie

Folio: 123 Page: 29 Schedule: 107 Address: Mid Street, Portgordon


Coull James Head M M 22 White Fisher

Coull Margaret Wife M F 21

Coull Peter Son M 1

Coull Margaret Servant F 10 General Servant

The first place I checked for descendants was the 1861 census record for the family. This came up with

This shows Mary Coull with her 3 sons, Peter aged 11, William aged 9 and James aged 7. Mary

has used the shortened version of Margaret on this record but I am fairly certain it is Margaret

Reid – Coull.

On 11th June 1875 at Gollachy Village and according to the forms of the Free Church of

Scotland, William Coull aged 21 (according to the census he would be 23), the son of James

Coull and Margaret Reid (on this certificate the word Mary was initially given as the first name

of his mother but scored through and Margaret substituted), he married Margaret Innes the

daughter of William Innes and Ann Coull, the minister was Charles William Barclay with

witnesses being William Innes and George Innes.

James Coull married on 6th October 1882 at Portgordon according to the forms of the Wesleyan

Methodist Church. He was aged 25 years (which is much different from the census record!) and

a fisherman, his parents were listed as James Coull and Margaret Reid, it was noted that the

father was not marked as “(deceased)” as normal. He married 21 years old Helen Geddes the

daughter of Peter Geddes and Mary Riach. At the time of their marriage the young groom was

staying at Gollachy village and the Bride at Port Gordon. The minister was James W Clucas

with witnesses William Geddes and Peter Coull.


On 10th October 1884 at Port Gordon, his brother Peter Coull was married according to the rites

of the Free Church of Scotland. He was given as aged 25 (which again disagrees with the

census record of 1861!). His parents were James Coull (again he was not “(deceased)” on the

paperwork and Margaret Reid. He was resident at Gollachy Village. He married 19 years old

Margaret Innes of Port Gordon, the daughter of James Innes and Catherine Farquhar with the

witnesses being John Farquhar and Alexander Coull.

On 15th December 1911 at Portgordon according to the forms of the United Free Church of

Scotland, William Coull aged 27 of 135 Main Street Buckpool and son of William Coull and

Maggie Murray married Isabella Coull aged 26 of 9 Richmond Place, Portgordon and the

daughter of William Coull and Margaret Innes. The minister was Archibald Kerr and the

witnesses were George Coull and Nellie Bruce.

On 21st February 1929 at 9 Richmond Place, Port Gordon William Coull died aged 76 years

(which more or less agrees with the age given at the 1861 census) his neighbour Charles (or

James) R Mitchell registered his death. His wife Margaret Innes was still alive at the time of

her husband’s death.

On 20th November 1930 at 8 Richmond Place, Port Gordon, James Coull died aged 74 years

(again this is more accurate with regard to the census record of 1861) His son William James

Coull registered his father’s death.

On 18th February 1945 Helen Coull daughter of Peter Geddes and Mary Reiach died aged 83

years at Richmond Place Portgordon, her son William James Coull registered her death


4. John Reid 44, was born circa 1813 the son of James Reid and Ann Reid who were married on 27th September 1805 Unfortunately I have not managed to find out anything else about John Reid who is

presumably the brother of Alexander Reid ‘Brave’ who is two years older and given as the

son of James Reid and Ann Reid. Without further information on him it is impossible at

the moment to take any of his descendants forward. I am hopeful that anyone reading

this may be able to provide some other information which will enable me to take his

family further. If anyone has further information which would assist I would ask them to

get in touch via the Buckie Fishing Heritage Museum. I will take it from there and if

possible will include the information in future prints of this episode.


5. James Cowie 54 was born on 23rd November 1803 the son of James Cowie and Mary

Jappy. He married Margaret Reid the daughter of Alexander Reid and Ann Sinclair. She had

been born circa 1814.

6. James Cowie Jnr.19 was born 1841 the son of James Cowie and Margaret Reid

I first looked at the 1841 census record for the family as I anticipated that some of the family

may have married and moved home given that James and his wife Margaret would have been

married some time before the 1841 census record being taken.

Piece: SCT1841/152 Place: Enzie -Banffshire Enumeration District: 1 Civil Parish: Rathven Ecclesiastical Parish,

Village or Island: Enzie QS Folio: 1 Page: 2 Address: Portgordon.

Surname First Name Sex Age Occupation

Cowie James M 35 Whitefisher

Cowie Margaret F 30

Cowie Ann F 17

Cowie Jannet F 13

Cowie Mary F 11

Cowie Margaret F 9

Cowie Hellen F 5

Cowie James M 1

The differences between the two census reports tell their own story. The ages for the parents in

the 1841 census record are not terribly accurate. It should be remembered that some census

enumerators were instructed to round down the ages to the nearest number with either a five or

a zero in there. This appears to work for the adults above but not the children.

It seems that Margaret Reid’s mother has died between the censuses records being taken and

that her father has moved in with his daughter and son in law.

It also appears that Ann Cowie has married a man called Clark and their daughter Helen Clark is

in evidence at her grand-parents home during the 1851 census record. Ann was 17 when the

1840 record was taken.

I have traced a marriage of Margaret Cowie who married John Geddes c 1852, their son George

Geddes was born 18 Dec 1853. John Geddes was the son of William Geddes and Mary Cowie.

John Geddes was lost at sea off Burghead along with 3 companions when their open boat

capsized in bad weather on 19th February 1865. This is dealt with in another sad tale which has

yet to be published.


I think that Jannet Cowie (known as Jean) may have married another George Geddes with their

son also called George being born 19th November 1870 although he is unlikely to have registered

his grandmothers death some 11 years later.

Mary had also married in the period between the censuses. On 25th March 1854 she had married

James Murray at Rathven. She died on 26th December 1867 at Buckie from Angina. Her death

was registered by her brother in law James Murray.

It is difficult to select one member to take the family forward a generation or two as there are

no male members of the family surviving after the disaster. The females of the family have

taken different names on marriage and that makes it just a bit more difficult to trace the

lineage of the family.

The 1851 census record shows




Surname First Name Rel Status Sex Age Occ

Cowie James Head M M 49 White-fisher

Cowie Margaret Wife M F 51

Cowie Jannet Daur U F 25 General Servant

Cowie Hellen Daur F 12

Cowie James Son M 10 Scholar

Reid Alexander F In Law W 80

Clark Hellen Grdaur F 1

Both James Cowie and his son James Cowie perished together on that fateful day. His wife

Margaret was left to look after her remaining family.

By 1861 all of the family had gone leaving Margaret Cowie living alone at her home at 99

Portgordon, she is 60 years of age and a fisherman’s widow.

Margaret Cowie died on 25 January 1881 in Portgordon, she was 67 years of age, and her death

was registered by her grandson George Geddes who was the son of John Geddes and Margaret

Cowie the daughter.


George Geddes had married on 11th December 1879 at Port Gordon after banns according to the

Wesleyan Methodist Church. He was 24 at the time; his wife was Ann Grigor aged 20 the

daughter of John Grigor and Margaret Geddes, the minister was W H Coradine and witnesses

were James Geddes and George Humphry.

I can find no trace of the death of either George Geddes or Ann Grigor and it is possible that

they moved out of Scotland after 1881 when George registered his grandmother’s death.


7. John Coull. 45 was the son of William Coull and Jane Reid. Jane Coull was born circa

1796 and was the daughter of Peter Reid and Jane Geddes, she died just months before her son

John perished at sea in the Storm of 23rd November 1857. She was the widow of William Coull

and was 63 years of age when she died at Portgordon on 26th April 1857, she is buried in

Rathven Cemetery and her death was registered by her son Peter Coull

The 1851 census record for John Coull and his family is as follows;-



Folio: 123 Page: 18 Schedule: 69 Address: Geddies Court


Coull John Head M M 40 Fisherman

Coull Hellen Wife M F 46

Coull Jane Daur F 14

Coull William Son M 12

Coull John Son M 6

William Coull the son of John Coull and Hellen Murray was married on 27th February 1864 at

Buckie Chapel after banns according to the Church of Scotland. He was 22 years of age, his

bride was Catherine Findlay the 23 years old daughter of James Findlay and Helen Geddes

previously McKenzie. The minister John Webster of Buckie officiated with John Sutherland and

Andrew Findlay the witnesses.

Andrew Coull was born on 21st August 1880 at Jamaica Street, Peterhead, son of William Coull

and Catherine Findlay. His father registered his birth at Peterhead and at Rathven.

William Coull died on 11th February 1902 at 1 John Street, Buckie; he was 60 years of age

according to the certificate and his son in law George Geddes of Sea View Road, Buckie


His son Andrew Coull had married aged 25 on 28th December 1906 at Buckie after banns

according to the Church of Scotland. He was staying at 1 John Street at that time. He married

Nellie Cowie the 24 years old daughter of William Cowie and Ann Findlay. The minister John

Anderson officiated with Annie Geddes and William Cowie the witnesses.

Catherine Findlay died on 20th August 1910 at 1 John Street, Buckie aged 69 years. Her son

Andrew Coull registered his mother’s death.


8. Alexander Geddes was born 28th February 1841 the youngest son of William Geddes

and Mary Cowie. Their family was as follows;-

i. George Geddes Born 6th November 1825

ii. John Geddes Born 6th November 1825

iii. William Geddes Born 7th March 1827

iv. George Geddes Born 6th February 1831

v. Helen Geddes Born 8th January 1834

vi. Mary Geddes Born 3rd November 1837

vii. Alexander Geddes Born 28th February 1841 died 23rd November 1857.

viii. James Geddes Born 1843

He died aged just 16 years. He was in all respects a man like his father and brothers, doing the

job he was born to, a fisherman ploughing the deep for the fish. His mother and father were to

follow shortly to their own graves, no doubt assisted by the early death of their second

youngest child.

The 1851 Census record for the family shows;-





Geddes William Head M M 51 Whitefisher

Geddes Mary Wife M F 49

Geddes Hellen Daur U F 19 Herring Net weaver

Geddes Mary Daur U F 17

Geddes Alexander Son M 12

Geddes James Son M 8

Mary Cowie soon followed her son as she died less than six months after her second youngest

son Alexander on 13th April 1858 at Portgordon, her parents George Cowie and Helen Jappy

were both deceased at the time of her death which was registered by George Murray her

brother in Law.

James Geddes the youngest son of the family was married on 27th September 1866 at

Portgordon at a Church of Scotland ceremony. He was 22 years of age at the time and a

Seaman, both his parents were deceased at the time of the wedding. His wife was Jane

Thomson who was the 18 years old daughter of John Thomson a Seaman in the Merchant

Service and Jane Geddes. The minister C H Barclay officiated with witnesses being Peter Coull

and John Coull.


The death of Peter Geddes ‘Knapsy’

On a day of tragedy when so many lives were lost the story of the death of Peter Geddes is

perhaps the most tragic and poignant. Using his skills and seamanship he had managed to get

his boat and crew of three out of the tumultuous seas and to the relative safety of shore.

Peter Geddes was the skipper of a four man crew where were probably out in a Scaffie, they

made it ashore but when crossing a swollen torrent of a burn once ashore he was lost and

swept out to sea.

Apparently the men were making their way homewards along the shore, en route they had to

negotiate a ‘bridge’ over the fast flowing Tynet Burn. The bridge was nothing but a narrow

plank of wood. One of the young men in his crew could not face crossing the burn by the plank

so chose to wade across the swollen torrent. As he was crossing by that method the skipper

Peter Geddes made his way carefully across the narrow plank of wood. He was almost across

when the young man shouted for help, he could neither go backwards or forwards and was

standing in the deep water in great danger of being swept away. Peter Geddes reached out to

help the young man and over balanced into the torrent. He was swiftly swept out to sea before

anyone could assist him and was lost.

The fortunate young man managed to scramble the remainder of the burn by himself and

reached safety.

The sad loss of a brave man, he sacrificed own life for that of another..

Peter Geddes 48 M Alexander Geddes (Dec) William Cowie ‘Knapsy’ Margaret Stuart Neighbour

Peter Geddes was the ninth man to have perished from the small village of Portgordon that

fateful day. A number of their boats were out that day, two managed to get into the harbour

at Portgordon, another, the fishing boat “Bell” managed to reach safety at the Sauters near

Buckie. In all nine fishermen from the village of Portgordon perished leaving 7 widows, and 23

children behind. Most of the fishermen in Portgordon were members of the Fishermen’s

Society in fact only about ten in the village were NOT members of the society, sadly that

included all eight men lost at Logie Head.

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part two 1857 disaster - axford's abode · unfortunately this was not in place when the...

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