Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 2 Apr 1871, Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Notes:

Birth:

1869 Statutory Births

William Thain Fraser (Illegitimate)

Born 23 Dec 1868 at Muir of Law, Kennethmont

Mother: Ann Fraser, Domestic Servant
Informant: Ann Fraser, mother

Register of Corrected Entry (RCE):

In the fourth column of Entry No. 3 in the Register Book of Births for the year 1869, beofre the name of the Child's mother, insert George Thain, farm servant, on the authority of a Certificate in the form of Schedule F to the following effecttt: In an action relating to the paternity of a male child named ____ born 23rd December 1868, at the instance of Ann Fraser residing at Mosshead of Clatt against George Thain sometime farm servant at Wardhead, Insch, now residing in Aberdeen, the Sheriff Court of Aberdeenshire on the 21st day of January 1870 found that the said child was the illegitimate child of the parties aforesaid. March 31, 1870 at Kennethmont, William Gerard, Registrar

Census:
At Mains of Law:

Helen Mackie, Head, Unmarried, female age 58, Stocking knitter
Helen Ewing, Granddaughter, female age 5
William Fraser, Granson, male age 2

All born at Kennethmont

George married Ann Susan Beattie Fraser about 1862 in Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Ann (daughter of Alexander Fraser and Helen Mackie) was born on 17 Dec 1843 in Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; was christened on Yes, date unknown; died on 24 Jul 1918 in Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 30 Mar 1851, Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
• Census: 7 Apr 1861, Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
• Census: 2 Apr 1871, Leslie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
• Immigration: 1876, Greene, Iowa, USA; Arrival
• Residence: 1880, Junction, Greene, Iowa, USA
• Residence: 1900, Hardin, Greene, Iowa, USA
• Residence: 1910, Jefferson, Greene, Iowa, USA

Notes:

CH2/1057/3 Records of Kennethmont Kirk Session, 1792-1871

P. 324 7 November 1868
Compeared An Fraser stating that she was with child and accusing George Thain as the father. It being a tri? and she being an adherent of the Congregational church she was dismissed and summoned to appear at next meeting of session.

by Mary Anne Hrubesky:
ALEXANDER FRASER AND HIS FAMILY

A number of questions remain about events in the lives of Alexander and his family. Census records in Scotland were not as helpful as usual but some facts were gathered from Old Parish Records. It is a sure thing that he and Helen Mackie hahahad a child together, Annie Susan Beattie Fraser. It isn't certain whether they were married or for how long they might have remained married. The few records available here are confusing and a lack of knowledge about family customs in Scotland in the mid-1850s made it more difficult.

In the 1851 census, about eight years after Alexander's daughter Annie Susan was born, he is living with his stepmother and brother. His wife (?) Helen Mackie appears to be living with her son James Anderson and daughter Annie Susan Fraser. Both she and Alexander list their addresses as "The Law" which may be a small village or a farming (Kinnethmont is often spelled as Kennethmont.) This may or may not be meaningful. Records for Alexander have not been found past this point. He may also have eventually immigrated to the United States but has not been located.

As for Helen Mackie, she used "Mackie, her maiden name, throughout her life in Scotland. This was a common custom for women in Scotland and likely has no other meaning. She was first found in the 1841 census, single and living with a large group of people, some of whom are Mackies. In 1851 she is with her son James Anderson, age 9-10 and daughter Annie Susan Fraser, age 7. No information on the father of James Anderson is given so, whether Helen was married for a short period before she and Alexander came together, is unknown. James could possibly have been a foster child.

Annie Susan Beattie Fraser, daughter of Alexander and Helen, had married and given birth to three children. Her husband's name, in current family records, was given as Thain Fraser. The Old Parish Registers list her three children as being born to Annie alone. This apparently was not unusual: the father's name may be included in the Register but one should draw no conclusions if it was missing. Only two further references to Thain have been found while doing this tree. Annie's third child is named William Thain Fraser, born in late 1868. Years later, in the 1925 state census of Iowa in the United States, William lists the name of his father as "Thane Fraser." Annie's first son is named James Anderson Fraser, indicating that she and her brother had a very good relationship.

In 1872, five of these persons would immigrate to the United States, settling in Iowa. James Anderson, son of Helen Mackie, became the head of the household. His mother accompanied them but now gave her name as Ellen Anderson. Helen and Elln are often used interchangeably in Scotland. She would remain Ellen throughout the remainder of her life in the United States. It's not known why she now used "Anderson" as her surname. Her daughter Annie Susan Fraser would also accompany them as would Annie's two younger childlren. Annie's first child, James Anderson Fraser was not with them. He may have died earlier or remained in Scotland. No further records have been found on him.

In 1882, Annie Susan would marry again - a William McHugh who was a neighboring farmer. Once she disappeared from her first home in America where she had lived with her mother, brother, and two children, it became very difficult to find her. A search for an Anne from Scotland finally showed someone of this background to be in the same county. But this person listed a later year of birth. And there were so many Anne's from Scotland now in Iowa. That she was the right one was finally verified by looking at marriage record for Anne and William McHugh. The bride's name, written as Annie S. B. Fraseur, could be no one else.

From old parish records in Scotland, Annie most definitely was born in 1843, making her a number of years older than her husband, William. Further census reports after her marriage list her year of birth much later than 1843, possibly an effort on her part to seem closer in age to her husband. Annie and William would have four children.

Annie's brother, James Anderson, would soon marry as would her daughter and son. They all raised families.

____
The following from Alan Hayes:
Alan: My name is Alan Hayes a great grandson of Anna Susanna's. She came to Iowa with her mother Helen Mackie and some more family. She married William J McHugh, had three children and is buried in Greene county Iowa. That is the short version.

Karen: I am very interested in learning more about the Frasier family!! I have two letters that Annie wrote to my great-great grandfather, Edward Frasier. I can send scans if you're interested.
I have much more to share with you. My email address is karen@road13.com. I'd love to hear more than just the 'short version"...

Alan: Yes, I am very interested in seeing the letters. my e-mail is jotc48@hotmail.com I will have to shift my thinking cap over to that side of the family to get it all straight. One of my sisters probably knows more than I do but I can not get her motivated to put it all down. If you go to member connect for Anna Susanna I should show up. I do not know how it lists my tree, maybe A Hayes or jotc. I will get back with you via normal e-mail. Thanks, Alan Hayes

Karen: was in Scotland earlier this year on a genealogy trip - part of the goal was to learn more about my Frasier (Fraser) ancestry and I learned quite a lot. Annie Susan (as my family knew her) was descended from Alexander Fraser, and my side of the family is descended from Alexander's brother Andrew Fraser. Andrew's and Alexander's father was John, and I see that our trees on Ancestry are in agreement on all of this. John Fraser has been a dead-end for us for a long time. I had hohoped that my trip to Scotland would push the line back farther but I didn't have much luck. I did spend a lot of time looking at the Fraser/Beattie families. I also posted information on my blog. You will find the following posts interesting (it will make the most sense if you go through them in reverse order) .And by the way, I hope you don't find my blog writings offensive. You probably already know that Annie Susan was of illegitimate birth. Such matters were dealt with very quietltly on my Swedish side of the family, but in Scotland it was a matter for public discussion and discipline from the church. Andrew and Alexander had a younger half-brother Joseph who never married. He named his nieces and nephews in his will, annd there was a lot of correspondence between Scotland and America in 1900-1901 as his estate was probated. I am in possession of all of the original paperwork. I've attached the two letters from Annie to this email, but I've also included them in a zip file that contains everything I have about the estate settlement: I have my complete family tree online with all supporting documents. Here is a link to John Fraser, you can navigate from there (and download pedigree charts, gedcoms, etc.). I also have a wedding photo Elizabeth McHugh and possibly other photos from your side of the family - I am behind on my scanning so I will have to check. You are descended from Elizabeth, correct? Just this past week I have been communicating with cousins of mine regarding DNA testing on our Fraser line, hinting at a connection (maybe Andrew's and Alexander's uncle?) up in Canada. FYI, I am 56 years old living in Colorado with my husband. We have four children but are now empty-nested. My husband and I are both civil engineers. Genealogy is my obsession, it's why my house is never clean.

Alan: I looked at what I have put down in Ancestry. I got some of this information more or less second hand but it makes sense. Apparently she was married in Scotland to a Thain Frasier (or what ever way they spelled it) about 1862. They had three children: James born 1863, Helen Georgiana born July 4, 1865 and William Thain born 1868. She, her mother Helen Mackie and two of her children came to the states in 1878. In 1882 she marries William J McHugh in Greene county Iowa. I do knot think she gave her correct age as she was much older and probably did not tell him about the children being hers. I do remember hearing bits about "Cousin Nellie" who was actually Helen Georgiana but went by Nellie. She married a Runyon. She actually had 4 children with William J McHugh, but the oldest son Howard died very young. Then there was Mary Anna born 1884, Elizabeth born 1886 and William Foster born 1889. Elizabeth was my grandmother. Her older sister Mary Anna never married and we called her Aunt Mollie. Both of them used a lot of Scottish words and Phrases even in their older years. I was surprised to see someone researching this particular line of the family and really shocked to see a DNA match. Thanks, Alan

Karen: The records from Scotland seem to tell a somewhat different story. I believe Annie Fraser and Helen Mackie came to America with Helen's son James Anderson (Annie's half-brother) and Annie's two children Helen and William. Helen Georgiana''s father may have been a Ewing. William's father was George Thain. I don't know if "Thain Frasier" was a cover story or simply people not being able to keep a confusing set of facts straight... Of course I might be all wet on all of this! I have examples on both sides of my family and in my husband's family of people going to extraordinary lengths to conceal illegitimate birth once they get to America. Maybe it was just a chance to start fresh, I don't know. Makes for fun mystery-solving, though!

Alan: Wow this is very interesting. Yes, it has been said that she was born out of wedlock by others. I suppose she did come to a new world to start anew and she did. Dana as she refers to in the letter is where they lived in Greene county. Shhhe was very instrumental in the early Presbyterian church in Jefferson, where I was born, almost 68 years ago. Elizabeth was indeed my grandmother. She married W D Gilchrist who was a veterinarian. Aunt Mollie (Mary Anna) was a school teacher and never married. What a cool lady to say the least. She broke a leg in about 1949 and was bedridden at Grandma's house. She had my older sister reading and printing the alphabet at the age of three. William Foster or Uncle Foster as we called hi hiim farmed some when we knew him and always took good care of his sisters. He had to spend a little time in prison during the depression for making whiskey and we always thought that was pretty cool. The Ironic thing is the same whiskey he made i is now famous and being sold as Tempelton Rye to all the yuppies. to say the least she must have been quite a lady. As for me, I am a semi retired aircraft mechanic. I have spent the last 50 years working on, modifying and restoring agricultural aircraft. Two sons, one a graphic designer and one an airline pilot. I am very interested in learning more about Anna Susanna. Thanks, Alan

Birth:
Alexander Fraser and Helen mackie residing in Law, had an illegitimate child born on the seventeenth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and forty three named Ann Susan Beattie, and baptized by the Revd Donaldson Rose Minister of the Free Church Kinnethmont.

Census:
at Law:
Helen Mackie, Head, unmarried, female age 37, pauper/ag labor
James Anderson, son, male age 10, scholar
Anne Fraser, daughter, female age 7, scholar
All born at Kennethmont.

Census:
Ann is a domestic servant for the William Sourter family.

Census:
Annis working as a General Servant and Dress Maker

Immigration:
Year of Immigration. Following her arrival in America, Annie's age is always listed as younger than was recorded in Scotland in the old parish record. The age registered in Scotland the accurate one.

Residence:
This is the first record of the family in the United States. If Anna Susan's first son, James Anderson Fraser, accompanied them when immigrating, he is no longer living with the family. He may be out on his own, or he may have remained in Scotland.

Residence:
This census states Annie has had 4 children, all of whom are alive; and was born in Illinois. This is likely in error.

Residence:
In the 1910 Census, Annie states she has had 7 (SEVEN) children, 6 of whom are now alive; she also lists Scotland as her birthplace. This seems more accurate than the 1900 statements as it allows for her two of her three earlier children by Thane Fraser

Notes:

Married:

Family lore gives "Thain Fraser" as husband of Annie Susan. No further information about him in Scotland has yet been found. He did exist, however. In the 1925 Iowa State Census, his son William lists as his father - Thain Fraser!

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 30 Mar 1851, Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; 1851 Scotland Census for Margaret Fraser family
• Residence: 23 Feb 1862, Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; Present at sister's death
• Census: 2 Apr 1871, Kinellar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; 1871 Scotland Census for Alexander Fraser/
• Residence: 1885, Insch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; Alexander Fraser tenant

Notes:

CH2/1057/3 Records of Kennethmont Kirk Session, 1792-1871

p. 170 1843 May 14
Compeared also Alexander Fraser and Helen Mackie who admitted they had been guilty also of the sin of uncleanliness owing to the youth of the parties and other circumstances the session considered it for … to allow all .. under church cr.. for some time.


Birth:
Dec 8th 1824



John Fraser and Henrite Reid in Old Leslie had their son Alexander ['John' is crossed out] baptised in presence of Charles Milne and William Marr both in Duncanston.

Census:
Living at Law were
- Margaret Fraser, Head, age 57: pauper. Born at Leslie.
- Andrew, Stepson, age 28: ag labor. Born at Leslie.
- Alexander, Stepson, age 26: ag labor. Born at Leslie.
- Mary, daughter, age 22: dressmaker. Born at Kinnethmont.

Note that a Beattie family is living next door.

Residence:
Alexander was the informant on his sister's death record, assume he was living nearby

Census:
Dogle
Alexander Fraser, servant, unmarried
Age 45, farm servant
Born Leslie, Aberdeenshire

Residence:
Alexander Fraser is listed as a labourer on "House and yard" within the Estate of Wardhouse. Can't be certain that this is "our" Alexander.

Alexander married Helen Mackie. Helen was born in 1814 in Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; died in Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 6 Jun 1841, Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
• Census: 30 Mar 1851, Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
• Residence: 7 Apr 1861, Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
• Census: 2 Apr 1871, Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
• Residence: 1880, Junction, Greene, Iowa, USA
• Residence: 1885, Dawson, Dallas, Iowa, USA

Notes:

CH2/1057/3 Records of Kennethmont Kirk Session, 1792-1871

p. 170 1843 May 14
Compeared also Alexander Fraser and Helen Mackie who admitted they had been guilty also of the sin of uncleanliness owing to the youth of the parties and other circumstances the session considered it for … to allow all to be under church censure for some time.

CH3/1069/1 Kennethmont Free Church, United Free, Ardlair Church of Scotland, Minutes 1843-1921

P. 16 1843 October 8
Compeared Alexander Fraser a young unmarried man resident in Law and confesses having been guilty of the sin of fornication with Helen Mackie an unmarried woman. The case being known to be correctly stated, he was rebuked and …to appear an next meeting of session.

P. 18 1843 November 5
Compeared Alexander Fraser as cited at last meeting of session. On account of his youth this man never having been a communicant the session resolves to carry his case by reference to the presbytery for advice. After being seriously and affectionately exhorted to repentance he was cited to appear again at next meeting of session

P. 20 1843 December 3
The session then took up the case of Alex. Fraser. The moderator reported that the session has been enjoined to proceed in this case as they may deem fit. Taking all things into consideration they resolved to free him from church censure. Further, it did not appear to the session that his not having communicated could .. him from the privilege of receiving baptism to hi child provided he himself had been baptized and now made an intelligent profession of his faith. Being called in he was acquainted with the resolution of the session and after being admonished was absolved from church censure.

p. 190 1846 January 25
A certificate of poverty was granted to Helen Mackie to enable her to prosecute William Anderson with a .. to affiliate a child which she said she had by him.

ALEXANDER FRASER AND HIS FAMILY

A number of questions remain about events in the lives of Alexander and his family. Census records in Scotland were not as helpful as usual but some facts were gathered from Old Parish Records. It is a sure thing that he and Helen Mackie hahahad a child together, Annie Susan Beattie Fraser. It isn't certain whether they were married or for how long they might have remained married. The few records available here are confusing and a lack of knowledge about family customs in Scotland in the mid-1850s made it more difficult.

In the 1851 census, about eight years after Alexander's daughter Annie Susan was born, he is living with his stepmother and brother. His wife (?) Helen Mackie appears to be living with her son James Anderson and daughter Annie Susan Fraser. Both she and Alexander list their addresses as "The Law" which may be a small village or a farming (Kinnethmont is often spelled as Kennethmont.) This may or may not be meaningful. Records for Alexander have not been found past this point. He may also have eventually immigrated to the United States but has not been located.

As for Helen Mackie, she used "Mackie, her maiden name, throughout her life in Scotland. This was a common custom for women in Scotland and likely has no other meaning. She was first found in the 1841 census, single and living with a large group of people, some of whom are Mackies. In 1851 she is with her son James Anderson, age 9-10 and daughter Annie Susan Fraser, age 7. No information on the father of James Anderson is given so, whether Helen was married for a short period before she and Alexander came together, is unknown. James could possibly have been a foster child.

Annie Susan Beattie Fraser, daughter of Alexander and Helen, had married and given birth to three children. Her husband's name, in current family records, was given as Thain Fraser. The Old Parish Registers list her three children as being born to Annie alone. This apparently was not unusual: the father's name may be included in the Register but one should draw no conclusions if it was missing. Only two further references to Thain have been found while doing this tree. Annie's third child is named William Thain Fraser, born in late 1868. Years later, in the 1925 state census of Iowa in the United States, William lists the name of his father as "Thane Fraser." Annie's first son is named James Anderson Fraser, indicating that she and her brother had a very good relationship.

In 1872, five of these persons would immigrate to the United States, settling in Iowa. James Anderson, son of Helen Mackie, became the head of the household. His mother accompanied them but now gave her name as Ellen Anderson. Helen and Elln are often used interchangeably in Scotland. She would remain Ellen throughout the remainder of her life in the United States. It's not known why she now used "Anderson" as her surname. Her daughter Annie Susan Fraser would also accompany them as would Annie's two younger childlren. Annie's first child, James Anderson Fraser was not with them. He may have died earlier or remained in Scotland. No further records have been found on him.

In 1882, Annie Susan would marry again - a William McHugh who was a neighboring farmer. Once she disappeared from her first home in America where she had lived with her mother, brother, and two children, it became very difficult to find her. A search for an Anne from Scotland finally showed someone of this background to be in the same county. But this person listed a later year of birth. And there were so many Anne's from Scotland now in Iowa. That she was the right one was finally verified by looking at marriage record for Anne and William McHugh. The bride's name, written as Annie S. B. Fraseur, could be no one else.

From old parish records in Scotland, Annie most definitely was born in 1843, making her a number of years older than her husband, William. Further census reports after her marriage list her year of birth much later than 1843, possibly an effort on her part to seem closer in age to her husband. Annie and William would have four children.

Annie's brother, James Anderson, would soon marry as would her daughter and son. They all raised families.

Census:
Helen is living with a group of ag laborers on the Flinder farm, headed by Peter Scatterly. Notably, she is with Jane Mackie (her mother?) and Christian (a brother?) and an unnamed child, age 4 months (probably Helen's son James Anderson).

Census:
at Law:
Helen Mackie, Head, unmarried, female age 37, pauper/ag labor
James Anderson, son, male age 10, scholar
Anne Fraser, daughter, female age 7, scholar
All born at Kennethmont.

Residence:
Living alone as a "stocking knitter"

Census:
At Mains of Law:

Helen Mackie, Head, Unmarried, female age 58, Stocking knitter
Helen Ewing, Granddaughter, female age 5
William Fraser, Granson, male age 2

All born at Kennethmont

Residence:
Last name is now given as "Anderson," possibility to match that of her son James. Unlike in America, in Scotland married women .

Residence:
Continues living with her son. Has used "Anderson" as her last name since arriving in the U.S.

Notes:

In 1935 Nellie Frasier, daughter of Edward Frasier (and grand-niece of Joseph Fraser who had lived in Scotland his entire life) would request any further information on their Fraser ancestors. Joseph was half-brother to Andrew Fraser who had immigrated from Scotland to the United States in the 1850s and was uncle of Nellie's father Edward. His will in 1900 had left bequests to each of Andrew's children. A copy of his will can be seen on Joseph's page in this family tree.

North of Scotland Bank Limited, Insch, 4th February, 1935
Telephone, Insch 28
Miss Nellie I. Frasier, Box 496, Glendale, California
USA

Dear Miss Frasier, I am favoured with your letter of 4th ultimo with reference to the late Mr. Joseph Frasier and his antecedents.

I have been making enquiries of some of the older residenters of the district but the only information that I can get is that Joseph Fraser's father was John Fraser who was a farm labourer at The Law, Kennethmont, his Mother was Margaret Beattie and her Mother was Betty McIntyre, both being natives of the same district.

All the persons you mention in your letter are dead with the exception of Mr. W. A. McDonald, Solicitor, but he does not know anything about the late Joseph's Fraser's relatives.

We still have a fund here in Insch which is now down to about four pounds left by Mr. Joseph Fraser for the relief of poor people. I cannot meantime lay my hands on any book about the Fraser clan, but should I be able to trace one I shall send it on to you.

With kind regards,
Yours faithfully,
R. D. Donald, Agent



from Donna Fraser dfgenealogy@gmail.com

Ha ha! I see you've been down the same paths as I have trying to connect the dots. Even with Dr. Malcolm Fraser and yes, I bought the book too! Oh, and I think you took Chris Paton's course -- me too. He has stayed here with us at our home in British Columbia!! How come it has taken us so long to find each other??? I think you've even been in contact with Dr. Bruce Cockburn re the DNA study. He, too, has been to our home. To help Bruce with his study Ed upgraded his DNA to 111 and we even paid for some extra tests.

Looking at the Y-DNA test at 67 markers, Ed is a genetic distance of 3 to all three: Bruce Fraiser, Dr. Malcolm Fraser and Mr. Dennis Keith Frazier. Family Tree DNA tells us that A 63/67 or 64/67 match between two men who share the same surname (or a variant) means that they are likely to share a common ancestor within the genealogical time frame. The common ancestor is probably not extremely recent but is likely within the range of most well-established surname lineages in Western Europe. It is most likely that they matched 24/25, 36/37, or 37/37 on previous Y-DNA tests, and mismatches are within DYS458, DYS459, DYS449, DYS464, DYS576, DYS570, and CDY.

That sounds promising but upping the ante to 111 markers it becomes a bit more definitive and disheartening at the same time.

At 111 markers, Dr. M. is a genetic distance of 8 to my husband, Ed Fraser. On the FTDNA website in the 'learn more' section there is a question, "If two men share a surname, how should the genetic distance at 111 Y-chromosome STR markers be interpreted? The answer: only possibly related. A 103/111 match indicates a distant cousinship with only a chance of a genealogical relationship. Over half of matches at this level are related as 12th cousins or more recently. Most matches at thhis level are related as 18th cousins or more recently. The connections here can be highly informative for relationships with historic groups and events. If there is a tradition of a recent genealogical relationship, the best way to confirm it is to test additional family lines. By testing additional family lines, you can find the person in between who is a closer match to each of the others tested. This ‘in betweener’ is essential for you to find as their match proves the connection between the more distant matches.

I noticed that Bruce Fraiser has also taken the FTDNA Family Finder test. So has my husband, Ed Fraser. I couldn't find that they match anywhere that autosomal DNA could pick it up so not back to about the 4th great grandparents which is as far back as I can go with confidence with records for this family.

I have no doubt that there is a relationship because your family and ours lived very close to each other. I can trace my husband's Fraser family line back to the wee parish of Glass [Haugh of Glass on maps] on the border of Aberdeenshie and Banffshire (which is within 15 miles by road of where your family lived). My husbands 4th great grandfather, Peter Fraser and Janet Kelman farmed Greystonefolds there and are in church and land records from 1779.

We even have an Alexander Fraser that at first I thought might fit with Dr. M. Our Alexander Fraser's baptism was recorded as:
Febr. 7th 1790 Peter Fraser in Greystonefolds with his wife Janet Kelman had a son baptized called Alexr. before these witnesses, Alexr. Smith in Aswanly and Alexr. Kelman in Oldnaboil (sic).

That Alexander Fraser born 1790 either left Scotland or died prior to 1841 as he is not on the 1841, 1851 or 1861 census of Scotland; his death is not recorded in Scotland after 1855 and he did not leave a will in Scotland.

Peter Fraser and Janet Kelman had 13 children that I've found:
John 1777-1857
Margaret 1779-1858
Peter 1781-1866
Jean 1784-?
William 1785-1862
Isobel 1787-1867
Alexander 1790-?
George 1792-1868
Katharine 1794-?
Helen 1796-?
James 1796-1875
Lewis 1798-1869
Hugh 1800-?

Not an Andrew anywhere in my extensive Fraser family tree.

BUT, we even have a James Fraser marrying a Catherine Fraser Mennie 2 Dec 1898 at Kennethmont! The bride and groom's parents were cousins and trace themselves back to "our" Frasers in the parish of Glass. Small world, isn't it!

The church records are spotty in the 1700s and I've pretty well resigned myself that we won't get back any farther. Others have grabbed the only Fraser with the correct first name anywhere in the north east of Scotland and linked themselves tto that family. Unfortunately they are more than likely grabbing someone from one of the few parishes where records have survived but not necessarily "their" Peter Fraser. Using the naming pattern our Peter Fraser's father would be John Fraser. There are a few to choose from. Janet's father was also a John which adds to the puzzle and makes one wonder, did they name their first son after the maternal grandfather. We will never know.

So, like you, I hoped DNA would solve the puzzle. Not yet!

John married Henriet Reid on 15 Sep 1822 in Leslie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Henriet was born in Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Register of Marriages

Leslie



1822 Sept 15th John Fraser, and Henriet Reid, after legal proclamations, were married, in presence of the Session