Compiled by: Lynn E. Gill (lynngill01@hotmail.com). My main purpose in compiling this list is to assist in identifying the parents of my ancestor Isabel Forbes b.1731 d. 1812 who married John Renny March 31, 1758 in Pitsligo Parish.

Here are Forbes of Pitsligo and surrounding areas, listed in two sources,
1) "The Kirkyard of Peathill," compiled by Sheila M. Speirs, 1986. Aberdeen & North-east Scotland Family History Society, and
2) The People of Fraserburgh & Pitsligo 1696, first published 1892 by the above society. It is extracted from "List of Poleable Persons within the shire of Aberdeen & Burgh Within the Same," compiled September 1695 and dated 1696. All people over the age of 16 who are not beggars are listed, therefore, born before 1680. Unless other information prevails, birthdate of "Bef. 1680" will be entered.

I have also included information about the aristocratic lords Forbes of Pitsligo. There is no evidence that Isabel Forbes is related to the aristocracatic Forbes, as the surname in Aberdeenshire is also shared by "common people." Evidently, it was also next to impossible for aristocracy to marry down with commoners. Nevertheless, here's information about peerage Forbes of Pitsligo. We know that Alexander Forbes the 4th lord Pitsligo, extant with Isabel, had several daughters. His wife Rebecca Norton died the year Isabel was born, in 1731. Alexander also had a younger brother named Charles.

The Forbes Clan was prominent in Aberdeenshire. Sir William Forbes, younger son of Sir John Forbes of the Black Lip, received a charter of the lands of "Petslegau" in 1428. It is believed that the great tower house of Pitsligo, on the lower slopes of Peathill, were erected at this time. During the 200 years that the barony of Pitsligo developed, the family intermarried with the so-called Buchan families of Gordon, Keith, Anderson, Oglvie, Fraser, and others. The House of Pitsligo continued to be added to by the lairds until an elegant country fortified mansion/castle was completed.

The "lairds" of Pitsligo continued to amass wealth ("geir") until the fourth lord, Alexander Forbes b. 1678, ended up on the wrong side of the Jacobite battles to re-seat the Stuart kings of England, after the "Glorious Rebellion" had seated William of Orange on the throne. Alexander led a platoon of horse raised out of the Aberdeenshire aristocracy, called Pitsligo's Regiment, and was defeated along with "Bonnie Prince Charles" at Culloden in 1745.

The fourth lord of Pitsligo ( b. 24 May 1678 Pitsligo d. 1762) was extant with Isabel Forbes who was born about 1735. Alexander Forbes was the eldest son of Alexander, third lord Pitsligo b. 1755. His younger brother was named Charles, and sisters Jean and Marie [From the "List of Poleable Persons in the Shire of Aberdeen 1696," are listed "The Lord Pitsligo; The Lady Duager of Pitsligo, Charles Forbes, brother to the Lord; Marie and Jean Forbeses, sisters of the Lord"]. Marie AKA Mary later married John Forbes og Moneymusk, and upon his death, James Forbes 15th lord of Forbes (she married well!).

Alexander Forbes. 4th lord, married about 1713 Rebecca Norton of London, and together they had several unspecified daughters, and a single son John Forbes b. 1713 Pitsligo m. Rebecca Ogilvy of Aberdeen, and d. 1781 without issue. This line therefore appears a dead end, however, there were many non-aristocratic Forbses living in Aberdeenshire. There is also a possible link with Alexander's younger brother Charles.

In 1746, not long after the birth of Isabel Forbes in 1731, a platoon of Flemish mercenaries was sent by the Hannoverians to billet at Pitsligo and much of the family's moveable geir was carted off. The estates of lord Pitsligo were attainted ie. forfeited in 1746, and the House of Pitsligo pulled down in 1760. The banker Sir William Forbes repurchased the ruins of the mansion-house in 1770 along with 70 acres of the former barony including nearby Pittullie Castle, and scavanged timbers, stones, lintels, doors, windows, and so forth for the building of his near-by town of New Pitsligo.

Sir William Forbes of Pitsligo, younger brother of Alexander, first lord Forbes, obtained that estate by marriage with Agnes, daughter of Sir William Fraser of Philorth, and was ancestor of Sir John Forbes of Pitsligo b. 1550 , whose son, Alexander b. 1605 , was created first Lord Forbes of Pitsligo, June 24, 1633. The first lord Pitsligo died 163.

Baron Forbes of Pitsligo, a title in the peerage of Scotland, conferred by patent, dated at Holyrood, 24th March, 1633, to him and his heirs male whatsoever, on Alexander Forbes of Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, descended from Sir William Forbes, second son of Alexander de Forbes, justiciary of Aberdeen, who died in 1405. On the death of the first Lord Pitsligo, 25th October, 1635, his son, Alexander, became second lord, and was succeeded by his only son, Alexander, third lord, who died in 1691.

The third lord's eldest son, Alexander, fourth and last Lord Pitsligo, was celebrated for his share in the rebellion of 1745 to crown Bonnie Prince Charles king, and for his various adventures and escapes subsequent to it. After Culloden, with Lord Ogilvy and Hunter of Burnside, he got safe to Bergen in Norway, whence the party proceeded to Sweden. Lord Pitsligo afterwards returned to Scotland, and lurked amongst his tenantry in Aberdeenshire, till his death in 1764, at the advanced age of 85. [He is the father of John Forbes b. 1713 and several daughters} His sister the Hon. Mary Forbes, by her first husband, John Forbes, younger of Monymusk, was the mother of Sir William Forbes, baronet, father of the eminent banker of that name. Lord Pitsligo 4th's only son, John, master of Pisligo, died in 1781, without issue. The title is claimed by Sir John Forbes of Pitsligo and Fettercairn, baronet; by Sir Charles Forbes of Newe and Edinglassi, baronet; and by John Alexander Forbes, Esq., formerly lieutenant-colonel of the 92d Highlanders. [Anderson, W. the Scottish nation. 3. v. 1862. ]

The family of Forbes of Pitsligo and Fettercairn, which possesses a baronetcy, are descended from Hon. Duncan Forbes of Corsindae, 2nd son of the 2nd Lord Forbes. This gentleman's grandson, Duncan Forbes of Monymusk, died in 1587. His grandson, William Forbes, was created a baronet of Nova Scotia, by patent, dated 2nd April, 1626, to himself and his heirs male. His eldest son, Sir William, 2nd baronet, had, with one daughter, an only son, Sir William, 3rd baronet, who was twice married, and had, by his first wife, Margaret, daughter of the 1st Viscount Arbuthnott, two sons and a daughter; and by his second wife, Barbara, daughter of Dalmahoy of Dalmahoy, two sons and three daughters.

His eldest son, Sir William, fourth baronet, married Lady Jane Keith, daughter of John, earl of Kintore, and had two sons and four daughters. John, the elder son, married the Hon. Mary Forbes of Pitsligo, daughter of Alexander third Lord Forbes of Pitsligo, and on the death of John, master of Pitsligo, in 1781, her descendants became nearest heirs and representatives of that noble family. He died before his father, but left two sons, the elder of whom, Sir William, fifth baronet, succeeded his grandfather. This Sir William, an advocate in Edinburgh, married Christian, daughter of John Forbes, Esq., and died in 1729. He had two sons.

The elder son, Sir William, sixth baronet, was the celebrated banker of Edinburgh. As soon as he had an opportunity he purchased seventy acres of the upper barony of Pitsligo, including the old mansion-house, at that time roofless and deserted, and by the death of Mr. Forbes in 1781, he succeeded as heir to the lower barony also. The extensive improvements which he introduced on every portion of his property greatly enhanced its value, and exhibited in a high degree his genuine patriotism and public spirit. He married the eldest daughter of Sir James Hay of Haysont, baronet, and died in 1806. His second son John Hay Forbes, was a lord of session, under the judicial title of Lord Medwyn. He was born at Edinburgh in 1776, passed advocate in 1799; appointed sheriff-dupte of Perthshire in 1807, and raised to the bench in January 1825; appointed a lord of justiciary in December 1830; resigned that office in May 1847; retired from the bench in October 1852, and died in 1854. It was chiefly through his exertions, and to the efforts of the episcopal congregation worshipping in the Cowgate chapel, that the handsome structure called St. Paul’s chapel, York Place, Edinburgh, was erected in 1818. His eldest brother, Sir William Forbes, also greatly assisted in the building of St. John's episcopal chapel, at the west end of Princes Street of the same city.

His lordship married, in 1802, a daughter of Sir Alexander Penrose Cuming Gordon, baronet, of Altyre and Godonstown. His eldest son, William, became an advocate. His second son, the Right Rev. Alexander Penrose Forbes, D.C.L., was consecrated bishop of Brechin in 1847, on the death of Dr. Moir. Born in Edinburgh in 1817, he was educated in Brasenose College, Oxfod, where he was Boden Sanscrit scholar in 1841, and received the honorary degree of doctor of civil laws. George, the youngest son of Sir William, in 1815 was admitted a partner in the bank, and on its junction with the Glasgow Union bank he became a director of the Union bank, the new name of the firm.
The eldest son, Sir William, seventh baronet, married 19th June 1797, Williamina, sole child and heiress of Sir John Stuart Belches of Fettercairn, baronet, whose name and arms have been assumed by the family. He had four sons and two daughters; the eldest son, William, a captain in the army died unmarried, before his father in 1826; the second son, Sir John, succeeded him; the third, Charles, became a partner in the banking firm of Sir William Forbes and Co., afterwards the Union bank; and the fourth, James David Forbes, D.C.L., was elected professor of natural philosophy in the university of Edinburgh in 1833.

Sir John Stuart Forbes, the second son, became eighth baronet, on his father's death, 24th October, 1828. he was born 25th September 1804, and married 14th June 1834, Lady Harriet Louisa Anne Ker, third daughter of the sixth marquis of Lothian, and had a daughter, Harriet Williamina. He died May 27, 1856, and was succeeded by his nephew, Sir William Stuart Forbes as ninth baronet. He was born June 16, 1835, and married July 1, 1865, Miss Marion Watts, and has issue. [ Anderson, W. The Scottish nation. 3. v. 1862. ]

Children of PITSLIGO FORBES are:
2. i. 1ST LORD OF PITSLIGO ALEXANDER2 FORBES, b. Abt. 1605, Of Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. October 25, 1635, Scotland.
3. ii. UNKNOWN FORBES, b. Bef. 1650, Rosehearty Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
iii. AGNES FORBES, b. Bef. 1680, Of Fraserburgh Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Notes for AGNES FORBES:
In "List of Poleable Persons 1696," in Fraserburgh Parish is Agnes Forbes, indweller.

iv. ALEXANDER FORBES, b. Bef. 1680, Of Rosehearty, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; m. MARGARET CLUB; b. Bef. 1696, Of Rosehearty, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Notes for ALEXANDER FORBES:
From the "List of Poleable Persons 1696," in Rosehartie is Alexander Forbes, indweller ther; and Margaret Club, his wife."

v. MARGARETT FORBES, b. Bef. 1680, Of Pitullie and Pittendrum, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; m. PETER WALKER; b. Bef. 1696, Of Pitullie and Pittendrum, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Notes for MARGARETT FORBES:
From "List of Poleable Person 1696," on the lands of Sir Partick Ogilvie of Boyne, Lord Boyne of Pitulie and Pittendrum: Peter Walker, grassman; and Margarett Forbes, his wife.

4. vi. WILLIAM FORBES, b. Bef. 1680, Of Mounthiley, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. April 06, 1717, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
5. vii. JOHN FORBES, b. February 07, 1679/80, Monymusk, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. November 1716, At sea.
6. viii. HELEN FORBES, b. Abt. 1700.
7. ix. ISABEL FORBES, b. 1731, Probably Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. December 07, 1812, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
x. CHARLES FORBES, b. 1850, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. March 05, 1931, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

More About CHARLES FORBES:
Burial: 1931, Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

xi. ROBERT FORBES, b. 1856, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. November 27, 1932, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; m. MARY JANE R. DOWNIE; b. 1866, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. June 22, 1947, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Notes for ROBERT FORBES:
Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo Parish, Stone 365: In loving memory of our grandparents ROBERT FORBES fisherman d. 27 Nov. 1932
aged 76 [b.1856]; his wife MARY JANE R. DOWNIE d. 22 June 1947 aged 81 [b.1866].


More About ROBERT FORBES:
Burial: 1932, Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

More About MARY JANE R. DOWNIE:
Burial: 1947, Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

xii. ALEXANDER DOWNIE FORBES, b. 1864, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. June 19, 1943, Aldershot, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; m. MARY JANE SKINNER; b. 1866, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. November 19, 1935, Aldershot.

Notes for ALEXANDER DOWNIE FORBES:
Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo Parish, Stone 10: In loving memory of MARY JANE FORBES nee SKINNER d. 19 Nov. 1935 aged 69; her dau. CHRISTIAN MELVILLE FORBES d. 17 Aug. 1918 aged 20; her husband ALEXANDER DOWNIE FORBES d. Aldershot 19 June 1943 aged 79; daus. MARY ELIZABETH GLENNIE d. Winnipeg, Canada 28 Aug. 1959 aged 69; MARGARET WATKINSON d. Aldershot 24 Jan. 1965 aged 72; son ALEXANDER DOWNIE d. Brisbane, Australia 20 June 1964 aged 69; EMILY ROGER HUGHILL d. Sydney, Australia 9 Aug, 1967 aged 72; BERTHA KELMAN HARDY d. 30 Nov. 1981 aged 81.

More About ALEXANDER DOWNIE FORBES:
Burial: 1943, Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

More About MARY JANE SKINNER:
Burial: 1935, Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo Parish,Aberdeenshire, Scotland


Generation No. 2

2. 1ST LORD OF PITSLIGO ALEXANDER2 FORBES (PITSLIGO1) was born Abt. 1605 in Of Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and died October 25, 1635 in Scotland. He married JEAN KEITH. She was born 1610 in Scotland, and died 1636.

Notes for 1ST LORD OF PITSLIGO ALEXANDER FORBES:
Created 1st Lord Forbes of Pitsligo June 24, 1633.

More About 1ST LORD OF PITSLIGO ALEXANDER FORBES:
Burial: 1635, Vault, Peathill Kirk, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Children of ALEXANDER FORBES and JEAN KEITH are:
8. i. 2D LORD OF PITSLIGO ALEXANDER3 FORBES, b. 1630, Of Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. November 01, 1690, Auchiries, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
ii. MARY FORBES, b. 1632.


3. UNKNOWN2 FORBES (PITSLIGO1) was born Bef. 1650 in Rosehearty Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He married MARIE UNKNOWN. She was born Abt. 1650.

Child of UNKNOWN FORBES and MARIE UNKNOWN is:
i. SOPHIA3 FORBES, b. Bef. 1696, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Notes for SOPHIA FORBES:
From "Poleable Persons Aberdeenshire 1696," in Rosehartie:

"James Elphinston of Glack; Marie Elphinston, his lady; Sophia Forbes, her daughter; Alexander Forbes, their servant."


4. WILLIAM2 FORBES (PITSLIGO1) was born Bef. 1680 in Of Mounthiley, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and died April 06, 1717 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He married ISOBEL SCOT Bef. 1706 in Prob. Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. She was born Bef. 1680 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Notes for WILLIAM FORBES:
Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo Parish, Stone 218: Here are the corps of an honest gentleman WILLIAM FORBES sometime in Mounthiley d. 6 Apr. 1717 and ISOBEL SCOT his spouse. Also ALEXANDER FORBES his eldest son d. 5 July 1723, also of JOHN FORBES in Cairnhill d. 17 July 1789 aged 83. [b. 1706]

More About WILLIAM FORBES:
Burial: 1717, Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Child of WILLIAM FORBES and ISOBEL SCOT is:
i. ALEXANDER3 FORBES, b. Abt. 1710, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. July 05, 1723, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Notes for ALEXANDER FORBES:
Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo Parish, Stone 218: Here are the corps of an honest gentleman WILLIAM FORBES sometime in Mounthiley d. 6 Apr. 1717 and ISOBEL SCOT his spouse. Also ALEXANDER FORBES his eldest son d. 5 July 1723, also of JOHN FORBES in Cairnhill d. 17 July 1789 aged 83. [b. 1706]

More About ALEXANDER FORBES:
Burial: 1723, Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland


5. JOHN2 FORBES (PITSLIGO1) was born February 07, 1679/80 in Monymusk, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and died November 1716 in At sea. He married SUSANNAH MORRISON April 27, 1704. She was born 1680 in Scotland.

Children of JOHN FORBES and SUSANNAH MORRISON are:
i. CHRISTIAN3 FORBES, b. 1705, Upper Boyndlie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
ii. JOHN FORBES, b. 1706, Upper Boyndlie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. July 17, 1789, Cairnhill, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Notes for JOHN FORBES:
Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo Parish, Stone 218: Here are the corps of an honest gentleman WILLIAM FORBES sometime in Mounthiley d. 6 Apr. 1717 and ISOBEL SCOT his spouse. Also ALEXANDER FORBES his eldest son d. 5 July 1723, also of JOHN FORBES in Cairnhill d. 17 July 1789 aged 83 [b. 1706]. This later John Forbes is listed in Ancestry.com, and I have included the information.

iii. BARBARA FORBES, b. 1707, Upper Boyndlie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. 1793.
iv. MARY FORBES, b. 1708, Upper Boyndlie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. 1795.
v. WILLIAM FORBES, b. 1709, Upper Boyndlie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. 1713.
vi. AGNES FORBES, b. 1710, Upper Boyndlie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. 1714.
vii. THEODORE FORBES, b. 1711, Upper Boyndlie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. 1737.
viii. JOHN FORBES, b. 1712, Upper Boyndlie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; m. CATHERINE UNKNOWN, 1732.
ix. MARGARET FORBES, b. 1714, Upper Boyndlie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
9. x. GEORGE FORBES, b. 1715, Upper Boyndlie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. 1794.
xi. ELIZABETH FORBES, b. 1717, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.


6. HELEN2 FORBES (PITSLIGO1) was born Abt. 1700. She married WILLIAM RENNIE Bef. 1738 in Aberdeenshire , Scotland, son of PITSLIGO RENNIE. He was born Abt. 1700 in Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Notes for WILLIAM RENNIE:
Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo Parish, Stone 328: Here lies the body of ALEXANDER RENNY son to WILLIAM RENNY & HELEN FORBES in Lochylair, a young man of ane agreable life & conversation d. 9 Sept 1759 in 21st year [b. 1738]; their son WILLIAM RANNIE late farmer in Lochylair d. 3 June 1805 aged 56 [b. 1749]; ISABELL SIM his spouse d. 10 June 1838 [b. 1772]; also their son THOMAS RANNIE's children viz. WILLIAM d. Rosehearty 21 Apr. 1834 aged 23 mths [b.1834]; HELEN d. Hillhead Pittulie 8 May 1842 in 12th year [b. 1830]; THOMAS d. 28 July 1850 aged 47 mths [b.1848]; his granddau. MARY JANE (dau. of his son ALEXANDER) d. Hillhead Pittulie 13 May 1880 aged 21 [b. 1859].

Children of HELEN FORBES and WILLIAM RENNIE are:
i. ALEXANDER3 RENNIE, b. 1738, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. September 09, 1759, Lochylai5, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

More About ALEXANDER RENNIE:
Burial: 1759, Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

ii. WILLIAM RENNIE, b. 1749, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. June 03, 1805, Lochylair, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; m. ISABEL SIM; b. 1772, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. June 10, 1838, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Notes for WILLIAM RENNIE:
Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo Parish, Stone 328: Here lies the body of ALEXANDER RENNY son to WILLIAM RENNY & HELEN FORBES in Lochylair, a young man of ane agreable life & conversation d. 9 Sept 1759 in 21st year [b. 1738]; their son WILLIAM RANNIE late farmer in Lochylair d. 3 June 1805 aged 56 [b. 1749]; ISABELL SIM his spouse d. 10 June 1838 [b. 1772]; also their son THOMAS RANNIE's children viz. WILLIAM d. Rosehearty 21 Apr. 1834 aged 23 mths [b.1834]; HELEN d. Hillhead Pittulie 8 May 1842 in 12th year [b. 1830]; THOMAS d. 28 July 1850 aged 47 mths [b.1848]; his granddau. MARY JANE (dau. of his son ALEXANDER) d. Hillhead Pittulie 13 May 1880 aged 21 [b. 1859].

More About WILLIAM RENNIE:
Burial: 1805, Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

More About ISABEL SIM:
Burial: 1838, Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

10. iii. THOMAS RENNIE, b. Abt. 1750, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.


7. ISABEL2 FORBES (PITSLIGO1)1 was born 1731 in Probably Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and died December 07, 1812 in Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. She married JOHN RENNIE March 31, 1758 in Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland1, son of PITSLIGO RENNIE. He was born 1716 in Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and died February 16, 1768 in Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Notes for ISABEL FORBES:
Isabel Forbes was born in 1731, and married John Renny 31 March 1758 in Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. She died 7 December 1812.

Index to Memorial Inscriptions: Peathill Kirkyard
Names and dates on Stone Number 369:
John RENNY lies under this stone, sometime Smith in in Smithyhill of Pitsligo d. 16 Feb. 1768 aged 52 [b. 1716]
John RENNY son to the aforesaid and Isabel Forbes d. 17 Aug. 1768 aged 7 [b. 1761] and
Isabel FORBES d. 7 Dec 1812 aged 81 [b. 1731]

There is no evidence that Isabel Forbes is related to the aristocratic Forbes, as the surname in Aberdeenshire is also shared by "common people." Evidently, it was also next to impossible for aristocracy to marry down with commoners. Nevertheless, here's information about peerage Forbes of Pitsligo. We know that Alexander Forbes the 4th lord Pitsligo, extant with Isabel, had several unidentified daughters. His wife Rebecca Norton died the year Isabel was born, in 1731. Alexander also had a younger brother named Charles Forbes.

The Forbes Clan was prominent in Aberdeenshire. Sir William Forbes, younger son of Sir John Forbes of the Black Lip, received a charter of the lands of "Petslegau" in 1428. It is believed that the great tower house of Pitsligo, on the lower slopes of Peathill, were erected at this time. During the 200 years that the barony of Pitsligo developed, the family intermarried with the so-called Buchan families of Gordon, Keith, Anderson, Oglvie, Fraser, and others. The House of Pitsligo continued to be added to by the lairds until an elegant country fortified mansion/castle was completed.

The "lairds" of Pitsligo continued to amass wealth ("geir") until the fourth lord, Alexander Forbes, ended up on the wrong side of the Jacobite battles to re-seat the Stuart kings of England, after the "Glorious Rebellion" had seated William of Orange on the throne. Alexander led a platoon of horse raised out of the Aberdeenshire aristocracy, called Pitsligo's Regiment, and was defeated along with "Bonnie Prince Charles" at Culloden in 1745.

The fourth lord of Pitsligo ( b. 24 May 1678 Pitsligo d. 1762) was extant with Isabel Forbes who was born about 1735. Alexander Forbes was the eldest son of Alexander, third lord Pitsligo b. 1755. His younger brother was named Charles, and sisters Jean and Marie [From the "List of Poleable Persons in the Shire of Aberdeen 1696," are listed "The Lord Pitsligo; The Lady Duager of Pitsligo, Charles Forbes, brother to the Lord; Marie and Jean Forbeses, sisters of the Lord"].

Alexander Forbes 4th lord married in 1713 Rebecca Norton of London, and together several unspecified daughters, and a single son John Forbes b. 1713 Pitsligo m. Rebecca Ogilvy of Aberdeen, and d. 1781 without issue. This line therefore appears a dead end, however, there were many non-aristocratic Forbses living in Aberdeenshire. There is also a possible link with Alexander's younger brother Charles.

In 1746, not long after the birth of Isabel Forbes, a platoon of Flemish mercenaries was sent by the Hannoverians to billet at Pitsligo and much of the family's moveable geir was carted off. The estates of lord Pitsligo were attainted ie. forfeited in 1746, and the House of Pitsligo pulled down in 1760. The banker Sir William Forbes repurchased the ruins of the mansion-house in 1770 along with 70 acres of the former barony including nearby Pittullie Castle, and scavanged timbers, stones, lintels, doors, windows, and so forth for the building of his near-by town of New Pitsligo.

Sir William Forbes of Pitsligo, younger brother of Alexander, first lord Forbes, obtained that estate by marriage with Agnes, daughter of Sir William Fraser of Philorth, and was ancestor of Sir John Forbes of Pitsligo b. 1550 , whose son, Alexander b. 1605, was created first Lord Forbes of Pitsligo, June 24, 1633. The first lord Pitsligo died 1633.

Baron Forbes of Pitsligo, a title in the peerage of Scotland, conferred by patent, dated at Holyrood, 24th March, 1633, to him and his heirs male whatsoever, on Alexander Forbes of Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, descended from Sir William Forbes, second son of Alexander de Forbes, justiciary of Aberdeen, who died in 1405. On the death of the first Lord Pitsligo, 25th October, 1635, his son, Alexander, became second lord, and was succeeded by his only son, Alexander, third lord, who died in 1691.

The third lord's son, Alexander, fourth and last Lord Pitsligo, was celebrated for his share in the rebellion of 1745 to crown Bonnie Prince Charles king, and for his various adventures and escapes subsequent to it. After Culloden, with Lord Ogilvy and Hunter of Burnside, he got safe to Bergen in Norway, whence the party proceeded to Sweden. Lord Pitsligo afterwards returned to Scotland, and lurked amongst his tenantry in Aberdeenshire, till his death in 1764, at the advanced age of 85. [He is the father of John Forbes b. 1713.} His sister the Hon. Mary Forbes, by her first husband, John Forbes, younger of Monymusk, was the mother of Sir William Forbes, baronet, father of the eminent banker of that name. Lord Pitsligo's only son, John, master of Pisligo, died in 1781, without issue. The title is claimed by Sir John Forbes of Pitsligo and Fettercairn, baronet; by Sir Charles Forbes of Newe and Edinglassi, baronet; and by John Alexander Forbes, Esq., formerly lieutenant-colonel of the 92d Highlanders. [Anderson, W. the Scottish nation. 3. v. 1862. ]







More About ISABEL FORBES:
Burial: 1812, Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Christening: Scotland1

Notes for JOHN RENNIE:
Index to Memorial Inscriptions: Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo Parish
Names and dates on Stone Number 369:
John RENNY lies under this stone, sometime Smith in Smithyhill of Pitsligo d. 16 Feb. 1768 aged 52 [b. 1716]
John RENNY son to the aforesaid and Isabel Forbes d. 17 Aug. 1768 aged 7 [b. 1761]
and Isabel FORBES d. 7 Dec 1812 aged 81 [b. 1731]

More About JOHN RENNIE:
Burial: 1768, Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Children of ISABEL FORBES and JOHN RENNIE are:
i. JOHN3 RENNIE1, b. Abt. April 16, 1761, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland1; d. August 17, 1768, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

More About JOHN RENNIE:
Burial: 1768, Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Christening: April 16, 1761, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland1

11. ii. WILLIAM RENNIE, b. Abt. December 24, 1765, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. Bef. 1841, Prob. Aberdeenshire, Scotland.


Generation No. 3

8. 2D LORD OF PITSLIGO ALEXANDER3 FORBES (ALEXANDER2, PITSLIGO1) was born 1630 in Of Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and died November 01, 1690 in Auchiries, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He married MARY ERSKINE. She was born 1622 in Scotland, and died Aft. 1696.

More About 2D LORD OF PITSLIGO ALEXANDER FORBES:
Burial: 1690, Vault, Peathill Kirk, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Child of ALEXANDER FORBES and MARY ERSKINE is:
12. i. ALEXANDER4 FORBES, b. 1655, Of Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. December 1690, Aberdeen, Scotland.


9. GEORGE3 FORBES (JOHN2, PITSLIGO1) was born 1715 in Upper Boyndlie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and died 1794. He married (1) CHRISTIAN KERR. He married (2) JANE KEITH Bef. 1758 in Scotland. She was born 1717, and died 1763.

Children of GEORGE FORBES and JANE KEITH are:
i. JOHN4 FORBES, b. 1758; d. 1824; m. KATHERINE MORRISON.

Notes for JOHN FORBES:
Children
Katherine Forbes 1784-1855
George Forbes 1785-
William Forbes 1787-
Alexander Forbes 1787-1862
John Forbes 1788-
Theodore Forbes 1788-1820
Barbara Mary Forbes 1790-
Helen Forbes 1791-
Jean Forbes 1792-
Andrew Forbes 1794-
James Forbes 1796-

ii. ELIZABETH FORBES.


10. THOMAS3 RENNIE (HELEN2 FORBES, PITSLIGO1) was born Abt. 1750 in Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Notes for THOMAS RENNIE:
Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo Parish, Stone 328: Here lies the body of ALEXANDER RENNY son to WILLIAM RENNY & HELEN FORBES in Lochylair, a young man of ane agreable life & conversation d. 9 Sept 1759 in 21st year [b. 1738]; their son WILLIAM RANNIE late farmer in Lochylair d. 3 June 1805 aged 56 [b. 1749]; ISABELL SIM his spouse d. 10 June 1838 [b. 1772]; also their son THOMAS RANNIE's children viz. WILLIAM d. Rosehearty 21 Apr. 1834 aged 23 mths [b.1834]; HELEN d. Hillhead Pittulie 8 May 1842 in 12th year [b. 1830]; THOMAS d. 28 July 1850 aged 47 mths [b.1848]; his granddau. MARY JANE (dau. of his son ALEXANDER) d. Hillhead Pittulie 13 May 1880 aged 21 [b. 1859].

Children of THOMAS RENNIE are:
i. HELEN4 RENNIE, b. 1830, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. May 08, 1842, Hillhead, Pitulie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
ii. WILLIAM RENNIE, b. 1834, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. April 21, 1834, Rosehearty, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
13. iii. ALEXANDER RENNIE, b. Abt. 1840, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
iv. THOMAS RENNIE, b. 1848, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. July 28, 1850, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

More About THOMAS RENNIE:
Burial: 1850, Peathill Kirkyard, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland


11. WILLIAM3 RENNIE (ISABEL2 FORBES, PITSLIGO1) was born Abt. December 24, 1765 in Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland1, and died Bef. 1841 in Prob. Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He married SARA FIDDES1 Bef. 1785 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, daughter of WILLIAM FIDDES and ELIZABETH MARTIN. She was born March 15, 1761 in Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland1, and died Aft. 1841 in Prob. Newhills, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Notes for WILLIAM RENNIE:
There is a record in familysearch.org for a christening of William Renny in Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland on December 24, 1765, with John Renny and Isa. Forbes listed as parents. John Renny and Isabel Forbes were married in Pitsligo March 31, 1758. This William Rennie appears to be the father of John Rennie b. 1791 who arrived in New Brunswick from Scotland about 1819. John Rennie is the father of William Rennie born 1821 in New Brunswick, the founder of the Traverse City, Michigan Rennie's. William b. 1765 would be therefore the grandfather of William Rennie born 1821, who in that case would be named for him.

William Rennie b. 1765 married Sarah Fiddes, daughter of William Fiddes and Elizabeth Martin, and his son John Rennie married Elizabeth Fiddes, a daughter of Sarah's brother Robert Fiddes. The name Fiddes crops up as a middle name among their grandchildren and great-grandchildren (line of John's son Robert). But that could be a result of Elizabeth Fiddes not Sarah Fiddes.

William Renny and Sarah Fiddes had all ten of their children at Grigs of Ardo (Belhelvie Parish). However, their children were baptized in near-by Foveran, perhaps because that was the birthplace of Sarah.

Ardo in Belhelvie Parish
From very early in his reign, Robert the Bruce’s royal land grants included property in the thanage of Belhelvie which appear to have encompassed three main blocks of land: Belhelvie, Ardo and Menie. Around 1326, William de Strathbrock was granted the lands of Foveran and Ardo (Ardoch/Ardach), while Mary and Philip Meldrum held the lands of Logie Ardo. It appears that this Ardo formed part of the Panmure estate later and thus should be included in Belhelvie parish. There is also a Miln (Mill) of Ardo in Belhelive Parish, south of Foveran. I'm guessing that William Renny and Sarah Fiddes were in this Ardo, not the village of Ardo located 10 miles NW of Ellon. There is evidence of some of their children living there in census data.

William's wife Sarah is listed in the 1841 census as a widow ("independent"),living with her son Robert, so we can assume that William Renny has died before 1841.










More About WILLIAM RENNIE:
Christening: December 24, 1765, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland1

Notes for SARA FIDDES:
Sara Fiddes was born March 21, 1761 in Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, a daughter of William Fiddes and Elizabeth Martin. Foveran, Aberdeenshire is about 12 kilometers north of Aberdeen.

Foveran Baptism Register
1761 William Fiddes farmer in Dubbiestyles had a daughter born of his wife Elizabeth Martin on Sunday 15th called Sara, and baptised Saturday 21 March 1761 before witnesses J Simpson in Newbyte & Hugh Milne in Hillhead

1988 IGI for Aberdeenshire, Scotland, lists marriage between Sarah Fiddes and William Renny, research needed to confirm.

In the 1841 census, a person who appears to be Sarah is living with her son Robert
Auchmull House, Newhills (SW of Aberdeen)
Sarah Rennie, 82, independent (b. 1759)
Robert Rennie, 55, farmer (b. 1786)
Christian Rennie, 25
Jean Rennie, 15
The birth-years of Sarah and Robert are approximately right

Sarah is not buried in Newhills Cemetery (according to the Index)







More About SARA FIDDES:
Christening: March 21, 1761, Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Children of WILLIAM RENNIE and SARA FIDDES are:
14. i. ROBERT4 RENNIE, b. Abt. June 08, 1785, Grigs of Ardo (Belhelvie), Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. September 24, 1861, Woodside, Old Machar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
15. ii. ALEXANDER RENNIE, b. Abt. April 15, 1787, Grigs of Ardo (Belhelvie), Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. March 26, 1862, Woodside, Old Machar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
16. iii. WILLIAM RENNIE, b. Abt. February 21, 1789, Grigs of Ardo (Belhelvie), Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. July 20, 1865, Rora, Longside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
17. iv. JOHN RENNIE, b. Abt. January 13, 1791, Grigs of Ardo (Belhelvie), Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. Aft. 1861, Prob. New Brunswick, Canada.
v. ELIZABETH RENNY, b. Abt. March 12, 1793, Grigs of Ardo (Belhelvie), Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. Bef. 1841; m. GEORGE CHESSAR, March 14, 1813, Belhelvie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; b. September 20, 1770, Ironbrae, Tarves, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. January 20, 1861, Ironrives, Tarves, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

More About ELIZABETH RENNY:
Christening: March 12, 1793, Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

More About GEORGE CHESSAR:
Census: 1841, Ironrives, Tarves, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

vi. PETER RENNIE1, b. Abt. April 15, 1795, Grigs of Ardo (Belhelvie), Aberdeenshire, Scotland1.

More About PETER RENNIE:
Christening: April 15, 1795, Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland1

vii. MARY RENNIE1, b. Abt. August 19, 1797, Grigs of Ardo (Belhelvie), Aberdeenshire, Scotland1.

More About MARY RENNIE:
Christening: August 19, 1797, Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland1

18. viii. THOMAS RENNIE, b. Abt. September 14, 1799, Grigs of Ardo (Belhelvie), Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. 1871.
ix. HUGH RENNIE, b. Abt. January 06, 1802, Grigs of Ardo (Belhelvie), Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

More About HUGH RENNIE:
Christening: January 06, 1802, Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

x. ELSPET RENNIE1, b. Abt. March 29, 1804, Grigs of Ardo (Belhelvie), Aberdeenshire, Scotland1.

More About ELSPET RENNIE:
Christening: March 29, 1804, Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland1


Generation No. 4

12. ALEXANDER4 FORBES (ALEXANDER3, ALEXANDER2, PITSLIGO1) was born 1655 in Of Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and died December 1690 in Aberdeen, Scotland. He married SOPHIA ERSKINE Bef. 1678 in Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. She was born 1654 in Clackmomnonshire, Scotland, and died June 1734.

More About ALEXANDER FORBES:
Burial: 1690, Vault, Peathill Kirk, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Notes for SOPHIA ERSKINE:
From the "List of Poleable Persons in the Shire of Aberdeen," are listed the Lord Pitsligo; The Lady Duager of Pitsligo, Charles Forbes, brother to the Lord; Marie and Jean Forbeses, sister of the Lord.

Children of ALEXANDER FORBES and SOPHIA ERSKINE are:
i. 4TH LORD OF PITSLIGO ALEXANDER5 FORBES, b. May 24, 1678, Of Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. December 21, 1762, Auchiries, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; m. (1) REBECCA NORTON, May 05, 1703, Scotland; b. 1683, London, Middlesex, England; d. July 16, 1731, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; m. (2) ELIZABETH ALLEN, September 26, 1731, Scotland; b. Abt. 1680, England; d. 1759.

Notes for 4TH LORD OF PITSLIGO ALEXANDER FORBES:
Alexander Forbes became 4th lord of Pitsligo upon the death of his father in 1691.

From the "List of Poleable Persons in the Shire of Aberdeen 1696," are listed "The Lord Pitsligo; The Lady Duager of Pitsligo, Charles Forbes, brother to the Lord; Marie and Jean Forbeses, sister of the Lord."

More About 4TH LORD OF PITSLIGO ALEXANDER FORBES:
Burial: 1762, Vault, Peathill Kirk, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Notes for ELIZABETH ALLEN:
Lady Forbes was living in Pitsligo Castle when a garrison of Flemish mercenaries were sent to garrison there, and they plundered the furnishings.

ii. CHARLES FORBES, b. Bet. 1678 - 1680, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Notes for CHARLES FORBES:
From the "List of Poleable Persons in the Shire of Aberdeen," are listed the Lord Pitsligo, The Lady Duager of Pitsligo, Charles Forbes, brother to the Lord, Marie and Jean Forbeses, sister of the Lord. Charles must have been at least 16 years of age to be listed (born before 1680), and we know he was a younger brother of Alexander, the 4th lord of Pitsligo.

Charles appears to have disappeared from the scene, as descendants of his sister Mary eventually lay claim to Pitsligo after the title was forfeited in 1746.

iii. JEAN FORBES, b. Bef. 1680, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Notes for JEAN FORBES:
From the "List of Poleable Persons in the Shire of Aberdeen," are listed the Lord Pitsligo, The Lady Duager of Pitsligo, Charles Forbes, brother to the Lord, Marie and Jean Forbeses, sister of the Lord. Jean must have been at least 16 years of age to be listed (born before 1680),

Jean appears to have disappeared from the scene, as descendants of her sister Mary eventually lay claim to Pitsligo after the title was forfeited in 1746.

iv. MARIE FORBES, b. Bef. 1680.

Notes for MARIE FORBES:
From the "List of Poleable Persons in the Shire of Aberdeen," are listed "the Lord Pitsligo; The Lady Duager of Pitsligo; Charles Forbes; brother to the Lord; Marie and Jean Forbeses, sister of the Lord." Marie must have been at least 16 years of age to be listed (born before 1680).

Marie appears to have disappeared from the scene, as descendants of his sister Mary eventually lay claim to Pitsligo after the title was forfeited in 1746. There of course is the possibility that Marie and Mary are one and the same, although Mary's birthdate is listed as 1693 in many sources.

v. HON. MARY FORBES, b. Abt. 1693, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. December 06, 1748; m. (1) JOHN FORBES, February 04, 1705/06; b. Abt. 1689, Of Monymusk, Scotland; d. January 13, 1714/15; m. (2) 15TH LORD OF FORBES JAMES FORBES, 1715; b. 1688, Ulster, Ireland; d. February 20, 1761, Putachie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Notes for HON. MARY FORBES:
Mary Forbes is the daughter of Alexander Forbes, 3rd Lord Forbes of Pitsligo. She married first John Forbes the younger of Monymusk, and after his death she married in 1715 James Forbes, 15th Lord Forbes. Children of Mary Forbes and James Forbes, 15th Lord Forbes:
James Forbes, 16th Lord Forbes+ d. 29 Jul 1804
Mary Forbes

Citations
[S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 1, page 1452. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.

[S6] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume V, page 551. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage.

From the "List of Poleable Persons in the Shire of Aberdeen," are listed "the Lord Pitsligo; The Lady Duager of Pitsligo; Charles Forbes; brother to the Lord; Marie and Jean Forbeses, sister of the Lord." Marie must have been at least 16 years of age to be listed (born before 1680). Mary's birthdate is listed as 1693 in several sources, and in that case she would not be listed as she wpuold have been only aged 3. There of course is the possibility that Marie and Mary are one and the same, although Mary's birthdate is listed as 1693 in many sources and Marie would have had to be born before 1680.

Marie appears to have disappeared from the scene, as descendants of his sister Mary eventually lay claim to Pitsligo after the title was forfeited in 1746.

Notes for JOHN FORBES:
James Forbes, 15th Lord Forbes was born in 1689. He married Mary Forbes, daughter of Alexander Forbes, 3rd Lord Forbes of Pitsligo, in 1715. He died on 20 February 1761. Children of James Forbes, 15th Lord Forbes and Mary Forbes
James Forbes, 16th Lord Forbes d. 29 Jul 1804
Mary Forbes
Citations
[S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 1, page 1452. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.



13. ALEXANDER4 RENNIE (THOMAS3, HELEN2 FORBES, PITSLIGO1) was born Abt. 1840 in Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Child of ALEXANDER RENNIE is:
i. MARY JANE5 RENNIE, b. 1859, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. May 13, 1880.


14. ROBERT4 RENNIE (WILLIAM3, ISABEL2 FORBES, PITSLIGO1)1 was born Abt. June 08, 1785 in Grigs of Ardo (Belhelvie), Aberdeenshire, Scotland1, and died September 24, 1861 in Woodside, Old Machar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He married CHRISTIAN LUMSDEN September 18, 1808 in Belhelvie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. She was born Abt. 1785, and died Bef. 1841.

Notes for ROBERT RENNIE:
Robert Rainie married Christian Lumsden 18 Sep 1808 Belhelvie, Aberdeen. He was a farmer and later a grocer and clothier. His daughter referred to him as a farmer in his death record.
They had:
Margaret chr 4 Mar 1809 Belhelvie, Aberdeen, Scotland
Anne chr 13 Sep 1810 Skene, Aberdeen, Scotland
Christian chr 12 Mar 1813 Skene, Aberdeen, Scotland
Sarah chr 18 Jan 1815 Skene, Aberdeen, Scotland
George chr 27 Jun 1816 Skene, Aberdeen, Scotland
William chr 15 Nov 1819 Fintray, Aberdeen, Scotland
Harry Lumsden chr 23 Jun 1822 Fintray, Aberdeen, Scotland
Jane chr 10 Oct 1825 Fintray, Aberdeen, Scotland

1841 census, Auchmull House, Newhills
Sarah Rennie, 82, independent (Robert's mother, Sarah Fiddes)
Robert Rennie, 55, farmer
Christian Rennie, 25
Jean Rennie, 15 (Jane)

1851 census, 1 Barren St, Woodside
Robert Rennie, 68, Grocer & Clothiner, born Foveran (1783)
Christian Rennie, 34, daughter, born Skene
Harry Rennie, 26, son, born Fintray
Jane Rennie, 25, daughter, born Fintray

1861 census, 3 Grocers Shop, Old Machar
Robert Rennie, 75, Merchant, born Foveran (1786)
Christian Rennie, 40, born Skene
Jean T Rennie, 30, born Fintray (Jane, spinster hedging on age??)

Death 1861-168/2-463 Old Machar Aberdeen
Robert Rennie, farmer, widower of Christian Lumsden
died 24 Sep 1861 at 0.45 pm aged 76
at 3 Barron Street, Woodside, Aberdeen
son of William Rennie, farmer & Sarah m/s Fiddes (both decd)
cause: paralysis
registered by daughter Jane


More About ROBERT RENNIE:
Christening: June 08, 1785, Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland1
Occupation: Bet. 1851 - 1861, Grocer

Children of ROBERT RENNIE and CHRISTIAN LUMSDEN are:
i. MARGARET5 RENNIE, b. Abt. March 04, 1809, Belhelvie , Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

More About MARGARET RENNIE:
Christening: March 04, 1809, Belhelvie , Aberdeenshire, Scotland

ii. ANNE RENNIE, b. Abt. September 13, 1810, Skene, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

More About ANNE RENNIE:
Christening: September 13, 1810, Skene, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

iii. CHRISTIAN RENNIE, b. Abt. March 12, 1813, Skene, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

More About CHRISTIAN RENNIE:
Christening: March 12, 1813, Skene, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

iv. SARAH RENNIE, b. Abt. January 18, 1815, Skene, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

More About SARAH RENNIE:
Christening: January 18, 1815, Skene, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

v. GEORGE RENNIE, b. Abt. June 27, 1816, Skene, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

More About GEORGE RENNIE:
Christening: June 27, 1816, Skene, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

vi. WILLIAM RENNIE, b. Abt. November 15, 1819, Fintray, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

More About WILLIAM RENNIE:
Christening: November 15, 1819, Fintray, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

vii. HARRY LUMSDEN RENNIE, b. Abt. June 23, 1822, Fintray, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

More About HARRY LUMSDEN RENNIE:
Christening: June 23, 1822, Fintray, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

viii. JANE T. RENNIE, b. Abt. October 10, 1825, Fintray, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

More About JANE T. RENNIE:
Christening: October 10, 1825, Fintray, Aberdeenshire, Scotland


15. ALEXANDER4 RENNIE (WILLIAM3, ISABEL2 FORBES, PITSLIGO1) was born Abt. April 15, 1787 in Grigs of Ardo (Belhelvie), Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and died March 26, 1862 in Woodside, Old Machar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He married MARGARET FIDDES June 24, 1820 in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, daughter of ROBERT FIDDES and ELSPIT BLACK. She was born August 26, 1792 in Of Ellon Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and died Aft. 1861 in Old Machar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Notes for ALEXANDER RENNIE:
Alexander Rennie married Margret Fiddes, his first cousin and sister of Elizabeth Fiddes who married his brother John. He was a successful farmer, having six farm servants in 1851.

Alexander Rennie and Margaret Fiddes had
Robert chr 17 May 1821 Ellon, Aberdeen, Scotland
William chr 21 Mar 1823 Ellon, Aberdeen, Scotland
Elspet chr 31 Jan 1825 Ellon, Aberdeen, Scotland
Sarah chr 24 Mar 1827 Ellon, Aberdeen, Scotland
Alexander chr 1830 Ellon

Ellon is a few miles from Foveran.

1841 census, Coldstream, Fourdoun, Kincardineshire
Alex Rennie, 50, Farmer
Marg Rennie, 45
Elsie Rennie, 15
Sarah Rennie, 14
Alexander Rennie, 12
Barbara Rennie, 9
Isabella Rennie, 6

1851 census, Coldstream, Fourdoun, Kincardineshire
Alexander Rennie, 64, Farmer Of 210 Acres Employing 6 Lab, born Foveran (1787)
Margret Rennie, 60, born Foveran
William Rennie, 28, born Ellon
Sarah Rennie, 24, born Ellon
Alexander Rennie, 22, born Ellon
Barbra Rennie, 20, born Ellon
Margret Rennie, 5, grandchild, born Fettercairn, Kincardineshire
+ 6 farm servants

1861 census, Warracks Cottage, Old Machar
Alexander Rennie, 76, Retired Farmer, born Foveran (1785)
Margt Rennie, 69, born Foveran
Willm Rennie, 35, born Ellon
Sarah Rennie, 34, born Ellon
Margt Rennie, 13, granddaughter, born Fettercairn

Death 1872-168/2-272 Old Machar Aberdeen
Alexander Rennie, feuar, married to Margaret Fiddes
died 26 Mar 1872 at 6 pm aged 85
at West Bank, Old Road, Woodside, Aberdeen
son of William Rennie, crofter & Sarah m/s Fiddes (both decd)
cause: diarrhoea
registered by daughter Sarah


More About ALEXANDER RENNIE:
Christening: April 15, 1787, Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Notes for MARGARET FIDDES:
Margaret Fiddes' sister Elizabeth Fiddes married John Rennie, her husband Alexander Rennie's brother.

Death 1874-168/2-686 Old Machar
Margaret Rennie, widow of Alexander Rennie, farmer in Woodside
died 28 Sep 1874 at 6 pm aged 83
at West Bank, Woodside, Aberdeen
daughter of Robert Fiddes, farmer & Elsie m/s Black (both decd)
cause: general debility
registered by granddaughter Margaret Mackay


Children of ALEXANDER RENNIE and MARGARET FIDDES are:
i. ROBERT5 RENNIE, b. Abt. May 17, 1821, Ellon Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

More About ROBERT RENNIE:
Christening: May 17, 1821, Ellon Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

ii. WILLIAM RENNIE, b. Abt. May 17, 1821, Ellon Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

More About WILLIAM RENNIE:
Christening: May 17, 1821, Ellon Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

iii. ELSPET RENNIE, b. Abt. January 31, 1825, Ellon Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

More About ELSPET RENNIE:
Christening: January 31, 1825, Ellon Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

iv. SARAH RENNIE, b. Abt. March 24, 1827, Ellon Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

More About SARAH RENNIE:
Christening: March 24, 1827, Ellon Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

v. ALEXANDER RENNIE, b. Bet. 1829 - 1830, Ellon Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; m. REBECCA POTTER; b. Abt. 1830, Scotland?.
vi. BARBARA RENNIE, b. Bet. 1831 - 1832.
vii. ISABELLA RENNIE, b. Abt. 1835.


16. WILLIAM4 RENNIE (WILLIAM3, ISABEL2 FORBES, PITSLIGO1)1 was born Abt. February 21, 1789 in Grigs of Ardo (Belhelvie), Aberdeenshire, Scotland1, and died July 20, 1865 in Rora, Longside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He married ISABELLA BEAN Bef. 1826 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. She was born Bet. 1797 - 1801 in New Machar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and died Aft. 1865.

Notes for WILLIAM RENNIE:
William Rennie spent his life as a crofter (agricultural laborer or tenant farmer).

1841 census, Fortrie, Ellon
William Rennie, 45, crofter
Isabella Rennie, 40
George Rennie, 15

1851 census, Free School House, Ellon
William Rennie, 64, ag lab, born Foveran (1787)
Isabella Rennie, 53, born Newmachar
Amelia Rennie, 26, daughter-in-law, born Strichen
Isabella Rennie, 10, daughter, born Ellon

1861 census, Craighall, Ellon
William Rennie, 75, Gardener (jobber), born Foveran (1786)
Isabella Rennie, 62, born Newmachar
Isabella Rennie, 20, granddaughter, born Udny

Death 1865-218-32 Longside
William Rennie, crofter, married to Isobella Bean
died 20 Jul 1865 at 8 pm aged 80
at Rora, Longside
son of William Rennie, crofter & Sarah m/s Fiddes (both decd)
cause not given
registered by son James


More About WILLIAM RENNIE:
Christening: February 21, 1789, Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland1
Record Change: July 07, 19991

Children of WILLIAM RENNIE and ISABELLA BEAN are:
i. GEORGE5 RENNIE, b. Abt. 1826, Fortrie, Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; m. AMELIA UNKNOWN; b. Abt. 1825, Strichen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
ii. JAMES RENNIE, b. Bef. 1826, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.


17. JOHN4 RENNIE (WILLIAM3, ISABEL2 FORBES, PITSLIGO1) was born Abt. January 13, 1791 in Grigs of Ardo (Belhelvie), Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and died Aft. 1861 in Prob. New Brunswick, Canada. He met (1) MARGARET GRAY, daughter of UNKNOWN GRAY. She was born Abt. 1790 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He married (2) ELIZABETH FIDDES May 31, 1818 in Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, daughter of ROBERT FIDDES and ELSPIT BLACK. She was born April 10, 1788 in Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and died Aft. 1861 in Prob. New Brunswick, Canada.

Notes for JOHN RENNIE:
We know from the 1851 New Brunswick census that John Rennie, his wife Elizabeth, and infant son Robert emigrated to New Brunswick, Canada from Scotland in 1819. The Rennie Family History says the Rennie's arrived at St. John, New Brunswick.

The Rennie History says that a Robert Rennie, who emigrated to Canada with his son, also named Robert, is the father of William Rennie b. 1821 in New Brunswick. Evidence, however, points to John Rennie, as the 1851 census shows John and Elizabeth Rennie and William living together. John's eldest son [with Elizabeth Fiddes] was named Robert, and this evidently caused confusion in the Rennie History.

John Rennie was born about 1788-1789 in Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, a son of William Rennie and Sarah Fiddes. There is evidence that John Rennie had a liaison with Margaret Gray, resulting in an illegitimate son William Rennie born in 1816 [ Death 1876-168/1-752 St Nicholas Aberdeen, William Rennie, crofter, married to Jane Rae, died 14 Aug 1876 at 3 am aged 60 at Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen. Usual residence Foveran. Illegitimate son of John Rennie, farm servant (reputed father) & Margaret Gray].

John Rennie had another amorous liaison with Elizabeth Fiddes, resulting in a son Robert born in 1818 [Old Parish Register: 12 Aug 1818 John Renny & Eliza Fiddes in Mains of Foveran had a son baptised named Robert]. This time John married his lover to make an honest woman of her. There is a marriage listed between John Renny and Elizabeth Fiddes on 31 May 1818 in Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Old Parish Register of Foveran). Mains of Foveran (a farm with some cottages) contained a number of young couples, as it appears a few times as an address on the pages around that one. Presumably they were all farm workers, or related trades.

The name Fiddes crops up as a middle name among John and Elizabeth's grandchildren and great-grandchildren (son Robert's line), which further validates the belief that John not some unknown Robert is the father of William Rennie.

It appears certain that John Rennie is a son of William Rennie b. 1765 in Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire and Sara Fiddes b. 1761 in Foveran. John's wife Elizabeth Fiddes is a daughter of Robert Fiddes, his mother Sarah's brother. John therefore married his first cousin. Rennie's were not plentiful in Foveran before the marriage of John's parents, as the Rennie family appears to derive from Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire (or earlier, from Angus).

Emigration of the Rennie family to New Brunswick was part of a great wave of settlers from the British Isles about 1815 to the end of the 1820's. These settlers were uprooted in their native lands as a result of upheavals caused by the Napoleonic Wars which ended in 1815, the emergence of the factory system in the British Isles, and changes in the feudal system of working the land on small rented farms (crofts) versus larger-scale farming, which displaced many farmers. The "Highland Clearances" were undertaken to resettle population, when the expansion of the textile industry made it more profitable for Highlands landlords to gaze sheep, versus labor-intensive general farming. In 1815 a proclamation was issued in England to any person in Great Britain who might be desirous of settling in Canada. As an inducement, they were to get free provisions during the voyage and also after their arrival, until such time as the land could be made to support them. Things may have been uncomfortable for John in Foveran due to his amorous liaisons, and a fresh start in New Brunswick probably was appealing.

John Rennie is listed in the 1851 census of Newcastle Parish, Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Canada; Family/House 311, page 49. He is a farmer who owned his land, and he arrived in New Brunswick in 1819. Living in the same building (possibly a duplex), is a different head of household, [his son] William Rennie, who was born in New Brunswick in February 1821. William's elder brother, Robert Rennie, is living next door.

John Rennie, age 62 (next birthday) SCOTLAND (born about 1788-1789), head of household, a farmer (proprietor), arrived in NB in 1819
Elizabeth Rennie, age 62 SCOTLAND (born about 1788-1789), his wife, arrived NB 1819
Elspeth Rennie, 24 NB, CANADA (born about 1826-1827)
Mary Rennie, 21 NB, CANADA (born about 1829-1830)

William Rennie, head of household, a laborer. Age 29 NB, CANADA (born about 1821-1822).
Margaret (Fenton) Rennie, William's wife 25 SCOTLAND (born about 1825-1826), arrived NB in 1842.
Two Scottish lodgers were in the household, Robert Wilson 34 a laborer arrived NB 1849 and Donald McKenzie 15, a servant arrived NB 1847.

Living next door in the 1851 census; Family/house 312, page 49; is Robert Rennie, presumably John's eldest son and William's brother, and his family:
Robert Rennie, head of household, a Master (Sea Captain) 32 SCOTLAND (born abt. 1818) , arrived NB in 1819.
Mary [Bates] Rennie, his wife, age 24 SCOTLAND (born abt. 1827), arrived NB 1847
Elizabeth Rennie 2 NB (born abt. 1849), daughter
Alexander Rennie 1 NB (born abt. 1850), listed as daughter but must be a son?
Two lodgers; Fanny Bates 17 SCOTLAND arrived NB 1849 (prob. a relative of Mary Bates Rennie) and Timothy Donovan 54 IRISH a laborer arrived NB 1839.

In the 1861 census, Parish of Newcastle, p.77, reel C-1004, a Mary Travise, age 25 NB, domestic servant is living in the Rennie household. Elspeth and Mary are no longer in the household.

John and Elizabeth Rennie had a third son, John Rennie, Jr. who was born in 1825. In 1851, this son was probably in the British Navy or attending Steam School in Scotland (see 1851 Scotish census for John Rennie, Jr.). He most likely was in Nova Scotia in 1861, as his children were born there. In 1871, John Jr. is back in New Brunswick, in Richibucto, Kent County.

There is an old Rennie House at Douglastown, near Chatham in Northumberland County, built by William Murray, a celebrated builder. There was a Rennie Ferry perhaps in the 1830's, and a Rennie Stagecoach. There is still a Rennie Road in Douglastown.

There is a Rennie's Mill Road in St. John's, Newfoundland. James Rennie, son of David Rennie of Newfoundland, started the Rennie Mill on the Rennie River. A couple of years later William Frederick Rennie joined him as a partner. James died in 1839 and the Rennie Mill became the property of William Frederick Rennie. He went broke shortly after the great fire that burned down St. John's, and the mill was leased. We don't know if or how these Rennie's are related.

More About JOHN RENNIE:
Christening: January 13, 1791, Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Notes for MARGARET GRAY:
Margaret Gray is the mother of William Rennie, born to her in 1816. John Rennie is the reputed father, and Margaret named her son after John Rennie's father, William Rennie.

Notes for ELIZABETH FIDDES:
Elizabeth Fiddes is a daughter of Robert Fiddis and Elspit Black, born on 10 April 1788 in Fovern, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. She is listed as their child in Foveran Parish records "Central Grave." Elizabeth married John Rennie on May 31,1818 in Foveran, and their first son Robert was christened there a couple of month's later on August 12, 1818. In 1819, they immigrated to New Brunswick where a second son William Rennie was born in 1821 (father of Anna Elizabeth Rennie who married John Donovan Putnam). Elizabeth Fiddes and her sister Margaret Fiddes married brothers, John Rennie and Alexander Rennie.

Foveran Parish is about 9 miles north of Aberdeen. The parish is roughly 6 miles long from east to west, and between 3 and 4 miles wide. The river Ythan (I-than) is about a quarter of a mile east of the village, and abounds with salmon, sea-trout, flounders, and a great many other small fish; but it is chiefly famed for its abundant produce of mussels. The sandy beach extends from the mouth of the Ythan, about one mile and a-half north, and eight or ten miles south. The fine little burn of Foveran runs through the parish, and falls into the Ythan near the village of Newburgh.

Foveran has its name from the castle here, which is very old, and is thought to be so called from a sweet and very impetuous spring (at the foot of the wall, having an arch built over it), for the Irish 'Foveran' signifies a spring. There is now no vestige remaining of the Castle of Foveran, nor of Turing's Tower, which was still more ancient. The sweet spring continues to flow with all its wonted abundance. There was a marble bust in the dress of the time of Charles I, lying on the ground, near the site of the old castle (now on display in the church). The castle was the home of the Forbes family, having been ceded the property and barony from the Turing family after that family fell out of favor due to support of Charles II.

The village of Newburgh, a small but thriving seaport, is pleasantly situated on the banks of the burn of Foveran, near its junction with the river Ythan. In former times, Newburgh was famed for smuggling. The land at Newburgh is a fine strong black soil, and produces, abundantly, barley, turnips, and potatoes, with a few oats. While visiting Foveran Parish in June 2008, we stayed in the Udny Arms Hotel, a historic hotel in Newburgh. Also the home of famous "sticky toffee pudding." Walk to the golf links of Newburgh on Ythan.

There has been a church at Foveran for centuries, but little is known about the medieval church, and records have been kept only from the mid-1500's. At the "Glorious Revolution" of 1689, the church changed from Episcipal to Presbyterian. The "new" stone church at Foveran was completed in 1794. Elizabeth Fiddes would have been christened in the old church that was demolished to make way for the new. I was able to visit the Foveran Kirk and Kirkyard in June 2008, and located the gravemarker of Elizabeth's father Robert Fiddes.

The church, a plain substantial stone building accommodates about 700 people. There are three very handsome marble monuments on the inside wall of the church, two of them belonging to the Turing family; and the third, which belongs to the Udny family, is a most valuable monument (with busts said to be very striking likenesses of two of that family) and was executed at great expense by Bacon, the celebrated London sculptor.

"The Surnames of Scotland"
FIDDES is a habitational name, from the old barony of the name, anciently Futhos or Fothes, in the parish of Foveran, Kincardineshire [now in Aberdeenshire]. Edmund de Fotheis and Alwinus or Aleuin, his son, who witnessed two charters between 1200-07, are probably the first recorded of the name. There was a Walter de Fothes recorded in 1328-9 and John, son of Alan of Fiddes was active in 1390. A William Fudes in 1524 and an Elizabeth Fiddes in 1600 were listed (G. F. Black's "Surnames of Scotland").

FORBES. A charter listed in Wood's edition of "Douglas's Peerage" which says that Alexander Comyn, earl of Buchan, granted to Fergus, son of John of Forbes, the lands of Forbes has been misread. The name there should read John of Fothes, son of Fergus de Fothes, now FIDDES. The estate granted was Fiddes (anciently, Fothes) not Forbes.

So you can turn your nose up at the upstart Forbses. Ours were there first!

From another source, FIDDES was a baptismal name which was derived from the Old French 'fitz-deu' a name meaning the son of God. The name was brought to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066 and was originally rendered in medieval documents in the Latin form FILIUS. Early records mention Edward Fidde, who was recorded in Lancashire in 1198, and Edward Fiddey appears in Yorkshire in 1203.

During the 13th century, the barony of Fiddes (anciently Fothes or Futhos) passed from the Earls of Buchan to the family Fothes or Futhos (Fiddes). John of Kindroucht in the late 13th century witnessed the grant of the Fiddes land by Alexander Comyn , Earl of Buchan (1244-1289), to Fergus, son of John of Fiddes. Fiddes continued to hold the land, even after the collapse of the Comyn earldom resulting from their support of English King Edward II over Robert Bruce ("Medieval Scotland," p. 193 ). The Fiddes barons retained ownership for the next two hundred years, until Sir Alexander Forbes acquired from Andrew of Futhos the lands of Futhos (Fiddes) in the parish of Foveran on 12 December 1436 ("The Scots Peerage, p. 49.) The Fiddes barony was then consolidated with the Forbes estates by royal charter in 1594, as a reward to Lord John Forbes for supporting King James in a battle of Protestants against the Catholic earls of Huntly and Erroll at the Battle of Glenlivet. The barony was later held by Sir James Crichton of Frendraught (1641) , before being purchased by the present owners, Udny of Udny.

At the beginning of the 14th century, there were five baronies within Foveran Parish (Foveran, Tillery, Pittsmillan, Knockhall, and Fiddes), all belonging to the earls of Buchan. After the Battle of Barra (near Inveruie on the Hill of Barra) in 1314, Robert the Bruce gave Foveran, Tillery and Pittsmillan to William de Strabrok of Aberdeen in gratitude for his support. In 1359, the charter of Foveran, along with Tillery and Pitsmillan, was granted to the knightly house of Turing, a family of Norman extraction, by David II. They retained the land for the following three centuries, when they were succeeded by the Forbes of Tolquhon in 1700. he Forbes Baronetcy of Foveran was created in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia on 10 April 1700 for Samuel Forbes. The title became dormant on the death of the third Baronet in circa 1760.

The barony of Knockhall, also known as barony of Newburgh, belonged to the Earl Orkney and the Lords Sinclair. In 1633 the lands were bought by John Udny of Belhelvie. The castle of Knockhall, now in ruins, is situated about half a-mile north of Newburgh, and was, at one period, the residence of the family of Udny. It was built in the year 1565, but was burnt by accident in 1734, and was never repaired.
The history of the fifth Foveran barony, the barony of Fiddes, is summarized above.

A tombstone in the church at Foveran memorializes two knights in armor who fell at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411, fought about 13 miles due west near Inverurie. They are believed to be from the de Turin (Turing) family, who intermarried with the Forbes family. The Battle of Harlaw was one of the most brutal in Scottish history, becoming known as ‘Red Harlaw’. While James I was growing up in English jails, Donald, Lord of the Isles pressed to secure his wife's claims on the Earldom of Ross’ estates before the Stewarts or Albany could, bringing his army westwards into Inverness and over the River Spey. His advance was met two miles past Inverurie at Harlaw. Coming to meet him from their north-eastern lands were a force of Keiths, Forbes', Leslies and Irvines, led by the Earl of Mar. They battled for most of 24 July until Donald’s men withdrew. The result was indecisive, for casualties were so heavy on each side that they could fight no more.

There is a "Hill of Fiddes" in Foveran, Aberdeenshire-- an ancient Neolithic stone circle. Castle of Fiddes, more a large manor house, is now a farmhouse restored in the 1960s, located 4 miles SW of Stonehaven. Nearby Temple of Fiddes was on lands formerly owned by/associated with the Knights Templar, who in their heyday were based at Maryculter (southwest of Aberdeen) and had quite extensive lands in this area. During the crusades, pilgrims deposited their wealth in Templar temples, were issued cheques or receipts, and could withdraw funds in the Holy Lands or at other Templar locations.


T



More About ELIZABETH FIDDES:
Christening: April 10, 1788, Old Foveran Church, Aberdeenshire

Child of JOHN RENNIE and MARGARET GRAY is:
i. WILLIAM5 RENNIE, b. 1816, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. August 14, 1876, St Nicholas (Royal Infirmary), Aberdeenshire, Scotland; m. JANE RAE, Bef. 1849, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; b. 1827, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. 1911, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Notes for WILLIAM RENNIE:
William Rennie is the illegitimate son of John Rennie, farm servant (reputed father) & Margaret Gray, born in 1816.

1851 census for Mains of Foveran
William Rennie, Age: 33 (Estimated Birth Year: abt 1818)
Spouse's Name: Jean [Jane]
Where born: Foveran, Aberdeenshire
Parish Number: 195, Civil Parish: Foveran, County: Aberdeenshire
Address: Pitscalf
Occupation: Labourer
Household schedule number: 19, Line: 12, Roll: CSSCT1851_45
Household Members:
William Lyon 13
Jean Rennie 24
Jean Rennie 1
Margt Rennie 3 Mo
William Rennie 33

1861 census for Mains of Foveran
William Rennie, Age: 43 (estimated Birth Year: abt 1818)
Spouse's name : Jane Age 34
Where born: Foveran, Aberdeenshire
Registration district: Foveran, Civil Parish: Foveran, County: Aberdeenshire
Address: Mains Of Foveran
Occupation: Crofter Of 4 Acres & Ag Lab
Household schedule number: 30
Line: 12
Roll: CSSCT1861_28
Household Members:
Jane Rennie 34
Jane Rennie 7
Margaret Rennie 10
William Rennie 43

1871 Census for Mains of Foveran
William Rennie, Age: 53 (Estimated Birth Year: abt 1818)
Spouse's name : Jane
Where born: Foveran, Aberdeenshire
Registration Number: 195, Registration district: Foveran, Civil Parish: Foveran, County: Aberdeenshire
Address: Mains Of Foveran
Occupation: Farmer & 10 1/2 Acres 1 Labourer (arable)
Household schedule number: 26
Line: 12
Roll: CSSCT1871_37
Household Members: Name Age
Jane Rennie 44
Margaret Rennie 30
William Rennie 53

Death 1876-168/1-752 St Nicholas Aberdeen
William Rennie, crofter, married to Jane Rae
died 14 Aug 1876 at 3 am aged 60
at Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen
usual residence Foveran
illegitimate son of John Rennie, farm servant (reputed father) & Margaret Gray
He was born about 1816.

More About WILLIAM RENNIE:
Occupation: Crofter (farmer)


Children of JOHN RENNIE and ELIZABETH FIDDES are:
ii. ROBERT5 RENNIE, b. May 31, 1818, Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. February 26, 1891, Truro, Colcester County, Nova Scotia; m. MARY BATES2,3, Abt. February 17, 1848, New Brunswick, Canada; b. Abt. 1827, Slains, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; d. November 08, 1911, Cape Ray, Newfoundland.

Notes for ROBERT RENNIE:
ROBERT RENNIE is a son of John Rennie and Elizabeth Fiddes born 1818 in Scotland. He was brought as an infant to New Brunswick, CANADA, by his parents when they immigrated in 1819, entering Canada by the port of Saint John, New Brunswick or perhaps St. John's, Newfoundland. By family tradition, Robert later married and moved his family to Newfoundland. A descendant (Robert Green, bgreenct@optonline.net) has verified this; Robert was the first keeper of the lighthouse at Cape Ray, Newfoundland, which was lit in 1872. He kept the light until he retired in 1883, and then he moved back to Douglastown, NB. He travelled to Truro, Colcester, Nova Scotia for a visit (to children living there) in 1891, but took sick and died there in February 1891.

There is a record of christening for Robert Rennie in Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland [John Renny & Eliza Fiddes in Mains of Foveran had a son baptised on 12 August 1818 named Robert, Old Parish Register of Foveran.] John Rennie and Elizabeth Fiddes were evidently married ta couple of months before Robert was born, to make him legitimate. This fits with other facts such as the 1851 NB census birthdate of 1818 and parents names of John and Elizabeth Rennie, so I have entered this parentage.

On February 17, 18xx? (prob. 1848, as Mary Bates arrived in New Brunswick in 1847, and a daughter was born 1849), Robert Rennie was married to Mary Bates, both of the Parish of Ludlow (Edith McAllister Papers, page 59), married by Rev. Mr. Henderson.

A Robert Rennie petitioned for a Land Grant in Newcastle, Northumbria in 1843 (Vol. 28, page 21, Grant 3014 for 50 acres) and again in 1848 (Vol. 33, page 118, Grant 4243 for 50 acres). It is possible that Robert Rennie, petitioner, is this Robert, son of John Rennie. Robert Rennie born about 1818-1819 (below) was listed in the 1851 census as a Master (sea captain).

In the 1851 census for Newcastle Parish, Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Canada, Robert Rennie is living next to his parents John and Elizabeth Rennie:

Robert Rennie, head of household, a Master (Sea Captain), age 32 next birthday SCOTLAND (born about 1818), arrived NB in 1819.
Mary Rennie, 24 SCOTLAND his wife, arrived NB 1847
Elizabeth Rennie 2 NB, daughter (born about 1849)
Alexander Rennie 1 NB, listed as daughter but could be a son? (born about 1850)
Two lodgers; Fanny Bates 17 SCOTLAND arrived NB 1849 and Timothy Donovan 54 IRISH a laborer arrived NB 1839. Fanny Bates is most likely a relative of Robert's wife, Mary Bates Rennie, possibly a sister.

In the 1861 census, Newcastle Parish, Northumberland County, NB, p. 76 Robert Rennie was a surveyor of lumber. Living with him was a "grandchild" Sarah Rennie age 17, and Mary Travise, a domestic servant (prob. the same Mary Travise shown with John Rennie in 1861; one of the entries is wrong, or she was counted twice!). In the 1871 census Robert was shown as a farmer and a Presbyterian.

A Robert Rennie, a farmer living in Douglastown, Northumberland, appears in the "Hutchinson Directory of 1865-1866". However, Robert Rennie does not appear in the "1867-1868 Directory." We know that by 1872 he was at the Cape Ray lighthouse in Newfoundland.

I don't find him listed in the 1881 census.


More About ROBERT RENNIE:
Christening: August 12, 1819, Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Notes for MARY BATES:
Mary Bates came to New Bruswick in 1847, according to the 1851 census. She married Robert Rennie in 1848. After her husband's death in 1891 in Truro, Nova Scotia, she stayed there (with her son Alexander?) until 1910, then went to visit her son Ernest at Cape Ray, NF. She died there at age 88 in 1911.[RobertRennie_1818.FTW]

!1851 N.B. Census, Parish of Newcastle, Middle District p. 49, Northumberland County, has her as "Scotch" and date of entry as "1847" (Reel C-996).

Survived by a sister, Annie BATES, of Edinburgh, Scotland.



More About MARY BATES:
Burial: November 10, 1911, Cape Ray, Newfoundland3
Record Change: July 10, 19993

iii. WILLIAM RENNIE, b. February 21, 1821, Chatham, Northumberland, New Brunswick, Canada; d. March 26, 1886, Garfield Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan; m. (1) MARGARET FENTON, April 09, 1850, Chatham, Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Canada; b. November 16, 1822, Lintrathen, Angus, Scotland; d. March 31, 1864, Garfield Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan; m. (2) ISABELLA UNKNOWN, Abt. 1866, Grand Traverse County, Michigan; b. 1843, Canada East; d. August 29, 1904, Traverse City, Michigan.

Notes for WILLIAM RENNIE:
WILLIAM RENNIE was born to John Rennie and Elizabeth Fiddis on February 21, 1821 at Chatham, Northumberland, New Brunswick, Canada shortly after they migrated from Scotland in 1819.

William was raised in New Brunswick, and spent many years working in the woods there as a lumberman. On March 29, 1850, he married Margaret Fenton (#3311, Northumberland County Marriage Index (1787-1887). Also, recorded on April 9, 1850: "Marriage at Chatham on Friday last, by Rev. John McCurdy, William Rennie, of Parish of Newcastle, married Margaret Fenton, of the Parish of Chatham." Margaret Fenton was a native of Scotland, born about 1824-1825. Her parents brought her to New Brunswick when she was 10 according to the Rennie family history, but at age16 calculated from the below 1851 census information.

In the 1851 census of Newcastle Parish, Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Canada, William and Margaret Fenton Rennie are living in the same building (possibly a duplex) as his father John Rennie. The census listing is:

John Rennie, age 62 SCOTLAND (born about 1788), head of household, a farmer (proprietor), arrived in NB in 1819
Elizabeth Rennie, age 62 SCOTLAND (born about 1788), his wife, arrived NB 1819
Elspeth Rennie, 24 NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA (born about 1826)
Mary Rennie, 21 NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA (born about 1829)

In the same building are:
William Rennie, head of household, a laborer. Age 29 NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA (born about 1821).
Margaret (Fenton) Rennie, his wife 25 SCOTLAND (born about 1825), arrived at New Brunswick in 1842.

John, their first child, was born at Chatham, New Brunswick in 1852. Anna, their second child, was born in 1855 at either New Brunswick or more likely Amhurstberg, Ontario (across from Detroit). The 1860 census states says Anna was born in New Brunswick, the 1870 says Western Canada. The Rennie Family History says it was in Amhurstberg, Ontario. Their third child, Mary, was the first to be born in Traverse City, Michigan; in 1858.

In November, 1851, following a massive forest fire in New Brunswick, William went to work in Grand Traverse County for Hannah, Lay and Co. (this based on William's obituary as reported in the Rennie Family History). However, the following indicates that William arrived at Traverse City in July 1851.

Grand Traverse was named by the French explorers who were in the area in the 18th century, "La Grande Traverse," meaning "the long walk". They, following the example of the Ashinabeg Indians before them, portaged their canoes across Old Mission Penisnsula between West and East Grand Traverse Bay to save a long paddle around the tip of the peninsula. In 1839, Rev. Peter Dougherty arrived at Old Mission and established a Presbyterian mission for the Indians. The mission was moved to New Mission (Omena) in 1852.

Michigan was then known as the Michigan Wilderness, filled with virgin timber. Perry Hannah and Albert Tracy Lay formed a lumber-trading business Hannah, Lay and Co. in Chicago in May 1850. Early in 1851, they determined to construct a sawmill to manufacture lumber. They met a man named [Thomas] Curtis, who had been a mechanic who in 1848 helped build a sawmill for Horace Boardman, on the Boardman River near Grand Traverse Bay. Curtis told them of Boardman's interest in selling his mill. In the spring of 1851 Perry Hannah, accompanied by William Morgan and the father of Horace Boardman (Capt. Boardman from Naperville, Illinois) booked passage on a little schooner called the Venus, skippered by Capt. Peter Nelson. After a tempetuous voyage and an accidental grounding of the vessel, they arrived at the west arm of Grand Traverse Bay. After examining the sawmill and large stands of timber, Hannah & Lay purchased Boardman's mill.

An account of the arrival of William Rennie in Grand Traverse is contained in a biography of WILLIAM VOICE, contributed by Wilbur F. Steele, "Old Settlers of the Grand Traverse Region," compiled by S. E. Wait and W. S. Anderson, Traverse City, Michigan 1918:
" In July 1851, the little vessel Venus [skippered by] Capt. Peter Nelson came into Traverse City. On board was the boilers and machinery for the Hannah, Lay & Co.'s new saw mill. On the vessel were the following old pioneers of this region: William Voice and wife with three children; A. [Albert] Tracy Lay; Frank Hannah; Thomas Cutler, engineer; James K. Gunton, carpenter; William Rennie; Cuyler Germaine; also a man and his wife to keep the boarding house. On the way a heavy storm came up endangering the swamping of the vessel. Some of the men were for cutting lose the boilers that were lashed on each side of the deck, but the old Captain wouldn't allow it; he said if they cut one loose they sure would roll over. He stuck to his colors and rode out the storm in safety.

Mr. Voice lived in Traverse City one year working for the Company, then built a mill at the head of East Bay in company with Capt. Peter Nelson, selling the mill three years later to Green & Holden of Chicago, and moving to Northport where he built another mill (about 1855).

Martha T. Voice, one of the three children of Mr. and Mrs. William Voice, married Wilbur F. Steele at Northport November 15, 1862. They are living on their Hillside Farm in the village limits of Northport. Mrs. Steele is I think the oldest living resident of Traverse City, and the third oldest of the Grand Traverse Region, Mrs. Powers being the first and S. E. Wait the second. "

The son of Martha Voice Steele, Wilbur Leroy Steele, married Harriet Rose Gagnon, a daughter of Georges Gagnon. Capt. Peter Nelson married Alice Cough Bigelow, widow of George Bigelow. She was the mother of Alice Bigelow, who married Wilburforce Gill. Capt. Nelson was the lighthouse keeper at the end of Leelanau County, north of Northport.

The above account by Wilbur Steele varies in a few details from information contained in "A History of the Grand Traverse Region," by Dr. M.L. Leach, 1883, pp. 17-18. Since the former Boardman mill consisted on only one muley saw and was too small for the purposes of Hannah & Lay, in 1852 they executed a project to build a steam-powered sawmill. The first vessel that carried for the company was the "Maria Hilliard," which brought the boilers for the steam mill in 1852. Wilbur Steele's romantic tale may have combined facts from the several voyages. Regardless of whether William Rennie arrived in July or November 1851, we know that he was there when winter set in in 1851.

There were no roads and few buildings of any kind in 1851. Horace Boardman had previously constructed a 16 by 24 foot log cabin, with a lean-to for cooking and several attached tents. During the winter of 1851, there were only a few people along at Boardman Lake near Grand Traverse Bay. Leach's "History" lists eleven families (including that of Wm Voice) and twelve men and women without families (including Wm Rennie and Frank Hannah). That first winter 1851-52 was particularly harsh, with the lake frozen and impassable and deep snow drifts in the forests. In the spring, Frank Hannah decided not to join his brother Perry in the sawmill business.

William Rennie laid out what is now Front Street in Traverse City, cut the trees and pulled out the stumps to make the street. He hired crews, had buildings for their operations set up, and made a supply road to the forks of the Boardman River. He set up several camps, the base camp at Rennie Lake which developed into the largest camp of the area--450 lumbermen. He later set up six other camps with crews of 200 per camp (plus a foreman and a cook in each isolated camp). He was the superintendent of the entire operation until at least 1861. In his "History," Dr. M. L. Leach recalls a colorful description of life in the lumber camps, based on his visit with William Rennie at the camps during the winter of 1860-61.

Uncle Alex (William McRae Rennie or Alexander Weidenheimer?) reported that William Rennie was really big, like his father before him, weighing 370 pounds with a 22" collar and a 58" chest, but only 5'8" tall. They tell "Paul Bunyon" stories about him; among them, he could pick up the ordinary man and toss him around like a nine pin. His record as a disciplinarian was really something as he had two rules: NO LIQUOR was to be brought into the lumber camp and NO LYING. If either of these rules was broken, the offender was discharged on the spot. (His great-grandson, Dominic Dunn, was told that William, Sr. enforced his discipline with the skillful use of a bullwhip; he could cut a button hole in a man's shirt without touching his skin). The men were paid at the start $8.00 per month, plus board and room. The food served daily was like a Thanksgiving dinner. The best cooks were always hired and the very best food served. They were a peculiar breed of men who all felt superior to the farmer or men doing other kinds of work in the area.

Apparently, Traverse City was too primitive a place for his young family, so William kept them in Ontario until 1858. They lived in Traverse City until just before their fifth and last child was born in 1862, in a log cabin on their new homestead, 6 miles south of the city.

" How to Get to Grand Traverse, from THE GRAND TRAVERSE HERALD Traverse City, Friday Morning, July 15, 1859.

We receive a great many letters from different parts of the country asking how people can get to Grand Traverse County? To all such we reply: Those living South and East will take a Propeller at Buffalo, Dunkirk, Cleveland or Detroit and come directly to Northport, which is situated on Grand Traverse Bay ten miles from its mouth. The fare from Buffalo to Northport is about $8, and from Detroit $5. Those who wish to visit the western part of the county on the shore of Lake Michigan, will take a Propeller which will agree to land them at Glen Arbor or Leland. Those coming from the West will take passage on one of Hannah, Lay and Co.'s vessels, at Chicago, which sail regularly between that port and Traverse City during the season of navigation; or one of Noble & Dexter's vessels, which will land them at Elk Rapids, on the eastern shore of Grand Traverse Bay at the mouth of Elk River. The fare from Chicago to Traverse City, by sail vessel, is $5. There are small boats running regularly between Northport, Traverse City, Elk Rapids and the Mission, which will take passengers to any point on the Bay. There is no land route to this place except an Indian Trail on which the mail is brought once a week. In winter this is our only route to the outside world. A route for a State Road through the wilderness from Grand Traverse Bay to civilization has been surveyed this season and the time is not far distant when we shall have a good thoroughfare to Grand Rapids."

In 1860, a Hannah, Lay and Company steamer started weekly service between Chicago and Traverse City. In 1862, the population of Traverse City was 300. In 1881, an ordinance was passed to forbid cows from roaming at large in the village.

William Rennie is listed in the 1860 census for Traverse Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan: William 39 NEW BRUNSWICK, Margaret 37 SCOTLAND (born abt. 1823), John 9 NEW BRUNSWICK, Anna 5 NEW BRUNSWICK, Mary C. 2 MI, and Elsie 1 MI. He had assets of $500. His employer, the Hannah & Lay partner Perry Hannah lived in Traverse Twp. in 1860 and was a very wealthy man, with real estate valued at $50,000 and personal estate of $30,000.

Margaret Fenton Rennie died April 1864, at thirty-nine years, five months of age. A few years later William remarried to the widow Isabelle (or Isabella) Cole, a widow with two children about the same ages as his children. She came to Grand Traverse between 1858 and 1864 (based on birthplaces of he children), but I don't find her listed in the 1860 census for Grand Traverse. She apparently fit the mold of "wicked step- mother" for there are bitter stories about her which persist to this day. She did make a good home for William, and he for her children; upon her death, they requested that Isabelle be buried in the Rennie family plot.

William Rennie is listed in the 1870 census for Traverse Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan:
William 50 CANADA EAST, a farmer, with his wife Isabelle 37 CANADA EAST, and John 19 CANADA EAST, Anna 15, CANADA WEST, Mary 13 MI, Elsie 11 MI, William 8 MI, Elizabeth Cole 12 CANADA EAST, and William Cole 6 MI.

He is listed in the 1880 census for Traverse Twp., Grand Traverse County: William Rannie 58 NEW BRUNSWICK, a farmer; Isabella 46 CANADA, Anna 22 CANADA, Else May 20 MI, William A. 16 MI; and Elizabeth Cole 20 CAN and William Cole 15, step-children. Mary 22 MI is nearby, married to Alex Weidenheimer.

William RANNIE Self M Male W 58 NEW BRUNSWICK Farmer SCO SCO
Isabella RANNIE Wife M Female W 46 CAN Keeping House SCO SCO
Anna RANNIE Dau S Female W 22 CAN At Home NEW BRUNSWICK SCO
Else May RANNIE Dau S Female W 20 MI At Home NEW BRUNSWICK SCO
Elizabeth COLE SDau S Female W 20 MI At Home CAN SCO
William A. RANNIE Son S Male W 16 MI At Home NEW BRUNSWICK SCO
William COLE SSon S Male W 15 MI At Home CAN CAN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source Information:
Census Place Traverse, Grand Traverse, Michigan
Family History Library Film 1254578
NA Film Number T9-0578
Page Number 464A

William Rennie was among the oldest pioneers of Grand Traverse County. After he retired from Hannah, Lay, & Co., he spent his winters managing logging camps. In the meantime he had cleared and developed his farm of several hundred acres into a rich and productive place. He evidently had a school named for him, the Rennie School, Garfield township, as an adopted son Oscar Rennie attended there in 1885, according to the Grant Traverse Herald.

William Rennie died at home of kidney failure on Friday, March 26th, 1886. He was survived by his second wife Isabelle; John Rennie, the eldest son, who is married, and William Rennie, Jr, the youngest, who lives at the home farm, and the daughters, Mrs. John D. Putnam of Omena, Mrs. Alex Weidenhamer, and Mrs. Stephen McGarry, Jr., Also, the two step-children, William and Eliza Cole. An adopted son Oscar Rennie is mentioned in his will. The funeral was held at the Congregational Church on Sunday morning and was conducted by the pastor, Rev. Mr. Puddefoot.

GRAND TRAVERSE HERALD, April 1, 1886
DEATH OF WILLIAM RENNIE

For many months past the familiar face of William Rennie had been seen less and less frequently on our streets, until, finally, three or four months ago, increasing weakness made even those infrequent visits to town impossible, and then, and not until then, were our people willing to admit that death's claim must soon be met. Perhaps scarcely any other farmer in Grand Traverse would be so universally missed as will Mr. Rennie, whose death occurred at his home, six miles south of town, on Friday March 16 .

William Rennie was born in New Brunswick, Feb. 21, 1821, and was, therefore, 65 years of age at his death. In November, 1851, he came to Grand Traverse, and this has been his home since that time, a period of more than 34 years. He was among the oldest pioneers of this section of the state. For a good many years he was employed constantly by Hannah, Lay, and Co., and longer still, during the winter, in management of logging camps. In the mean time he had entered the land which in a few years he had cleared sufficiently to make a home, and here for the last twelve or fifteen years his time has been spent, and this farm of several hundred acres is now know as one of the richest and best in the entire county. The family consists of his wife and John Rennie, the oldest son, who is married, and William Rennie, Jr. the youngest, who lived at the home farm, and daughters, Mrs. John J. Putnam of Omena, Mrs. Alex Weidenhamer, and Mrs. Stephen McGarry, Jr. There are also two children of Mrs. Rennie's by a former marriage, William and Eliza Cole, who have always found a home and kind care and love in Mr. Rennie's family.

Mr. Rennie was widely known and as universally respected. His life was one of strict integrity. His likes and dislikes were strong and he never hesitated to speak his convictions or act upon them. He was big hearted and open handed, and many a poor and friendless person throughout the entire county will long have occasion to remember with gratitude his name and acts of kindness. His eccentricities were all on the side of good fellowship. He possessed and unfailing fund of humor and many a good story will be revived this week at Grand Traverse firesides with Mr. Rennie as the hero. A practical joke or return laugh was as readily enjoyed were he or himself or someone else the subject. In the old days when people were few and the country was new, Mr. Rennie was a prominent character and the warm friendships then formed went with him all through life.

A firm and uncompromising republican, he never waivered in his allegiance to his party through sunshine and shadow. All through the long and exciting campaign of 1876, nearly every day, in rain or shine, the little one horse wagon driven by Mr. Rennie came into town, and, fluttering from it, the little flag, nailed fast at the opening of the campaign, was seen, faded somewhat before the long fight was over, but fluttering there still, and never once did he falter in his belief that Mr. Hayes was fairly and honestly elected. This is but an incident and is characteristic of the man. Columns could be written and not the half told.
The grange, of which he was a faithful member, will sadly miss him. We shall all miss him. He was a good citizen; a good friend; a good husband and father; and if strong men's eyes were dimmed when they laid him away to his final rest, it was not because they had become weak, but because they knew the man to whom they were thus paying their last tribute of respect was worthy a tender thought for the long years gone and the good he had done.

The funeral services were held at the congregational church on Sunday morning and were conducted by the pastor, Rev. Mr. Puddefoot. Long before the hour arrived the church was filled to overflowing and hundreds of people could not gain admittance to the building, where every foot of standing room was occupied.

EXCERPTS FROM WILL OF WILLIAM RENNIE, Apr 12, 1886
HEIRS: Name Relationship Age Residence
Mrs. Isabella (Cole) Rennie wife/widow 53 Garfield Twp GT Co
William A. Rennie son 23 Garfield Twp GT Co
Mrs. Anna (Rennie) Putnam daughter 30 Leelanau Co MI
Mrs. Mary (Rennie) Weidenhamer daughter 28 Blair Twp GT Co MI
Mrs. Elsie (Rennie) McGeary daughter 25 Blair Twp GT Co MI
William Cole son of testator 22 Blair Twp GT Co MI
Miss Elizabeth Cole daughter of testator 26 Garfield Twp GT Co
Oscar Rennie adopted son of deceased 11 Garfield Twp GT Co

EXECUTOR: J.G. Ramsdell, Circuit Judge
WITNESS: H.E. Steward, Garfield Twp., George Simpson, Blair Twp.

"Be it remembered that I William Rennie of Garfield Township in the county of Grand Traverse and State of Michigan being of sound and disposing mind, do make and declare this my last will and Testament, hereby revoking any and every will by me heretofore made. After the payment of any just debts and
funeral charges, I give, bequeath and devise all my real and personal estate wherever situated, as follows:

FIRST --To my faithful and beloved wife, Isabella: 60 A, also her choice of 4 cows from the herd on my farm; 8 sheep, half of the poultry, what fruit she needs for her own use during her lifetime to be taken from what is now my farm; also she is to select two beds & bedding therefor complete from the stock in
my house, and of the furniture and househld goods, other than the beds and bedding, she to have one half. The above bequest to my wife to be in lieu of a dower interest.

SECOND --To my son William A. Rennie, 120 A also the farm stock & farming implements not included in my bequest to my wife and daughters. The above bequest on William A Rennie is conditioned that he pay to my wife's son William Cole $400 within 4 years of my decease, and also pay to my wife's daughter, Elizabeth Cole $100 within one year after my decease.

THIRD --To my daughters Anna Putnam, Mary Weidenhamer, and Elsie May McGarry share and share alike the following real estate: containing 180 A.

FOURTH --To my wife's son William Cole $400, the sum to be paid to him as specified in the above bequest (etc.)

FIFTH --To my wife's daughter Elizabeth Cole one cow of her own selection from the herd on my farm, also $100 to be paid her by the above named William A. Rennie, within one year from the time of my decease.

SIXTH --to Oscar Rennie an adopted son if he continues to reside with my wife or with any member of my family at my wife's option until he is 21 years of age he is to have two suits of clothes and $100.

I hereby appoint J.G. Ramsdell of Grand Traverse County, State of Michigan, executor of this will.

In testimony whereof I hereto set my hand and seal this eighth day of March in the year one thousand eight hundred & eighty six.

William Rennie Seal

INVENTORY

REAL ESTATE
SW 1/433-27-11 6400
W 1/2 of SE 1/433-27-11 800
S 1/2 of NE 1/433-27-11 800
NW 1/4 SW 1/42-26-11 ~
Aggregate Real Estate $8400

PERSONAL ESTATE
4 horses 300
1 Bull 60
10 cows 250
9 head 93
21 sheep 63
swine 45
poultry 15
Household goods 60
Farm implements lQQ
Aggregate personal $1086

Total $9486

SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
Source: HERITAGE FOR THE FUTURE by Robert D. Wilhelm, (Traverse City Historian) 1988 p.8
The GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY HISTORY, 1903
Excerpts from the Biographical Sketch of Wm A., and John Rennie
Excerpts from the OBITUARY: WILLIAM RENNIE, SR.; the Grand Traverse HERALD, 1 April 1896,
The personal letters of Alexander Rennie, grandson.


More About WILLIAM RENNIE:
Burial: 1886, Oakwood Cemetery, Traverse City, Michigan
Census: 1870, Traverse Township, Grand Traverse County, MI

Notes for MARGARET FENTON:
Margaret Fenton, a daughter of Alexander Fenton and Ann Grewar, was born in Lintrathen, Angus (formerly Fofarshire), Scotland about October 1822-1825. She moved to New Brunswick, Canada with her parents in 1842 (according to the 1851 New Brunswick census). In familysearch.org, there is a Margaret Fenton born November 16, 1822 in Lintrathen, Angus, Scotland; the daughter of Alexander and Ann Grewar Fenton. Another record indicates that Alexander Fenton married Ann Grewar or Grewer on April 8, 1815 in Glenisla, Angus, Scotland. An Alexander Fenton was christened in Glenisla, Angus, Scotland on March 19, 1775; the son of Alexander Fenton. Margaret's father Alexander, according to the 1851 census, was born in 1775. According to St. Michael's Museum in NB, the Fenton family was from Forfarshire (present-day Angus). Glenisla and Lintrathen are close to each other in Angus, north of Dundee. The other facts match, as well. Based on this circumstantial evidence, I have entered Margaret's father and mother as Alexander Fenton and Ann Grewar.

Margaret Fenton married William Rennie in New Brunswick on March 29, 1850, where their first child John was born in 1852. Their second child Anna [Anne] Elizabeth was born in 1855 in Amhurstburg, Ontario, Canada, where William had located his family until they could join him in Traverse City in 1858. When William went to Grand Traverse County in 1851, it was truly a wilderness from which the Hannah & Lay Company established a town from its very beginning. There they had two additional children, Mary and Elsie in 1858 and 1859. They moved to the farm in Garfield Township in 1862 where the last of their five children William, Jr. was born in 1862.

Margaret Fenton's brother David Fenton married William Rennie's sister Elspeth Rennie on January 18, 1855.

Margaret died 28-30 March 1864. According to family tradition, Margaret hemorrhaged to death; she miscarried a baby from the exertions of trying to get a sick cow to stand. Her death is recorded in Northumberland County, NB on July 9, 1864: "Died at Traverse City, Michigan on March 28, 1864, Margaret Fenton, age 40 years, wife of William Rennie, formerly of Miramichi. "

She was the first white person buried in the Indian cemetery, then located on the banks of the Boardman River, now the site of the Traverse City library. She was later re-interred in Oakwood Cemetery. Her grave marker indicates that she was 39 years 5 months old when she died; her birthdate of October 1824 is calculated from this. However, according to the 1851 census listing (see William Rennie) her birthdate would be 1825 and the 1860 Michigan census would indicate 1823. So she was born about October 1823-1825.

Her great-granddaughter, Margaret Fenton Putnam Rolfe, is named for her.

The Gazetteer of Scotland of 1803 describes Lintrathen parish in this way:
"About 8 miles in length, and 4 in breadth, elevated on the skirts of the Grampian mountains. It has a bleak and barren aspect; the surface is composed of hills, valleys and mountains, and possesses few spots which admit of culture; and even these spots are of a thin muirish soil, yielding an inferior quality of grain. The greater part is laid out in pasturage, neither the soil nor climate being favourable for plantations. There is a lake about a mile in diameter [Lintrathen Loch] , which gives rise to one of the principle streams of the Melgam." Lintrathan, along with Glen Isla, is one of the "Angus Glens" along the River Isla.


More About MARGARET FENTON:
Burial: Abt. 1886, Oakwood Cemetery, Traverse City, Michigan
Christening: November 16, 1822, Lintrathen, Angus, Scotland

Notes for ISABELLA UNKNOWN:
The widow Isabella Cole evidently lived in Canada East in 1858 when her child Elizabeth was born, and in Michigan in 1864 when her child William was born. There are two Cole families from Canada East in the 1860 Grand Traverse census- Amanda Cole a domestic, and an Asa Cole family (they are indicted to be paupers). Isabella is not listed in these families. Maybe relatives of hers?

Aunt Sue Briggs told me (Ed. of Rennie History) that one day after working in the woods all day, her father, William A. Rennie (Billie i.e., Wm, Junior) came back to the house. He found that while he had been working, Isabelle (Cole) Rennie had been working in a different way. Friends or family had come with wagons, and they had stripped the house of all beds and bedding. There was not even one pillow nor feather tick left in the house. He had to resort to sleeping in the hayloft using horse blankets from the barn (Rennie History Ed: I have forgotten the rest, but it seems to me that she took everything that wasn't bolted to the floor. One wonders if she also took her choice of live-stock and fruit or if she thought she'd made a fair exchange. The second Mrs. Rennie had always favored her own children over her step-children, and had enjoyed eighteen years of being the wife of a prosperous farmer. One wonders if she considered everything in the house to be HERS. It must have have been a real come-down to be living off the largess of a step-son who owed her no great debt of gratitude. On the surface, it seems a dirty trick, but it may have been the kindest thing she ever did; she removed a source of daily tension: herself.]

More About ISABELLA UNKNOWN:
Burial: September 1904, Oakwood Cemetery, Traverse City, Michigan

iv. JOHN RENNIE, JR., b. Bet. 1825 - 1829, New Brunswick, Canada; d. October 25, 1905, Garfield Twp., Grand Traverse County,, Michigan; m. BARBARA AULD, October 14, 1850, Barony Parish, Lanarkshire, Scotland; b. October 26, 1828, Pollokshaws (Barony Parish), Renfrewshire, Scotland; d. June 02, 1883, Maxwelltown, Manistee County, Michigan.

Notes for JOHN RENNIE, JR.:
JOHN RENNIE, JR. , the third son of John and Elizabeth Rennie (Rennie Family History says son of Mr. & Mrs. Robert Rennie) was born about 1825 in New Brunswick, Canada. He was a small man, about 5' 6", but an athlete, for he became the Welter Weight boxing champion of the British Navy. He used the money earned from his fists to go to a steam-engineering school in Edinburgh, Scotland. According to his niece, Abbie Nickerson, he retained his Scots "brrr" for his lifetime.

He married Barbara Auld, reputedly from a distinguished musical family. (Marriage Register of Glasgow, 1850 Barony Parish, John Rennie, millwright, Cowcaddens to Barbara Auld, residing there, married at Glasgow 1 Oct 1850). He spent much of his time and most of his fortune taking her about in an attempt to regain her health. They were the parents of six children.

This 1851census notation is likely for John Jr. and Barbara Ault Rennie: 17 Lyon Street, Glasgow St George, Lanarkshire: J ohn Rennie, 24, millright, born America; Barbara Rennie, 19, born Pollockshaws, Renfrewshire. He would be born in 1827-28 and Barbara in 1832

John Rennie, Jr. and Barbara Auld Rennie may have been in Nova Scotia in 1851 and 1861 (see below).

John Rennie, Engineer is listed in the "Lovell Directory of 1871," in Richibucto, Kent County, New Brunswick which is contiguous to Northumberland County, NB. There are no Rennie's listed there in 1861 (from places and dates of births of Barbara and William, they evidently were in Nova Scotia).

The family is listed in the 1871 Census for Richibucto, Kent County, New Brunswick:

John RENNIE, age 46, b. NB in 1825, Presbytarian, Engineer
Barbara, wife, age 40, b. Scotland in 1831, Presbytarian
Elizabeth, daughter, age 17, b. NB in 1854
John, son, age 14, b. NB in 1857, scholar
Barbara, daughter, age 9, b. Nova Scotia in 1862, scholar
William, son, age 6, b. Novia Scotia in 1865, scholar

Note that the two youngest children, Barbara and William, were born in Nova Scotia in 1862 and 1865, indicating that the family was living there at the time.

In the 1881 census, the family is listed in Bathurst, Gloucester, New Brunswick:

John RENNIE Scottish 52 New Brunswick Engineer Presbyterian
Barbara RENNIE Scottish 49 Scotland
Lizzie RENNIE Scottish 29 New Brunswick Postmistress
Barbara RENNIE Scottish 17 Nova Scotia
William F. RENNIE Scottish 15 Nova Scotia School

District 36
Sub-district B
Division 1
Page Number 63
Household Number 225

John and family moved to Manistee, Michigan sometime after 1881 and before 1883 (when his wife died in Manistee), where he spent most of the rest of his life building lumber mills and installing "Scotch Boilers" to power them. He built 32 Lumber Mills complete with the Scotch boilers in the Manistee, Michigan area. He worked mostly for Buckley & Douglas and Louis Sands in set-up operations. He died 25 Oct 1905 at the home of his niece, Elsie McGarry, in Garfield Twp., Grand Traverse County, Michigan and is buried next to his wife Barbara in Manistee, Michigan. (Note-his obituary says he is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, hers says she is in Lake View Cemetery).

"The remains of John Rennie arrived this noon from Traverse City for burial. They were met at the train by friends and escorted to Oak Grove cemetery where interment was made. Deceased formerly lived in Maxwelltown."

Source: 1883 MANISTEE CITY AND COUNTY DIRECTORY p.108
Rennie, John, Engineer, Manistee Street




More About JOHN RENNIE, JR.:
Burial: October 1905, Oak Grove Cemetery, Manistee County, Michigan

Notes for BARBARA AULD:
BARBARA AULD was born about 1828-31 in Scotland. She married John Rennie and bore him six children. She died 2 June 1883, and was buried at Manistee, Michigan on June 4, 1883. According to the 1851 Scotland census, she was born in Pollokshaws, Renfrewshire, Scotland (Barony Parish near Glasgow). This fits nicely, as she was married in Barony Parish in 1850.

There is a www.familysearch.org listing for the christening of Barbara Auld in Kilmaurs, Ayrshire, Scotland, parents Robert and Isabella Orr Auld. This fits very well, except that Kilmaurs is 21 miles from Glasgow, so without verfication I have entered this relationship. Ayrshire and Renfrwshire are both in the vicinity of Glasgow

I find a record in FamilySearch.org for Barbara Auld, born 26 Oct 1828 in Kilmaurs, Ayrshire, Scotland, daughter of Robert Auld and Isabella Orr. Perhaps this is her? Here she is in 1841census:
East Side Main Street, Kilmaurs, Ayrshire
Janet Orr, 47, born Ayrshire
Elisabeth Orr, 43, born Ayrshire
Janet Auld, 10, born Ayrshire
Barbara Auld, 8, born Ayrshire
Presumably this is 2 little orphans, living with their maiden aunts?

There is also a marriage record (Marriage Register of Glasgow) between John Rennie and Barbara Auld on 14 Oct 1850 in Barony Parish, Glasgow, Lanark County, Scotland. The source is Church of Scotland, Parish Church of Barony, Glasgow. This record likely is for our John Rennie and Barbara Auld, as he was in Scotland to attend steam-school about that time.

7 June 1883: Articles in Manistee, Michigan Paper:
Mrs. John Rennie's funeral sermon will be preached at Maxwell next Sunday, by Rev. Mr. Sillence, at 7:30 p.m. Mrs. John Rainey* died at her home in Maxwelltown last Saturday of consumption, after an illness of several years. Her age was 55. She leaves a husband and six children. * her name was spelled Rennie, and Rainey on the same page (I'd guess that 2 different people submitted notes about her death?).

Barbara was evidently from a distinguished musical family in Scotland, according to her husband's obituary. Her birthdate of 1828 is calculated from her death in 1883 at age 55. However, the 1871 NB census lists her as being 40 years old in 1871, e.g., born in 1831

OBITUARY
Died at Maxwelltown, on Sat., June 2, Barbara, wife of Mr. John Rennie, of consumption. Sister Rennie and her husband were among the charter members of the Congregational Church at Maxwelltown, and though enduring severe suffering with great patience for months past, continued to take great interest in the welfare of the Church up to the time of her death. A memorial service will be preached by the pastor at the Church Sabbath evening, June 10, at 7:30. Her remains were laid in the Lake View Cemetery on Monday last.

"Til Christ shall come to rouse the slumbering dead,
Farewell, pale, lifeless clay, a long farewell!
Sweet be thy sleep beneath that green tree's shade,
Where we have laid thee in thy lonely cell,
Adieu, dear Barbara; thou shall sigh no more,
Thy conflict's ended, and thy toils are past;
Thy weary pilgrimage on earth is o'er,
And thou hast reached thy wished for home at last."

Her name is listed as Alt in her husband's obituary, but is Auld which is a proper Scottish surname. A John Auld Rennie is listed in New Brunswick birth records circa 1885, and is probably her son John born about 1857.

Rambles Around Glasgow, 1850: Pollokshaws is a tidy and thriving little town, somewhat irregular in appearance, and containing a population of about 5,000 individuals. An air of bustle and life about its streets, furnishes a perfect contrast to the dullness and languor which generally prevail in towns of similar extent in the rural districts. There are a number of extensive establishments for spinning, weaving, and dyeing, within its precincts, which furnish employment for the greater portion of its inhabitants, the residue being principally handloom weavers, miners, and agricultural labourers. Calico-printing was also at one period carried on here to a considerable extent; but of late years, we understand, this department of trade has been, in a great measure, if not altogether discontinued. The inhabitants have the usual characteristics of a manufacturing population. There is the common preponderance of pale faces and emaciated forms, accompanied with that sharpness of intellect which manifests itself in diversity of religious and political opinion. Every shade of political principle, indeed, finds here its own little knot of adherents; while the fact that there arre not fewer than nine separate places of worship, great and small, sufficiently indicates the variety of points from which the great question is contemplated. The precise number of schools which are in the town we have not learned, but we understand that this important department of social improvement has not been by any means neglected; which an extensive public library furnishes the necessary intellectual pabulum for the studious portion of the adult population. The town was erected into a burgh of barony by a charter from the Crown in 1814. [pp. 123-125]






More About BARBARA AULD:
Burial: June 1883, Lake View Cemetery, Manistee County, Michigan

v. ELSPETH RENNIE, b. Abt. 1826, New Brunswick, Canada; m. DAVID FENTON, January 18, 1855, Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Canada; b. Abt. February 22, 1818, Lintrathen, Angus, Scotland; d. Prob. New Brunswick, Canada.

Notes for ELSPETH RENNIE:
From Edith McAllister Papers, February 17, 1855, page 128: On Thursday, January 18, 1855 Elspeth Rennie, Parish of Newcastle, married David Fenton, Parish of Chatham. Rev. Mr. Henderson officiating.

Elspeth's brother William Rennie married David Fenton's sister Margaret Fenton on March 29, 1850.

More About DAVID FENTON:
Christening: February 22, 1818, Lintrathen, Angus, Scotland

vi. MARY RENNIE, b. Abt. 1823; m. (1) JAMES SMITH, November 02, 1843, #2685 Northunberland County Index; b. Abt. 1820; m. (2) JAMES SMITH, November 02, 1843, Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Canada.


18. THOMAS4 RENNIE (WILLIAM3, ISABEL2 FORBES, PITSLIGO1)4 was born Abt. September 14, 1799 in Grigs of Ardo (Belhelvie), Aberdeenshire, Scotland4, and died 1871. He married (1) AGNES HYND October 1847 in Dumfermline, Fife, Scotland. She was born 1827 in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. He married (2) ELISABETH MELVILLE Aft. 1868.

More About THOMAS RENNIE:
Christening: September 14, 1799, Foveran, Aberdeenshire, Scotland4

Children of THOMAS RENNIE and AGNES HYND are:
i. EUPHEMIA5 RENNIE, b. May 11, 1860, Dunferline, Fife, Scotland.
ii. JOHAN RENNIE, b. 1863.
iii. MARY RENNIE, b. 1865.
iv. ELIZABETH RENNIE, b. 1867, Dunferline, Fife, Scotland.
v. JAMES RENNIE, b. 1870.


Children of THOMAS RENNIE and ELISABETH MELVILLE are:
vi. JOHN MELVILLE5 RENNIE, b. September 16, 1868.
vii. ELISABETH RENNIE, b. October 04, 1868.
viii. ALEXANDER RENNIE, b. May 21, 1870.