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The death certificate for my great-great-grandfather Alexander Shirran [GROS Statutory Deaths 1899 223/00 0003] gives his father as John Shirran, crofter and his mother's name as "Marg", short for Margaret. This must be the John Shirran or Sherran who was married to Margaret Gray. I cannot find any record of their actual marriage so they may have been married "by habit and repute", that is, by living together as husband and wife for long enough that it became accepted as a de facto marriage under Scottish law, but there are definite records of them as a married couple and they had a string of children together, of which more anon.
We know from his death certificate that John Shirran, the father of Alexander and husband of Margaret, was in turn the son of James Shirran, farmer, and his wife Christian Black [GROS Statutory Deaths 1890 196/00 0024].
John Shirran was baptised on 17th June 1806 [GROS Baptism 1806 OPR 241 000 0020 0177z], at which point he was probably a few weeks old, and went on to marry (in one sense or another) Margaret Gray and father a large family which included Alexander. The record of his baptism says: "June 17th // James Shirran and Christian Black in Craigculter [a farmtoun about a mile and a half south-east of New Pitsligo] had a son named John, baptized before Peter Cline and George Biddie Upper Hill of New Deer". I can find no Upper Hill near the town of New Deer, but Upper and Over are often interchangeable in north-eastern Scottish place-names and there is an Overhill about a mile west of Craigculter. Craigculter is in the parish of Strichen, but Overhill is indeed in the parish of New Deer, even though it's about four miles from the town of that name
John Shirran, the father of Alexander, son of James and grandson of an earlier John, was probably born in May or early June 1806, since he was baptized on 17th June 1806. According to his death certificate he was eighty-three when he died on 18th February 1890, giving him a birthdate after 19th February 1806.
In the census of 30th March 1851 he is said to be forty-four, giving him a birthdate probably after 31st March 1806, so if these ages are accurate he was born between 31st March 1806 and 17th June 1806 [OPR Baptisms 241 000 0020 0177Z; GROS Statutory Deaths 1890 196/00 0024; Census 1851 248/00 001/00 005].
Margaret Shirran, John's wife, was the daughter of John Gray, labourer and Margaret Gray née Reid. According to her death certificate she was ninety when she died on 10th September 1893, giving her a birthdate between 11th September 1802 and 10th September 1803. In the census of 30th March 1851 she is said to be forty-four, giving her a birthdate probably between 31st March 1806 and 30th March 1807. The death certificate is probably more likely to be accurate. [GROS Statutory Deaths 1893 237/0C 0016; Census 1851 248/00 001/00 005]
The 1851 census shows the family living at Muirstone, as follows:
John Shirren a crofter aged forty-four, born in Strichen His wife Margaret Gray, aged forty-four and born in Fraserburgh
His children: Christine, daughter aged fifteen and born in Tyrie William, son aged thirteen and born in Tyrie Jean, daughter aged ten and born in Tyrie Helen, daughter aged seven and born in Tyrie [Census 1851 248/00 001/00 005]
Alexander was already away from home - what seems to be him was living in lodgings at Camalowan near Fyvie [Census 1851 197/00 006/00 005] and there were two other boys, Andrew and George, who also must have already left home.
On the same page of the census - so probably very close to them physically - we find seventy-two-year-old widow and head of house Christan Shirran, her unmarried twenty-eight-year-old daughter Barbara and eight-year-old granddaughter Christan Mitchell, and in another neighbouring household John's brother George Shirran and his family. Approach-road from the A950 to Craigculter, from Google Streetview Craigculter seen from the main road, from Google Streetview The family evidently fell on hard times, for a researcher called Pat found John Shirran on the Fraserburgh General Register of Poor for 1885. This describes John as being born in Craigellie, Strichen, the son of James Sherran and Christian Black or Sherran, both now deceased, and as being a general labourer, Protestant, married, now partially disabled due to age and rupture (a hernia, presumably). The reference to Craigellie seems to be an error, either in the Register or in the transcription of it, since his baptismal record definitely says that at the time of his baptism his parents lived at Craigculter, also in Strichen. This in my opinion is more likely to be correct, since it was written shortly after his birth - especially as the witnesses at his baptism came from "Upper Hill of New Deer" which is probably the place in the parish of New Deer which is now called Overhill, and which is only a mile west of Craigculter - but nine miles from Craigellie. No place in the parish of New Deer can be less than about nine miles from Craigellie which is, however, only four and a half miles from Fraserburgh, to Craigculter's nine and a half. This probably explains the slippage of the brain which caused the Registrar to write down "Craigellie" instead of "Craigculter" or perhaps caused John, now resident near Craigellie, to forget the name of his place of birth. Whether or not it is entirely accurate, the Register of Poor gives details of John's children, viz.: Alexander aged fifty-six, married with four children George aged fifty-four, no children Andrew aged fifty-three, married with two children, in California Christian aged fifty, married with four children Jane aged forty-five, married with nine children William aged forty-four Helen aged forty-one, married There is a discrepancy between William's age as given here in the Register of Poor and as given in the census, but the census is probably to be preferred: we can see that the Register isn't entirely accurate, because apart from the Craigellie/Craigculter issue it says that Alexander had four children when in fact he had nine, of whom six were still living at this point. John Shirran died at 7pm on 18th February 1890, aged eighty-three at Techmuiry, Fraserburgh, less than two miles east-south-east of Muirstone. The cause of death is "Supposed natural decay" and he is described as "Pauper (formerly a crofter)" [GROS Statutory Deaths 1890 196/00 0024] - although the death certificate for his daughter Christian would later give her father's occupation as general labourer [GROS Statutory Deaths 1900 196/00 0047]. That suggests he had become a crofter after 1835 when Christian was born. Margaret outlived her husband. She died (under the name of Sherran) at 7am on 4th September 1893 at South Kinloch, St Fergus, just north of Inverugie. The cause of death was heart disease lasting seven days. [GROS Statutory Deaths 1893 237/0C 0016]. Alexander Shirran, born 1829 Alexander Shirran, my great great grandfather, was born at the farm or croft of Muirstone in the parish of Tyrie before 1st January 1855 when civil registration was introduced in Scotland. We know from the census, his son William's birth certificate and his own death certificate that he was born in 1829, probably between 6th April and 31st August. [GROS Statutory Births 1855 247/00 0081; Census 1881 223/00 005/00 005; Census 1891 223/00 005/00 009; GROS Statutory Deaths 1899 223/00 0003] He went on to become the patriarch of a sprawling clan of Shirrans, and is covered in his own section. George Shirran, born 1831 We know this George Shirran only from a mention in relation to his father in the Fraserborough Register of Poor for 1885. He was said to be fifty-four, giving him a birthdate roughly in 1831. As at 1885 he had no children. Almost certainly born in Tyrie. Andrew Shirran, born 1832 We know Andrew Shirran only from a mention in relation to his father in the Fraserborough Register of Poor for 1885. He was said to be fifty-three, giving him a birthdate roughly in 1832. As at 1885 he was married with two children and was living in California. Almost certainly born in Tyrie. Christine or Christian Shirran, born 1835 Christian Shirran is mentioned in relation to her father in the Fraserborough Register of Poor for 1885. She was said to be fifty, giving her a birthdate roughly in 1835. The census of 30th March 1851 calls her Christine and says she is fifteen, giving her a birthdate between 31st March 1835 and 30th March 1836, so we can say she was probably born between 31st March 1835 and 31st December 1835. Born in Tyrie. [Census 1851 248/00 001/00 005] As at 1885 she was married with four children, George, William, Christian and Ann born respectively in about 1858, 1859, 1862 and 1867. Christian married a man called James Tocher. She died at 35 School Street, Fraserburgh aged sixty-four on 28th March 1900, the death being reported by her husband. [GROS Statutory Deaths 1900 196/00 0047] William Shirran, born 1837 William Shirran is mentioned in relation to his father in the Fraserborough Register of Poor for 1885. He was said to be forty-four, giving him a birthdate roughly in 1841. However, the census of 30th March 1851 says he is thirteen, giving him a birthdate between 31st March 1837 and 30th March 1838. Of the two the census is more likely to be accurate, in part because it's far easier to mistake a forty-eight-year-old for a forty-four-year-old than a nine-year-old for a thirteen-year-old. Born in Tyrie. [Census 1851 248/00 001/00 005] His marital status is not recorded. Jean or Jane Shirran, born 1840 Jane Shirran is mentioned in relation to her father in the Fraserborough Register of Poor for 1885. She was said to be forty-five, giving her a birthdate roughly in 1840. The census of 30th March 1851 calls her Jean and says she is ten, giving her a birthdate between 31st March 1840 and 30th March 1841. Born in Tyrie. [Census 1851 248/00 001/00 005] As at 1885 she was married with nine children. Helen Shirran, born 1845 Helen Shirran is mentioned in relation to her father in the Fraserborough Register of Poor for 1885. She was said to be forty-one, giving her a birthdate roughly in 1844. The census of 30th March 1851 says she is seven, giving her a birthdate between 31st March 1843 and 30th March 1844, so we can say she was probably born between 1st January 1844 and 30th March 1844. Born in Tyrie. [Census 1851 248/00 001/00 005] As at 1885 she was married but no children are mentioned. A researcher on www.ancestry.co.uk refers to John and Margaret having a daughter Eleanor whose dates were 1845-1907. This seems to be Helen under a variant spelling. She was born at Strichen on 27th May 1845, and arrived in Quebec on 24th May 1870 where she married a John Birnie. She died in Manitoba on 6th January 1907. A page about her can be found here.
The family evidently fell on hard times, for a researcher called Pat found John Shirran on the Fraserburgh General Register of Poor for 1885. This describes John as being born in Craigellie, Strichen, the son of James Sherran and Christian Black or Sherran, both now deceased, and as being a general labourer, Protestant, married, now partially disabled due to age and rupture (a hernia, presumably).
The reference to Craigellie seems to be an error, either in the Register or in the transcription of it, since his baptismal record definitely says that at the time of his baptism his parents lived at Craigculter, also in Strichen. This in my opinion is more likely to be correct, since it was written shortly after his birth - especially as the witnesses at his baptism came from "Upper Hill of New Deer" which is probably the place in the parish of New Deer which is now called Overhill, and which is only a mile west of Craigculter - but nine miles from Craigellie. No place in the parish of New Deer can be less than about nine miles from Craigellie which is, however, only four and a half miles from Fraserburgh, to Craigculter's nine and a half. This probably explains the slippage of the brain which caused the Registrar to write down "Craigellie" instead of "Craigculter" or perhaps caused John, now resident near Craigellie, to forget the name of his place of birth.
Whether or not it is entirely accurate, the Register of Poor gives details of John's children, viz.:
Alexander aged fifty-six, married with four children George aged fifty-four, no children Andrew aged fifty-three, married with two children, in California Christian aged fifty, married with four children Jane aged forty-five, married with nine children William aged forty-four Helen aged forty-one, married
There is a discrepancy between William's age as given here in the Register of Poor and as given in the census, but the census is probably to be preferred: we can see that the Register isn't entirely accurate, because apart from the Craigellie/Craigculter issue it says that Alexander had four children when in fact he had nine, of whom six were still living at this point.
John Shirran died at 7pm on 18th February 1890, aged eighty-three at Techmuiry, Fraserburgh, less than two miles east-south-east of Muirstone. The cause of death is "Supposed natural decay" and he is described as "Pauper (formerly a crofter)" [GROS Statutory Deaths 1890 196/00 0024] - although the death certificate for his daughter Christian would later give her father's occupation as general labourer [GROS Statutory Deaths 1900 196/00 0047]. That suggests he had become a crofter after 1835 when Christian was born.
Margaret outlived her husband. She died (under the name of Sherran) at 7am on 4th September 1893 at South Kinloch, St Fergus, just north of Inverugie. The cause of death was heart disease lasting seven days. [GROS Statutory Deaths 1893 237/0C 0016].
Alexander Shirran, born 1829
Alexander Shirran, my great great grandfather, was born at the farm or croft of Muirstone in the parish of Tyrie before 1st January 1855 when civil registration was introduced in Scotland. We know from the census, his son William's birth certificate and his own death certificate that he was born in 1829, probably between 6th April and 31st August. [GROS Statutory Births 1855 247/00 0081; Census 1881 223/00 005/00 005; Census 1891 223/00 005/00 009; GROS Statutory Deaths 1899 223/00 0003] He went on to become the patriarch of a sprawling clan of Shirrans, and is covered in his own section.
George Shirran, born 1831
We know this George Shirran only from a mention in relation to his father in the Fraserborough Register of Poor for 1885. He was said to be fifty-four, giving him a birthdate roughly in 1831. As at 1885 he had no children. Almost certainly born in Tyrie.
Andrew Shirran, born 1832
We know Andrew Shirran only from a mention in relation to his father in the Fraserborough Register of Poor for 1885. He was said to be fifty-three, giving him a birthdate roughly in 1832. As at 1885 he was married with two children and was living in California. Almost certainly born in Tyrie.
Christine or Christian Shirran, born 1835
Christian Shirran is mentioned in relation to her father in the Fraserborough Register of Poor for 1885. She was said to be fifty, giving her a birthdate roughly in 1835. The census of 30th March 1851 calls her Christine and says she is fifteen, giving her a birthdate between 31st March 1835 and 30th March 1836, so we can say she was probably born between 31st March 1835 and 31st December 1835. Born in Tyrie. [Census 1851 248/00 001/00 005] As at 1885 she was married with four children, George, William, Christian and Ann born respectively in about 1858, 1859, 1862 and 1867.
Christian married a man called James Tocher. She died at 35 School Street, Fraserburgh aged sixty-four on 28th March 1900, the death being reported by her husband. [GROS Statutory Deaths 1900 196/00 0047]
William Shirran, born 1837
William Shirran is mentioned in relation to his father in the Fraserborough Register of Poor for 1885. He was said to be forty-four, giving him a birthdate roughly in 1841. However, the census of 30th March 1851 says he is thirteen, giving him a birthdate between 31st March 1837 and 30th March 1838. Of the two the census is more likely to be accurate, in part because it's far easier to mistake a forty-eight-year-old for a forty-four-year-old than a nine-year-old for a thirteen-year-old. Born in Tyrie. [Census 1851 248/00 001/00 005] His marital status is not recorded.
Jean or Jane Shirran, born 1840
Jane Shirran is mentioned in relation to her father in the Fraserborough Register of Poor for 1885. She was said to be forty-five, giving her a birthdate roughly in 1840. The census of 30th March 1851 calls her Jean and says she is ten, giving her a birthdate between 31st March 1840 and 30th March 1841. Born in Tyrie. [Census 1851 248/00 001/00 005] As at 1885 she was married with nine children.
Helen Shirran, born 1845
Helen Shirran is mentioned in relation to her father in the Fraserborough Register of Poor for 1885. She was said to be forty-one, giving her a birthdate roughly in 1844. The census of 30th March 1851 says she is seven, giving her a birthdate between 31st March 1843 and 30th March 1844, so we can say she was probably born between 1st January 1844 and 30th March 1844. Born in Tyrie. [Census 1851 248/00 001/00 005] As at 1885 she was married but no children are mentioned.
A researcher on www.ancestry.co.uk refers to John and Margaret having a daughter Eleanor whose dates were 1845-1907. This seems to be Helen under a variant spelling. She was born at Strichen on 27th May 1845, and arrived in Quebec on 24th May 1870 where she married a John Birnie. She died in Manitoba on 6th January 1907. A page about her can be found here.
