THE ABERDEEN & NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY

 

http://www.anesfhs.org.uk/

 

THOMAS SETON

 

 


Event(s):

Birth: 

 

 

Christening: 

10 SEP 1677  

Banff, Banff, Scotland

 Recorded in Banff, though also probable from New Machar Parish, Aberdeenshire.

Death: 

 

 

Burial: 

 

 

 

 


Parents:

 

Father: 

ALEXANDER SETON

Family

 

Mother: 

MARGARET JOASSE  of the Colleonard Family

 

 

 

 

 


Messages:

Extracted birth or christening record for the locality listed in the record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the birth or christening date.

 

New Machar

Location of Straloch, Newmachar parish

 

The parish of New Machar is nowadays reckoned as belonging to Aberdeenshire, and the main article about it will therefore be found among the GENUKI Aberdeenshire pages. However, before the major re-alignment of parish and county boundaries which came into effect on 1st May 1891, the parish belonged in part to Banffshire. The remaining articles on this page give details.

Historical Geography

Until 1st May 1891, the estate of Straloch belonged to Banffshire. On that date, it was transferred to Aberdeenshire, as part of a complicated exchange of territory, involving also the estate of Torryleith, which was transferred from the parish of Udny to the parish of New Machar. While there are archival consequences for the inhabitants of Torryleith, there are no genealogical implications for Straloch. OPRs, the civil Registers of Births, Deaths and Marriages, and the Census treat New Machar (including Straloch) as if it had always belonged exclusively to Aberdeenshire. And the Minister, writing for the "New Statistical Account" in 1842 states: " ... the lands of Straloch are now rated and politically attached to the County of Aberdeen".

One slightly abstruse oddity concerns the 1696 Poll Tax. This was levied on all parishes in Scotland, and while most of the records have long since vanished, the Aberdeenshire returns have miraculously survived, and provide something like a Census of the adult population. The originals are held by Aberdeen University, but the returns were published by the Spalding Club in the 19th century, and have since been re-issued (with indexes) by Aberdeen and Northeast Scotland FHS. The records for Newmachar and Belhelvie are published as catalogue number AA310. However, because the estate of Straloch was deemed to be in Banffshire, none of the places listed below are included. (My thanks go to Sandy Archibald, who pointed out this particular twist in the tale).

Names, Geographical

The places transferred in 1891 from Banffshire to Aberdeenshire: Brunthill, Burnhead, Changehill, Clyne, Hill of Clyne, Greenhead, Kinghorn, Upper Kinghorn, Kingsford, Knaps, Longcroft, Meddens, Milton, Overton, Pollswalls, Straloch, Whiterashes, Wicketwalls, Woodend.

 

 

 

BANFFSHIRE

"BANFFSHIRE, a maritime county in the NE. of Scotland, stretching about 56 miles between Aberdeenshire and the cos. of Elgin and Inverness, and comprising a small detached section in Aberdeenshire. It is very narrow in proportion to its length, and is broadest along the N., where the coast on the Moray Firth measures about 30 miles. Area, 640.8 sq. m., or 412,258 ac. Pop. 62,736, or 98 persons to each sq. m. The greater part of the S. section (about three-fourths of the entire length) is occupied with lofty mountains, finely wooded hills, and picturesque glens. The N. district is beautifully diversified with low hills, fine valleys, and small tracts of rich plain. The highest mountains, Ben Macdhui (4296 ft.) and Cairn Gorm (4080 ft.), are grouped on the SW. border. The rivers are the Spey, with its affluent the Fiddich; the Deveron, with its affluent the Isla; and the Boyne. There are quarries of slate and marble. The occupations are chiefly pastoral, but great numbers of the people are also employed in the fisheries. The co. comprises 19 pars., with parts of 11 others, the parl. and police burghs of Banff and Cullen (part of the Elgin Burghs), and the police burghs of Dufftown and Macduff. It returns 1 member to Parliament." [Bartholemew's Gazetteer of the British Isles, 1887]

Map showing location of Banffshire


Parishes

Bartholemew's Gazetteer (quoted above), the Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland and the New Statistical Account all give different numbers of parishes belonging to Banffshire. The following list includes every parish which, perhaps in part only, or for a limited time, could be reckoned as belonging to Banffshire.

Aberlour
Alvah*
Banff
Bellie*
Boharm*
Botriphnie
Boyndie
Cabrach*
Cairnie*
Cullen*
Deskford

Enzie*
Fordyce
Forglen
Gamrie*
Gartly*
Glass*
Grange
Inveravon*
Inverkeithny
Keith*
King Edward*

 

 

ANNALS OF BANFF INDEX
TO THE
OLD CEMETERY

http://www.geocities.com/kubee21/banff/banffindex.html#J

(443) Here lies inter'd the body of William Joass, who departed this life 2nd November, 1768, aged 78 years, also the body of Margery Stewart, his wife, who departed this life 7th January, 1789, aged 79 Years. Here also is inter'd the body of Barbara Joass, daughter to the said William and Margery, and wife of James Smith, gardner in Banff. She departed this life on the 17th day of March, 1801, aged 71 years. A better wife, mother, Christian or friend never left this transitory life, nor will her resignation under many afflictions and tryals ever be surpassed. This stone is erected by their surviving children Mn. Sh.

Of the family of Colleonard in Banffshire.

21 Jun 1684

The said William the lawfull sone of Robert Sanders Bayllie in Banff and Jean Stuart his spouse was baptized. Witnesses Mr Wm Joas[?] of Collenard, Wm Ogden[?] of Barklay and Wm Maths in Banfe. Mr's Margaret Gordon Mr's Betty Gordon, and                Graham.

14 Oct 1685

The said day William ye Law'll sone off Alexander Lesly off Kininvie & Janet Hamiltone his spouse was baptized. Witnesses Sr William Sharpe[?] off Stony hill Sir William Sharpe[?] of Scots craige William Cummd[?] of Adhory[?] Mr Wm Joas of Colleonard.

 

 

Descendants of James Bannerman

James BANNERMAN, b. ca. 1669, m1. 14 Oct 1706 at Boyndie, Banffshire, Anna INNES (chr. 8 May 1685 at Banff, Banffshire, d. 2 Feb 1708 of "a longe decay"; daughter of Patrick INNES, minister of Banff, and Margaret JOASS), m2. 9 Nov 1710 Anne CUMING, d. 29 Mar 1749. Minister of Inveraven, Banffshire, 1703 to 1716 or 1717, and Forglen, Banffshire, 1716 or 1717 to 1742. (See Fasti.) [ref. 2u,2v,9,11,14]

 

 

 

JOASS ARMS - Scotland

Vert, in chief the holy Bible expanded proper; in base a sand-glass running argent--JOASS, Scotland.

 

 

 

Major Alexander Joass1 (M)
#210
Last Edited=9 Mar 2003

     Major Alexander Joass married Mary Abercromby, daughter of George Abercromby and Mary Dundas.1
     He held the office of Governor of Stirling Castle.
1

….James Haldane, now at the age of twenty-five, was found fully competent to assume the command of the Melville Castle; and on passing his examinations he was promoted to that office in 1793. After his appointment, he married Miss Joass, only child of Major Joass, fort-major of Stirling Castle, and niece of Sir Ralph Abercromby.