Donald Glass

A death certificate (Birse #3) in 1872 reveals that Donald was aged 83 at the time of his death. He died at the Poorhouse in Birse, the informant being his nurse Mary McPetrie who signed with an "X". His age is given as 83 and his parents are given as John Glass, cattle dealer and farmer (reputed father) and Elizabeth Stephen.

So where does Donald fit into the scheme of things amongst the Deeside Glass families? Definitely he was a Deeside Glass as all census entries have his place of birth as "Glenmuick".

The Coull census states Donald is residing at Strathweltie in Coull, his occupation is "agricultural labourer" and he is with the Tawse family. From the ages in the census it would appear that they could be siblings John (48) William (46) James (42). John's occupation is given as farmer and head of the house.

The Logie Coldstone census states that Donald is residing with the Anderson family at Logie. Donald is now listed as aged 68 with occupation shepherd.

This Anderson family also has a Glass connection. All Andersons, John (24 - head), Margaret (28), James (21), Ann (15) Elizabeth (13) George (11) Isabella (10) listed on this census are the issue of John Anderson and Margaret Glass. Unfortunately the origins of Margaret Glass is not known - there is no baptismal entry for her and she died pre-civil registration so no death certificate exists. A marriage entry states that John Anderson was from Logie Coldstone and Margaret Glass was from the Parish of Glenmuick.

Logie Mar Kirkyard

In memory of JOHN ANDERSON d. 1840 aged 55, his wife MARGARET GLASS d. 1846 aged 47. Of their family, JANE d. 1842 aged 17, WILLIAM d 1843 aged 11, JOHN d. 1853 aged 27, ELIZABETH d. 1856 aged 20. Erected by their son ALEXR ANDERSON farmer Logie.

Along with this family is a John Henry, nephew aged 2 born Coldstone. John Henry died 1874 in Logie Coldstone. His parents were given as James Henry farmer (deceased) and Mary Glass domestic servant (deceased).

This census has brought Donald to the Forest of Birse. He is residing at Oldgarnie with James Mitchel head, widower aged 94 and farming 14 acres of land. James' son Alexander aged 60 ploughman and Elizabeth Mitchel his niece aged 25 housekeeper and Elizabeth Birss aged 3 are also residing there.

Donald is given as a servant unmarried aged 76 occupation shepherd and born Glenmuick.

At this time Donald is residing with his nurse Mary McPetrie (44) and her daughter Ann (10) at Forgiefauld in Birse. This probably formed part of the Poorhouse in that area. He is aged 82 occupation - formerly shepherd.

It is possible that John Glass, cattle dealer and farmer in the Forest of Birse and who later married Ann Ferries, daughter of William Ferries and Ann Grant Drumneachie, was his father. However the surname Stephen does not appear around Birse.

The other thought is that he could be the son of John Glass (who later married Jean Coutts in Glenmuick in 1798). The family of John Glass and Jean Coutts resided at Deecastle near Glenmuick and the surname of Stephen does appear at Deecastle and surrounding areas.

While proof is lacking, I think that the father of John Glass at Deecastle was Donald Glass in Etnach, Glenmuick. This would explain the John giving his illegitimate son the Christian name "Donald".