PETER BROWN - Pail Maker
 |
 |
|
If you were driving up to the Forest of Birse you may miss a small well nestled into the side of the road amongst the grass and bracket fern. The well still runs thanks to members of the local community. The stone above the well reads:
Erected by PETER BROWN Pail Mill 1904 Since 1853
The Pail Mill is now known as the Bucket Mill |
|
Peter Brown was the son of Alexander Brown and Janet Duncan who, according to the Lists of Inhabitants, resided at Milltown in the Forest of Birse. (More information is given on this family below.) This family is marked on the Lists of Inhabitants as being Episcopalian and as such no baptismal entry for Peter has yet been located.
On his marriage certificate (Aboyne #4) it states that he was born in Birse in 1825 but that his baptism was registered in Lochlee Forfarshire Episcopal Register.
Prior to his marriage he had an illegitimate son James christened 10 April 1842: Peter Brown in Forest had an illegitimate son named James – Charlotte Brown his mother.
Peter took his son with him into the pail making business as James is listed with the family on the 1861 census, aged 28 and his occupation is given as a pail maker.
Peter Brown married Elizabeth Robertson 3 August 1855 at Percie Aboyne. Elizabeth Robertson is given as the daughter of James Robertson and Elizabeth Littlejohn (see Littlejohn page).
Peter and Elizabeth had the following children:
Mary Ann Simpson born Woodend Birse 25 April 1856 (Birse #12) and died at the Pail Mill Birse on 21 Feb 1871 (Birse #8)
Elizabeth born at the Bucket Mill in Birse on 20 April 1858 (Birse #14) and died 14 April 1860 at the Bucket Mill, Birse (Birse #4)
Charles Alexander born at Birse on 20 April 1860 (IGI). Charles married Elspet Grant, the daughter of William Grant and Mary Strachan on the 7 December 1900 (Birse #7). Charles died 17 Nov 1940 at the Bucket Mill and Elspet (Elsie) died 18 Nov 1854 at the Bucket Mill in Birse.
Margaret born in Birse on 28 April 1862 (IGI)
George Henry born at Birse on 16 Feb 1865 (IGI). He died at Millton in the Forest of Birse 11 February 1871.
John born 18 May 1867 at Bucket Mill Birse (Birse #24)
Georgina born 16 January 1869 at Bucket Mill Birse (Birse #4)
Robert born 24 April 1871 at Bucket Mill Birse (Birse #13)
Francis born about 1876 (1881 census)
Joseph born about 1877 (1881 census)
Birse Kirkyard
Erected by PETER BROWN in memory of his children ELIZABETH d. 14 Apr 1860 aged 2. GEORGE HENRY d. 17 Feb 1871 aged 6, MARY ANN SIMPSON d. 21 Feb 1871 aged 14 years 10 mths. His wife ELIZABETH ROBERTSON d. 18 May 1897 aged 62. Said PETER BROWN d. 1 Dec 1911 aged 89. Pail Mill, Finzean 1873.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
ALEXANDER BROWN AND JANET DUNCAN
Alexander was born about 1795 if the information on his death certificate dated 28 Feb 1871
(Birse #9) is correct.
His parents are given as Alexander Brown and Janet Grant. He married Janet Duncan, the daughter of Peter Duncan and Mary Cattanach on the 28 Feb 1814 at Birse. Contracted Alexander Brown and Janet Duncan both in this parish and after regular proclamation of banns of marriage without objection were married December 28th 1814.
His wife Janet died 14 Feb 1858 in the Forest of Birse (Birse #2).
They had the following children:
Peter - see above
Margaret who according to census information would have been born abt 1831. Margaret was alive on the 1871 census. No further information can be found on her after this date.
Mary who according to census information was born abt 1833 died 11 April 1855 at Milltown in the Forest of Birse aged 23 years.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
ALEXANDER BROWN AND JANE GRANT
From the Lists of Inhabitants for Birse dated 1792 gives the age of Alexander as between 50 - 60. His spouse Jane Grant is given between 40 - 50. The family is documented as being Episcopalian.
The Lists give three children for them
Charles died on 20 Aug 1870 (Birse #12) at Bruntland in the Forest of Birse. The age given on his death certificate is 90 giving him an approximate date of birth of 1780. He married Ann Dunbar, the daughter of David Dunbar and Agnes Thow in Lochlee 20 Jan 1816 (IGI). Ann Dunbar died 2 Nov 1870 at Bruntland (Birse #22)
They had the following children:
Charlotte chr 10 June 1817 in Lochlee Angus (IGI). Charlotte died 4 May 1862 at Bruntland, Forest of Birse. She was the mother of Peter Brown's son James - see above.
Agnes chr 21 June 1819 Lochlee Angus (IGI)
Charles Brown miller in Forest and his wife Ann Dunbar had a child baptised named Jean. James Brown and Mr Andrew Ramsay there witnesses (October 26 1824 - Birse Parish Registers)
John - nothing further found to date
Alexander - listed above married to Janet Duncan.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *