McCONDACH / McKONDACH / McCONACH
Various spellings of the name McKondach appear in the Birse parish Registers; for uniformity I have chosen to spell it McKondach.
There appears to be two families, I suspect them to be brothers but have no proof.
John married to Jean Harper is the progenitor of the majority of Birse McKondachs.
An entry in the Birse Parish Registers dated 29 January 1788 reads:
Contracted George McKondach in this parish with Margaret Steelis in parish of Banchory and after were married February 21st
The 1792 Lists of Inhabitants give the ages of George as (5) and Margaret as (4). Remembering that ages are in decades this would have given George a date of birth between 1742 - 1752 and Margaret a date of birth between 1752 - 1762.
George died somewhere between 1808 and 1812 because in 1812, Margaret is listed a widow living with her daughter Isabella. Margaret died between the 1841 and 1851. In 1841 she is aged 80 and living with her daughter Isabella and son-in-law John Coutts at Tillygarmont. She is not with the family in 1851.
To date I have only found two children of this union, James born February 1 1795 at Cotterbrae. Cotterbrae is as a small croft located between Tillyfruskie and Tillygarmont.
Birse Parish Registers states:
George McKondach in Cotterbrae a son named James. Witnesses: John Burnett and John Thaw.
James is listed as "single" on his death certificate. He died in the Royal Infirmary in Aberdeen 17 May 1861 as a result of an injury to the head. Usual residence was given as the police station. A Corrected Entry appears for James in July 1861 which gives cause of death as a fracture of the skull and injury to left side of brain received on the 4th May 1861. Questions arise as to why the usual residence is given as the police station and why did he die of a fractured skull.
A daughter was born 11 May 1798. Isabella married John Coutts in 1817.
George MacKondach in Cotterbrae had a daughter baptised Isobel. Witnesses John & Hugh Burnett
Isabella died 23 December 1867 in Laurencekirk Kincardineshire.
No marriage entry appears in the Birse Parish Registers for John McKondach and Jean Harper. If John is a brother to George then he is an older brother, as in 1792 his age is recorded as 6 (bet. 1732 - 1742) and his spouse Jean Harper is listed 5 (bet. 1742 - 1752).
The family lived at Birsebegg and baptisms are recorded for children in the Birse Parish Registers:
Generation 2:
CHRISTIAN - no marriage located so far.
Robert married Isabel Watt on 22nd Nov 1798: Contracted Robert Mackondach and Isabel Watt both in this parish and after regular proclamations and no objections made married 22nd November. (Birse Parish Registers)
The had the following issue:
5 May 1799: Robert McKondach in Birsebegg had a daughter baptised named Ann. Witnesses Kenneth Watt & Francis Watt.
Birse Kirkyard: In memory of ISABEL WATT d. 10 Oct 1830 aged 59, spouse to ROBERT McCONACH once farmer in BIRSEBEGG d. 22 Nov. 1847 aged 78. Their son GEORGE d. 2 Jan 1872 aged 56. Erected by their son JOSEPH HUGH McCONACH Mill of Cattie 3 13 Aug 1887 aged 74.
Hugh married Jean Cromar from the Parish of Kincardine O'Neil. Banns were called in Birse on 4 July 1805. They had the following children:
25 November 1806: Hugh Mackondach in Newton had a son baptised named Alexander. Witnesses: Robert Cromar & Hugh Harper
Alexander married Elspet Leslie (possibly the daughter of Andrew Leslie & Margaret Moir christened Old Machar 27 May 1818) and is listed on the 1851 census in Old Machar as having the following children (birth dates of children are taken from a family bible):
William born 9 September 1855 at Devanha Ferryhill Aberdeen (Old Machar #594). His birth certificate gives the date of his parents marriage as 1839 in Old Machar.
John married 6 December 1799 in Birse Jean Ross. They had the following children:
Isobel - no marriage located so far
Catherine married John Cairns
Birse OPR - 28 August 1796 Contracted John Cairns in parish of Tannadice and Katherine McKondach in this (parish) and after regular proclamation and no objections made, married 13 September and had the following:
From List of Inhabitants 1812 - Living at Auchnafoy
CAIRNS Jo -m- McKONACH Kat
CAIRNS Jean
CAIRNS Robert
CAIRNS James
CAIRNS Mary
CAIRNS John u/7
CAIRNS Henry u/7
CAIRNS Alexr u/7
CAIRNS Archibald u/7
George - no marriage so far located
Jean married Robert Cromar (son of George Cromar and Helen Ogg) from Kincardine O'Neil. No marriage date located so far. Children so far:
Alexander
Elizabeth - c1820
John - c1823
1841 census Kincardine O'Neil - Living in Village of Kincardine O'Neil District 7 page
CROMAR Robert 55 Carpenter Yes
CROMAR Jean 55 Yes
CROMAR Elizabeth 20 Yes
FARQUHAR Mary 10 Female Serv Yes
Kirkton of Aboyne: (Flat) In memory of JOHN CROMAR merchant Aberdeen d. 7 June 1856 in 33rd year. ALEXANDER his brother d. 4 July 183-? aged 12. ROBERT CROMAR his father, wright Kincardine O'Neil d. 7 Nov 1851 in 70th year. ELIZABETH his sister d. 22 Oct 1853 aged 33. Also their mother JANE McCONDACH d. 12 July 1875 aged 91.
Where there is no primary source named, please remember this will be supposition on my part.