All sources are Birse Parish Registers unless otherwise stated

Unsourced statements are speculation on my part



First mention [I have found] of the name Michie appearing in Birse is in the List of Inhabitants dated 1789 compiled by the Rev Joseph Smith.  Margaret Michie is given as the the spouse of Hugh Harper "1788 Contracted Hugh Harper with Margaret Michie both in this parish and after were married June 29th."


The Lists were compiled at 2 or 3 yearly intervals and over time the following Michie's were recorded.  


Alexander (1791-92), Isabel (1794-95), Barbara (1797-98).  In 1798 Alexander is now listed as Alexander Snr and there is an Alexander Jnr with spouse Elizabeth Hogg. "1798 Contracted Alexander Michie and Elizabeth Hogg both in this parish and after regular proclamations and no objections made married April 5th."



Isabel married John Petrie in 1802 "Contracted John Petrie and Isobel Michie both in this parish and after regular proclamations and no objections made married 11th December."


Death Certificate Birse #15

Isobel Petrie (nee Michie) died 26 December 1860

Isobel Petrie, cooper's widow died 26th December 1860 at 5hr 0m am at Drumhead, Parish of Birse,

aged 93 years.

Parents were given as Thomas Michie, miller (deceased) and Hellen Michie m.n. Webster (deceased)**

Cause was old age and no medical attendant was present.

She was buried in the Birse kirkyard as certified by her son Francis Petrie who was also the informant on the certificate.

Her death was registered in by on 27th December 1860 by James Ritchie.  


** According to the IGI Thomas Michie married Hellen Webster at Logie Coldstone in June 1755



On the 1792 List of Inhabitants there are ages given in decades.  Margaret, spouse of Hugh Harper and Alexander second to arrive in Birse and grouped with the Harper family, both have their ages recorded as 4 meaning they are aged between 30 and 40 (birth between 1752 - 1762).


A baptism appears on the IGI for an Alexander in Logie Coldstone on 25 April 1756.  His father is given as Thomas.  


It is probable that Alexander Snr and Isobel (both with father Thomas) are brother and sister.  Given the grouping of the families on the List of Inhabitants over various years and all residing at Balnaboth, it is possible that Margaret, spouse of Hugh Harper and Barbara are also siblings of the same family.  (personal comment:  Readers must note that this family connection is purely speculation on my part)





Hugh Harper -m- Margaret Michie  


Hugh Harper and Margaret Michie are given as residing at Belnaboth on all the Lists of Inhabitants.  


Hugh is alive on the 1825 List of Inhabitants - the last one compiled.  Margaret Michie is given as a widow on the 1841 census.


1841 census Birse: Living at Belnaboth District 3 page 2

HARPER Margaret 75 Widow incup. Yes

HARPER Christian 40 Yes

HARPER Isabel 35 Yes

SKEEN John 15 Ag lab Yes

BAIN George 10 Ag lab Yes


They had the following children:







Alexander Michie -m- Elizabeth Hogg (Ogg)


Alexander Michie and Elizabeth are also residing at Balnaboth on all of the Lists of Inhabitants.  


Elizabeth Michie (nee Hogg) is given as a widow on the 1851 census.  On the 1841 census she is given as residing with Elizabeth Thow (given as her granddaughter on the 1851 census).  It is assumed that Alexander Michie died between 1825 and 1841.  


1851 census for Birse - residing at Balnaboth District 6 page 4

Elizabeth Michie Head Widow aged 73 pauper - knitter born Birse

Elizabeth Michie daughter Un 44 knitter born Birse

Elizabeth Thow g'dau Un 16 knitter born Birse

Francis Michie g'son Un 14 shoemaker born Echt (from IGI born 27 Aug 1836 parents Francis Michie and Margaret Duncan)


Lumphanan Death #4

Elizabeth Michie, pauper, widow of Alexander Michie, agricultural labourer died 3rd February 1871 at 1hr 0m am at Denhead Lumphanan aged 93 years

Parents were given on the certificate as William Hogg (deceased) and Mary Hogg m.s. Birss (deceased)

Cause of death was given as senile decay and the death was certified by A D Keith MD

Informant was Archibald Shaw, grandson present

The death was registered at Lumphanan on 3rd February 1871 by John Milne


The had the following children:


** Death Certificate Birse #17

Hugh Michie, tailor married to Christian Malcolm died 11 August 1871 at Balnaboth aged 72 years

Parents given as Alexander Michie agricultural labourer deceased and Elizabeth Hogg deceased

Cause of death: Paralysis years and paralysis of the bladder 6 days certified by AD Keith MD Aboyne

Informant:  his wife Christian Michie who signed with her mark

Registered by James Ritchie on 14 August 1871 at Birse






John Petrie -m- Isobel Michie


John Petrie and Isobel Michie are also residing at Belnaboth on the Lists of Inhabitants.  In 1824 they are residing at Tillygarmont.  


1841 census for Birse:  Residing at Dalbing District 3 page 2

John Petrie 70 Cooper born in the County

Isabel Petrie 70 born in the County

John Petrie 35 Mason born in the County

Ann Petrie 35 born in the County


1851 census for Birse:  Residing at Dalbyng District 6 page 6

John Petrie Head Mar 83 cooper ABD Birse

Isabel Petrie wife Mar 82 ABD Birse

Ann Petrie dau Un 47 house servant ABD Birse

John Petrie son Un 45 mason ABD Birse


Both John and Isabel are missing from the 1861 census.  Isabel died in 1860 (see certificate information above).  It is surmised that John died between 1851 - 1861.  


They had the following children:






John Michie -m- Margaret Leys


In 1841, John Michie, a wood sawyer aged 40, lived at Langhome in Birse with his wife Margaret Leys, aged 30.


They had at least the following children -

By 1851, Margaret was a widow, still living at Longholm with her two children. Her birthplace was listed as Aboyne, and James was born in the parish of Banchory Ternan.  

1881 census residing at Sawmill of Finzean, Margaret Michie widow (73) washerwoman.


Margaret Leys, widow of John Michie, sawyer, died on 16th February, 1897 at Woodend Melgum, Logie-Coldstone, aged 90. Her parents were listed as Joseph Leys, farmer, and Margaret Stewart, and the informant was her son-in-law, Peter Summers.






Harry Michie -m- Elizabeth Coutts


Harry Michie, general merchant aged 29 is residing at Marywell in the 1851 census for Birse with his spouse Elizabeth Coutts and children Catherine (4) born Banchory Ternan and Eliza (1) born Birse.



Birse Kirkyard:

Erected by HARRY MICHIE Mary-Well in memory of his dau HELLEN b 1 June 1851 - d 26 Sept 1857.  Said HARRY MICHIE d. 2 Jan 1896 aged 73.  ELIZABETH COUTTS d. 16 Oct 1897 aged 73.  CATHERINE their oldest dau d 17 Feb 1908 aged 60.  ELIZA d. 17 Aug 1920 aged 71.  


Death Certificate Birse #10

Elizabeth Michie widow of Harry Michie general merchant died 16 Oct 1897 at 9hr 14m am at Marywell Birse aged 74 years

Parents given as James Coutts farmer (deceased) and Elizabeth Coutts ms Brown (deceased)

Cause of death was apoplexia 1 day which was certified by J McHardy LFPS

Informant on the certificate was her son Henry Esson Michie


1823 March 29:  James Coutts tailor, residing in Towie and his wife Elizabeth Brown had a daughter born and baptised named Elizabeth – not formerly registered.


James Coutts is residing at Backside in Towie on the 1841 census.  A stone in Towie kirkyard gives his date of death as 1854 and the date of death of Elizabeth Brown as 1839.  






Barbara Michie


Birth Certificate Birse #27

Barbra Michie (illegitimate)

Born 1856 September 23rd 10 hr 14m AM at Drumneachie, Parish of Birse

Parents: James Michie, farm servant and Isobel Ettershank, domestic servant

Informants:  Isabella Ettershank, mother and James Michie, father (Torphins)

Registered:  1856 September 30th at Birse

James Ritchie Registrar

 

See "E" - James Ettershank and Margaret Alexander.