Re: Alex & George Leith of Bonnyton, Rayne, Aberdeenshire

Hi Lily,

I've been researching a Leith family of Rayne, Aberdeenshire for a friend.

As the census only goes back to 1841 it can be hard to find the families before that unless you want to pay for the records at scotlandspeople.org which is actually quite a bargain.

As you have Alexander's wife's name and those of her parents it seems that is may be that the Leigh comes in on Alexander's side. Scottish tradition usually had the first son named after the father's father which if they did this it would make Alexander's father a Thomas.

Now, if you could find Alexander's birth record you could confirm this. I was thinking that perhaps Alexander's other was a Leith. Again his birth record should have both parent's names on it.

Of course it could be that the Leith name goes even another generation back so you may need to check further on both sides.

I see in 1851 census Alexander is age 54 and shown as born Corrywood, Morayshire.
By the way they are in Bonnyton, Rayne, aberdeenshire in this census. Would you like me to copy the census info for you? They are listed as BEATON.

I was thinking that they were a little old to be married with just one child age 8, but I found an Alexander Beaton of right age in 1841 and he has wife Elizabeth and 9 more children ages 3 to 20 so I wonder if this is the same couple. They are in Longside, Aberdeenshire.

This doesn't help you with the Leith question but I thought you might want some info on the family. I can copy all census info for you that I find. Let me know if you need it.

*******I just found a family tree on ancestry.com that shows Alexander Beaton's parents as Thomas Beaton ad Elspet Davidson. So if that is right not a connection to the Leith family yet....but another connection to the Davidson family.

They have Alexander born June 18, 1797
died Aug. 10, 1888
son Thomas Leith, born March 18, 1843, Raye, Aberdeenshire
died Aug. 1, 1874

So it looks like the right family but no source shown to show where they got the parents names from.

They show children of Thomas and Isabella (Baillie) as
William Leith 1865
Alexander David 1866
Thomas Leith 1870
Amelia Baillie 1871

So it looks like the Leith name was carried on - there must be some reason for them to want to keep it in the family. It sure seems like there must be a family connection.

Another family tree on ancestry shows Alexander married first to a Margaret Sharpe and shows Thomas Leith as son of Elizabeth and other children as those of Margaret.
It shows him marrying Margaret about 1814 and Elizabeth 1841 - Margaret died 1832.
I don't see the Leith name with any of the other children so I am thinking the Leith may come from Elizabeth's side somewhere but that is just a guess.

If you try scotlandspeople.org you could check birth of Margaret Murison and of James Davidson to see their mother's names
If no Leith then I don't know what to say - when a name is passed down it is usually done so within a generation or two.

Carolyn L