Robert Thain



Robert Thain
Born c 1742 at Forglen, Banff. Scotland *
Occ. Shoemaker (Master)
Marr. Margaret Craig 28.8.1764 at Inverkeithny, Banff.


Children

James
Alexander
Margaret
Robert
William
Ann


NOTE

It was originally thought that Robert married twice. First to, Margt. Craig then to, Margt. Sharp, but after research performed by Isabelle Thompson it look's like both Margarets are probably the same person. * Not confirmed.

"Here is what I have found, I think that Margaret Craig and Margaret Sharp were one and the same person, as he married Margaret Craig in 1764 in Inverkeithney and she was the mother of the first two children, namely James b. 1765 and Alexander in 1767 in Marnoch they then moved to Forglen and had Margaret b. 1769 and Robert b. 1771 and they had Margaret Sharp as a mother the next two William b. 1773 and Ann b. 1777 had Craig as a mother, these last four children were all born at Cottown of Haymount, Forglen, so unless Margaret and Robert were illegitemate, with Sharp, this was not indicated in the OPR for Forglen. So I am assuming that Craig and Sharp were one and the same person, and the mistake was made by the Session clerk in his recording. Now James b. 1765 was married to Isabell Donald (son) no sign of marriage, but they had the following children :- Isabell c. 20.3.1796 at Cotton of Carnoustie with Robert Thain of Fisherie and William Thain of Boat of Muiresk as witnesses; Margaret c. 17.6.1798 at Waulkmill, with the congregation and Alexander Thain of Brownhill and Peter Ferguson as witnesses, Anne b. 25.4.1802 c. 1.5.1802 at Waulkmill with Peter Donaldson at Brigs and William Thain, uncle as witnesses. Isabell b. 1796 m. Alexander Nicol 3.2.1821, Forglen, and this family were in Auchterless in the 1841 and 1851 censuses."

"William Thain b. 1773 m. Ann Leggat 1813 and had William b. 23.11.1814 c. 3.12.1814 Meadowheads, Forglen with Peter Donaldson and James Forman both in Meadowheads, James b. 2.1.1818 c. 13.1.1818 Meadowheads, (he married Margaret Leslie) With George Scott and James Thain at Waulkmill witnesses."

"Ann Thain and James Shand who married in Turriff 13.3.1802 went to Forglen to have first baby, namely Isabell who was c. 31.10.1802 at Brownhill of Carnousie, with Alexander Thain of Brownhill and William Thain of Kirktown as witnesses."

"Residential places of the four boys, James b. 1765 was at Cottonof Carnousie in 1796 and Waulkmill from 1798 thru to 1818, there was no sign of his death and burial in the OPR, but was gone before the 1841 census."

"Alexander b. 1767 was at Brownhill in 1798 and 1802 before he married Jean Gault/Gauld and moved back to Marnoch."

"Robert b. 1771 who was married to Margaret Esslemont 1794 was already at Fisherie, when he came back to witness the c. of James's dau Isabell in 1796."

"William b. 1773 was at Boat of Muiresk in 1796, at Kirktown in 1802 Meadowheads 1814 and 1818 by 1841 he was at Cottown, before moving to Turriff sometime before the 1851 census."

"I am also assuming that Robert Thain and Margaret Craig were maybe both deceased prior to 1800, though no sign of them being so in the OPR burials. These Thain's were the only ones in Forglen in this time frame. according to the OPR."

"There was another James Thain in 1844 who had an illigemate son with Jean Stuart, but have no idea where he came from. I know that it was usual to name the children in the pattern, but if you look at the names of the children from the boys, they didn't either."

* At this stage it's impossible to determine where Robt. was from but Margt. was probably from Inverkeithny or Marnoch.


Massive thanks to Isabelle Thompson for the above research.

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