Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Elspet Rattray (Braid) 1777 - 1869

Arbroath Cemetery, where Elspet and Alexander are buried.
Birth
Elspet Rattray  (Thomas, David) was born on 28 Dec 1777 in Kettins, Angus, Scotland. She was christened on 4 Jan 1778 in Kettins, Angus, Scotland.

Elspet Rattray, born 28 Dec 1777, Kettins, Angus, Scotland, daughter of Thomas Rattray/Rachel McNab (Batch #: C112942, Source Call #: 993438) [1993 IGI].
Elspet Rattray, baptized 4 Jan 1778, Kettins, Angus, Scotland, daughter of Thomas Rattray/Rachel McNab (Batch #: C112942, Source Call #: 993438) [1993 IGI].

Marriage: 
Alexander Braid married Elspet Rattray 2 Dec 1798, Methven, Perth, Scotland (Batch #: M113806, Source Call #: 1040129) [1993 IGI].
Alexander Braid, gardener, born 1775, died 1834; married Elspet Rattray 2 Dec 1798; Elspet was born 28 Dec 1777 [John T. Gordon, 1 McCulloch Drive, Forfar, Angus DD8 2EB; in 27 Oct 1997 letter to Charles Bird].  He died in 1834 (see death certificate below)

Family Story:  
"Elspet Rattray according to a story handed down by my family was the heiress to Craighall Estate where Alexander Braid worked as a gardener. They eloped when Elspet was 2 months pregnant and were married on the 2nd Dec 1798. Elspet was disinherited. They lived firstly in the village of Kettins and later in Airlie. They had a large family one of whom was Alexander; another Anne married Alexander Shanks whose son James Shanks founded an engineering works in Arbroath where my
grandfather Alex Braid was foreman moulder. Anne's descendants through the Shanks line are connected to Lord Inchcape.

Everything has been documented except the story of Elspet Rattray! Can you throw any light on this? I'd really like to know and to find out where she and her husband were buried. I have searched the graveyards in Kettins, Airlie, Forfar and Arbroath to no avail." [John T. Gordon, 1 McCulloch Drive, Forfar, Angue DD8 2EB; in 27 Oct 1997 letter to Charles Bird].

The Elspet Rattray of Craighall appears to have been Elizabeth Rattray, daughter of the Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Rattray/Margaret Galloway, born Aug 1705, who died unmarried 25 Aug 1753. As she died before the other Elspet Rattray was born there can be no doubt that we are dealing with two different people.

Children:  Alexander and Elspet had the following children:

1.  George Braid  was christened on 14 Aug 1799 in Kettins, Angus, Scotland.

   George Braid, baptized 14 Aug 1799, Kettins, Angus, Scotland, son of Alexander Braid/Elspet Rattray (Batch #: C112942, Source Call #: 993438) [1993 IGI].
George Braid, born 14 Aug 1799, Kettins, Angus, Scotland, son of Alexander Braid/Elspet Rattray [John T. Gordon, 1 McCulloch Drive, Forfar, Angus DD8 2EB; in 17 Nov 1997 letter to Charles Bird].

2.   John Braid  was christened on 23 Oct 1800 in Kettins, Angus, Scotland.

John Braid, baptized 23 Oct 1800, Kettins, Angus, Scotland, son of Alexander Braid/Elspet Rattray
(Batch #: C112942, Source Call #: 993438) [1993 IGI].
John Braid, born 23 Aug 1807, Kettins, Angus, Scotland, son of Alexander Braid/Elspet Rattray [John T. Gordon, 1 McCulloch Drive, Forfar, Angus DD8 2EB; in 17 Nov 1997 letter to Charles Bird].

3.  Stuart Braid  was christened on 4 Apr 1802 in Kettins, Angus, Scotland.
Stuart Braid, baptized 4 Apr 1802, Kettins, Angus, Scotland, son of Alexander Braid/Elspet Rattray
(Batch #: C112942, Source Call #: 993438) [1993 IGI]. George Braid, born 4 Apr 1802, Kettins, Angus, Scotland, son of Alexander Braid/Elspet Rattray [John T.
Gordon, 1 McCulloch Drive, Forfar, Angus DD8 2EB; in 17 Nov 1997 letter to Charles Bird].

4.  Ann Braid  was christened on 29 Dec 1803. She died on 17 Dec 1852.

5. Rachel Braid  was christened on 11 Dec 1805 in Kettins, Angus, Scotland.

Rachel Braid, baptized 11 Dec 1805, Kettins, Angus, Scotland, daughter of Alexander Braid/Elspet Rattray (Batch #: C112942, Source Call #: 993438) [1993 IGI].
Rachel Braid, born 11 Dec 1805, Kettins, Angus, Scotland, daughter of Alexander Braid/Elspet Rattray [John T. Gordon, 1 McCulloch Drive, Forfar, Angus DD8 2EB; in 17 Nov 1997 letter to Charles Bird].

6.  Alexander Braid  was born on 11 Jan 1809.

7.  Margaret Braid  was christened on 13 Mar 1811 in Airlie, Angus, Scotland.

Margaret Braid, baptized 13 Mar 1811, Airlie, Angus, Scotland, daughter of Alexander Brair/Elspet Rattray (Batch #: 7107614, Source Call #: 1235201, Sheet 81) [1993 IGI].
Margaret Braid, born 13 May 1811, Airlie, Angus, Scotland, daughter of Alexander Braid/Elspet Rattray [John T. Gordon, 1 McCulloch Drive, Forfar, Angus DD8 2EB; in 17 Nov 1997 letter to Charles Bird].

 8.  Braid  was christened on 13 Mar 1811 in Kirkton, of Airlie, Angus, Scotland.

Braid, baptized 13 Mar 1811, Kirkton of Airlie, Angus, Scotland, daughter of Alexander Braid/Elspet Rattray (Batch #: 7107614, Source Call #: 1235201, Sheet 81) [1993 IGI].

9. William Braid  was christened on 29 Dec 1812 in Kirkton, of Airlie, Angus, Scotland.

William Braid, baptized 29 Dec 1812, Kirkton of Airlie, Angus, Scotland, son of Alexander Brair/Elspet Rattray (Batch #: 7107614, Source Call #: 1235201, Sheet 81) [1993 IGI].
William Braid, born 29 Dec 1812, Airlie, Angus, Scotland, son of Alexander Braid/Elspet Rattray [John T. Gordon, 1 McCulloch Drive, Forfar, Angus DD8 2EB; in 17 Nov 1997 letter to Charles Bird].

10.  Jean Braid  was christened on 21 Dec 1814 in Kirkton, of Airlie, Angus, Scotland.
Jean Braid, baptized 21 Dec 1814, Airlie, Angus, Scotland, daughter of Alexander Brair/Elspet Rattray (Batch #: 7107614, Source Call #: 1235201, Sheet 81) [1993 IGI].
Jean Braid, born 21 Dec 1814, Airlie, Angus, Scotland, daughter of Alexander Braid/Elspet Rattray [John T. Gordon, 1 McCulloch Drive, Forfar, Angus DD8 2EB; in 17 Nov 1997 letter to Charles Bird].

11.  Helen Laing Meason Braid  was christened on 3 Jun 1817 in Airlie, Angus, Scotland.

Helen Laing Meason Braid, baptized 3 Jun 1817, Airlie, Angus, Scotland, daughter of Alexander Braid/ Elspet Rattray (Batch #: 7107614, Source Call #: 1235201, Sheet 81) [1993 IGI].
Helen Laing Meason Braid, baptized 3 Jun 1817, Airlie, Angus, Scotland, daughter of Alexander Braid/ Elspet Rattray (Batch #: C112704, Source Call #: 993389, 993328) [1993 IGI].
Helen Braid, born 3 Jun 1817, Kirkton of Airlie, Angus, Scotland, daughter of Alexander Braid/Elspet Rattray [John T. Gordon, 1 McCulloch Drive, Forfar, Angus DD8 2EB; in 17 Nov 1997 letter to Charles Bird].

Home of the Rattrays, Craighall Castle just outside the village of Rattray in Scotland, was built in the early 16th century on a dramatic location on the edge of a 200 foot cliff, over looking a magnificent gorge. For more details http://www.ClanRattray.com


Craighall Castle, Rattray, Scotland
"Patrick Rattray's youngest brother, Sylvester Rattray then took up the struggle against the Earl of Athol, and built Nether Kynballoch, later to be called Craighall (as it is called today). Craighall was built high up on the cliff edge above the River Ericht, with a single entrance, which was only accessible by going along the narrow cliff edge, thus making its defence possible, by a few. In this he was enormously assisted by Marjorie his wife, who was the widow of Kinninmonth of that ilk and the daughter of Elizabeth Stewart in turn daughter of the first Earl Athol and wife of the 2nd. Lord Gray, and therefore Marjorie was a granddaughter of the first Earl of Athol. This was a very important factor in the survival of the Rattrays of Rattray and it was because of Marjorie's descent from the Royal House of Stewart. The first Earl was the uterine brother of the King. She was a Plantagenet." [The Clan Rattray Society Journal, Number 2, Dec 1994].

 








1834, Alexander's death:

Arbroath or Aberbrothock is a former royal burgh and the largest town in the council area of Angus in Scotland, and has a population of 22,785. It lies on the North Sea coast, around 16 miles (25.7 km) ENE of Dundee and 45 miles (72.4 km) SSW of Aberdeen.



 Arbroath:





 1851 census: (Not sure who Eleanor is but Margaret is a daughter and Jane could be Jean. )





Research on Kepty Street, Arbroath: 








Death: 




Cemetery records:












FindAGrave:
Note: Braid, Elspeth Buried On: 15 May 1869 recorded at: Arboath Abbey (Angus) date of death 11 May 1869

Burial:
Arbroath Abbey
Arbroath
Angus, Scotland


Elspeth Braid was the Widow of Alexander Braid, a Gardener. They lived at Princes, Street, Vigeans. Elspeth died aged 91 years suffering from a “Disease of the Heart”





Research: