Wedderburn book > History

THE WEDDERBURNS IN ABERDEENSHIRE. 483
These registers have been searched down to 1806-12-18 (post, vol. ii., p. 489), that of baptisms Part VI.
beginning in 1713, of marriages in 1752, while that of deaths is very irregular. 1 From them, however, we Chap. II.
get the following facts : —
1. William Wedderburn in Old Bethelnie, to whom the three earliest baptismal entries refer, had
three children baptized, viz., Helen, 13 July 1718 (O.M.P.R. 1) ; William Wedderburn, 6' Nov. 1720
(ib. 2), who no doubt died before the birth of his younger brother; and William Wedderburn,
29 June 1732 (ib. 3).
2. This William in Old Bethelnie is distinct from William Wedderburn described as " gardener
at Meldrum," to whom the next three entries refer, and who also had three children baptized, viz.,
Jane, 17 Aug. 1723 {ib. 4) ; William Wedderburn, 7 July 1725 (ib. 5) ; and Elizabeth, 17 Aug. 1727
(ib. 6) , who probably died before 1738, May 8. This William, gardener at Meldrum, is probably
identical with
2 a. William Wedderburn in Forrester-hill, to whom the next two entries refer, being those of
the baptisms of two daughters, Elizabeth, 8 May 1738 (ib. 7), who is probably the Elspet Wedderburn
who married at Old Meldrum 19 June— 8 July 1756 (ib. 24), John Gray ; and Isobel, 17 May 1741 (ib. 8),
who is probably the Isobel Wedderburn who married at Old Meldrum 8 Dec. 1770 — 10 May 1771 (ib. 26)
George Bothwell ; and he may even be the same as,
2 b. William Wedderburn in Tulloch, who is named in the next entry as having had baptized a
son, George Wedderburn. 22 July 1744 (ib. 9).
Of William Wedderburn in Forrester-hill we have some other information, as in the churchyard of
Old Aberdeen there is (1893) a tombstone which so far as it is legible bears this inscription : — "To the
memory of William Wedderburn, late gardener at Forrester-hill, who died 20 Dec. 1764 aged 74 years.
Also his spouse Elizabeth Edward who died 7 January 1769 aged 77 years. Likewise Elizabeth Wedder-
burn daughter of James Wedderburn, farmer at Craibstone 2 . . . ." (at this point the stone has sunk too
far into the ground for the words to be legible).
Thus, if the above identification of William Wedderburn, " gardener at Meldrum," " gardener at
Forrester-hill," and "in Tulloch" is correct, we have two persons of the name mentioned in the Old
Meldrum register, 1713-44, viz.,
i. William Wedderburn in Old Bethelnie, who had three children, Helen, William, and William
(1718, 1720, 1723).
ii. 'William Wedderburn in Old Meldrum, etc., born 1690, died 1764, having had by his wife,
Elizabeth Edward (born 1692, died 1769), two sons and four daughters, viz., William Wedderburn,
born 1725 ; George "Wedderburn, born 1744; and Jane, b. 1723, married 1747-48 George Jamieson 3 ;
Elizabeth, born 1727 ; Elizabeth, born 1738, married 1756 John Gray ; Isabel, born 1741, married
1771 George BothweU.
The next entries in the Old Meldrum baptismal register refer to the children of
iii. "William Wedderburn in Wardend of Old Meldrum," born 1749 — 1762. He is, no doubt,
the son of either, 1, William Wedderburn in Old Bethelnie or, 2, William Wedderburn in Old Meldrum
and Forrester-hill, but which it is now impossible to say. From him, however, the descent is much more
clearly traceable.
I have not ascertained whom he married, but from the baptismal register of Old Meldrum it appears
that he had three sons and three daughters baptized there, 1749-1762, viz. : —
1. John Wedderburn, baptized 26 Feb. 1749 (ib. 10), of whom nothing is ascertained.
2. Keith Wedderburn, baptized 19 May 1757 (ib. 14), of whom later.
3. William Wedderburn, baptized 5 May 1762 (ib. 15), and no doubt to be identified with the person
of that name in the parish of Old Meldrum, who there married Janet Duncan of that parish,
11-25 Nov. 1792 (ib. 30.)
and
1. Isobel, baptized 28 Jan. 1750 (ib. 11), who is probably the person who married at Old Meldrum,
27 July, 22 Aug. 1771, James Prot of Fyvie (ib. 27.)
2. Janet, baptized 10 March 1752 (ib. 12). This is no doubt the Janet Wedderburn who married at
Old Meldrum, 16 July, 9 Aug. 1791, John Milne of Fyvie (ib. 29).
3. Jean, baptized 3 Nov. 1754 [ib. 13.)
iv. Keith Wedderburn, baptized at Old Meldrum, 19 May 1757 (ib. 14), is designed in the parish
register as "in Chapelhouses " (1782), and later (1784), as in New Well or New Wall (ib. 16-17). He
married in 17S2, at Old Meldrum, Barbara Chrystie (ib. 28), and by her had issue 4 : —
Joseph Wedderburn, baptized 1782 (ib. 16). See below,
and
Rachel, baptized 24 Nov. 1784 (ib. 17), and no doubt the Rachel Wedderburn, who married at
Old Meldrum, 14-30 June 1807, George Gordon of that parish (ib. 33), and died a widow fet. 77,
30 Dec. 1861, at Old Meldrum.
1 The only material entry of a death is " 1749 March 1. Alexander Wedderburn in Wardend of Old
Meldrum died of ..." I have not been able to identify this person, who is not named in the
baptismal register as the father to any children. Perhaps he was a brother of William, gardener at
Old Meldrum.
2 This " James Wedderburn " has not been identified.
3 This marriage is entered in both the Auchterless and the Turriff registers. Thus, " 1747 May 21, George
Jamieson in this parish having contracted with Jean Wedderburn in the parish of Turriff, etc., they
were proclaimed (1) May 22, (2) May 29, (3) June 5 and married June 9 (Auchterless Par. Reg.). See
also the Turriff Par. fieg., s. date 1748 May 22. It is the only mention of the name of Wedderburn
in that register, 1696—1800.
4 He may have had other children, but no others are named in the Old Meldrum registers.