Seatons of Kirkmichael Parish

James Stobie's map of Kirkmichael in Perthshire

Firstly a word of caution - this web-page concerns only the Seaton families in the parish of Kirkmichael in Perthshire. It does not include any Seatons from the parish of Kirkmichael in Kirkcudbright.

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John Seaton and Ann Robertson in Nether Campsie

The earliest Seaton record is the marriage of John Seaton and Anne Robertson, 27th March 1761. The entry in the Kirkmichael OPR is incomplete as the corner of the page has been torn and lost. All that remains says:

"John Seaton in the parish of ..(lost).. contracted to Anne Robertson ..(lost).. Robertson of Balnak..(lost) And married ..(lost).."

Luckily the entry in the Blair Atholl OPR is undamaged.

Blair Atholl OPR, 16th April 1761
John Seaton in Nether Campsie and Ann Robertson, daughter of Bailnakeillie, in Kirkmichael parish (married).

The couple had three children who were all born at Nether Campsie in Glentilt, Blair Atholl parish

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The Children of John Seaton and Ann Robertson in Nether Campsie

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Robert Campbell and Beatrice Seaton in Nether Campsie

There is another Seaton marriage linked to Nether Campsie, just a few years earlier. Robert Campbell in Nether Campsie and Beatrice Seaton in Mains of Duntaulich, Dull parish, married 12 Aug 1756. Is Beatrice related to John Seaton, or is this just a coincidence? Robert Campbell and Beatrice Seaton had a son Alexander, born at Nether Campsie, 5th August 1757.

It is thought that the family of John Seaton and Ann Robertson returned to Kirkmichael parish but there is no definite proof. However, there are a number of facts leading to this conclusion:

Firstly, there are no further Seaton births nor marriages linked to Nether Campsie after 1767.
Secondly, Ann's father was a man of importance by being titled as 'of Balnakeillie'. He probably would have held the property in wadsett, that is as security for a large cash loan of several thousand merks, and could choose his own tenants.
Thirdly, there was no establish Seaton family in Kirkmichael parish at this time to explain the appearance of Jean Seaton and John Seaton who were both 'of Kirkmichael parish' when they married in 1789 and 1794, respectively.
Fourthly, Jean would have been 26 years old and John would have been 29 years old when they married, which would fit.
Fifthly, there was only one other Jean Seaton living in this area of Perthshire between 1750 and 1790, and her family were living in the parish of Moulin, not Kirkmichael.
Sixthly, both Jean and John had a son baptised with the name of Thomas. Once again, this is an uncommon forename for the area but Thomas was also the name of their younger brother.

For all these reasons it is thought that the two Seatons who married in Kirkmichael parish are those who were born in Nether Campsie.

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John Seton and (Isobel) Stewart

The second Seaton record is the birth of Alexander Seton.

Kirkmichael OPR, 17th July 1765
John Seton, gardener to Baron Reid, and (Isobel) Stewart his spouse had a child baptised, called Alexander.

John Seaton in Faskally, parish of Moulin and Isobel Stewart in Tomnaculag, married 18th September 1764 (Blair Atholl OPR)

There is no further mention of John Seaton and his wife in this area, but it is thought that they moved to Kinnoul on the opposite side of the river Tay from Perth. There is no absolute proof but the number of coincidences strongly supports this assumption. Both men had the same name and the Seaton surname was not common in the Perth area. Both were gardeners by profession and had a wife called Isabel. Lastly, the Kinnoul OPR contains no entries relating to such a couple prior to 1769 which fits with their disappearance from Kirkmichael parish in 1764.

Kinnoul OPR, 17th January 1768
John Seton, gardener in Bridgend of the Tay had a son baptised, named Donald.

Kinnoul OPR, 21st September 1769
John Seton, gardener in Bridgend had a son born and baptised 21st, named Henry.

Kinnoul OPR, 22nd September 1771
John Seton, gardener in Bridgend and Isabell (surname not given) had a son baptised, named James.

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Alexander McIntosh and Jannet Setton

The next Seaton record is the contract of marriage between Alexander McIntosh and Janet Seaton, 1st December 1787. The entry contains little information except that Alexander McIntosh came from Kirkmichael parish whilst Janet Seaton came from the parish of Moulin. They were married on the 12th.

The only Janet Seaton of an appropriate age in Moulin parish was the daughter of James Seaton and McLagan in Loinmarstaig, who was born 26th December 1763. She would have been nearly 24 when she married. The couple do not seem to have had any children and it would appear that Alexander died unexpectedly as Janet Seaton re-married in 1791.

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James Small and Jean Seaton in Cultalonnie

The fourth Seaton record is the marriage contract for Jean Seton and James Small, 12th September 1789. Although it merely says that both parties were from Kirkmichael parish, as previously mention it is thought that Jean was the daughter of John Seaton and Anne Robertson in Nether Campsie.

Kirkmichael OPR, 12th December 1790
James Small in Cultalonnie and Jean Seaton his spouse had Annie (baptised).

All of the subsequent children were born at Cultalonnie which James Stobie's map calls Croftcultalonnie.

The Children of James Small and Jean Seaton in Cultalonnie

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John Seaton and Margaret Rattray in Balnakeillie

The next marriage contract in Kirkmichael parish is between John Seaton and Margaret Rattray, 30th August 1794, and both were from Kirkmichael parish. Once again it is thought that John was the son of John Seaton and Anne Robertson in Nether Campsie.

Kirkmichael OPR, 1st September 1795
John Seaton in ground of Balnakillie and Margaret Rattray his spouse had ........ (baptised).

By saying that John Seaton was "in ground of Balnakillie" means that the family could be in any of the dwellings on the Balnakeillie estate. It is a pity that the name of the child was never added and there is no indication whether it was a boy or a girl. Their other children, Thomas and James were also born in Balnakeillie.

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The Children of John Seaton and Margaret Rattray in Balnakeillie

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Thomas Seaton and Elizabeth Small in Cultalonnie

Kirkmichael OPR, 30th November 1828
Thomas Seaton in Cultalonnie and Elizabeth Small, there, were proclaimed three times on Sabbath 30th November 1828 in order to be married.

It probably is significant that Thomas Seaton's uncle was James Small who farmed Cultalonnie.

Kirkmichael OPR, 8th March 1830
James, lawful son of Thomas Seaton, farmer in Cultalonnie, and Elizabeth Small his wife was born 28th February and baptised 8th March 1830.

Kirkmichael OPR, 3rd July 1832
John, lawful son of Thomas Seaton in Balnauld and Elizabeth Small his wife was born 30th June and baptised 3rd March 1832.

Elizabeth Small died shortly after the birth of John, and Thomas Seaton re-married in 1835.

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The Children of Thomas Seaton and Elizabeth Small in Cultalonnie

After the death of his first wife Thomas Seaton married Anne Stewart.

Kirkmichael OPR, 10th August 1835
Thomas Seaton in Balnauld and Anne Stewart in Stronamuck, both in this parish, were duly proclaimed this day in order to be married. Married the 14th of the same month.

Kirkmichael OPR, 14th June 1837
Margaret, lawful daughter of Thomas Seaton farmer in Balnauld and Anne Stewart his wife was born 29th May and baptised 14th June 1837.

Kirkmichael OPR, 14th May 1840
William, lawful son of Thomas Seaton farmer in Balnauld and Anne Stewart his wife was born 6th May and baptised 14th May 1840.

Their son Alexander was born in 1842 but the OPR entry only appears amongst the final rush of late entries which preceeeded the introduction of Civil Registration in 1855.

Kirkmichael OPR, 20th March 1842
Alexander, lawful daughter of Thomas Seaton farmer in Brae of Dounie and Anne Stewart his wife was born 6th March and baptised 20th March 1842.

The 1841 census lists the children from both marriages.

Kirkmichael OPR, 7th January 1847
Thomas, lawful son of Thomas Seaton, farmer in Brae of Dounie, and Anne Stewart his wife, born the 14th December 1846, baptised 7th January 1847.

Kirkmichael OPR, 8th May 1851
Daniel, lawful son of Thomas Seaton, farmer in Middle Dounie, and Anne Stewart his wife, born the 8th April, baptised 8th May 1851.

The 1851 census shows the family at Mains of Dounie but it is uncertain whether this is different from Brae of Dounie.

The 1881 census...............

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The Children of Thomas Seaton and Anne Stewart in Mains of Dounie

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James Seaton and Jane Campbell in Middleton

James Seaton and Jane Campbell married in 1862.

The 1881 census...............

Elizabeth Seaton married John MacFarlane. She died at Caenghline (Ceannaghlinne in Glengirnaig?), 29th November 1931

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John Seaton and Barbara Cameron in Balmyle House, Tomlea

John Seaton and Barbara Cameron married in 1867.

The 1881 census...............

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William Seaton, carpenter

On 16th August 1861 at Guay in the parish of Dowally, William Seaton, bachelor and joiner aged 21 years residing at Middle Dounie, Kirkmichael, married Ann Gow, spinster domestic servant at Guay aged 24 years. His parents were given as Thomas Seaton, deceased farmer, and Ann Stewart. Her parents were given as John Gow, blacksmith, and Grace Reid. The witnesses were Margaret Seaton and Alexander Seaton (William's siblings).

William Seaton, son to William Seaton, journeyman joiner, and Ann Gow, was born at Kindrogan in the parish of Moulin, 26th April 1869. His parents were married at Dowally, 16th August 1861.

Ann Gow in Moulin parish died in 1875, aged only 35 years. In 1880 William Seaton remarried, this time to Bella McKinlay in Little Dunkeld.

The 1881 census...............

Monument 60 in Dowally churchyard is a low marble stone carved in the shape of an open book and records that William Seaton died 19th November 1912 aged 43 years, and that aunt Margaret Gow died 15th June 1913. Grace Seaton died 28th August 1949 (aged 83 years) and Annie Seaton died 4th May 1954 (aged 90 years).

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Thomas Seaton and Marion Campbell in Loch Kennard

On the 30th July 1875 at Wester Coshville (Coshiveil) of Grandtully, Thomas Seaton bachelor and gamekeeper at Lochtummel aged 26 years married Marion Campbell, spinster and farmer's daughter at Wester Coshville aged 19 years. His parents were given as Thomas Seaton, deceased farmer, and Anne Stewart. Her parents were given as Alexander Campbell, farmer, and Janet McPhail. The witnesses were Donald Seaton (his brother Daniel) and Grace Campbell.

The 1881 census...............

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Donald Seaton and Betsy McLaren in Kindrogan

Donald Seaton and Betsy McLaren married in 1878. In the 1881 census he was employed as a butler at Kindrogan

Another daughter, Katie, was born three years later. By 1901 John Seaton was a footman for John, Duke of Atholl, his father was butler for the Maitland family at Hazel Hall on the Perth Road, while Katie was a draper's assistant in Dunkeld.

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Thomas Ferguson and Elspith (Elizabeth) Seaton

The last Kirkmichael OPR marriage which has not been dealt with already is that of Thomas Ferguson and Elspith (Elizabeth) Seaton, who was the youngest daughter of James Seaton and Jean McLagan, born 2nd October 1776.

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John Seaton and Margaret Shaw

And the last Kirkmichael OPR birth which has not been dealt with already in that of Isabell, illegitimate daughter of John Seaton, Cottartown of Straloch, parish of Moulin and Margaret Shaw, here, born the 24th and baptised the 31st of October 1843.

The 1841 census for Cottartown of Straloch shows that John Seaton was an agricultural labourer working for Robert Farquharson who was the tenant farmer. John's age is given as 20 but as the 1841 census tended to round the ages down to the nearest 5 or 10, then he could have been anything from 20 to 25 years old.

The census for 1851 shows the 9-year-old Isabella Seaton living with her grandparents at Bualbhane. The location of this settlement has not been identified, but in the census it appears between East Dounie and Mill of Dounie.