Ritchies of undetermined parentage

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Isobel Ritchie, spouse of John Menzies in Balnald of Clune

Blair Atholl OPR, 22 Mar 1719
John Menzies and Isobel Ritchie in Balnald of Clune had a son baptised, named Mungo.

There are no other people with similar surnames at Balnald of Clune and John Menzies cannot be identified amongst the Fencible Men (1705-06).

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George Calder and Elspet Ritchy in Glen Fimcastle

The first record of this couple is for the birth of their son in Balavoulin-beg of Glen Fincastle, 1723, but there is no trace of a marriage record. For several reasons the bride and groom probably lived at Carrick. Firstly, all of the settlements in Glen Fincastle are in Dull parish, with the exception of Carrick which is in Blair Atholl parish and, unlike Dull parish, the Blair Atholl marriage records do not go back this far. Secondly, the surname of 'Calder' should have been given as 'Caldel', which is how it appears for the baptism of Jannet who was born at Carrick. Thirdly, the surname of 'Caldel' was used as an alias for 'McDonald' in Glen Fincastle and the McDonald surname was used for the baptismal entry for the third child, Angus, who was born at Carrick.

Dull OPR, 5 May 1723
James, son to George Calder and Elspet Ritchy in Ballvolinvig (Balavoulin-beg, i.e. Miltown-beg of Fincastle) was baptised.
Robert Stewart and Malcolm Kennedy, witnesses.

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The Family of George McDonald, alias Caldel, and Elspet Ritchie in Carrick

See also the marriage of George Caldel and Betty (Elizabeth) Richie in Dull parish, 6 Jun 1767 (sic).

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James McDonald, alias Caldel, in Carrick

The Blair Atholl OPR records that on 29 Apr 1758 Christian Ritchie in Tomanraid had an illegitimate child, fathered by James Caldel in Carrick, baptised and named John.

As James Caldel's mother was Elspet Ritchie it is possible that Christian Ritchie in Tomanraid was Elspet's neice. James never married Christian Ritchie. Instead he married Grissel Stewart in Invervack and farmed Margagheat with the couple having at least three children: Elspeth, 2 Jan 1763; Alexander, 6 Nov 1764; and George, 23 May 1767.

Blair Atholl OPR, 28 Aug 1761
James McDonald, alias Caldel, in Carrick and Grissel Stewart in Margagheat of Invervack, married.

The year after the birth of her illegitimate child, Christian Ritchie married Duncan Campbell in Over Campsie.

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Duncan Campbell and Christian Ritchie in Over Campsie

Blair Atholl OPR, 19 Jun 1759
Duncan Campbell in Over Campsie and Christian Richie in Fuarchossich of Strathgarry, Moulin parish, married 19 Jun 1759.

Moulin OPR, 7 Jun 1759
June 7th, Duncan Campbell in Blair parish and Christian Richie, being legally contracted, booked and proclaimed, and no objection offered were married June 19th.

Presumably Fuarchossich was a settlement close to Strathgarry House on the south side of the River Garry, opposite Aldclune, and General Roy's map (1747-52) shows plenty of habitation, but none are named.

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The Family of Duncan Campbell and Christian Ritchie in Over Campsie

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Duncan Stewart and Jean Ritchie in Aldclune

Moulin OPR, 29 Jul 1736
11th July, Duncan Stewart in this parish and Jean Richie in Blair parish, being legally contracted, booked and proclaimed, and no objections offered, were married July 29th.

Blair Atholl OPR, 7 Apr 1737
Duncan Stewart and Jean Ritchie in Aldclune had a daughter baptised, named Grissel.

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John Campbell and Jonet Ritchy in Little Dunkeld parish

Dull OPR, 12 Aug 1740
John Campbell in the parish of Little Dunkeld and Jonet Ritchy in this parish were married
Andrew Ritchy and Robert Campbell, witnesses.
(see next entry - witness)

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Thomas Scot and Isobell Ritchie in Grandtully

Dull OPR, 25 Jan 1742
Thomas Scot and Isobell Ritchie in Grandtully, both in the parish of Dull, were married
Andrew Ritchie and Alexander Robertson, witnesses.
(see previous entry - witness)

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Donald McLaren and Anne Ritchie in Marg Croy of Coille Bhrochain

Moulin OPR, 10 Jun 1755
31st May, Donald McLaren in Dull parish and Anne Ritchie in this parish, being proclaimed three several times upon the several Sabbaths, were married June 10th 1755.

The marriage banns were also called in Dull parish, 30th May 1755, but with the names of Donald McLaurin and Ann McRichie.

The baptism of only one child, Alexander, appears in the Blair Atholl OPR dated 21st May 1757 and shows that the family were living at Marg Croy of Coille Bhrochain, close to the present day Garry bridge.

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Donald Camron (Cameron) and Christian Ritchie in Dull parish

Dull OPR, 24 Jan 1761
Donald Camron and Christian Ritchie, both in this parish, gave up their names to be proclaimed in order to marriage.

The couple appear to have had no children and they could have come from any part of Dull parish which has several separate parts, so there are no obvious leads to follow. It is possible that Donald Cameron died and Christian then married Malcolm McDonald, as follows.

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Malcolm McDonald and Christian Ritchie in Dull parish

Dull OPR, 12 Dec 1763
Malcolm McDonald and Christian Ritchie, both in this parish, gave up their names to be proclaimed in order to marriage.

There do not seem to be any children from the marriage and Malcolm McDonald doesn't seem to have a baptism registered in Perthshire.

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Donald Ritchie and (blank) McFarlain in Dull parish

Dull OPR, 10 Aug 1765
Donald Richie and (blank) McFarlain both in this parish, gave up their names to be proclaimed in order to marriage.

There do not seem to be any children from the marriage. There is a very slight possibility that this is the 4th marriage of Donald Ritchie in Tomnaraid.

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George Caldel and Betty (Elizabeth) Richie in Dull parish

Dull OPR, 6 Jun 1767
George Caldel and Betty Richie, both in this parish, gave up their names to be proclaimed in order for marriage.

It is rather frustrating when the places of residence are as vague as "both in this parish", especially when there appear to be no family baptisms either, which normally do give the name of family home. However, the surname Caldel gives a clue as this was an alias name used by the various McDonald families in Glen Fincastle.

Another problem can be the use of the name 'Betty'. Although now-a-days it is synonymous with 'Elizabeth', in previous times Betty or Bettie could be the spelling of the name Beattie or Beatrix. In this particular case it is fortunate that in the margin which contains just the names of bride and groom, she is given as Lissy (Lizzy), so this is Elizabeth (Elspeth) Ritchie and not Beatrice Ritchie.

There were two George Caldels alive at this time. One of them was living at Balchapel of Borenich, married to Anne Stewart, but he can be eliminated as the couple had further children right up until 1787. At first glance one would also elimimate the other George Caldel as his three children born between 1723 and 1728. However, it is worth considering the facts: a) The surnames of Caldel and Ritchie are uncommon in this area and although there are examples of couples with identical names living at the same time, they have common names such as John Stewart and Janet Robertson. Furthermore the forename of George is also uncommon, such that there being two couples both named George Caldel and Elspeth Ritchie would be remarkable. b) There is no marriage entry in the Dull OPR for the 'first' couple despite their first child being born at Balavoulin-beg of Fincastle which was in that parish. Of course, it could be argued that normally they were living at Carrick, where subsequent children were born, Carrick being in Blair Atholl parish which lacks marriage entries for this time. c) There are no baptisms recorded after 1728, let alone 1767, for any couple with the afore-mentioned surnames. d) The 1767 marriage entry states that both parties were from Dull parish.

When all things are considered, the simplest explanation would be that the two sets of George Caldel and Betty (Elizabeth) Richie are, in fact, the same couple and that they were not actually married when their three children were born. This may sound fanciful for times when Church Censure was so strict, but there were living at Carrick, the remotest settlement at the top of Glen Fincastle (Dull parish), but just inside the Blair Atholl parish boundary. There is no 1841 census return for Carrick as the enumerators for the parishes of Dull and Blair Atholl, each assumed that the other would trudge the weary distance to collect the data. It is quite likely that the two ministers were likewise mistaken about the married state of George and Elspeth.

In 1767 George would have been in his seventies, with Elspeth in her sixties, and perhaps they thought that they should do 'the right thing' and get married before it was too late. This would fit with there being no children from the marriage after 1767, and as they were living together they would be 'both of this parish'. If they had gone to the minister at Blair, to get married, the consequences would have been serious indeed. The Blair Atholl Session minutes would have recorded them being rebuked in front of the whole congregation on three separate Sabbaths and being heavily fined. On the other hand the minister of Dull parish would not have known them, the manse being so distant from Carrick, and all they needed to say was that they both lived in Glen Fincastle and wanted to get married.

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Duncan Richie and Grace Stewart in Glaicneid of Easter Invervack

Dull OPR, 28 Apr 1792
Duncan Richie and Grace Stewart, both in this parish, gave up their names to be proclaimed in order for marriage.

Blair Atholl OPR, 27 Jul 1793
Duncan Richie and Grizel Stewart in Glaicneid had a daughter baptised and named Christian.

The parentage of Duncan Richie is uncertain but he probably was born around 1755 and most likely in Dull parish. If his baptism is not recorded, the most likely family would be that of Donald Ritchie and (which wife?) Donald probably the son of Duncan..........pure speculation.

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John Cameron and Mary Ritchie in Dull parish

Dull OPR, 24 Apr 1803
John Cameron in the parish of Logierait and Mary Ritchie in this parish gave up their names to be proclaimed in order to marriage.

The forename of Mary is uncommon and it is suggested that this is another marriage in the Grandtully area of Dull parish.

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Alexander Richie and Elizabeth Fergusson in Garryside

Alexander Ritchie lived in Blair Atholl parish for most of his life, but the 1881 census states that he was born in Muthill.

On 17th June 1856 at the marriage chapel (Kilmaveonaig?) of Blair Atholl, Alexander Ritchie, 35 year old mason and bachelor, living at Bridge of Tilt married Betsy Fergusson, 25 year old dressmaker and spinster, living at Balintoul. His parents were given as John Ritchie, joiner, and Jane Bain, both deceased. Her parents were given as David Fergusson, deceased gentleman, and Margaret Robertson. Alexander Stewart and Alexander Gould were witnesses.

There may be no earlier records for Alexander's parentage as he was episcopalian. Elizabeth Fergusson was born in Logierait parish.

Alexander Ritchie arrived in Blair Atholl after the 1851 census, and it is probably no coincidence that Alexander Gould, mason from Muthill, was living at Blair Cottages in 1851. Alexander Ritchie died 24 Apr 1886, Elizabeth Fergusson - remainer of inscription buried (P1)

Elispeth Ritchie, widow of Alexander Ritchie, stone-cutter, died 7th Septemebr 1896 at Garryside and aged 65 years. Parents given as David Fergusson, Colonel Perthshire Militia, and Margaret Robertson, both deceased. The informant was her son John Ritchie, living at 1 Arion(?) Terrace, Ardconnel Street, Inverness.

The Family of Alexander Ritchie and Elizabeth (Betsy) Fergusson in Garryside

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Maurice Ritchie and Mary Menzies in Monzie

As far as is known Maurice Ritchie and Mary Menzies had no connection with the parish of Blair Atholl, but have been included as their descendants were in the south of Dull parish and their son William died at Foss on the south side of Loch Tummel.

Maurice Ritchie is said to have been born 25th July 1736, the only boy in a family of eight. He married Mary Menzies. They were booked 17th October, and married 6th November 1779 in Fowlis Wester.

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The Family of Maurice Ritchie and Mary Menzies in Monzie

* This may be the same baptism recorded at different times.
** Mother given as "Mary or Ann, Menzies or Campbell".

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William Ritchie and Jane Tyrie in Coshieville

Dull OPR, 30 Jun 1811
William Ritchie married Jean Tyrie

Dull OPR, 28 Aug 1815
Margaret, daughter to William Ritchie and Jean Tyrie at Coshieville Mill, was born 28th August 1815.

William Ritchie, miller and widower of Jane Tyrie died 24th January 1868, aged 89 years, at Daloist of Foss. His parents were given as Maurice Ritchie and Mary Menzies, both deceased. The informant was his son George.

The 1841 census shows that William was the miller at Coshieville.

Robert Tyrie (b 1791), Margaret Tyrie (b 1784) and Isabel Tyrie (b 1782) were siblings of William Ritchie's wife, Jean, or Jane Tyrie (b 1788). Their parents were George Tyrie and Margaret Stewart, all being born in Dull parish. One year old Jean McDonald was William Ritchie's grand-daughter as his daughter Mary was married to John McDonald.

Dull OPR, 6 Jan 1839
John McDonald in the parish of Logierait and Mary Ritchie in this parish gave up their names to be proclaimed in order to marriage.

The same marriage banns are in the Logierait OPR, as would be expected, but are index dated as 5th January 1838.

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The Family of William Ritchie and Jane Tyrie in Coshieville