Alexander Seaton in Edinburgh

(based on the research of Alan Denham in Australia)

The new settlement at Bridge of Tilt

It was not unusual for people from Blair Atholl to leave the parish and journey to the low country in search or work. However, proving that a person living in the low country originated from Blair Atholl parish is not easy until the 1851 census which provides a place of birth. Even then, if the person had a common name such as Janet Robertson or John Stewart, finding the actual family that they came from is fraught with difficulties.

Alexander Seaton (and there are various spellings of this surname) died from an ulcerated leg at Bridge of Tilt, 10th April 1863. His death certificate gives his age as 76 years, and states that he was the son of Alexander Seaton, a farmer, and Christian Seaton who were both deceased. Alexander had been a grocer, and was a widower, but the name of his wife was not known. The informant was his brother Donald Seaton, who was present.

Alexander Seaton does not appear in the 1861 census return for Bridge of Tilt, nor previous ones. However, Donald and his older sister Christian are listed and their death certificates confirm that they had the same parents - Alexander Seaton and Christian Seaton.

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Alexander Seaton and Christian Seaton in Kincraigie

Alexander Seaton and Christian Seaton married in 1782, but the OPR is not very informative. However, it is most likely that she was the daughter of James Setton and Jean McLagan, born at Loinmarstaig in Glen Girnaig, 16th July 1761. The identity of Alexander's parents is currently uncertain, but he probably was born around 1750.

Moulin OPR, 10th June 1782
Alexander Seaton in the parish of Blair Atholl and Christian Seaton in the parish of Moulin were booked in order to marriage (and) were married 25th current.

It is a pity that the marriage entries in the Blair Atholl OPR from 14th December 1781 until 26th August 1784 have either been lost or were not kept, so it is not known where Alexander Seaton was living when he married (This may be recorded in the minutes of the Kirk Session). The Atholl Estate rentals show that Alexander Seaton was farming roughly a third part of Kincraigie between 1786 and 1791, together with James Gow and James and Donald Stewarts. There is no evidence of any Seatons having been previous tenants. Alexander had a new tack (lease) between 1792 and 1797, paying £8 8s Sterling, but was presented with a Decreet of Removing the following year.

1798 Decreet of Removing with Poind and Arrest - Alexander Seaton in Kincraigie.

I command you that on sight hereof ye pass and charge the said defender personally or at their dwelling places to flit, remove themselves, their wives, bairns, servant's families, sub-tennants, defender's goods and gear, forth and from the houses, mills, yards, gass and sheallings at and against the term of Whitsunday next Old Style or the 26th May New, and from the arable land and laboured lands at and against the separation of the ensuing crop from the ground and that under the pain of ejection as also each of the defenders to pay the complainer £20 Scots in name of damages and expences in case they find that within fifteen days next after the charge ... that he lawfully fence and arrest the said defender's goods, gear and debts and after the elapse of two daus of the charge poind ...

The names of only two of Alexander and Christian's children appear in the baptismal list in the Blair Atholl OPR: Alexander, 8th January 1784; and Christian, 17th July 1788, both being born at Kincraigie in Glen Fender. In addition Alexander and Christian had another daughter, Elizabeth, as shown by her death certificate.

Alexander Seaton must have died by 1820 as the Minister of Moulin's 1820 census shows Christian Seaton and two of her children living at Orchil-beg.

Widow Seaton's daughter Elizabeth probably is the 19 year old servant of Charles Farquharson in Craggan-na-cire, and her son Alexander was married and living in Edinburgh by that time.

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(Generation 4) The Children of Alexander Seaton and Christian Seaton in Kincraigie

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Alexander Seaton and Isabella Bank in Edinburgh

Alexander Seaton and Isabella Banks married in Edinburgh in 1814, but the first marriages lines were refused, for some unknown reason, but the problem was resolved within a few days.

Edinburgh, 10th May 1814
Alexander Seaton, waiter, 15 Princes Street and Isabella Banks, daughter of .... Banks, engineer at Duddingston, residing Princes Street No. 15. (lines refused)

15 Princes Street may have been part of the Crown Hotel which was next to Register House. This would fit with Alexander being employed as a waiter.

Edinburgh, 13th May 1814
Alexander Seaton, waiter, St. Andrew's parish and Isabella Banks, same parish, daughter of Peter Banks, engineer, parish of Duddingston (married)

Although Isabella's marriage lines give her name as 'Banks', she was baptised as 'Balks', the daughter of Peter Balks and Elizabeth Armour, born 10th September 1796 and baptised at Liberton, Midlothian on 19th September 1796. Isabella was one of eight children:

David Balks 24th July 1785 Duddingston, to Peter Balks and Betty Armour.
Peter Balks 29th January 1788 Duddingston, to Peter Balks and Betty Armour.
Betty Balks 8th June 1790 Duddingston, to Peter Balks and Betty Armour.
Marion Balks 19th December 1792 Duddingston, to Peter Balks and Betty Armour.
Archibald Balks 5th September 1794, Liberton, to Peter Balks and Elizabeth Armer.
Isabel Balks 19th September 1796, Liberton, to Peter Balks and Elizabeth Armour.
Alice Balks 10th January 1804, Liberton, to Peter Balks and Elizabeth Armour.
Peter Balks 11th October 1805, Liberton, to Peter Balks and Elizabeth Armour.

Alexander and Isabel's first child (Alexander) was born in 1816, while Alexander was still working as a waiter. However, two years later he was established as a grocer, with a shop and living quarters at 162 Cowgate, Edinburgh, possibly with the help of his father-in-law.

The Edinburgh street directory for 1818-19 is the first to list Alexander Seton, grocer and spirit-dealer at 162 Cowgate, moving to 168 Cowgate by 1823-24. Initially this property must have been rented as The Register of Sasines (the Scottish land register) shows that 168 Cowgate was bought from the Rev. James Pate by Alexander Seaton and his wife Isabella Balks in 1825. The property was described as "tenements of land in Burnet’s Close, with the foreland on the High Street of the Cowgate". The entries in the Edinburgh street directory remained the same until 1836-37, but in the subsequent years Alexander Seaton was given as a 'broker' at 168 Cowgate, and this continued until 1840-41 after which his name no longer appeared. The family lived there until at least 1839. In the late 1840s the building was demolished and a two storey tenement was erected in its place. There were a lot of 'brokers' living in this area of Edinburgh, and the term might mean a variety of trades from pawn-broking to selling insurance.

Alexander Seaton and his wife also owned property in Coull's Close, off the Canongate. There are advertisements to sell the property in the early 1840s but the sale was unsuccessful.

Alexander Seaton and Isabella Banks had twelve children between 1816 and the end of the 1830s, but the family has not been traced in the 1841 census, so it is not known when the family started to split up. It is assumed that most were living at Coull's Close as this is where Alexander's wife died.

Isabella Banks died in 1849 and was buried in New Calton cemetery, but there is no headstone which seems to indicate that Alexander was not as well off as might have been expected.

The South Leith OPR records her death as: Isabella Banks or Seaton, spouse of Alexander Seaton, agent, from Coull's Close, Canongate, is buried at (Carlton) New Ground. Interred at north-west point of P. Purdie's tomb (maybe Pridie). Died of fever, aged 53 years.

The 1851 census shows Alexander Seaton, aged 60, living as a lodger with widow Helen Bishop at the schoolhouse, Mid Calder. He was working as a hawker and his place of birth was given as Blair Atholl.

By 1861 Alexander Seaton's circumstances had radically altered. The census of that year shows him as being an inmate of the Edinburgh Poor House in the parish of St. Cuthberts and describes him as a 70-year-old widower and hawker by profession, born in Athole, Perthshire. He may have been getting treatment for an ulcerated leg. This death certificate indicates that it had been a long-term medical problem which finally killed him a few years later.

Alexander returned to Blair Atholl to live with his brother Donald and sister Christian at Bridge of Tilt, where he died on 10th April 1863, aged 76 years. His death certificate shows that he was a grocer and a widower, but his wife's name seems to have been unknown to the informant, his younger brother Donald. His parents were given as Alexander Seaton, farmer, and Christian Seaton, both deceased. The cause of death was given as an ulcerated leg, which had been causing him difficulties for several years.

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(Generation 5) The Children of Alexander Seaton and Isabella Banks in Edinburgh

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Alexander Seaton in Edinburgh and Australia

Based on a statement by siblings James Nairne and Isabella in the multiplepoinding document (1888) for the estate of their uncle Donald Seaton in Bridge of Tilt, it is believed that Alexander was a doctor of medicine and travelled to Australia in the late 1830s but died soon thereafter. No arrival record can be found for him nor a death record but records from that particular period are scant.

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Peter Banks Seaton and his three wives in Glsgow

Peter Banks Seaton was a master tailor in Glasgow and married three times, with one child born to each wife: Thomas Davidson Seaton, born 1857; Jane Seaton, born 1864; and Isabella Seaton, born 1873. The 1881 census shows the following:

Peter Banks Seaton died in Cumbernauld Road, Glasgow on the 6th July 1888, a few months before his brother James Nairne was named as the executor in the multiplepoinding of the estate of their uncle Donald Seaton. Regardless, Peter’s wife Margaret is named in the multiplepoinding so she may have received a share of the estate.

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David Seaton, soldier in the Crimea

David Seaton, like the rest of the family, cannot be found on the 1841 census, nor with any certainty on the 1851 census. His brother James Nairne states in the multiplepoinding document of 1888 that David died of a disease about 1856, shortly after arriving in the Crimea as a soldier.

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James Nairne Seaton and Catherine Nimmo in Edinburgh

Edinburgh OPR, May 1823
Alexander Seton, grocer, and Isobel Banks his spouse, Old Greyfriar's parish, a son born 10th April last. Named James Nairne.

The middle name of Nairne is interesting as the 3rd Lord Nairne was William Murray, the Jacobite Duke of Atholl.

James Nairne Seaton married Catherine Nimmo 11th March 1846.

St Cuthbert's, Edinburgh, OPR
James Seton, cabinet maker, residing in Hardwell Close, No.193 Pleasance; and Catherine Nimmo, residing in No. 12 Carnegie Street, both in this parish, daughter of George Nimmo, late turner in Edinburgh, now resident in Simpson's Assylum at Plean in the parish of St. Ninian's, Stirlingshire. have been three several times duly and regularly proclaimed in the parish church of St. Cuthbert's in order to marriage, and no objections offered. Married of the eleventh day of March current, by the Rev John Paul, one of the Ministers of this parish.

The 1851 census shows their first two children.

It is interesting to note that first born son was named Donald and not Alexander after his paternal grandfather. By the time of the 1861 census there were four more children but George does not appear in the census and the only two George Seaton/Seton entries for the whole of Scotland are related to different families.

However, by the 1871 census George Seaton reappeared.

James Seaton's wife appears in a mental institution in Edinburgh in the late 1870s but is not to be found on any census data after 1871. Yet when James died in 1894, his death record does not show him as a widower.

Catherine Seaton, widow of James Seaton, cabinetmaker, usual residence Tolbooth Wynd in Edinburgh, died at Balgonie Castle, Markinch, Fife, on 27th December 1915 aged 93 years. Her parents were given as George Nimmo, wheelwright, and Catherine McLean, both deceased. The informant was Marjory Horne, her guardian.

In 1881 James Nairne Seaton and his remaining family were living at 7 Albert Street, South Leith.

When James Nairne Seaton's uncle Donald Seaton died at Pitlochry in 1888, James Nairne Seaton was named as the executor of his uncle’s estate. The informant who reported Donald Seaton’s death was another James Seaton living in Pitlochry who claimed to be a second cousin, but this James Seaton appears to be the son of John Seaton who was born in Blair Atholl in 1835.

To compound this confusion there was a third relative named James Seaton. This one was the son of Daniel Seaton from Blair Atholl and had been born at Bridge of Earn in 1822. This third James Seaton was a gatekeeper at the Queensberry House of Refuge in the Canongate on the 1881 census. He died in 1883, but James Nairne Seaton ended up residing for a short period in the very same institution around the time of Donald Seaton's estate being wound up in 1888.

James Nairne Seaton and his siblings were discerned (recognised) as nearest of kin, but he had lost touch with a number of them, especially those who had gone to Australia. This made it difficult to divide his uncle's estate equally on a single occasion. So to protect himself against anyone who might appear at a later date, demanding their share, he applied to the law court for the power of multi-poinding. This was agreed to, on condition that a notice informing everyone about the winding up of the estate appeared twice in 'The Scotsman', 'New York Herald' and 'Melbourne Argus' newspapers.

Notice of multi-poinding in 'The Scotsman' newspaper

This notice of multi-poinding provides the whereabouts of the dispersed family to the best of James Nairne Seaton's knowledge. It is interesting to note that one name is missing, that of his brother John Jardine Seaton who had been transported to Australia for his criminal activities.

By 1891 James Nairne Seaton was living with his son-in-law, Albert Peebles, the husband of his daughter Matilda.

James Seaton, cabinetmaker, married to Catherine Nimmo, died at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on 9th August 1894 aged 71 years. His usual address was given as 12 South Elgin Street. His father was given as Alexander Seaton, deceased grocer, but the name of his mother appears to have been unknown. The informant was his son James.

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John Jardine Seaton aka 'John Anderson'

There is some uncertainty about John Jardine Seaton as his baptismal record gives his mother as Elizabeth Banks not Isabella, although it does show his father Alexander as a grocer and living in the Old Kirk parish, which is consistent with the baptism of the other children. This may just be a mistake by the parish registrar, but it is curious that when John arrived in Australia he gave his mother's name as Elizabeth.

John Jardine Seaton was an apprentice tailor on the High Street of Edinburgh but gave up the apprenticeship after a couple of years, for reasons unknown. However, he continued to pick up bolts of cloth from his ex-master's suppliers and sold them at pawn shops, for which he was jailed. He was admitted to Calton Prison on 1st November 1841 on the charge of fraud, aged 16. He was tried in the High Court of Justiciary on 8th January 1842 and sentenced to 18 months prison. On 12th April he was transferred to the new Perth Penitentiary and served 162 days with good behaviour. At some point thereafter, he must have returned to Edinburgh where he appears to have been homeless and, with little chance of lawful employment, turned to house-breaking.

John assumed the surname of Anderson when caught for housebreaking and was described as a tailor of no fixed abode. He sent for trial on 22nd July 1844, along with his cousin Peter Farm who was a baker living in Leith Wynd, William Douglas who was a baker living in Riego Street, and William McMillan who was a baker living in Hume's Close on the Canongate. They were charged with theft by housebreaking at the properties of Robert Scott and Thomas Walker Baird, both in Portobello, Duddingston. William McMillan was found not guilty and was dismissed but the other three were found guilty and sentenced to transportation to Australia, John 'Anderson' and William Douglas for seven years each, and Peter Farm for fourteen years. John Jardine Seaton went right through the legal system and transportation as John Anderson, and his cousin and co-offender Peter Farm denied knowing John Anderson and vice versa in their precognition statements prior to the trial in Edinburgh.

John's cousin Peter Farm, or more correctly Peter Balks Fairholm, was baptised at Libertson 30th December 1824. He was the son of James Fairholm and Elizabeth (Betty) Balks (baptised 8th June 1790 Duddingston), who was the older sister of John's mother Isabella Balks.

Each convict was interviewed individually on arrival in Hobart and given the opportunity to confess with the aim of getting a fresh start in life, at which point he confessed that his true name was Seaton. However he kept the surname of Anderson and lived out the rest of his days using that surname. Interestingly, he was not named as a sibling in the notice of multi-poinding in 1888. It is unknown whether this was because he was a convict and had been disowned by the family or perhaps, some 44 years after being transported, they thought that he was dead.

Peter Farm, baker aged 27 years convicted of house-breaking in Edinburgh, was one of 254 convicts transported on the 'Sir Robert Peel', 6th September 1844, but neither John Anderson nor William Douglas were among the other 254 convicts. Peter Farm died in a fight with his master James Croker at Launceston, Tasmania, 22nd February 1851. An inquest into Peter’s death was held at the London Inn on 24th February in which the seven jurors found James Croker guilty of the manslaughter of Peter Farm. There is an account of the inquest in 'The Cornwall Chronicle' (Launceston, Tasmania), Wednesday 26th February 1851.

John Anderson was one of 154 convicts transported on the 'Stratheden', 31st July 1845 and arrived at Van Diemen's Land, as it was still called, on Christmas Day 1845. William Douglas was transported on the 'Maitland', 2nd June 1846 and was disembarked at Port Phillip, in October of that year.

There is a record of his appearance in the Tasmanian Records: Height, 5 foot 2 inches; age 20 years; fresh complexion with rounded head, brown hair and clean shaven; small face with brown eyebrows and hazel coloured eyes. It was also reported that his general conduct was very good and that he wore a ring on his little and ring finger on his left hand with another on the ring finger of his right hand. His religion was protestant and he could both read and write. These personal descriptions whilst used for visual identification of convicts were also related to phrenology, which involved measuring head shape and bumps to predict mental traits. Recognized as a pseudoscience today, it was believed at that time to determine a predisposition for criminality and insanity amongst other characteristics.

John Anderson, or Seaton married Harriet Young, 6th August 1849. Harriet seems to have been a fellow convict who had been transported to Van Diemen's Land on the 'Sea Queen' by the Banbury Borough (Oxford) Quarter Session, and arrived 8th May 1846 with 169 other prisoners. She died in Melbourne, 26 January 1857 with no known children born to this marriage. There was then a long gap between John’s first wife dying and him remarrying in 1883 with his whereabouts unknown; perhaps the goldfields of Victoria enticed him. His second marriage certainly resulted in an extremely blended family.

John Anderson, or Seaton married Emma Andrews nee Hall in Hobart on 2nd July 1883. Emma Hall was the daughter of two convicts and had three illegitimate children before marrying George Andrews, who had two surviving children from his first marriage. George Andrews and Emma had another five children, four of whom were still alive when George died in 1882, leaving Emma with at least nine children. She and John Anderson had five more children, four of whom survived. So there was a total of 13 children. Her death record of 1916 states she had 14 children but unfortunately none are named on the certificate. Emma was buried in the Cornelian bay cemetery, Hobert, with her first husband, George Andrews and their infant daughter.

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The Children of John Jardine Anderson or Seaton and Emma Hall or Andrews in Tasmania

* divorced in the 1940s

All of the children took the surname of Anderson, the alias maintained by John Seaton.

The Mercury, Hobart, 8th June 1910 (marriages)
On April 13th, 1910, at Holy Trinity Church (by special license), by the Rev. Canon Shoobridge, George Henry, fourth son of Francis and Ellen Jordon of Victoria, to Emma, youngest daughter of Emma and the late John Anderson of Hobart.

The Mercury, Hobart 18th June 1913 (marriages)
On April 23rd at Chalmers Manse, Hobart, by the Rev. H.T. Postle. Alfred George, fourth son of William and Mary Anne Vince of Sandfly, to Harriet, daughter of Emma and the late John Anderson of Hobart.

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William McKelvie Seaton and Helen McIntosh in Ontario

William cannot be found on the 1841 census but there is a record of his banns of marriage to Helen McIntosh.

St Cuthbert's, Edinburgh, OPR 23rd April 1849
William Seaton, blacksmith, residing in No. 4 Cowfeeder Row (latterly called Highriggs, Tollcross) and Helen McIntosh also residing in the same place, both in this parish, daughter of the late James McIntosh, blacksmith in Lawnmarket, Edinburgh, have been three several times duly and regularly proclaimed in the parish church of St. Cuthbert's in order to marriage, and no objections offered. (date of marriage and by whom, left blank but Canadian census records confirm that it was 1849)

William and Ellen (Helen) McIntosh appear in the 1851 census, along with their 1 year-old son William Balfour Seaton, who was baptised in the Holyrood Free Church which was established not long before the birth of William Balfour. Like his older brother James, William did not follow the tradition of naming his first born son after his father. It appears that William Balfour Seaton might have been named after the first minister for the Holyrood Free Church, William Balfour.

A second child was born in 1851 but died nearly immediately. Their third child, Euphemia Mitchell Seaton. Mitchell seems to have been the surname Helen's mother, but the reason for choosing Euphemia is another mystery.

William is variously described as a blacksmith, railway servant and engineer but by 1855, according to the multi-poinding document, he was contracted as an engineer to the Great Trunk Railway Company in Ontario and this accords with the 1901 census immigration date for his son William Balfour Seaton. He sailed a few months ahead of his family and his youngest sister, Betsey, accompanied William’s wife and children. William's daughter Euphemia died in Montreal in June 1855 which provides some timeline of their arrival. William's older brother James stated in the multi-poinding that William had died in New York after contracting an illness in the California goldfields. However, all census data, birth, marriage and death records indicate that William and his family lived most of their lives in Brockville, Ontario, where William died in 1892.

Canadian Census 1861, Brockville, Leeds Co. Ontario

Canadian Census 1871, Brockville, Leeds Co. Ontario

Canadian Census 1881, Brockville, Leeds Co. Ontario

Canadian Census 1891, Brockville, Leeds Co. Ontario

The Brockville History Album mentions that "For over fifty years, the Fire Companies were operated by volunteers, but in 1886 the first group of paid firemen were hired by the Town of Brockville, who then established a fire department. The first fire brigade was made up of John Hall, (later to be Fire Chief), William Seaton, Joshua Bedlow, and Thomas Devereaux.

Helen McIntosh died 25th January 1909, aged 83 years and a widow. The informant, her son William Balfour Seaton, stated that she was born in Edinburgh 23rd December 1825, the daughter of William Alexander McIntosh and Helen Mitchell. However, her marriage certificate gave her father's name as James. The Edinburgh marriage between Charles McIntosh and Euphemia Mitchell, 14th November 1820, is of interest as William and Helen's first daughter was baptised as Euphemia Mitchell Seaton, and Helen is thought to have been born around 1826.

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(Generation 6) The Children of William McKelvie Seaton and Helen McIntosh in Fort Erie, Ontario

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William Balfour Seaton and Elizabeth Brown in Ontario

William Balfour Seaton married Elizabeth Brown, 3rd May 1871.

The Seaton family lived on the south-east corner of Gilmour Road and Concession Road. They ran the local grocery store which was held in Elizabeth Brown's name. The large family lived at the back of the store and on the second floor. When the Seatons sold the business to Frank Jackson, they moved to a small house on Concession Road. Virtually all of the famly are buried in the St. Paul's Anglican Cemetery, Fort Erie, where there is a monument to the Seaton family.

The Seaton monument at Fort Erie

1881 Census, Fort Erie, Welland district of Ontario.

1891 Census, Fort Erie, Welland district of Ontario.

1901 Census, Fort Erie, Welland district of Ontario

Louis McDermott wrote the following about Rose Alice Seaton and her family, 13th August 1978:

Miss Rose Alice Seaton's life was dedicated to teaching and to her family. While a young girl, Rose broke off an engagement and approached the subject of marriage again. In 1905 (9th November), after the death of her mother, there was the added burden of the running of the store and looking after her father who was ill a great deal of the time. She also cared for her sister Lillian who was a semi-invalid. When her sister Maud died in childbirth, Rose took the baby Carrol under her wing, and raised her to adulthood. She put her brother Wallace through medical school, and he later took up a position at the old Veteran's Hospital in Toronto.

In 1916 Frank E. Jackson left the railroad because of ill health, and shortly after purchased the Seaton Grocery Store in Amigari. The children still at home moved, with their father, to a small house just south of the corner on the east side of Concession Road. Rose caught T.B. and for a year she lived in a tent in the yard of this home, isolated from her family. After her recovery, however, she was able to return to her teaching at Phipp Street.

On 1st September 1918 Rose was made Principal of Phipp St. at a salary of $900 per annum, and she continued in this position until her retirement in June 1945. The Board of Education honoured her by re-naming the school after her. Rose and her sister Lillian moved to a large house on the Niagara Boulevard, just north of Wintemute Street. Here she lived out her golden years with her flower garden and her memories

William B. Seaton buried at Lake Erie Ontario, Canada on the 24/10/1930 aged 83

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(Generation 7) The Children of William Balfour Seaton and Elizabeth Brown in Fort Erie, Ontario

* Private George Curwood (reg. no. 158571), 44th Regiment, 81st Battalion of the 1915 Canadian Expeditionary ** The forename on the Register of Birth was officially changed from 'Walter' to 'Wallace' in 1921. WW1 records show that Walter was a captain, presumably with a medical unit, and had been living in Toronto. By 1921 the census shows him in Ottawa. On 1st July 1946 Wallace B. Seaton of Ottawa, Canada, was awarded the OBE.

Misses Elizabeth and Catherine Seaton of Amigari, Ontario

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Robert Cleland and Helen (Ellen) Felicia Seaton in Brockville, Brockville, Ontario

Leeds Co, marriages, 24th August 1881
Robert Cleland, 25y, moulder, Brockville, Leeds County, son of Matthew Cleland and Catherine Cameron, married Helen Felicia Seaton, Brockville, Leeds County, daughter of William Seaton and Helen McIntosh at brockville. Witnesses: Sara Burnfield, of Brockville.

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The Children of Robert Cleland and Helen (Ellen) Felicia Seaton in Brockville, Ontario

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Albert Edward (Eddie) Seaton and Elva Victoria Davey in Toronto, Ontario

On 15th November 1899 Eddie Seaton married Elva Victoria Davey, the daughter of George S. Davey and Rebecca Ann Hymers.

1901 Census, East Toronto Village, Ontario

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The Children of Albert Edward (Eddie) Seaton and Elva Victoria Davey in Toronto, Ontario

On 1st day of January 1925 at Brockville, Leeds Co. Ontario, Harry Cooke and Hazel Rebecca Seaton were married. He was described as a bachelor, aged 29, employed as a janitor, born London, England. Parents given as Robert Cooke and Emily Bailes. Hazel was described as a spinster aged 23, employed as a stenographer. Parents given as Edward Seaton and Elma Victoria Davey. The witnesses were William Allan Seaton and Maud Mabel Fulford, both residing in Brockville (her brother and later, his wife).

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William Alexander and Isabella Seaton in Edinburgh

Alexander's three daughters, Isabella, Mary and Elizabeth were living together in Coull's Close, off the Canongate in 1851. The rooms were owned by their father and there are advertisements to sell the property in the early 1840s but the sale was unsuccessful. It was put up for sale a second time in 1853, which was about the time that his Isabella married William Alexander, his daughter Mary emigrated to Victoria, Australia, and the youngest of the three, Elizabeth or Betsey, sailed to Canada along with her brother William McKelvie Seaton and his young family. They arrived in Quebec but settled in Ontario.

Edinburgh OPR, 6th October 1853
William Alexander, painter, residing with his father in White-thorn Close, Canongate, and Isabella Seaton, Smith's Lodgings, Mid Common Close, also Canongate, daughter of Alexander Seaton, merchant in Coull's Close, Canongate, gave up their names for proclamation of marriage. Certified by Mr Henry Arnot, one of the Elders of this parish. the above named parties were three times regularly proclaimed in the parish church on Sabbath the 9th and no objections being offered, they were married on the 18th current by the Rev. Andrew R. Bonar, one of the Ministers of this parish.

The 1861 census shows the couple living on the Pleasance in Edinburgh, but perhaps money was a problem as they had taken in a boarder.

Money was certainly a problem by 1864 as a small notice in 'The Scotsman' newspaper, dated 29th November, states "I hereby give notice, for the last time, that I will not be responsible for any debts contracted by my wife, Isabella Seaton or Alexander, residing at 259 Canongate - William Alexander, 215 Canongate".

William Alexander died in 1873 and Isabella remarried in 1880.

At 38 John Street, Edinburgh, on 19th November 1880 James Cormack, slater and widower aged 42 years and living at 7 Bakehouse Close, Canongate, Edinburgh, married Isabella Alexander, charwoman and widow aged 46 years, also living at Bakehouse Close. His parents were given as James Cormack, weaver, and Isabella Meikle, both deceased. Her parents were given as Alexander Seton, house painter (sic) and Isabella Banks, both deceased. Roderick McKay and Robert Brown, witnesses.

1881 census shows that Isabella, as well as gaining a husband, also acquired three step-children from his previous marriage in Glasgow.

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Edward Russell and Mary Stewart Seaton in Victoria, Australia

As previously mentioned, Alexander's three daughters, Isabella, Mary and Elizabeth were living together in Coull's Close, off the Canongate in 1851. In the multi-poinding of 1888 her sister Isabella mentions that Mary had been working at James McCaskie and Co., hat manufacturers, 90 Candlemaker Row, to save money to take her abroad. Passengers who emigrated were expected to purchase a prescribed list of clothing to take on the voyage so she would have needed to save money for these expenses, and to have enough to live on upon arrival. In 1852, at the age of only 19 Mary decided to emigrated to Australia. Little did she realise what she was letting herself in for.

At the time there was a severe labour shortage in Australia, and the Highlands and Islands Emigration Society arranged for a double-decked clipper named 'Ticonderoga' to take 795 emigrants to Port Phillip, Victoria, in Australia. The ship departed from Birkenhead on 4th August 1852 and it was soon apparant that the ship was overcrowded, lacked adequate sanitation, basic hygiene and medical provision. Within days of sailing there was an outbreak of what was probably typhus, or may have been scarlet fever, and the doctors onboard were overwhelmed with the number of patients, and fell ill themselves. At least a hundred passengers died, even before landfall. The first few were given decent burials at sea, but the rate at which passengers were dying meant that the ship ran out of heavy objects to sink the shrouds into the ocean depths. As a last resort corpses were strapped together in groups and left to float away.

When the ship finally limped into Port Phillip Bay on 5th November it was anchored off Point Nepean flying the fever flag. The authorities in Williamstown immediately responded by using the government schooner 'Empire' to deliver supplies of meat, milk, vegetables, porter, wine and a medical chest. Dr Taylor of the 'Ottillia' and the harbour master, Captain Ferguson, arrived to take charge, while the government requisted the ship 'Lysander' and provisioned it with three months of supplies so that it could function as a quarantine hulk.

Within a few days tents were erected on Point Nepean using sails and spars from the ship and a quarantine ground had been marked out. The houses of two lime-burners were purchased by the government and converted into hospitals, so that 250 of the healthy and 150 of the sick could be put on shore. The critically ill passengers were transferred to the 'Lysander'. Many of the victims were buried in shallow graves within the quarantine zone. Finally, on 23rd December the 'healthy' passangers were allowed to leave the quarantine station, by which time there had been over 180 deaths. At least the public outrage led to improved conditions in emigrant ships.

This was not the only time that an emigrant ships had to be quarantined and a permanent quarantine station, previously at Elwood, was established on the penisula. Mary Stewart Seaton survived her trip on the plague ship and despite having no training, as far as is known, became a nurse at the quarantine station. Some records refer to her as Mary Seaton Stuart or 'nurse Stuart', but the Ticonderoga passenger list leaves no doubt that this was the same person.

Quote from 'The Mornington Peninsular'

"Edward Russell was a pretty tough cookie. Deciding not to desert at Dromana, he had no choice when his ship berthed. It, like countless other vessels, was going nowhere. So he walked for two days to join his shipmates, lime-burning at the heads. He was no sook but on one occasion, he sought medical attention for an injury at the Quarantine Station. He was attended by nurse Stuart (sic), who became his wife."

Edward Russell came from Somerset and at the age of 14 was on trial at the Somerset Assizes in Taunton on a charge of felony (stealing 20 lbs of lead). The trial took place on 28th March 1842 and, being found guilty, was sentenced to 7 years. He was sent to the reformatory attached to Parkhurst prison on the Isle of Wight and became one of the Parkhurst Apprentices. Although discipline was strict, the youth were well treated and were indentured as apprentices to learn a useful trade before being transported overseas. Not only were they pardoned, on condition that they completed their apprenticeship and did not attempt to return to Britain during the term of their sentence, but their allowances were held in trust until they had completed their five year indenture.

As Edward Russell was sent out to Australia in 1847 it is assumed that he had completed his five year indenture training as a brickmaker. He was one of 89 boys who were transported to Australia on the 'Thomas Arbuthnot' which left Portland on 6th January 1847 with a total of 289 male convicts and a strong military force onboard. The ship discharged its cargo of convicts at Port Phillip on 4th May 1847.

Again, in 'The Mornington Peninsular'

"Alexander, son of Edward, married a daughter of John Watson. Edward had a lime-kiln on the west side of Dundas Street and before Blair obtained land grants to become the new owner of many kilns, Edward would have loaded his lime onto lime-craft in the bay. No doubt he would have met John Watson in this way. John was a fisherman who started fishing near Weeroona Bay in about 1860 but moved his base to the Western Sister in 1873. If his lookout spotted a school heading east, John would follow it and sail near the lime-craft. Perhaps Edward tried a bit of fishing himself when the demand for lime slackened."

A similar story is to be found in the book 'Land, Lime and Leisure: Peninsular History in the Shire of Flinders' by Charles N. Hollinshed.

"Edward Russell was granted Crown Allotment 38A of 103 acres west of the present, but not for long, Truemans Road tip site, on 3rd November 1880 but had been in the area since the early 1850's. An old shipmate of John Watts and Tom Bennett, at the age of 17 he walked for two days from Melbourne to work for James Purves snr. (should be Peter Purves, his brother?) at the heads and later worked for the Sullivans and drove bullocks to the goldfields for the Skeltons."

Tom Bennett was another of the Parkhurst Apprentices and probably knew Edward at the reformatory. He was a year younger than Edward and had been sentenced to 7 years for stealing chattels in Birmingham. Tom Bennet was one of the 125 youths transported on the 'Marion' which arrived at Williamstown in January 1848, just 8 months after Edward's arrival. It is possible that John Watts was yet another of the Parkhurst Apprentices. When the three of them decided to leave the ship that they were crewing, it is said that John Watts and Tom Bennett jumped ship by paddling a wooden bath-tub ashore near Dromana, but Edward Russell stayed onboard to Melbourne before walking to catch up with the others.

"At some unspecified time, he and Tom Bennett occupied a dwelling between the cemetery site and Napier Street in Rye (also known as White Cliffs or Tootgarook), Edward built a lime kiln near the north-west corner of Melway 168 D9, but when William Allison Blair dispossessed him of the kiln by buying Crown Allotment 19 Nepean on 19th June 1867, Edward bought 104 acres nearby. (He selected the 103 acre Crown Allotment 38A Wannaeue which could hardly be described as being 'nearby' to Dundas St and didn't buy it until 1880)."

Mary Stewart Seaton (nurse Stuart) married Edward Russell in 1853 at the Independent Congregational Church, Melbourne,

The birth of the couple's first child, Johanna, was registered at Point Nepean in 1855 as there was no township at that time, just the quarantine station.

Edward Russell did not have a farm in Nepean parish but owned 80 acres near Rogers Road and one lot with a building at Sorrento. He also owned lots 4 and 5 of section 12 at Dromana. These lots had been granted to R. D. Quinan in 1864 and each had a 20 metre frontage to Codrington and Verdon Streets, starting 40 metres from Hodgkinson Street. In the 1909-10 assessments Edward Russell's name has been crossed out as he had died and replaced with that of his daughter, Mrs Christopher Cairns.

Edward Russell died 10 May 1910 at Fingal, Victoria, and was buried in Rye cemetery. His death certificate confirms that he was born in Somerset, and names his father as Edward Dublin Rusell, mother's name unknown. The following intimation appeared in the Melbourne mewspaper 'The Age' on 14th May 1910 (page 5):

On the 10th May, at his residence,"Boneo", Edward dearly loved husband of Mary Russell; dearly loved father of Mrs. D. Cairns, Flinders; Mrs. J. T. Cairns, Mrs. J. Cairns, Mrs. C. Cairns, Boneo; Alexander Russell, Sorrento; and Archibald Russell, Tooradin, (died) aged 84 years. A colonist of 64 years.

And the following intimation appeared in the Melbourne mewspaper 'The Argus' on 14th May 1914 (page 1):

Peace, after much suffering - On the 10th May, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs J. T. Cairns, Boneo, Mary Stewart, relict of the late Edward Russell (died) aged 82 years.

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The Children of Edward Russell and Mary Stewart Seaton in Victoria, Australia

* All three grooms were the sons of David Cairns and Janet Thompson, original settlers who had married in Scotland.

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James Thompson Cairns and Johanna Russell of Alva Hill (c/a 9A), Victoria, Australia

Johanna, who also seems to have been called Hannah, married James Thompson Cairns in 1876. They had the Alva Hill farm, but James was also the rabbit inspector for the whole of the Mornington Peninsular.

The couple seem to have had twelve children, all born at Dromana.

James Thompson Cairns and Johanna Russell are buried in the Rye cemetery, along with their sons Arthur and Percy.

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Robert Douglas Denson Quinan and Isabella Russell of Victoria, Australia

It is thought that Isabella Russell married Robert Douglas Denson Quinan in 1873 but definite proof has yet to be found. This is not helped as he seems to have been using the alias of Robert James Smith for some reason.

Robert Douglas Denson Quinan was the son of Robert Denys Denson Quinan and Emma Shackcloth, who were of Irish descent from Dublin. Robert jnr. is said to have been born at Broken River, Victoria, in 1846. The death certificate of his widowed mother, Emma, at Dromana 5th July 1907, lists her children and includes Robert and Arthur (in) WA. From this is it assumed that both brothers were in Western Australia.

Note: This is not the Robert Quinan whose death is reported in 'Horsham Times' for Tuesday 6th June 1911. Nor does the letter of administration was published Friday 22nd December 1911 in 'The Western Australian', Perth, Western Australia, relate to his brother Arthur. Both appear to be the sons of William Lambert Quinan. The Isabella mentioned as administratix was Isabella Sorlie McDonald.

Isabella died in Bunbury, Western Australia, 1st May 1947. Her husband died in Greenbushes, Western Australia, 1924.

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David Cairns and Elizabeth Russell in Flinders, Victoria, Australia

Elizabeth Russell married David Cairns in 1876, and lived at Flinders, Victoria. He purchased 52 acres near the Cape Schanck turn off in 1888 and according to place name records Cairns Bay was named after him. David broke his neck and was paralysed when he fell from a cart in 1897. He and Elizabeth ran a guest house at Flinders.

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John Cairns and Mary Russell in Dromana, Victoria, Australia

Mary was born in 1859 at White Cliffs (Rye) to Edward Russell and Mary Leaton (sic) and married John Cairns in 1878. John Cairns was the son or Robert Cairns and Mary Drysdale. They produced two sons; Robert who was born at Dromana in 1879 and Charles born same place in 1882.

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Alexander Russell and Margaret Watson in Sorrento, Victoria, Australia

Alexander married Margaret, the daughter of John Watson who was a fisherman near Weeroona Bay. The couple probably settled on the property owned by Alexander's father in Sorrento.

William Henry, born 1893, son of Alexander Russell and Margaret Watson in Sorrento, enlisted in the 29th Infantry Battalion, 10th Reinforcements, on 15th August 1916. His monument in the Sorrento cemetery records that he died 7th December 1976 aged 83 years and had served in the 46th Battalion and the Australian Works Company.

Alexander and his wife Margaret also are buried in the Sorrento cemetery where there is a memorial stone.

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Christopher Cairns and Margaret Russell in Victoria, Australia

'The Argus', 10th July 1920

"5th July, at East Melbourne, Margaret, dearly loved wife of Christopher Cairns (Boneo), beloved mother of Ethel and Oscar, youngest daughter of the late Edward and Mary Russell (Boneo), sister of Mrs. J. T. Cairns and Mrs. J. Cairns (Boneo), Mrs. D. Cairns (Flinders), Alex. Russell (Sorrento), Arch. Russell (Tooradin), and the late Edward and William Russell, (died) aged 50 years".

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Archibald Gilchrist Russell and Eva May Evans in Ballarat

'The Argus', 25th September 1934

"Accident at Flinders - Fatal injuries were received by Mr Archibald Russell, aged 62 years, formerly of Cape Schanck and Crambourne, this afternoon, when a gun which he was carrying discharged as he was climbing through a fence. Mr Russell was returning from a shooting expedition to the home of his nephew, Mr B.A. Cairns of Flinders, when the accident occurred. the charge entered his heart and he died instantly. Mr Russell, who had recently been living in retirement, had formerly followed farming and grazing pursuits in the Cape Schanck and Crambourne districts. He is survived by a widow".

'The Argus', 26th September 1934

"The friends of the late Mr Archie G. Russell, of Flinders, and formerly of Crambourne, are invited to follow his remains to the place of internment in the New Ballarat Cemetery.

The funeral will leave the residence of his father-in-law (Mr. L.D. Evans), 315 Doveton Street, South Ballarat, this day (Wednesday) at 3pm".

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Alexander Mitchell and Betsey Seaton in Kingston, Ontario

Alexander Seatons's three daughters, Isabella, Mary and Elizabeth were living together in Coull's Close, off the Canongate in 1851. The youngest of the three, Elizabeth or Betsey, sailed to Canada along with her brother William McKelvie Seaton and his young family. They arrived in Quebec in 1855 but settled in Ontario. Elizabeth (Betsey) was still living with her brother's family at Brockville in 1861.

Canadian Census 1861, Brockville, Leeds Co., Ontario

Elizabeth (Betsey) Seaton married Alexander Mitchell at some time around 1863.

By 1871 Alexander Mitchell and his wife had settled in Kingston (Frontenac ward), Ontario, where they appear in the census of that year (dwelling 264) with the surname of 'Mitchael'.

Ten years later the census enumerator still was having problems with their surname, which was entered as 'Mitchile'.

Canadian Census 1881, Dwelling 57, Kingston, Cataraqui Ward, Ontario

On 5th June 1888, when she was 23, their daughter Mary Ellen married James Hamilton at St. James Church, Kingston. He was a 25 year-old machinist, the son of James Hamilton and Harriet Greenaway. One of the witnesses was Alice Seaton from Brockville. Was this her first cousin Alexandria using her maiden name before she married Albert Buett?

However, there is now confusion with the information recorded in the 1891 census. Alexander Mitchell's place of birth is recorded as Ireland and his daughter Mary appears to be unmarried. In addition there is a daughter Emma who appears to have been born between Rosie and Edward, so where was she in the 1881 census, aged 5 years?

Foster's 1894 Directory for Kingston, Ontario, shows Alexander Mitchell and his family living at 105 Bagot Street. The 1896 Directory shows Alexander and his three sons still at 105 Lower Bagot with Alexander described as a (ship's) mate. His son William A. was the foreman in the job room, of 'The British Whig', a daily and weekly newspaper owned by E.J.B. Pense. His son George A. was a clerk to John B. McIver, an insurance agent, and his son Edward was a tinsmith working for Charles D. Chown, hardware, stoves and tinware)

William A. Mitchell does not appear in the 1899 Directory, and the 1900 Directory shows that Alexander was the mate in the schooner 'India'. William A. the printer had reappeared and Edward the tinsmith was now working for McKelvey and Birch and was living at 116 Ordnance, while his sister Rose was working from home as a dressmaker. However, George was no longer listed.

The marriage register for Cuyahoga, Ohio, shows that George Arthur Mitchell, stenographer living at 792 Superior Street, married Georgie L. Caton, daughter of Frank Caton and Sarah Featherstone, aged 22 years and living at 1903 Woodland Hills on 26th September 1903.

The 1901 Directory does not mention Rose as she died the previous year, but there is an Emma Mitchell employed as a maid at 23 Earl, and a Miss Frances Mitchell working as a teacher with rooms at 103 Wellington. The following year neither Emma nor Frances are mentioned and Edward the tinsmith had moved to 12 Dufferin, where he was living with his wife, Mabel, having married that same year. By 1905 they had moved to 206 Rideau.

The 1901 census shows a much reduced family with Alexander employed as a mariner, but of Scottish descent again.

One starts to wonder if Alexander Mitchell had a speech impediment as 1911 census for Kingston, Ontario, now gives his surnames as 'Mitches'

Canadian Census 1911, 103 Bagot Street, City of Kingston, Ontario

Emma Lynch, daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth Mitchell, died of strangulation according to the coroner, 4th May 1914. The death certificate gives her age as 32 years which is short by quite a bit and, oddly, her place of birth as Brockville. It is thought that her family had moved to Kingston by 1871, a couple of years before her birth, but she does not appear in the 1881 census. Was she brought up by her aunt and uncle?

The last census entry for Alexander mitchell and his wife is for 1921 in Kingston, Ontario, (page 11)

Alexander Mitchell, 103 Bagot Street, head, 80y born in Scotland of Scottish parents, Presbyterian, can read and write, emigrated 1859.
Elizabeth Mitchell, wife, 81y born in Scotland of Scottish parents, Presbyterian, can read and write, emigrated in 1856.

William Alexander Mitchell died of pneumonia at Kingston General Hospital on 24th May 1926 and seems to have been in hospital for 5 months with kidney failure. The informant on the death certificate was his sister, Mrs Mary E. Hamilton from Watertown, New York, according to whom William was 58 years and 7 months old having been born 26th October 1868.

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(Generation 6) The Children of Alexander Mitchell and Elizabeth Seaton in Kingston, Ontario

¹ buried North Watertown cemetery. Daughter was Daisy J. Hamilton 1891-1977.

² Emma's family, possibly, did not approve of her marriage to Daniel Lynch who was a Catholic and ten years younger than herself. The registration of marriage document shows her age as 21, instead of 31, her place of residence has not been added, the names of parents are incorrect and none of the witnesses belong to her family, which is unusual. She appears to have died by accidental strangulation.

³ a daughter Sarah Elizabeth Mitchell was born Cuyahoga Co., 5th September 1904.

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Edward Mitchell and Mabel Estella Mitchell in Dauphin, Manitoba

On 16th May 1901 Edward Mitchell, 23 year old tinsmith in Kingston, Ontario, married Mabel Estella Mitchell aged 21 years. She was the daughter of William Mitchell and Sarah Buckley.

By 1911 Edward Mitchell and his family had moved to Dauphin, Manitoba.

Canadian Census 1911, 218 5th Avenue, Dauphin, Manitoba

Canadian Census 1921, Dwelling 79 (5th Avenue), Dauphin, Manitoba

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Christian, Elizabeth and Donald Seatons in Bridge of Tilt

Christian Seaton was living at Bridge of Tilt by 1841 and seems to have been letting her spare room. Alexander Warren does not appear to be related to her in any way. The whereabouts of her sister Elizabeth and her brother Donald are unknown.

In the 1851 census it shows that Donald Seaton had joined his sister Christian at Bridge of Tilt.

They were still there at the time of the 1861 census.

Their brother Alexander returned to Blair Atholl from Edinburgh, and died at Bridge of Tilt on 10th April 1863, aged 76 years. His death certificate shows that he was a grocer and a widower, but his wife's name seems to have been unknown to the informant, his younger brother Donald. As with the rest of the family, his parents are clearly given as Alexander Seaton, farmer, and Christian Seaton, both deceased. He died of an ulcerated leg which, as previously mentioned, had been causing him difficulties for several years.

The whereabouts of Elizabeth Seaton is unknown, but by 1871 she had joined Christian and Donald at Bridge of Tilt. The 1871 census describes their house as having two windows.

Elizabeth Seaton, unmarried domestic servant aged 70 years, died at Bridge of Tilt, 13th November 1871. Parents given as Alexander Seaton, farmer, and Christian Seaton, both deceased. The informant was her brother Donald Seaton, who was present.

When Elizabeth died at Bridge of Tilt in 1871, her brother Donald Seaton had an inventory of her personal estate recorded in the Perth Sheriff Court Book. It comprised: £2 3s cash in the house; household furniture, clothes and other effects to the value of £5; £136 deposited in the Commercial Bank of Scotland with interest. In total amounting to £146 8s 6d. Her brother Donald Seaton acted as executor, being her nearest in kin.

Christian Seaton, unmarried seamstress aged 83 years, died at Bridge of Tilt, 14th April 1877. Parents given as Alexander Seaton, day labourer, and Christian Seaton, both deceased. The informant was her brother Donald, who was present.

So the 1881 census shows Donald Seaton living alone at Killanders, Bridge of Tilt.

Donald Seaton, unmarried journeyman mason, died 1st January 1888 at Oakfield, parish of Moulin, aged 84 years. His parents were given as Alexander Seaton, crofter, and Christian Seaton, both deceased. The informant was James Seaton, second cousin, who was not present but was resident in Pitlochry at that time.

When Donald Seaton, sometime residing at Killanders, Bridge of Tilt, died at Oakfield, Pitlochry in 1888, James Seaton, cabinet maker, residing at Queensbury, No. 64 Canongate, Edinburgh, was executor as one of the next of kin. An inventory of the personal estate and debts of Donald Seaton were recorded in the Perth Sheriff Court Book, as follows: Cash in the house, £21 9s 2d; deposited with the Bank of Scotland, £250 with interest thereon of £19 14s 6d; deposited with the Commercial Bank of Scotland, £350 with interest thereon of £2 9s 10d; deposited with the Union Bank of Scotland, £90 with interest thereon of £7 11s 10d. In total amounting to £741 5s 4d.

Donald Seaton's debts were: £33 10s payable to Mrs Isabella Smith for his board and lodging at £50 per annum; £5 payable to Mrs Isabella Smith for attendance during his illness; 7s payable to Dr Hugh MacCallum; £2 16s 6d payable to William McInroy of Lude for arrears of rent; £3 12s 6d payable to Lawrence McLaren for the coffin; £2 11s payable to D. McDiarmid, hotel keeper, for horse hire; 16s payable to D. Fisher, hotel keeper, for funeral carriage; 18s payable to John Scotland, hotel keeper, for freshments at funeral; 7s 6d payable to Henry Fergusson, grocer, for refreshments at funeral; 4s payable to Adam Doggart, stationer, for funeral letters; £1 10s for grave dues and miscellaneous expenses. In total amounting to £51 12s 6d.

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What were the origins of these Seatons?

The earliest record is, as previously mentioned, the marriage of Alexander Seaton and Christian Seaton in 1782, but the OPR is not very informative.

Moulin OPR, 10th June 1782
Alexander Seaton in the parish of Blair Atholl and Christian Seaton in the parish of Moulin were booked in order to marriage (and) were married 25th current.

It is most likely that Christian was the daughter of James Setton and Jean McLagan, born at Loinmarstaig in Glen Girnaig, 16th July 1761. However the identity of Alexander's parents is currently uncertain, but he probably was born around 1750 as men tended to marry in their thirties.

Assuming that he came from the local area of Blair Atholl, Dull, Moulin and Kirkmichael, there are only two baptisms for an Alexander Seaton between 1740 and 1765. One was the son of Duncan Seaton and Christian Stewart, 13th November 1763 in both Blair Atholl and Moulin OPRs. The other was the son of John Seaton and Isobel Stewart, 17th July 1765 in Kirkmichael parish.

The former possibility seems unlikely as Christian Stewart died after the birth of the twins James and Alexander in 1763 and his father then married Christian Forbes. Their first child born in 1771 was baptised as Alexander which suggests that the twin Alexander has died by that time. The latter possibility also appears to be unlikely as the family seems to have moved to Bridgend of Tay (Kinnoul parish) on the opposite side of the river Tay from Perth by 1768 and there is no evidence that they returned to Blair Atholl.

From this we might conclude that Alexander's parents never had him baptised. Perhaps they could not afford the fee for having his name written in the OPR. This was not uncommon and the Blair Atholl Session minutes laments the problems of getting couples to have their children properly baptised and pay their dues. Marriage was a completely different matter. Marriage contracts had to be agreed, banns had to be proclaimed, fees paid to the 'poor of the parish fund' and the details of bride and groom written into the OPR. So, even if there is no record of Alexander's baptism, the marriage of his parents must be in one of the OPRs.

A clue comes from the death certificate of Donald the mason in Killanders, Bridge of Tilt, which gives the informant as James Seaton, second cousin. Initially it had been thought that the informant was James Nairne Seaton who was living in Edinburgh, the son of his older brother Alexander, and the executor of his will. However he was a nephew rather than a second cousin. Secondly there was a James Seaton, cabinet maker, who was gate keeper at Queensbury House of Refuge in Edinburgh, and here there seem to be some odd coincidences. James Nairne was about the same age and was also a cabinet maker. In addition his father William lived at Queensbury House of Refuge for a short period of time. However, although this James Seaton did have family links to Blair Atholl through his father, he was born at Bridge of Earn, in Dunbarney parish just south of Perth, and was not the informant.

The actual informant would appear to be James Seaton, a journeyman mason, who was living at 1 Oakfield in 1891, and Donald the mason in Killanders died at Oakfield in 1888. James Seaton, the informant, was the son of John Seaton, labourer at Lude garden and Isabella Robertson. So either of these two could have been the first cousin of Donald the mason in Killanders, but now it becomes messy.

The parents of Donald the mason in Killanders were both Seatons, so the relationship could have been though either his father or his mother. The parents of John Seaton, labourer at Lude garden, were John Seaton and Elspeth McCraw in Ardtulichan, while the parents of his wife Isobel Robertson were John Robertson in Fonvuick and his wife Elizabeth Seaton who had lived at Balnald of Fincastle before she married. So, if the 'second cousin' clue is true, one of the following must be correct:

a) Alexander Seaton was the brother of John Seaton in Ardtulichan, or
b) Alexander Seaton was the brother of Elizabeth Seaton in Balnald of Fincastle, or
c) Christian Seaton was the sister of John Seaton in Ardtulichan, or
d) Christian Seaton was the sister of Elizabeth Seaton in Balnald of Fincastle.

It is thought that Christian Seaton was the daughter of James Seaton and Jean McLagan in Loinmarstaig, Glen Girnaig (It is worth noting that the OPR entry for Christian gives her mother as Christian McLagan in error). If this is correct, then possibilities 'c' and 'd' can be discounted as: Christian's brother John married Isobel McBeath, 22nd February 1805 and emigrated to Ekfrid, Ontario; while Christian's sister Elizabeth married Thomas Ferguson, 17th December 1808, and went to live at Ashmore, Blairgowrie.

Elizabeth (Elspet) Seaton, the wife of John Robertson in Fonvuick, probably was the daughter of John Seaton and Isobel Stewart in Wester Balrobie. Her parents married 17th February 1774 and Elspet was born 11th December 1774, making it impossible for Alexander Seaton to be her brother as he married Christian in 1782. So possibility 'b' can be eliminated, leaving only possibility 'a'.

John Seaton in Ardtulichan married Elspeth McCraw in Spardon, Moulin parish, 13th December 1785. Unfortunately the name of John's father is unknown so, even if this is Alexander's brother, it takes us no further back. The James Seaton in Ardtulichan who had an illegitimate child by Betty McFarlane, 23rd October 1786, may have been a younger brother.

The eldest son of John Seaton and Elspeth McCraw was christened Duncan, while the second daughter was named Christian. This strongly suggests that John's parents were Duncan Seaton and Christian Stewart (his first wife) in Coille Bhrochain. Duncan was married three times and had eleven children, including the James Seaton previously mentioned, and John may have been born around 1753 but not formally baptised. However this does not help the case for saying that Alexander was his brother for the following reasons: The previously mentioned James had a twin brother called Alexander who probably died as Duncan Seaton and his second wife, Christian Forbes named their first child alexander in November 1771.

Thus it would seem that none of the possible explanations for the 'second cousin' stand up to scrutiny. Of course it is possible that when James Seaton claimed that he was a second cousin of Donald Seaton the mason in Killanders, he merely meant that they were related, but not closely related.