Birse Folk

Welcome to Birse Folk ...................

Photographer: Stan Howe, Torphins

Branches from the various families of Birse have spread themselves far and wide to other places, other lives and other times. If you are reading this, then chances are your family, like mine, will be a branch of one of those families.

The Parish of Birse lies along the southern border of the County of Aberdeenshire. Birse shares its border with the parishes of Aboyne, Kincardine O’Neil, Banchory Ternan and Strachan. If you read the various Statistical Accounts available you are able to get an idea of its size, the waters that criss-cross its area (including the Feugh and the River Dee) its flora and fauna and perhaps even knowledge of its people.

I thought I “knew” Birse from my research but, until my first visit in 1999, I had no idea of just how beautiful Birse was and still is. I share with you now a little of my Impressions of Birse, hopefully in some small way, you will see it through my eyes and perhaps gain a feel for the place our folk left behind.

A little housekeeping ….

Please remember that any transcriptions which appear on this website are my interpretation only of the original document or film. Some documents, dates, places and names are extremely hard to read. If in doubt, always consult the original source. If there is no source given, then it is purely my speculation and caution should be exercised before adopting my thought as your family.

As you can see, the site has now taken on a new and improved look. I plan to keep adding and updating information so please check “What’s New” regularly. Hopefully you will find something new which will help to further your research into your ancestral roots.

If you don’t see it then please feel free to email me. I will be only too happy to help if I can.

Sharon

Created January 2002

What you will find ....

Impressions: My thoughts on my first journey to see Finzean, Birse, the birthplace of my mother.

This is taken from an article which appeared in the “Leopard” magazine dated April 2000. The article was entitled “Quest for Roots – To walk where they once walked …”

People: Lots of my research contains “bits and bobs”, little pieces of research I have done on different families. This is all contained in the alphabetical index and will be a bit of a lucky dip as to what you get. I intend to keep updating this index so check the “What’s New” to see who has been added.

There is also a section of one name studies for the parish. This will be updated and added to as new information comes to hand. New names will be added over time.

Birse Kirkyard: Contains some inscriptions of gravestones at Birse plus pictures of the Kirk.

Census: 1841 census for Birse and Strachan

Vital Records: some parish register, birth, death and marriage certificate transcriptions.

Places: Photos of various places in Birse.

My Ain Folk: A little about my family names, Emslie, Glass, Gordon and Coutts (a work in progress!)

Miscellaneous: Valuation Rolls 1865 & 1905, some Kirk Session minutes, names on Fencibles List 1797, other stuff .....

Links: various websites that will aid in your research.

Brick Walls: Who is stopping your research further back? You can advertise here ….

What’s New: so that you don’t have to hunt all over the place, I will keep you updated here. Interested in finding Thomas Coutts in Wester Clune - my thoughts are in the " People - Families in Birse" Section!