Ann and Martha Glass
daughters of Donald Glass and Helen Ogilvie
It has been generally accepted amongst GLASS researchers that ANN GLASS who married JOHN CATANACH and MARTHA GLASS who married JOHN BOWMAN in Glenmuick were the daughters of DONALD GLASS and HELEN OGILVIE residing at Auchabrack in the Parish of Birse.
However when one compares the Lists of Inhabitants drawn up by the Minister of Birse, Rev Joseph Smith during 1789 - 1825 and the Parish Registers for Birse with the Parish Registers for Glenmuick compiled at the same time, it would appear that this may not be the case.
Below is a table with a timeline of events recorded in the parish registers of both parishes compared with the lists of inhabitants for the appropriate years.
The following idiosyncrasies occur:
ANN GLASS is given as the sister of Charles and servant at Auchabrack in January 1801. This cannot be the same Ann Glass who is having a son Duncan christened in Glenbardy (Glenmuick) March 1801.
MARTHA GLASS is given on the 1801 and 1804 with her illegitimate son Alexander Sievewright. This cannot be the same Martha Glass who is married to John Bowman in 1798 and having children in Glenmuick.
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Date |
Lists of Inhabitants [1] Finzean Park / East Park (name for Auchabrack) |
Birse Parish Registers[2] |
Glenmuick Parish Registers [3] |
Miscellaneous Information |
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1789 |
Donald Glass (RC) Helen Ogilvie (RC) Charles, Ann, Martha, John, Jas (poor boy) |
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1790-1791 |
Don Glass (RC) Helen Ogilvie (RC) Charles, Ann, John, James (lame) |
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1791-1792 |
Don Glass (7)[4] married RC Helen Ogivlie (6) married RC Charles (3), Ann (3), John (3), James (2) Martha (2) |
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1794-1794 |
Charles and Ann Glass (with the family of Shaw Catanach)
Donald Glass Helen Ogilvie James and John. |
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1797– 1798 |
Charles Glass Jean Gordon John Glass Ann Glass James Glass Helen Ogilvie (RC) |
1798 Nov 11: Contracted Charles Glass in this parish and Jean Gordon in parish of Crathie, and after regular proclamations and no objections made married 19th December.
Nov 11 1798: John Sivewright in Cuttieshillock a natural son Alexander. Witnesses the congregation.
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July 22 1798: John Bowman in the Parish of Glengairn and Martha Glass in Crathie Parish were matrimonially contracted.
May 8 1799: John Bowman and Martha Glass in Strathgirnac a son – George
Dec 16 1799: John Catanach in Glengairn parish and Ann Glass in Glenmuick parish were matrimonially contracted and signed pledges with James Catanach.
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Donald Glass died 5 Mar 1797 |
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Jan 1801 |
(given as two family groups) Cha Glass Jean Gordon Ann Glass (u/7) Ann Glass (servant – sister)
Helen Ogilvie RC John Glass (a word that looks like “raro” ?) Jas Glass Martha Glass – her child Alexander Sievewright (u/7 – b-d) |
1800 Jan 8: Charles Glass in the Forest of Birse had a daughter baptised named Ann. Witnesses the congregation.
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March 16 1801: John Catanach and Ann Glass Glenbardy a son Duncan
1803 January 31 - John Catanach and Ann Glass Glengardie - Alexander |
Helen Ogilvie died 12 Mar 1801
John Bowman’s 1855 death certificate gives children as: 1) George (deceased) 2) May age 53 3) Mary (g) 51 4) John 47 5) Elspet (deceased)
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29th April 1804 |
Cha Glass Jean Gordon Ann (y/7) Charlotte (u/7) Jean (u/7) Glasses Ann Glass Senr Elspet Glass Martha Glass Alexander Sievewright (u/7) |
1802 July 25: Charles Glass in the Forest had a daughter baptised named Charlotte. Witnesses the congregation.
1804 August 11: Charles Glass Forest had a daughter baptised named Jean. Witnesses John Coutts and wife
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Nov 3 1804: John Catanach and Ann Glass in Glenbardy a son named Charles
1806 July 28: John Catanach and Ann Glass in Glenbardy of Glengairn had a lawful daughter born on the 25th and to be baptised on the 20th Curt and named Ann |
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20th May 1808 |
Cha Glass ) Jean Gordon ) Ann, Charlotte (u/7), Jean (u/7), John (u/7) Glass Isabel Gordon Alexr Sievewright |
1806 August 24: Charles Glass in Auchabrack had a son baptised named John. Witnesses the congregation.
1808 July 17: Charles Glass in Forest of Birse had a son baptised named James. Witnesses the congregation.
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(RC registers for Braemar & Glengairn) 30 October 1808: Cattanach, John and Glass, Ann, Glenbardy, Par. Glengairn, a son, James, born 26th curt. Sponsors: William Grant, Torran, Par. Glengairn, Margaret Fleming in Castletown, Par. Glengairn. |
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[1] Primary source – written by the minister Rev Joseph Smith at the time of his incumbency in the Parish of Birse (1789 – 1825)
[2] Primary source – Birse Parish Register
[3] Primary source – Glenmuick Parish Register
[4] 1792 List of Inhabitants used as the basis for the 1792 Statistical Account for the Parish of Birse, Aberdeenshire. This is the only list with ages attached. These are in decades i.e. 7 means aged between 60 – 70.
The name MARTHA GLASS occurs one more time:
Samuel Gordon died in the Poor House in Aberdeen on the 17th April 1864 aged 78 years. His parents are given as Alexander Gordon, meal miller (deceased) and Martha Gordon m.s. Glass (deceased). The informant on his death certificate was his niece Helen McPherson residing at 19 Gordon Street, Aberdeen.
Helen McPherson (the informant on the above certificate) was still resident at 19 Gordon Street Aberdeen when she died on 5th April 1876. She was the spouse of James McPherson, retired wood sawyer and the daughter of James Blair, Sheriff Officer and crofter at Abergeldie and Bell Blair m.s. Gordon (both deceased).
Bell (or Isabel) Gordon and Samuel Gordon are brother and sister. Their parents, according to the death certificate of Samuel are Alexander Gordon a meal miller and Martha Glass. Since the census information indicates that Helen McPherson was born in Crathie (or Abergeldie) one must assume that Samuel was from that area. To date, census information on him has not been located that would confirm this statement.
There is no parish register entry for Samuel (born c1786) or an Isabel being born or christened to an Alexander Gordon in this area.
There is a parish register entry for Glenmuick that reads:
1786 August 18 Francis Gordon Milnachosh – Samuel
The date of the above christening matches with the death certificate; Mill O’Chosh is in Glenmuick, is a meal mill and a residence of the Gordon family during this timeframe.
There is a Francis Gordon who married Margaret Glass in Glenmuick in 1788.
The Glass / Gordon connections covers at least 8 different family groups. Over time I hope to have them all online. If you recognise anyone, or connect into any of the families, or have any thoughts on the above I would love to hear from you!