Footdee Ancestors

	If you can help or have any questions or comments regarding the entries here, you can contact me and I will forward your email to the contributor. From S.Hart re: Footdee Memories My mum was a Guyan and when I was a child I spent many a happy day in Footdee with my grandma Guyan at her house 2 Pilot Square, next to her house was the house of my great grand mother Margaret Robertson or as she was called, Muggie Doll, the people of Fittie had a habit of giving each other nick names due to the fact that you have mentioned of their being so many people with the same name. They would either have a nick name or the Fittie people had a habit of recognizing who a man was by the name of the woman he was married to. They would say of he's Mary Brown husband. Back then the area around Fittie was surrounded by block houses because it was the war and there was a hugh concrete block house at the entrance to the squares again to block some invasion from the sea. My Auntie Annie, Mrs Jenkins lived at 5 North Square. It was a but and a ben house and during the war a family actually lived in one room and she lived in the other. Right across from my Auntie Annie's house was the house of Jeannie Maurice, I believe her husband had a fish business and they could have lived anywhere but she wanted to stay in Fittie. Lady up the street from my Auntie Annies house used to make nets in her front room and I can remember going to her house and sitting filling up the big wooden needles for her to use. There used to be a huge life boat shed but I guess when the piloting got formalized they didnt need it any more. Many a time when I was staying with my Grandmother I would go to the schoolie with her. She was very strict in her religion she would not cook anything or read a paper or listen to the radio on the Sabbeth. The day was only for religion. I didnt get an opportunity when last there to check the schoolie out to see if my Grandma Guyan's organ is still there. My Auntie Elsie Ives when she left Aberdeen donated Grandma's organ to them. At one time in Fittie there used to be a shop and I can remember going there to buy sweeties. I was disappointed the last time I was in Aberdeen to find that one no longer can get to the end of the pier. That was one of the things I enjoyed when I was little, going to the point of the pier and	If you can help or have any questions or comments regarding the entries here, you can contact me and I will forward your email to the contributor. From S.Hart talking to the men who were fishing and hearing the harbor pilots asking incoming boats where you from and asking the outgoing where you bound. My father's name is on the war memorial for the Fittie men who died in the war. I still laugh remembering the tale of the Fittie man who supposedly got so worked up at a revival meeting at the Schoolie that he thought he could walk acroos the water to Torry, they called him Moses after that. I read some where that when the Fittie men went to court instead of the usual swearing on the bible to tell the truth they had to come up with a different oath, and what they came up with was if they didnt tell the truth may their boat sink. My sister and I are lucky to be alive as we were on the beach one time when a German plane that had been bombing Hall Russels decided to come and machine gun all the people that were out in the open and its only because a man running to the shelter picked us up and carried us there that we are alive today. I was back to Footdee a couple of years ago and I found the change in attitude to Footdee to be quite remarkable. At the time my mother was growing up in Footdee. the people who lived there were looked down at by the uptown people. I never could understand this as the people who lived in Footdee without exception owned their own houses, they were the original double dippers as they both fished and were the original harbor pilots. When I went back recently talk about a sea change Footdee has become a very desirable place to live if you google it you will get a fantastic view of Fittie. It was not too long ago when the North Sea oil got going that the City of Aberdeen in its desire to placate the oil industry did away with a lot of old buildings near the harbor and it was only because Fittie got designated as a National treasure and could not therefore be changed or altered, that it is still there today.

	From Andy Mowatt re: Charles Smith Hadden I have been researching, on and off, for some time on my Mowatt and Hadden family ancestors and became quite curious why my great uncle, Charles Smith Hadden's name should appear on the War Memorial in Footdee? I knew my grandmother, Margaret Smith Hadden was born in Aberdeen (52 York Street) and her mother's name was Harriet Smith. However, I have just recently discovered that Harriet Smith was born in4 South Square, Footdee. Her parents, Andrew Smith, whitefisher, (living in 4 South Square) married his second cousin, Jessie (Janet) Smith, (living in 13 South Square) on 28 September 1861 in Footdee. His parents were Andrew Smith whitefisher and Harriet Robertson and Jessie's parents were William Smith, harbour pilot and Margaret Smith. So now I know why Charles Hadden is mentioned on the memorial - Footdee was his mother's home village.	Aberdeen Harbour c.1870

Below are some accounts from local press of Footdee folk who lost their lives at sea. It would seem that the interaction of the tide, current and wind with the bar when approaching the harbour mouth could be a major hazard for the small fishing boats and it claimed many lives. The effect of such losses in such a small community can only be guessed at.
	Newspaper cutting from the Aberdeen Herald 1851 see transcription below MELANCHOLY OCCURENCE FIVE LIVES LOST A distressing accident occured at the mouth of the harbour of Aberdeen on Friday, by which five individuals, all hardy, able-bodied men, were suddenly and unexpectedly launched into eternity, within cry of their own homes, and but a minute or two after having left them, hearty and vigorous, to prosecute their ardous calling. Along with five or six others, the boat to which the accident happened left the harbour yesterday morning about six o'clock, to proceed to the white fishing. The tide was nearly at its lowest, and the swell was, of course, greater than at high water. In addition to this, it is characteristic of our bar, and we presume more or less of all bars, that especially when the wind is from certain points, the swell comes only occasionally, and in runs; the sea remains generally quite smooth, but at intervals a lump of water rolls in, and for two or three minutes the swell continues pretty severe. It is customary with the fishers and pilots to watch for the cesationof this extra swell before pulling across the bar, and to neglect of this precaution there can be little doubt the catastrophe we have to record is to be attributed. The boat in which the deceased were pulled six oars, and in approaching the bar it was preceded by another boat a short distance a-head, a third following pretty close astern. The boat in advance crossed the bar quite safely, and this circumstance seems to have thrown the deceased off their guard, for they pulled onto the bar where a strong, though teporary, swell was running. The consquence was that a sea struck and partially filled their boat, driving them back on the other boat, which was slightly stove, and lost three oars, and before her head could be got round to the sea a second wave struck and capsized her. She soon righted but all the men had been thrown out of her into the tide, except the oldest - William Smith - who is sixty eight years of age. The strong sturdy fellows struggled convulsively in the water, and uttered the most piteous exclamations, crying so loud that some of their voices were even recognised at Torry village; one of them, Alexander Baxter, whose father was also in the boat, and drowned with him, was heard to exclaim in a doleful tone - "Oh, father! father!" One by one, however, their voiced ceased as their clothes became saturated, and they sank into their untimely grave. The second boat being disabled, chiefly by loss of oars, could render no assistance, and made the best of its way back, but the boat which had been in advance returned, picked, the survivor, Smith, off the boat, which was drifting rapidly seaward, and took him round to the Bay of Nigg, whence he was assisted over the hill to the ferry boat at Torry. As intelligence of the disaster reached Footdee fearful excitment was created, and as there are in all about fifteen boats engaged in white fishing at present, the relatives of the whole were in a state of heart rending anxiety, till it was ascertained to which crew the catastrophe had occured. The names of the deceased are as follows:- James Baxter, married, forty five years of age; John Main, married, fifty years of age; Alexander Main, married, twenty-six years of age; Alexander Baxter, unmarried, twenty-one years of age; and John Watson, unmarried, twenty years of age. Alexander Main has left one child, and the families of John Main and James Baxter are grown up. The boat was, after the accident, allowed to drift away to sea, as the superstitions of the fisherman prevent them from using her again; had she been built the day before, and cost half a fortune, the same fate would have awaited her, although it is fully admitted that the cause of the accident was altogether apart from anything connected the the boat itself, We need not say that no blame can attach to any one in connection with this melancholy event. - *Aberdeen Herald*	Newspaper cutting from the Aberdeen Herald 1860
		Transcription from the Aberdeen Journal 1848 Melancholy Accident AND LOSS OF LIFE On Monday morning about 2 o'clock, eighteen went to the fishing at Footdee but on returning to the harbour at about nine, it was found that there was a good deal of sea on the bar, with an outgoing tide, and a heavy ground swell. As is usual when danger is apprehended, the first boat that crosses the bar bar lies in smooth water until the second is also in safety; the first then proceeds to the shore, while the other takes her place. In this way all the boats except two got well over the bar, but as the 'George' was crossing steered by George Brands, a heavy sea broke astern, and turned her downend foremost, when she instantly capsized, and all the crew, six in number, were thrown into the water. George Brands and Alex Gavin Jnr got hold of the boat as she righted, but the other four were lost among the breakers, and perished. The above mentioned two managed to cling to the upset boat and were drifted out to sea, where they were speedily rescued by another of the boats and landed at the Cove. The names of the four drowned are Andrew Brand, William Forbes, George Gavin and Alex Gavin, the ages of the three former averaging about 70. The melancholy accident has occassioned deep sorrow among the relatives and friends of Footdee and should be a warning to the fisherman not to dispose their crews so that too many old men should be in one boat.

	Newspaper cutting from the Aberdeen Herald 1888	Newspaper cutting from the Aberdeen Herald 18??

	From Grant Sparks re: John Caie Baxter My mother Evelyn Baxter was born in East End Villa, opposite the round house. My Grandfather John Caie Baxter was born in 14 Pilot Square, 1907. He ended up as a Police Chief Superintendent in the Metropolitan Police in London. All of his forebears (Baxter and Caie) emanated from Footdee, having resided in 1 Middle Row, 10 North Square, 16 South Square, 18 North Square, 19 North Square, 2 North Square, 21 North and South Square, 24 South Square, 30 South Square, 33 South Square, 4 North Square, 5 Middle Row, 9 Pilot Square. Also a few New Pier Road properties. Interestingly I have found that my 3rd Great Grandfather George Baxter was residing in a cottage between North and South Squares in 1891.

	From Cameron Munroe re: Andrew Baxter ...our trees meet at Alexander Baxter born around 1695 married to Isobel Smith. Possibly they meet elsewhere down the line as there did seem to be some intermarriage. My great grandfather Andrew Baxter of Footdee was the first skipper of the Star of Scotland 1946 the first diesel trawler in Scotland. He got ill and my grandfather Andrew Baxter became the skipper. The research i have done so far suggests the family were master/skippers of boats out of Aberdeen way back into the 19th century. They lived in North and South square until the 1920s when they moved to suburban Aberdeen. My grandfather Andrew Baxter skippered trawlers mainly for the Walker Steamship Co until the 1970s. He then skippered Oil supply vessels until the early 1980s when he retired.	From Erica Carrick Utsi re: John Thom, Tough Can you point me in the right direction to find one John Thom who is listed in his marriage record as “John Thom Sailor in Footdee”? I'm not sure if the lady he married was resident in Footdee also or not although the wording suggests she might be, and Isobel Tough there Daughter of the deceased Moses Tough late Painter in Old Machar”. I can't see that they are l/term residents in Footdee. John's parents, William Thom (a ropemaker) & Barbara Shirriff, appear to be resident in Aberdeen itself. John & Isobel marry in the Chapel of Ease in Belmont Street in 1819. Some years later they can be found near where the gasworks used to be, in a tenement from the numbers listed in the census at the same address (Catto Sq), Garvock's Wynd). By 1827 John is listed as a shipmaster in the Aberdeen trades directory, living at 9 Summer St and he eventually retires to the Old Post Office Ruthrieston.

	Newspaper cutting from the Aberdeen Herald 1916 "Three Footdee men have achieved a remarkable record in Sunday school work. The other evening they were presented with diplomas from the Scottish National Sunday School Union, Glasgow, in recognition of their services at Footdee Mission School. Mr Andrew Baxter, who is 73 years of age, has been a teacher and superintendent in the school for 51 years; Mr Alexander Morrice, 85 years of age, has a fifty years record as a teacher, and Mr William Baxter, aged 70, has seen forty years service in the Sunday school. The combined ages of the three amount to 228 years."