Alexander Forbes Blackhall was "born and baptized" in Goryhill, Aberdeenshire, Scotland on 28 Nov 1847, as recorded in the Towie Parish register, Church of Scotland.[1][2] Alexander's middle name, 'Forbes', was the same as his mother's maiden name.
Family
Alexander, age three, was the oldest son in the household of his parents, Peter Blackhall and Elizabeth Forbes in the 1851 census in Alford, Aberdeenshire. Alexander's father was 45 years of age, a farmer of 140 acres employing four laborers. [3][4] In the 1861 census Alexander (age 12) was still living with his parents, in Towie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. His father was a farmer of 93 acres employing 3 laborers.[5] By the 1871 census, Alexander was 23 years old, living at his parents' home in Towie, Aberdeenshire with an occupation of "farmers son". His father was a farmer of 130 acres.[6][7]
In 1881, Alexander retains the occupation title of "farmer's son", and he relocates with his wife to Old Morlich Cottage, Towie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. They now have a son and daughter of their namesakes, Alexander age two, and Margaret age less than one.[10][11] Ten years later, Alexander is located at this same place with a wife and eight children total.[12][13]
A valuation record for 1895 shows Alexander Forbes Blackhall as a tenant of the Millhead farm and home, indicating the family moved to Millhead, parish of Tarland, Aberdeenshire, Scotland sometime after the 1891 census.[14]
Death and Legacy
Alexander F Blackhall died at age 65 in 1913, likely due to complications from his injury using farm equipment at Millhead, Tarland, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. His forearm was amputated and he died at an Aberdeen infirmary.[15] There was an official inquiry into his accidental death[16] and a newspaper report of the inquiry's findings.[17]
Alexander made a will dated 3 Feb 1903 after he moved to Millhead, Tarland. Alexander left everything to his wife, Margaret (Sharp) Blackhall . After Margaret's death the estate is to be divided equally among all of his children. [18] An inventory was filed and signed by Alexander's wife Margaret.[19]
Research Notes
1. The birth/baptism record at Towie Parish records the birth at 'Garryhill' or 'Gorryhill'; it is indexed as 'Garryhill' however, the map spelling of "Goryhill" is a close distance to Towie.
2. Many of the census records incorrectly record Alexander's birth year as 1848.
Sources
↑ “Scotland Church Registers of Births and Baptisms from 1553.” Church of Scotland, (Old Parish registers, Parish No. 245, Ref. 20/43, Towie). National Records of Scotland. Accessed July 31, 2021. https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/advanced-search#.
↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYFV-YX1 : 10 February 2018), Alexander Forbes Blackhall, 28 Nov 1847; citing TOWIE,ABERDEEN,SCOTLAND, reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 993,302.
↑ "Scotland Census, 1851," database, (FamilySearch Record: VYTZ-2CT : accessed 29 May 2023), Alexr F Blackhall (3) in Alford, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Born in Aberdeenshire; citing p. 1, PRO HO 107, The National Archives UK, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 1,042,123.
Peter Blackhall M 45 Farmer of 140 Acres Employing 4 Lab Aberdeenshire
Elizabeth Blackhall F 25 Aberdeenshire
Hellen Blackhall F 7 Scholar Aberdeenshire
Margaret Blackhall F 6 Scholar Aberdeenshire
Alexr F Blackhall M 3 Aberdeenshire
Elizabeth Blackhall F 1 Aberdeenshire
Alexr Spence M 22 Farm Labourer Aberdeenshire
James Farquharson M 18 Farm Labourer Aberdeenshire
Joseph Contie M 16 Farm Labourer Aberdeenshire
Sophia Mackie F 21 House Servant Aberdeenshire
↑ "Scotland Census, 1861," database, (FamilySearch Record: VB7K-TM7 : accessed 29 May 2023), Alexander F Blackhall (12) son, Scholar, in household of Peter Blackhall (55) in Towie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Born in Aberdeenshire; citing p. 8, PRO RG 9, The National Archives UK, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 103,785.
Peter Blackhall Head M 55 Farmer of 93 Acres Employing 3 Labourers Aberdeenshire
Elizabeth Blackhall Wife F 36 Aberdeenshire
Elizabeth Forbes Mother-in-law F 77 Aberdeenshire
Helen Blackhall Daughter F 17 Aberdeenshire
Margaret Blackhall Daughter F 16 Aberdeenshire
Alexander F Blackhall Son M 12 Scholar Aberdeenshire
Elisabeth Blackhall Daughter F 11 Scholar Aberdeenshire
John Blackhall Son M 9 Scholar Aberdeenshire
Mary Blackhall Daughter F 7 Scholar Aberdeenshire
Peter Blackhall Son M 4 Aberdeenshire
Catherine Blackhall Daughter F 2 Aberdeenshire
Charles F Blackhall Son M 0 Aberdeenshire
John Ingram Servant M 25 Ploughman Aberdeenshire
James Mcpherson Servant M 23 Ploughman Aberdeenshire
James Hosie Servant M 16 Ag Lab Aberdeenshire
↑ "Scotland Census, 1871," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 29 May 2023), Alexander Blackhall in Towie registration district in Aberdeenshire, Scotland; citing Ref 245/ 4/ 10.
↑ "Scotland Census, 1871," database, (FamilySearch Record: VBLL-KW5 : accessed 29 May 2023), Margaret Blackhall (26) daughter, Farmers Daughter, in household of Peter Blackhall (66) in Towie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Born in Aberdeenshire; citing p. 10, PRO T 1, The National Archives UK, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 103,937.
Peter Blackhall Head M 66 Farmer( of 130 Acres of Which 115 Arable) Aberdeenshire
Bettie Blackhall Wife F 46 Farmers Wife Aberdeenshire
Margaret Blackhall Daughter F 26 Farmers Daughter Aberdeenshire
Alexander Blackhall Son M 23 Farmers Son Aberdeenshire
Bettie Blackhall Daughter F 21 Farmers Daughter Aberdeenshire
John Blackhall Son M 19 Farmers Son Aberdeenshire
Mary Blackhall Daughter F 17 Farmers Daughter Aberdeenshire
Peter Blackhall Son M 14 Farmers Son Aberdeenshire
Charles F Blackhall Son M 10 Scholar Aberdeenshire
James G Blackhall Son M 7 Scholar Aberdeenshire
Peter Mcdonald Grand son M 4 Aberdeenshire
↑ “Scotland, Modern And Civil Births 1855-2019”, National Records of Scotland, Ref 177/3, Cabrach, 1878, Spouse Margaret Sharp, (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk) viewed 7 Aug 2021.
↑ "Statutory Register of Marriages," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 29 May 2023), Alexander Blackhall marriage to Margaret Sharp registered 1878 in Cabrach; citing Ref 177/3.
↑ "Scotland Census, 1881," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 29 May 2023), Alexr Blackhall in Towie registration district in Aberdeenshire, Scotland; citing Ref 245/ 3/ 4.
↑ "1881 Scotland Census," database, (Ancestry Record 1119 #2411778 : accessed 29 May 2023), Alexr Blackhall (32), Farmers Son, head of household in Old Morlich Cottage in Towie registration district. Born in Abdn Shire, Towie; citing Parish Towie, ED 3, Page 4, Line 21, Roll cssct1881_70, Registration Number 245, Household schedule number 17.
Alexr Blackhall Head M 32 Farmers Son Abdn Shire, Towie
Mgt Blackhall Wife F 22 Cabrach
Alexr Blackhall Son M 2 Towie
Mgt Blackhall Daughter F 8 Mo Abdn Shire, Towie
↑ "Scotland Census, 1891," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 29 May 2023), Alexander F Blackhall in Towie registration district in Aberdeenshire, Scotland; citing Ref 245/ 3/ 6.
↑ "Scotland Census, 1891," database, (FamilySearch Record: KSDL-W8R : accessed 29 May 2023), Alexander F Blackhall (43), married, Ag Lab, head of household in Towie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. Born in Aberdenshire.
Alexander F Blackhall Head Married M 43 Ag Lab Aberdenshire
Alexander Blackhall Son M 12 Scholar Aberdenshire
Mary A B Blackhall Daughter F 9 Scholar Aberdenshire
Jessie J Blackhall Daughter F 4 Aberdenshire
Margaret Blackhall Wife Married F 32 Aberdenshire
Margaret Blackhall Daughter F 10 Scholar Aberdenshire
Catherine B Blackhall Daughter F 7 Scholar Aberdenshire
Peter C F Blackhall Son M 5 Scholar Aberdenshire
Agnes J Blackhall Daughter F 1 Aberdenshire
Lizzie McR Blackhall Daughter F 0 Aberdenshire
Ann Gibbon Servant Single F 15 Gen Serv (Dom) Aberdenshire
↑ Aberdeen County Valuation Rolls (Parish of Tarland, VR008700089-/351, Page 351 of 811) National Records of Scotland (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/) accessed 07 Aug 2021.
↑ Blackhall, Alexander Forbes (Statutory registers Deaths 168/1 528) National Records of Scotland. (http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk) District of St Nicholas, Burgh of Aberdeen, 1913, p176. Image viewed 31 Jul 2021.
↑ Blackhall, Alexander Forbe 1913 (Statutory registers Corrected Entries 168/01/02425) (RCE) National Records of Scotland . (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk) image viewed 7 Aug 2021.
↑ Blackhall, Alexander Forbes 1913 (Wills and testaments Reference SC1/37/134. Aberdeen Sheriff Court Wills) Image 690 of 691. National Records of Scotland. (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/) Image viewed 07 Aug 2021.
↑ Blackhall, Alexander Forbes 1913 (Wills and testaments Reference SC1/36/168. Aberdeen Sheriff Court Inventories) Image 491 of 495. National Records of Scotland. (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk) image viewed 7 Aug 2021.
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