John Wilson (Macdonald) McHattie (1858 - 1923)

Born 13 Dec 1858 in Croy, Inverness-shire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Jane Cunningham — married 18 Nov 1885 in Edinkillie, Elginshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Died 29 Apr 1923 at age 64 in Newington, Edinburghshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Biography

John (Macdonald) McHattie was born in Scotland.

Early Life

John Wilson McHattie was born on 13th Dec 1858 in Croy, Inverness-shire, Scotland^[1], the illegitimate son of Anne (MacDonald) Walker. He was baptized on 28th Dec 1858 at Forres Episcopal Church, Forres, Elginshire, Scotland^[2]. The transcription of the baptismal entry in the register names John McHattie ^[3], a blacksmith from Dyke and Ann McDonald (sic) from Cawdor as the persons presenting the infant, now named John McHattie, for baptism. Anne Macdonald was conjectured to be aged 13 years at the time of John's birth, John was aged 25 years. It is conjectured that John McHattie was the biological father, although this is uncertain.

John McHattie (the father) married Jane McLean on 23 Dec 1859^[4] in the district of Forres, Elginshire according to the forms of the Established Church (of Scotland). Both are recorded as unmarried. John, a blacksmith, was aged 26 years, and Jane was 22 years. Their respective residences were Logie Buchany in the parish of Dyke, and the Ross Buildings in Forres. His father is recorded as Alex McHattie, a blacksmith, deceased, and his mother Isabelle (Maiden name) Anderson. Her father is recorded as John McLean, pensioner and farmer (deceased) and mother Jane (Maiden name) McKenzie.

It is not known for how long he remained with his mother, but in the 1861 Census he is enumerated as a son of John McHattie, aged 2 years, living in the household of which John McHattie was the head, along with his stepmother Jane McLean, and his younger half-sister Jane McHattie aged 1 year^[5] in Dyke, Elginshire, Scotland. Another half sibling, Alexander McHattie was born in 1862. It is presume John was separated from his mother and brought up by his father perhaps from 1859.

The blended family did not remain together for John's childhood. John's father, John McHattie died in 1864^[6] when John would have been about 6 yrs old. His step-mother, Jane McLean, then married Donald McPherson in 1865^[7] but John did not remain with her, instead being sent to live with his McHattie relatives who were the blacksmiths for the Darnaway Castle estate at Dyke, Elginshire, Scotland^[8].

Occupation

As a 12 yr old, John is recorded as a farm servant in the 1871 census^[9]. In his early teenage years he worked at Mackintosh of Mackintosh at Moy Hall in the gardens^[8]. It would appear that he did well at this because he is recorded as “Foreman Gardener” at Altyre House, Rafford in the 1881 census^[10] having several men working under him, some being older than his 22 years.

By 1885 John had moved south to Dalkeith, Edinburghshire, where he was the head gardener for the Marquis of Lothian at Newbattle Abbey^[8]. While there, he won the prize for the “Finest Flavoured Bunch of White Grapes” at the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Show at Waverley Market^[8]. He continued to win many prizes for his produce, most notably chrysanthemums, in the latter half of the 1880s^[8].

In 1901 John became the Superintendant of Edinburgh Parks and Gardens, beating 137 applicants for the job^[8], which was a fine accomplishment for the relatively young age of 42 yrs old. During his tenure he achieved many accomplishments and was highly regarded. In 1903, along with James Ritchie (clock-maker), he created the first floral clock planted in Princes Street gardens. At the 1910 opening of Saughton Park, Edinburgh, the convenor of the parks committee paid tribute to him ^[11]for his work.

His gardening did not just extend to flowers and grapes. During the war, John put a large portion of the golf course at Braid Hills at its eastern end under crops to aid in the war effort^[8].

Family

While living and working at Newbattle Abbey, John returned to Darnaway Castle estate at Dyke, Elginshire in Nov 1885, to marry Mary Jane Cunningham, the daughter of the head gardener there. They married in Edinkillie in Forres^[12]. Following the marriage, Mary moved to Dalkieth to be with her husband and they remained there through 1891^[13]. They had two children while living in Dalkeith but both children died young.

1. Sophia McHattie (1886 - 1887)^[14] was born in 1886 but died in infancy^[15].
2. John McHattie (1888 - 1907)^[16] was born in 1888 and lived to 18 years of age^[17].

Sometime after 1891 but before the census of 1901, the family moved into Newington^[18], a suburb of Edinburgh and remained there^[19] until John's death in 1923.

Death & Legacy

John died suddenly on 29 Apr 1923^[20] of “syncope apparently from heart disease”^[8] in Newington, Edinburghshire, Scotland, aged 64. He was buried 2 May 1923 at New Cemetery, Dalkeith^[8].

In obituaries, he was referred to as "a very amiable man and of a kindly temperament"^[8]. He was praised for his scientific approach to gardening in the city, and his praisers noted that his skill and success gained a wide reputation. He was also revered for his keen interest in the pastimes of the citizens, playing a large part in affording facilities for outdoor recreation^[8]. This included the city golf courses, tennis courts and bowling greens. It was also noted that Mr McHattie was himself a golfer.

Sources

1. ↑ Statutory registers - Births, "National Records of Scotland", ScotlandsPeople Index for John MacDonald, Gender: M, Year: 1858, Ref: 094//37, Registration District: Croy and Dalcross; accessed: 5 November 2022
2. ↑ Farrell, Stuart (2011) Forres Episcopal Church Baptisms 1856-1859 March 2011 Newsletter Moray & Nairn Family History Society Accessed 4 November 2022
3. ↑ Church registers - Old Parish Registers Births and baptisms, "National Records of Scotland", ScotlandsPeople Index for John MacHattie, Gender: M, Date: 8 March 1833, Parish #: 094/, Parish: Croy and Dalcross, Ref: 20/47; accessed: 4 November 2022
4. ↑ Scotland. Statutory Registers - Marriages database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed d23 Nov 2022),
   John McHattie, Jane McLean, 23 Dec 1859, District of Forres; citing Statutory registers Marriages number 137/ 22
5. ↑ Census returns, "National Records of Scotland", ScotlandsPeople, 1861 Census Index: John McHattie, Gender: M, Age at Census: 2; Ref: 133/ 2/ 4, Registration District: Dyke; accessed: 4 November 2022
6. ↑ Statutory registers - Deaths, "National Records of Scotland", ScotlandsPeople Index for John McHattie, Year: 1864, Age at Death: 31, Ref: 133//20, Registration District: Dyke; accessed: 4 November 2022
7. ↑ Statutory registers - Marriages, "National Records of Scotland", ScotlandsPeople Index for Donald McPherson and Jane McHattie, Year: 1865, Ref: 133//11, Registration District: Dyke; accessed: 4 November 2022
8. ↑ ^{8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10} Gale, Allison (2011) John Wilson McHattie: 13 December 1858 – 23 April 1923, Moray & Nairn Family History Society Newsletter 7th Edition, accessed 4 Nov 2022
9. ↑ Census returns, "National Records of Scotland", ScotlandsPeople, 1871 Census Index: John McHattie, Gender: M, Age at Census: 12; Ref: 105/ 2/ 12, Registration District: Moy and Dalarossie; accessed: 4 November 2022
10. ↑ Census returns, "National Records of Scotland", ScotlandsPeople, 1881 Census Index: John McHattie, Gender: M, Age at Census: 21; Ref: 140/ 1/ 9, Registration District: Rafford; accessed: 4 November 2022
11. ↑ “John Wilson McHattie” (1910) in The Gardeners' chronicle: a weekly illustrated journal of horticulture and allied subjects London, Series 3, Vol.11 pp406-408 Gardeners Chronicle, 1874-1955, accessed 5 Nov 2022
12. ↑ Statutory registers - Marriages, "National Records of Scotland", ScotlandsPeople Index for John MacHattie and Mary Jane Cunningham, Year: 1885, Ref: 134//12, Registration District: Edinkillie; accessed: 4 November 2022
13. ↑ Census returns, "National Records of Scotland", ScotlandsPeople, 1891 Census Index: John Wilson MacHattie, Gender: M, Age at Census: 31; Ref: 695/ 2/ 2, Registration District: Newbattle; accessed: 4 November 2022
14. ↑ Statutory registers - Births, "National Records of Scotland", ScotlandsPeople Index for Sophia Munro MacHattie, Gender: F, Year: 1886, Ref: 695//100, Registration District: Newbattle; accessed: 4 November 2022
15. ↑ Statutory registers - Deaths, "National Records of Scotland", ScotlandsPeople Index for Sophia Munro MacHattie, Year: 1887, Age at Death: 0, Ref: 695//21, Registration District: Newbattle; accessed: 4 November 2022
16. ↑ Statutory registers - Births, "National Records of Scotland", ScotlandsPeople Index for Isabella McHattie, Gender: F, Year: 1887, Ref: 168/1/792, Registration District: St Nicholas; accessed: 4 November 2022
17. ↑ Statutory registers - Deaths, "National Records of Scotland", ScotlandsPeople Index for John McHattie, Year: 1907, Age at Death: 18, Ref: 685/4/314, Registration District: St Giles; accessed: 4 November 2022
18. ↑ Census returns, "National Records of Scotland", ScotlandsPeople, 1901 Census Index: John W McHattie, Gender: M, Age at Census: 41; Ref: 685/5 89/ 8, Registration District: Newington; accessed: 4 November 2022
19. ↑ Census returns, "National Records of Scotland", ScotlandsPeople, 1911 Census Index: John W McHattie, Gender: M, Age at Census: 51; Ref: 685/5 30/ 9, Registration District: Newington; accessed: 4 November 2022
20. ↑ Statutory registers - Deaths, "National Records of Scotland", ScotlandsPeople Index for John Wilson McHattie, Year: 1923, Age at Death: 64, Ref: 685/6/279, Registration District: Newington; accessed: 3 November 2022

See also:

[Friends of Saughton Park https://www.friendsofsaughtonpark.org/post/mr-j-w-mchattie] for a photo of John Wilson McHattie

[About the Princes St Clock https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/princes-street-gardens-floral-clock-should-honour-nhss-covid-heroes-steve-cardownie-2843516]

[History of the Princes St Floral Clock http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_a_o/0_around_edinburgh_-_princes_street_gardens_0_floral_clock_notes.htm]

Acknowledgements

Moray & Nairn Family History Society for free access to the relevant newsletters.