William Shanks (1822 - 1909)

Born 1822 in Elgin

Ancestors

Died 2 May 1909 at about age 87 in Cockmuir

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Biography

In 1851 and 1861 William, aged 28 and 38, was living on his father's farm, Cockmuir in Elgin parish, Moray. William married Bessie Robertson on 7 December 1864 at Tain. In 1871 William 47 was a farmer’s son living Off Rothes Road, with his mother Margaret 78, wife Betsy 27, William 5, Betsy 3 and Robert 1, brothers George 40 and Robert 38 and a servant. In 1881 they lived on a farm of Cockmuir at Elgin where William aged 58 farmed 42 acres arable and lived there with his wife, Betsy 38, his brother George 51, and six children: William 15, Elizabeth 13, Robert John 11, James 4 and Charlotte 1. All but Betsy were born in Elgin. His brother George age 51 was deaf and acted as a farm labourer. In 1891 William 69 was a farmer at Cock Moor living with Betsy 49, William 25, Elizabeth 23, Maggie A 18, Charlotte 10 and Jane 8 and his brother George 63. In 1901 William and his wife Elizabeth were still at Cockmuir House, which had eight rooms with windows. Children James and Jane were living with them as well as brother George. His son William 34 a widower was living next door at W Whitowreath, a house with five rooms with windows where he was a farmer with two children and three servants. William was born 1 July 1822, Elgin, Morayshire, the son of William (1791-1865) and Margaret Donaldson 1793-1872, and was a farmer of 42 acres arable at Cockmuir when he died 2 May 1909 leaving probate of his 1904 will to William Shanks, farmer at Wester Whitewreath, James Shanks, farmer at Cockmuir, and Robert Shanks of Wester Whitewreath. Bessie died in 1933 at Cockmuir House, Elgin

Sources

• 1841 to 1901 census Scotland. Probate index 1909. Notes from Robert Hay.