Alexander Smith

     
     Alexander Smith was born cir. Jun 1799 in the Par. of Watten, CAI, SCT, being baptized there on the 6th of June.^2,5 He and Helen Manson were definitely not married as the baptism of their son John points out. In addition the Watten Kirk Sessions show the following entries:
Jan 4th 1819 Session met and constated(?) Helen Manson in Cogill summoned to this diet as being with child & gave up Alexander Smith in Auchentoft as the father of the child which she is pregnant being exhorted was dis?ed to attend the session this day seignight and the officer was appointed to summons the said Alexander Smith to attend said Diet
Jan 11th: Session met & constitued comp'd Alexander Smith son of William Smith in Auchentoft & confessed himself the father of Helen Manson's child, he was appointed to ?? before the Congretation on Sabbath ?coms ?a? week & Helen Manson on sabbath first & both required to attend on these days for that purpose. Closed with Prayer.
Agreeable to the appointment of the Kirk Session of Wattin; the said Alexdr Smith & Helen Manson appeared before the Congregational was seriously rebuked & seriously exhorted to Repentance.^6,4
     Alexander Smith married Catherine Doull, daughter of John Doull and Jean Georgeson, on 4 Dec 1835 in the Par. of Wick, CAI, SCT.²
     Alexander Smith died on 20 Jul 1877 at Willowbank, Wick, CAI, SCT; cert #125 reads: Alexander Smith, farmer, married to Catherine Smith, died 1877 July twentieth 3am at Willowbank, Wick, aged 78 yrs, son of William Smith, farmer and Esther m.s. Georgeson, both dec. of Dysinia (?) 1 yr constipation and general debility 4 mths, as cert by George Banks, physician, inf Kenneth Mcaulay, son-in-law.³
     In 1819 Alexander Smith was living at Auchentoft, Watten, CAI, SCT.^7,4
     Alexander Smith appeared on the census of 1841 in the Par. of Wick, CAI, SCT, with Catherine Smith, as SMITH (all b CAI): Alexander, 40, farmer; Cathrine (sic), 25; William, 4; Jane, 3; John 4m (neighbours were David and Janet Bruce at Winless) (NB enumerators were instructed to round ages down to the nearest multiple of 5).⁸
     The census of 30 Mar 1851 showed Alexander with his wife Catherine, their sons John, Alexander and Joseph, their dtrs Jane and Catherine at Killminster, Par. of Wick, CAI, SCT, household enumerated as SMITH: Alexander 50 (Ancestry indexes him as 30, FreeCen as the more accurate 50) farmer ag lab b Watten; wife Catherine 39 b Wick; Children: William 14, ag lab b Wick; Jane 12, John 9, Alexander 6, all scholars b Wick; Joseph 3, Catherine 2mths, both b Wick.^9,10
     The census of 1861 showed Alexander with his wife Catherine, their sons John, Joseph and Donald at Kilmster, Par. of Wick, CAI, SCT, household enumerated as SMITH: Alexander farmer 3 ac b Watten; wife Catherine 47 b Wick; Children: John 19, Joseph 12, Donald 8, all b Wick.¹¹
     The census of 1871 showed Alexander with his wife Catherine at Kilmster, Wick Landward, CAI, SCT, household enumerated as SMITH: Alexander 72 b Watten, labourer; wife Catherine 60 b Wick.¹² Alexander was predeceased by his son John Smith on 30 Oct 1875.^6,13