The name of the family outlined in these brief notes is often recorded as being derived  from Berowald of Flanders upon whom the Barony of INNES was conferred in 1160. In "The Chronicle of the Family of Innes of Edingight", 1898, Innes of Learney wrote - "Having been settled for four centuries in the fertile district of Moray and perhaps from the energy infused in their character by the mixture of Flemish blood with that of the native races, these INNES had become feudal owners not only of much of Moray, but of extensive estates in Banff and branches of the family had even spread to Fyvie and Buchan. The main line of INNES, from their long descent in a direct line and their considerable estates in Morayshire, as well as the Aberchirder lands in Banffshire, had an indisputable claim to a leading position".

It cannot be implied of course, that all bearers of the INNES name descend from Berowald. Many of the tenantry, now unknown to us, must have taken their name from their Innes landlords or the area where they lived. The name Innes means "Island"; that fertile island of land they first occupied. The surname MacINNES is  unrelated.

Main records used for the following account include the Church of Scotland registers, civil registrations and census returns, 1841 to 1881. This Innes family of Marnoch left no testaments (or monumental inscriptions at Marnoch).

At the 1851 census there were eight Innes families in Marnoch, several related to each other, but none, so far as can be discerned, closely related (if at all) to mine.

Whatever the ancestry of my Innes folk, they had by the beginning of the 19th century, perhaps through illness, become impoverished and incumbent upon the parish. Possibly the most remarkable thing about them in this period, from a genealogical and social history perspective, is the number of "out of wedlock" children. I suppose one causal factor was the custom of hiring fairs where agricultural labourers obtained work at 14 years, often some distance from their home - unlike England, where poor laws often ensured rural children were engaged in or near their birth parish.

A letter to "Scotsman" 31 March 1875 comments on the high rates of "illegitimacy" in Marnoch -

"Sir,

As a Banffshire man I beg to draw your attention to the deplorable moral conditions of one of our "highly favoured" parishes. I allude to MARNOCH ......

In Marnoch nearly every third child is registered as illegitimate. But it is when we remember that every  child born in wedlock, even though appearing a day after marriage, is registered as legitimate, that we fully appreciate the almost incredible proportion of first borns in this unfortunate parish.

SUMMARY OF RESEARCH

Peter INNES, labourer of Marnoch married c. 1798, Helen WILSON daughter of John WILSON, labourer of Fordyce and Katherine (GERRARD). Helen Wilson was christened at Fordyce in 1771. John Wilson was a son of George WILSON, a small-tenant farmer of Grange, and Elspet (GRANT). Katherine GERRARD was a daughter of Robert GERRARD and Jean (ELDER) who were married at Grange in 1736.

It is believed that Peter INNES was born in 1771, a son of William INNES and Helen (MARR) of Gamrie (next to Marnoch) and that Peter moved to Aberchirder for work. Locals call it Foggieloan or Foggie, after the name of a ferm toun there before Aberchirder was built. Aberchirder village in Marnoch is relatively new, being founded by the Gordon family in 1764 to attract artisans and labourers to the parish. This is the village over 100 years ago -

CHILDREN OF PETER INNES AND HELEN (WILSON) -

John born 1799, married Jane McROBERT (more further)
Peter born 1801. Nothing further known. Possibly died before civil registration began in 1855, or emigrated.
Helen born 1805 married James LAWRIE, Gamrie 1827.

Peter INNES died before the 1851 census. His widow (Helen (Wilson) was living at 82 Main Street, Aberchirder aged 80 years, a pauper and former house servant. Living with her was a grandchild Mary INNES, daughter of her son John. Helen died at South Street, Aberchirder in 1864 aged 93 years.

Their son John INNES, born 1799 married Jane McROBERT daughter of John McROBERT, labourer and Ann BONNYMAN, domestic servant, who were unmarried according to Jane's death registeration. Jane was born at Cairnie, Aberdeenshire. Ann BONNYMAN died at Bogharvey, Marnoch in 1855 aged 74. Her death registration is annotated - "Lived for 23 years in the Parish of Cairnie - buried in Forglen Cemetery". She was a daughter of Alexander BONNYMAN and Jane (CRUICKSHANK) of Cairnie.

John INNES died at Mid Street, Aberchirder in 1862 aged 61 years of "paralysis several years duration". Jane Innes (McRobert) died in 1883 aged 71 years, at Long Lane, Aberchirder. The 1851 census records John as a pauper and litter carrier and in 1861 a pauper and agricultural labourer. For many years I believed he was a letter carrier, based on a record agent's report. However, the original return has since been sighted and the record clearly states "litter carrier".

Ancestry of Jane McROBERT - Her father was John McROBERT, born 1775 Marnoch, son of Patrick McROBERT (born 1748 Mortlach) and Isobel YOUNGSON of Forglen. Isobel was a daughter of George YOUNGSON and Marjory (CLARKE).

The most noteworthy event at Marnoch in John's lifetime was the so-called "Disruption". The majority of the Presbytery agreed with the civil courts in wishing to retain the power of the lairds to appoint ministers. In an attempt to force a Minister on the congregation, it was met with some 2000 people gathered around and within the church. Upon the Minister's appointment the crowd silently retired through the snow to their homes - voting with one's feet at its best! The ultimate outcome in 1843 was a new church in Scotland, still Presbyterian in nature, but with Ministers admitted with the assent of the parishioners.

The Children of John INNES and Jane (McROBERT) (all born Marnoch).

1.  JOHN, born 1828. Nothing is known of him until his son "John INNES or KELMAN" was born at Marnoch in 1848. The mother was Jessie KELMAN. This child - "John INNES", was in the house of his grandparents John and Jane in 1851. He married in 1871, Agnes POLSON at Drumblade and in 1881 the family were living at Broomhill Cottage, Drumblade. Some descendants are known but the fate of John senior is not. He may have died young, before the 1855 civil registration began, possibly at Marnoch where burial entries are defective after 1832. However, emigration is a possibility and there is reason to believe he may have settled near Austin, Texas and had issue. This will be updated when research is completed and confirmed should that be possible.

John and Agnes Polson Innes emigrated to Alberta in 1913 with their daughter Jennie and six grandchildren, issue of John Jnr. and James Innes. John died 1935, buried Melville Cemetery, Kelsey, Alberta. Agnes was buried 1922. (I am indebted to Keith and Shelly in Canada for this information).

Children of John Innes/Agnes (Polson) -

    1.    John born 1871 Drumblade, married Margaret Smith FLETT at Enize, Banffshire 1900. buried 1925   Melville Cemetery, Kelsey, Albrta. Issue living in Canada -

Agnes married Harold DINGMAN; Jean married Eugene ALBERTSWORTH; Alexander married Elma DUFF; Helen (nothing further known).

    3.    Jessie A H born 1877/8 Drumblade. Nothing further known.

    5.   Agnes Jane ("Jennie") born after 1881. Emigrated to Alberta with parents. Nothing further known.

    7.    William Dey born circa 1884. Killed in action 1914 Wimcreux, France, F. Co. 2 Batt. Gordon Highlanders. (The Commonweath War Graves records state that he was a son of John and Agnes Polson INNES of Banffshire. As they had emigrated before the War, he may have been a regular soldier?).

2.    HELEN, who married William DEY, labourer of Huntly, Aberdeenshire at Huntly 1848 and died there in 1858 having had:

    1    John
    2.    James
    3.    William
    4.    George
    5.    Helen.  

3.    WILLIAM, born 1832. His daughter "Anne INNES" by Jane BEATON, domestic servant, was born 1859 at Backhill, Fyvie. Ann was living with her grandparents, John and Jane INNES, Aberchirder at the 1861, 71 and 81 census. In 1866 William emigrated to New Zealand as an unmarried man on the "Victory" accompanied by Isabella CHALMERS and her son Alexander INNES. (Isabella married Peter - no. 4 below). William's occupation on the manifest is recorded as "carpenter". but he apparently did not follow this in New Zealand. He farmed at Canterbury and later at Normanby near Hawera in Taranaki, where he died of tuberculosis unmarried in 1894. We visited the cemetery in 1969 but found no marked grave.

4.    PETER, (my great grandfather) born 1834. He is on the 1861 census as a ploughman on Alex WILSON's farm at Fetterletter, Fyvie. His son Alexander "INNES" or "CHALMERS" was born in 1860 at the Mill of Ardlogie, Fyvie. The child's mother (whom he subsequently married in 1867 in New Zealand), was a daughter of the dye mill owner, John CHALMERS and Mary (CASTEL). Peter was present at his father's death in 1862 and the following year emigrated to New Zealand on the "David G Fleming", accompanied by Thomas MAITLAND, another farm labourer from Aberdeenshire.

After working at various labouring jobs and unsuccessfully at the gold diggings in Marlborough and Westland, he farmed at several locations in Canterbury before settling at Wakanui, near Elgin, Ashburton, where he reputedly built the first concrete house in New Zealand. But he abandoned it in favour of a wooden one due to extremes of temperature.

His biography was published in the "Canterbury Times" newspaper, 11 July 1887. (See Addendum.)

Isabella CHALMERS emigrated to New Zealand in 1866 and they were married at the Presbyterian Manse, Christchurch (1867).

Peter and family moved to the North Island  and he broke in another farm at Normanby near Hawera and then another at Whenakura near Patea/Waverley. He retired to Palmerston North about 1900 and died 1922. Isabella died 1911 and both are buried at Feilding. It is known that he corresponded with sibling(s) who were living "out west" in the USA and after his death his daughter Ellen continued correspondence with them. Regrettably the correspondence was destroyed, but family lore is that one was involved with meat canning. This is being researched.

 

.

PETER INNES AND ISABELLA INNES (CHALMERS)

 
Extracts of Peter's biography are appended. Isabella died 1911, Peter 1922. Both are buried at
Feilding.



 
    PETER INNES                     HIS CONCRETE HOUSE (photo 1969 after conversion to a barn)

5. CHARLES, born 1836. In 1861 he was a ploughman on CRUICKSHANK's farm at Forgue. His daughter Jane "INNES" or "HALL" was born 1860 at Auldyoch, Auchterless. The mother was Ann HALL, domestic servant. The birth registration was signed by both parents but annotated "illegitimate". I have found no subsequent marriage or death registration of Charles.  I believe he may have been one of the (unnamed) siblings of Peter INNES, referred to in his biography as having emigrated to the USA. His daughter Jane was in the house of grandparents John and Jane INNES at Aberchirder in 1871. Charles is not on the 1880 US Census nor on the 1881 Canadian Census. If he emigrated he may have died before these dates.

 
6. THOMAS born 1839. Believed to have died young, between 1851 and 1855, but Marnoch burial records are missing for this period.
 
7. JAMES born 1840, married 1869 Isabel WILSON of Gamrie. According to the registration she was a daughter of John WILSON, a sailor and Isabella (GRAY) of Macduff. His marriage registration records him as James, a gamekeeper of Auchintoul, Marnoch but the 1871 census records him as a labourer residing in Aberchirder. Died before 1899. Children:
 
James Wilson INNES, born 1867/8, Turriff. He  married Jane RITCHIE 1899 at Aberdeen. His occupation then a strapper (later crane driver) died 1942. That he was a child of James Innes/Isabella Wilson is recorded in a Kirk Session Minute 7 March 1868 - "compeared James Innes from Marnoch confessing hemself guilty of the sin of fornication with Isabella Wilson while she resided at Cammaloun. (Isabella Wilson now resides in Turriff and did not compear). Innes was rebuked for the sin of which he confessed himself guilty and was cited to attend here the first Saturday in April and was requested to bring his partner in guilt along" .... "Appeared in April and was absolved". (Note: Cammaloun must be Camaloun, an area in Fyvie Parish).

Children of James WILSON INNES (1868-1942) and Jane (RITCHIE) 1880-1951)
 

1.    Isabella born Machar, Aberdeen 1900 died 1964 married David RANKIN, Factory Worker (issue).

2.    James born Grangemouth 1902 died 1988, Engineer married Edith (?).

3.    George born St Nicholas, Aberdeen 1904 died 1917 aged 13.

4.    Evelyn born Grangemouth 1906 died 1952, Cook. Married Peter LECKIE.

5.    Alexander born Grangemouth 1906 died 1952 Montreal, Canada, Carpenter. Married Mary WILLIAMSON (Issue).

6.    Margaret born Grangemouth 1908 died 1993 Dunfermline, married Adam SCOTT.

7.    Jean Ritchie born Grangemouth 1910 died Grangemouth 1988, married John SINCLAIR.

8.    William KEMP born Dunfermline 1913 died Edinburgh 1982, Plumber.

9.    Thomas born Dunfermline 1915 died Dunfermline 1995, Storeman, married Joy ROBERTSON (Issue).

10.    Jolhn Ritchie born Dunfermline 1917 d Dunfermline 1992, grocer.

11.    Nellie Johnson (living),

12.    David Kemp (living).

13.     Eric Marshall (living).

(I am indebted to Jim and Meredith, USA and Aileen, Scotland for information on the children of James Wilson INNES.)
 

Other children of James INNES born 1840 and Isabella WILSON were:
 
William, born 1869. Nothing further known.

Alexander Smith born 1871. Died young

Margaret born 1873, married (-)? MANN and emigrated to California.
 

8. ALEXANDER born 1842. Ploughman. Married 1866 Elizabeth SYMMERS, domestic servant residing at Mill of Potstown, Keithhall, Aberdeenshire, daughter of William SYMMERS, miller and Mary (NICHOL). Children:
 
Mary 1866, Inverurie

Maria Forbes 1869, Kintore

Elizabeth 1872, Craithie

Alexander 1875, Craithie

William 1878, Fordyce
 

In 1881 the family was residing at Deeside Road, Old Machar, Aberdeen where Alexander was a gardener (domestic). Some descendants known, but further research into this family is necessary.

9.    GEORGE born 1846. Stonecutter. He probably began this trade in Marnoch as the parish abounds in granite. In 1871 he was living with his widowed mother Jane, at Aberchirder. Emigrated c. 1872 to the USA and married Isabella or Isadella, a Scottish born girl, surname untraced. The 1880 census of Quincy, Norfolk County, Mass. records George, still working as a stonecutter and wife Isadella. In 1890 they were residing in San Francisco where George was employed by A McLennan Co. granite works. By 1900 they had moved to Knowles Mining Camp, Madera County, California and the census that year records them as childless. They made a trip home to Scotland and returned to the USA in 1914 (Ellis Island New York Records), which helpfully have details of his naturalization and residence etc. Mrs George INNES is recorded as a member of the Madera County Women's Club in 1916. They moved back to San Francisco in 1917. George died 1920, San Mateo County. Isabella died 1939, San Francisco. There is a small bequest, administered since 1922 made by George Innes, for the distribution of coal to poor widows of Aberchirder. George and Isabella were naturalised at San Francisco in 1896. (For details of Knowles, Madera Co. see USGENWEB Madera Co. website.)

 
10. MARY known only from 1851 census, aged 3, living in her grandmother's house, Helen (WILSON) at Aberchirder and with her parents in 1861 aged 14 years. No further trace found.
 
11.    UNKNOWN DAUGHTER. Known only from the Peter Innes biography, but unrecorded in the Marnoch register or IGI. Presumably died young.

The heroine of this family must surely be Jane INNES. Having raised 11 children, she then raised several grandchildren.The1881 census records her as a pauper and imbecile, no doubt improverished and worn out.

 




CHILDREN OF PETER AND ISABELLA (CHALMERS) INNES OF
NEW ZEALAND
 

1.     ALEXANDERborn 1860 Mill of Ardlogie, Fyvie. Brought to New Zealand by mother Isabella CHALMERS 1866. He was settled on a dairy farm near Hawera by his father. Married Mary POPE at Eltham 1889. Died New Plymouth 1937. (Issue.)
 
2.    JOHN CHALMERSborn 1868 Lincoln, Canterbury. Married firstly Janet McKINLAY at Normanby 1895, secondly Elizabeth HILL at Manaia 1905, thirdly Mary JOHANSEN1929. John in 1892, butcher Normanby. Moved to Kapuni - creamery manager, later to Hastings and farmed at various locations. Moved again to Horowhenua, retired to Palmerston North and died 1942. (Issue.)
 
3.    THOMAS born 1869, Lincoln, Canterbury. Married Ruby HICKS at Okiawa, Taranaki 1915. Teacher at Taonui near Feilding, then headmaster Okiawa, Taranaki for 19 years. Died 1965. (Issue.)
 
4.    JAMES born 1871 Dunsandel, Canterbury accidentally killed by horse and dray on parents' farm 1876.
 
5.    MARY ANN born 1873 Ellesmere, Canterbury. Married William WILLIAMSON, butcher of Palmerston North. She died 1939. (Issue.)
 
6.    ELLEN MARGARET(Nell) born 1875 Christchurch. Married Archibald WILLIAMSON, merchant tailor of Feilding (no issue).
 
7.    JESSIE born 1875 Ashburton, Canterbury.  Married Alfred Hubert McLEAN, bookseller of Feilding. Died 1912. Alfred McLean later married Elizabeth WILLIAMSON. (Issue.)
 
GEORGE CHALMERS born 1881 Elgin, Canterbury. Housebuilder. Married Mabel Frances (PAPPRILL) daughter of Henry Joseph PAPPRILL and Agnes Eliza (SMITH). George died 1945. My grandfather.
 


GEORGE INNES                                MABEL INNES (PAPPRILL)
 

8.    `WILLIAM born 1886 Elgin, Canterbury. Farmer, various locations - Bulls, Hunterville, Hamilton. Married firstly Margaret MANNING whom he divorced and secondly Margery Emma DUNHAM. William was injured at Gallipoli. Died 1965.

E-MAIL for further information or if you think you may be connected this INNES family.
 
 

History of Aberchirder

More on Marnoch
 

ADDENDUM

THE PETER INNES BIOGRAPHY

The third volume of "A History of Canterbury" refers to Peter INNES - "During three years from 1887 the Ashburton correspondent of the "Canterbury Times" wrote a series of twenty articles on the "Men of the Plains". He confessed to a weakness for choosing men who arrived poor, because they were "plodding, quiet, hardworking men". Peter Innes, selected to represent the small farmers in the series because he had 150 acres - 70 under wheat, 25 in oats, 30 in barley - which he had built up from 90 acres since he settled in 1875, "could hardly serve for an illustration as he had built his third house and put his son on a farm in Taranaki".

Extract from his biography "Canterbury Times" newspaper, 11 July 1887: "Though he has not gone as extensively into planting as has his neighbour, Mr John COCHRANE, Mr Innes has done his fair share. The property is pretty well fringed with trees and a neat belt of young plantation encircles the ground where the new house stands. Willows and poplars have been extensively used on either side of the creek (Wakanui) and when in foliage they make a very pretty place indeed. Their vicinity to the water and the richness of the soil make them grow with amazing rapidity ......"

"About half an acre is in orchard, giving splendid returns. The blight attacked the apple trees rather badly but thanks to liberal dressings of kerosene and fat all are fairly clean."

"Mr Innes says that the best legacy a man can leave his children is the good sound education he supplied them with in their youth" ,,,,,,,  "Sooner or later the enormous cost of our State educaion will have to be reduced, by fees paid by householders sending their children to school"

"A labouring man, a toiler in an agricultural village, his whole wealth, his thews and sinews, his "couthie wifies smile", and the quiverful of arrows which somehow or other always falls to the lot of the labouring man. Peter's father's quiver was full enough, for no less than eleven - eight sons and three daughters were reared by the good old man. Into this family the spirit of emigration seems to have entered to some purpose, for two are doing well in what John Bright called "the land of the rising sun", and what its own people call "the greatest country on airth" - America. Another two are doing equally well in our Britain of the south, another two are still in the home of their race, but the rest, after their wanderings - are dead". (Poor Jane! No reference to her anonymous toil in raising children!)

NOTE: I corresponded with the biographer of John Bright and asked her to confirm that his reference to "America" was the USA and not Canada (British North America). She replied that Bright was certainly and without doubt referring to the USA. This fact was important regarding tracing Peter's siblings. George has been traced. The others may have been John and Charles. I believe John may have been found - more anon. Charles may have died before 1880.