Publication Info
Publication Details
Introduction
In October 1983 we were asked by the Rosehearty Heritage Society if we would do the Transcriptions for the Old part of Peathill Churchyard. Dr. Brown and myself met two of the organising members – Mrs. Ann Leel & Mr James Taylor – and arranged that the Family History Society would do the work and publish in our usual format, but print a few extra for the Rosehearty Society. Easter weekend and a three day holiday saw us in an hotel in Fraserburgh, so as to be on the spot for all day working. On Saturday morning we were joined by Miss Connie Stuart, and again on Sunday together with Mrs Penman, Miss Anton and Miss Lowe. On Monday Miss Stuart was there again and in the afternoon Mr Blaiklock (a new member) joined us. By this time we had amassed over two hundred inscriptions so we needed to go home to sort them all out and into order. Two weeks later and we book into the same hotel for another long weekend. This time joined by Miss Cowper who also stayed on the spot. Again Miss Stuart joined us both on Saturday and Sunday – by Monday we had run out of work for her to do. My thanks to all these very willing workers who made a big job very enjoyable and relatively easy. A very BIG thank-you from me must go to the Registrar for the area Miss Jessie Ritchie, for the loan of the Lair Plan, which made my job of plotting the stones so much easier. Also to James Taylor who spent any odd hour he had free helping us to scrape the moss off the stones; and to the various inhabitants of Rosehearty and Sandhaven who told us about some of the stones, stories that otherwise wouldn’t be known. We have concentrated on the oldest part of the churchyard here though the newer part is very much in use. The Church is also in use -again, the newer one; on each of the weekends we were there a wedding took place. If you have the opportunity to go inside the church do take it, to see the beautiful carved front to the Pitsligo Aisle. This was in the old Church and was removed to the new one when the roof was no longer weatherproof. There is an abundance of ‘carved stones’ here too, not usual for this part of the country as the local stone is usually too hard and brittle to carve. And more tablestones that we’ve seen anywhere else, even Alvah, which has a fair number. So, two weekends and we have all 421 plotted, those that can be read, are read and typed and well over half of them checked. It really is amazing what can be done, given a few willing hands and some good weather. Our first weekend was gloriously sunny though a bit windy. The second weekend was a very different story; cold and a gale force wind off the sea to contend with but, apart from half an hour on the Sunday morning, we were dry. At least the wind blew most of the moss off the stones as we cleaned them. The illustration I have included in the text is referred to as ‘Angels in Kilts’ and when we first saw it only the three figures could be seen at the top and very little of the inscription. This was one I decided to clean off completely and to everyone’s delight uncovered the marvellous Crown. The inscription is a little blurred in places but it can all be read, as you can see. Our thanks also to Mr Gordon, the Session Clerk, for his welcome and interest in the work in hand, and to Mrs Shaw of Sandhaven for the loan of some photographs of the Church with the roof still in place. Her father, Mr Rennie, was the gravedigger at Peathill for many years. Finally we must say thank you to the management and staff of the Alexandra Hotel in Fraserburgh for their excellent accommodation, at very reasonable cost. Particularly to Mrs Pam Deans for a friendly welcome and her interest in our project and to Mr Gilbert Budge for the marvellous sandwiches that he made for our packed lunch each day. They certainly sustained us till teatime. The Alexandra Hotel is an ideal central point for anyone touring the churchyards in this area. It is convenient for all those between Peterhead and Fraserburgh, and on the other side there are Tyrie, New Aberdour and Gamrie quite close. Rathen is also near hand and is of interest as it contains the ancestors of Edward Greig. End of September and our last long weekend of the year, and again we make for the Alexandra Hotel. On the Saturday morning it stayed dry long enough for Jean Cowper - who had come up for the day - and ourselves, to finish off the checking. Afternoon and evening the wind and rain lashed the windows. By Sunday it was a bit blowy but at least dry so we went off and looked over a couple of doubtful ones in Peathill then on to make a start at Tyrie. This is a small one and about two miles from Peathill. By the time we were ready to come home on Monday afternoon we had finished the first reading and done the plan for Tyrie so we were well pleased with our efforts. (This should be published late 1985) Peathill was a challenge, and we think we have done fairly well, not many stones have defeated us. Some we can see ‘Something on the stone’ but just can’t read or make sense of it. Our thanks to everyone concerned, and in particular to our member No.263 who sent three inscriptions which were taken by family members some 50 and 20 years ago. These relate to stones Nos. 385, 386 & 387. The first of these is still very legible, parts of the second have broken since we first saw them and the third is readable in the right light, but only just. These, incidentally, came from Canada. If we have forgotten anyone, our thanks to you as well. We shall be back next year. Sheila M. Spiers
Comments
Peathill Old Kirkyard, also known as 'Old Pitsligo' (parish of Pitsligo), naming 1266 individuals between 1626 and 2002
