Betty Lumsden

  General Notes:

The only baptism I could find was 1760 in Auchindoir and Kearn Parish to the south of Monqhitter. If she was baptised shortly after birth this would make her only 12 or 13 at the time of her marriage. This is possible especially considering that her first child was born only 4 months after the marriage. Also George's Alvah is about 30 kms up the main road from Auchindoir and Kearn to Banff. Maybe Monqhuitter was chosen for the marriage as it was a bit out of the way and halfway between th families.

Strengthening the case is the results of a search for Betty Lumsden's baptism which turned up only this Betty in the relevant period. Based on the names of her children her father should be Robert and her mother Elspet. Robert is shown as father on the baptism and a search for his marriage revealed two, both to Bettys. (Elspet and Betty are both variations of Elizabeth). Indications are that the family folowed custom with naming as the first boy was James for his paternal grandfather and second bou Jannet for paternal grandmother.

Betty married George Steel, son of James Steel and Janet Mackie, on 9 Jun 1772 in Monquhitter, Aberdeen.¹ (George Steel was christened on 6 Feb 1744/45 in Alvah, Banff ³.)