Farmland near Redhill, Auchterless
© Copyright Steven Brown and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
In the 1861 census, households in Fisherford are preceded by properties in Ladybog and Auchinhove. The properties in Fisherford itself are listed as follows (note that the Stephen, Florence and Craw households were all described as being ‘over Fisherford’ in the 1851 census):
32.
Samuel Stephen, widower, 60, farmer 130 acres, employs 2 men 1 boy
William Stephen, son, 24
Ann Stephen, daughter, 22, domestic servant
Margaret Stephen, daughter, 16, domestic servant
George Cruickshank, servant, 23, ploughman
Alexander Anderson, servant, 18, ploughman
James Adams, servant,14 , agricultural labourer
33.
James Florence, widower, 79, farmer 18 acres
Mary Florence, daughter, 51, domestic servant
Isobel Florence, sister, 68
Isobel Geddes, boarder, 6, scholar
34.
Elspet Craw, 66, pauper
Laticia (?) Petrie, visitor, 49, pedlar
Elizabeth Bruce, visitor, 18, pedlar
35.
John Florence, 45, agricultural labourer
Isobel Florence, wife, 44
John Florence, son, 19, agricultural labourer
Barbara Florence, daughter, 15, domestic servant
Alexander Florence, son, 9
Peter Florence, son, 7, scholar
Thomas Florence, son, 5, scholar
Christian Florence, daughter, 2
36.
Christian Flight (?), 74, pauper
Elspet Florence, 13, nurse for pauper
Alexander Moir (?), boarder, 34, agricultural labourer
37.
George Robb, 54, inn (proprietor?) (farmer?) of 20 acres
Elizabeth Robb, wife, 40
Charles Robb, son, 19, ploughman
Barbara Robb, daughter, 15, domestic servant
William Robb, son, 13, scholar
Mary Robb, daughter, 10
Ann Robb, daughter, 8, scholar
38.
Robert Hall, 35, merchant
Barbara Hall, wife, 38
John Hall, son, 10, scholar
Margaret Hall, daughter, 12
Isobel Hall, daughter, 5
39.
Elizabeth Robb, widow, 77, pauper
Mary Bodie, servant, 13, nurse for pauper
40.
George Booth, 25, ploughman
Ann Booth, wife, 23
Barbara Booth, daughter, 2
Charles Booth, son, 2 months
George Davidson, visitor, 44, merchant
41.
Charles Booth, 67, farmer of 140 acres employs 2 men, 1 woman, 1 boy
Margaret Booth, wife, 67
James Booth, son, 32, ploughman
Mary Angus, granddaughter, 8
John Forsyth, servant, 16, agricultural labourer
John Barnet (?), servant, 14, agricultural labourer
Ann Edson (?), 30, domestic servant
Details of properties in Redhill follow.
There are a number of points of interest here. Clearly, the death of James Robb in 1857 left his widow, Elizabeth, without an income – and thus in official eyes a ‘pauper’. However, her stepson George’s circumstances haven’t changed greatly in ten years: he is still running the village inn and farming 20 acres of land. He is now one of four farmers in the village. Charles Booth still has the biggest property, at 140 acres, while Samuel Stephen and James Florence farm 130 and 18 acres respectively. One wonders if any of these took over James Robb’s modest 9 acres on his death?
