Kellas family in Newton
Most family names seem to have an 'origin story', although multiple origins often look more likely. The Kellas story (passed on from Errol Kellas) is that three brothers, probably originally called MacDonald, who had settled in the village of Kellas in Moray in the 1640s, then moved to Aberdeenshire in the 1650s - two to Cabrach and one to Strathdon, where they adopted the name Kellas.
Be that as it may, the 1696 Poll Book for Aberdeenshire in Invernochtie records Alexander Kellos, tenant in Newtoun in the estate of Invernettie [Note 1]. A 1738 rental for the estate of Invernettie shows John and Arthur Kellas in Newtown [Note 2] and a 1767 rental includes John & Arthur Kellas and William & Arthur Kellas - probably son & father in both cases [Note 3]. Much later, in 1814, William Kellas is in Torrancroy and John Kellas in Newton but in 1816 there are offers 'for the half of Newtoun presently occupied by John Kellas' [Note 4]. So it seems from first names, from the names of wives, and from the proximity of the graves of these families, that those in Tables 1, 2 and 3 below all originate from Newton, just uphill from Torrancroy, in the part of Strathdon called Glen Nochty.
By reference to the 1738 rental, probably two of the following are sons of John Kellas, and the other a son of Arthur Kellas (and a brother of Jean Kellas who in 1759 married Arthur Forbes):
Table 1 Children and grandchildren of Alexander Kellas 1738-1794, tenant in Newton
Table 2 Children and grandchildren of John Kellas 1726-1797, tenant in Tomachon
Table 3 Children and grandchildren of John Kellas born about 1740, tenant in Midtown of Culquharry
| Note 1 | The 1696 Poll Book also records John Kelloes, tenant in 'Alefork' (probably Culfork, where Conry Water joins the River Don. Also William Kellie in Lochans in Glencarvie, then in the estate of Candacraig, and George Kellie and John Kellie in Glenkindie, which later became part of the parish of Towie. |
| Note 2 |
Rental of the lands of Invernettie sold by Hary Forbes to Lord Braco (later the
Earl of Fife) in 1738 (from Aberdeen University Historic Collections MS 3175 Bundle
LXV K27) includes: Clashnoir Michael Kellas rental £26-0-0 (Scots) and Willm McKoes (rental £26-0-0 (Scots) Newtown John Kellas rental £23-2-4 (Scots) and Arthur Kellas rental £23-2-4 (Scots) |
| Note 3 | In 1765 (MS 3175 v803 page 61) Clashnoir is in other hands and Arthur Kellas is tenant of nearly half of Newtown. In 1767 (MS 3175 v803 page 362) there is an addition for grassums under the names of John & Arthur Kellas and separately William & Arthur Kellas for Glashnoir. From the style of other Fife rentals, John and William Kellas seem to be sons of Arthur Kellas. |
| Note 4 | A rental of Invernettie (MS 3175/1677) in 1814 shows James McHardy in Torrancroy replaced by William Kellas, and John Kellas in Newton, but in 1816 offers from other bidders 'for the half of Newtoun presently occupied by John Kellas'. |
| Note 5 | Warm thanks to Aberdeen University Historic Collections for access to the MS documents, to Aberdeen Archives for access to Strathdon Poors Roll, to Jeanette Dall, Elizabeth Westlund (now deceased) & Jenny Meadows/Grindal for their information, to Andrew McHardy and Debbie Reynolds for transcriptions of the 1841 census, and to Suzanne Walker for transcriptions of the OPRs and statutory death certificates. |
| Table 1 | Children | and Grandchildren of | |
| Alexander Kellas, tenant in Newton (next to Torrancroy, in the estate of Invernettie), died at Newton 1794 aged 55, and his wife Elizabeth Grassick, died in Aberdeen 1831 aged 81 [Strathdon MIs - Note 6 below] | |||
| Isobel c 25 Jan 1775 in Newton m John Brebner Cummertown ? | |||
| John c
31 March 1777 in Newton [Note 7] married to Margaret Glass (children's death
certificates) [Note 8] not found in Skene in 1841 |
|||
| Jane born c 1803 m John Taylor she died in Aberdeen 'aged 86' in 1888 [Note 8] | |||
| Alexander c 30 Sept 1806 in Newton s John Kellas and Sophia Glass ? [Note 9] m(1) Ann Findlay(children below) m (2)1871 Ann Anderson m.s. Strachan he died 1 Oct 1889 age 83 Woodside, Aberdeen - death cert (by J E Fowler MD) says parents were John Kellas farmer & Margaret Glass, inf Harry Kellas son, Old Machar | |||
| Donald b 1827
in Craigiedows Jean b 1830 in Tillyduke Isabel 1831 in Tillyduke Ann 1832 in Tillyduke m James Murison 1865? Margaret 1834 in Tillyduke Esther 1836 in Tillyduke John 1838 in Tillyduke Harry 1839 m Jane Coutts, ggps of Jeanette Dall who lives in Kelso, Townsville, Queensland |
|||
| James
born c 1813 m Margaret McFarlane, he died in Aberdeen aged 77 in 1890, one of their descendants was Elizabeth Westlund (now deceased) |
|||
| Jean c 21 March 1779 in Newton m Peter Ewen, Jean died Peterculter 1867 | |||
| Elisabeth c 23 Jan 1782 in Newton | |||
| Alexander c 12 June 1783 in Newton, Strathdon (m Barbara Garrow d 1857 aged 72) farmer at Crombie Cottage, Skene, died 7 May 1862 aged 79 in Aberdeen, St Nicholas (death certificate and Skene MI via Jeanette Dall) | |||
| James Fowler Kellas b
Skene 1821, m (1) Jane Nicolson (2) Elizabeth Nicolson (3 ) in 1866 at
Glenmuick Mary Boyd Mitchell. He was in 1881
Board of Trade Superintendent of Mercantile Marine and at one time Secretary, Local
Marine Board, Aberdeen, d 31 Jan 1905 in Carden Place, Aberdeen 'aged 85',
cert Alexr Mitchell MB his family with Mary Boyd Mitchell included Dr Alexander Mitchell Kellas born in 1868, Aberdeen medic, expert in altitude sickness and mountaineer in the Himalayas, who unfortunately died on the 1921 Everest reconnaissance expedition (photograph of him in the BBC book, Lost on Everest), Dr Arthur Kellas of the Royal Army Medical Corps, killed on 6 August 1915 at Gallipoli and son Henry Kellas, informant of his death |
|||
| Janet Kellas b Old Machar 1824, m James Johnston Old Machar 1845; children James Fowler Kellas Johnston 1846 -1928 compiler of 'Bibliographia Aberdonensis' published about 1930, Margaret Isabella J 1849, Alexander Charles J 1851, Elizabeth MacIntosh J and John Thomson J 1853 | |||
| Eliza b 1820-21 living with parents in Skene in 1841, m John Sutherland in Skene 17.11.1844 | |||
| Mary b 1825-26 living with parents in Skene in 1841, m Alexander Philip Abel in Skene 1.3.1853 | |||
| Margaret died Feb 1836 aged 9 (Skene MI via Jeanette Dall) | |||
| Betsy died Feb 1836 aged 7 (Skene MI via Jeanette Dall) | |||
| Alexander d Sept 1830 on the day of his birth (Skene MI via Jeanette Dall) | |||
| James c 22
March 1786 in Newton later tenant in Howe and innkeeper, m Helen Findlay (daughter 1787 of Harry
Findlay in Tillyjuik who m 11 Dec 1788 Jean/Jane Farquharson in Longhaugh,
Parish of Logie Coldstone); James died in Culquhonnie in 1864 (his executors were George Forbes Brebner, Newbigging and Alexander Kellas, Mains of Glencarvie and left all to his son Harry ) and Helen died there in 1875 |
|||
| Jean c 4 Aug 1815 in Tomanchapple m 1841 William Michie (their son James born in 1842 appears with Jean's parents in 1851 census) | |||
| Harry c
11 April 1817 in Mostown, Coldstone, m Jane Walker d William Walker, North
[Culmally?] (Harry Kellas farmer and innkeeper died in Culquhonny 21 May 1865 aged 48 - death certificate) |
|||
| Elizabeth c 26 Feb 1819 in Mostown, Coldstone m William Grassick, had one child James c 1850 m Mgt Duguid | |||
| John c 1 April 1821 d 1840 | |||
| Margaret died unmarried in Aberdeen 22 May 1867 aged 79 (Skene MI) or 77 (death certificate , informant Janet Johnstone, niece; inventory indexed in 1868 in Scottish Documents website | |||
| Note 6 | Strathdon MIs: Alexander Kellas, late farmer in Newton, d 1794 aged 55; wife Elizabeth Grassick d Aberdeen 1831 aged 81; by sons James Kellas, How, John & Alexander Kellas, [Parish of] Skene; and John Kellas d 1840 aged 17, whose father James Kellas d Culquhonnie 1864 aged 80, whose wife Helen Findlay d Culquhonnie 1875 aged 88 |
| Note 7 | In 1799 the Muster Roll of the Strathdon Volunteers (Public Record Office at Kew, WO 13/4167) included privates John Kellas 1and John Kellas 2 until it seems John Kellas 3 enrolled on 6 March 1799, John Kellas 2 resigned on 12 March 1799 and William Kellas enrolled on 26 July 1799. John Kellas in Newton accounts for one of these - see below. |
| Note 8 | Who was John Kellas ag lab aged 40 in Ardler in 1841 census (ED7)? Was he Jane's elder brother? |
| Note 9 | There is a contradiction between the mother's name on Alexander's the birth certificate and that on his and his siblings' death certificate - Glass page provides a possible explanation |
| Table 2 | Children | and Grandchildren of | |
| John Kellas, tenant in Tomachon, died at Tomachon 1797 aged 71, m (1) in 1758 ? Christian Downie [Note 11] who died in 1776 aged 36, m (2) Barbara Ogg d 1790 [from Upper Donside MIs - Note 10 below] | |||
| Margaret 1761-1779 [MIs] | |||
| John - named as eldest son on his father's Strathdon MI in 1797 [Notes 12 and 13]] | |||
| Arthur c 2 June 1770 in Tomachon [OPR] m Helen McDonald died 1852 aged 81? [Upper Donside MIs], tenant in Ordachoinachan [Note 14], d 1838 [Upper Donside MIs] | |||
| Isabel c 1799 illegitimate
daughter of Christine Downie, Luib. Christine was widow of John
McHardy, Luib and mother of Joseph McHardy (advice from Andrew McH). Isabel was bread seller in Corgarf, from her wheelbarrow according to Andrew, and died single at Greenbank in 1878 (parentage on death certificate). Presumably this is Isabel in Altnacist in 1841 and 1851 'aged 48' |
|||
| George c 26 April 1815 in Stroin [OPR], tenant in Ordachoinachan in 1841, d 1846 [MIs] | |||
| Alexander m Rachel Ingram 1782-1869 (daughter of John Ingram & Jane Kerr), living in Locharmuick, Glen Carvie in 1841 | |||
| John c 10 Nov 1805 in Carvieside [OPR] m Christian Stewart (died 1888 in Strathdon?) | |||
| Mary c 23 Oct 1831 d of John Kellas and Christian Stewart Howbog | |||
| Isabella c 19 April 1834 d of John Kellas and Christian Stewart Shinnach | |||
| John c 6 April 1840 (IGI) at Tomanchaple with mother in 1841 | |||
| Ann c 21 Sept 1845 (IGI) at Bogbuie with mother in 1851 | |||
| Elizabeth c 6 Feb 1848 (IGI) at Bogbuie with mother in 1851 | |||
| Alexander c 10 March 1850 (IGI) at Bogbuie with mother in 1851 | |||
| Alexander aged 29 at Locharmuick in 1841 (b 1812) | |||
| Charles aged 27 at Locharmuick in 1841 (b 1814), m Janet Riach 9 May 1844, in Locharmuick in 1861 | |||
| George born about 1818 (see under Robert Kellas below) | |||
| James c 11 Nov 1820 in Howbog (Glen Carvie) | |||
| Peter c 7 March 1825 in Locharmuick (Glen Carvie); emigrated to Victoria, Australia died in 1909 in Numurkah, northern Victoria; his descendants include Wendy Cowley who lives in Sydney, Australia | |||
| Robert
Kellas farm servant age 15 at Boilmore in 1841 recurs at Belniden in
1861 as unmarried cousin of Margaret Downie unmarried aged 61 and in 1881
as her cousin, partner and farm manager. [At first I placed this Robert Kellas as a son of Arthur Kellas above but Ian Downie pointed out that, as this Robert Kellas appears in the 1891 census at Belmore aged 67 with a brother George Kellas aged 73, these two are unlikely to belong to Arthur Kellas above whose son George Kellas died in 1846.] Since then a useful e mail received from Joanne Farquharson in Nova Scotia reports that according to his death certificate Robert Kellas son of Alexander Kellas and Rachel Ingram died at Boilmore in 1902 aged 79. Apparently this Robert Kellas had a son Robert Downie Kellas and a stepson Charles Farquharson (Joanne Farquharson's great grandfather). |
|||
| William Charles died in infancy [MIs] | |||
| Note 10 | Strathdon MIs: John Kellas sometime farmer in 'Tannahone' d 1797 aged 71; wife Christian Downie d 1776 aged 36; children Margaret Kellas d 1779 aged 18, William Charles Kellas died in infancy; by three sons John, Arthur & Alexander Kellas; 2nd wife Barbra [sic] Ogg died 1790 |
| Note 11 | Rental in 1757 of Mr Stuart's lands of Edinglassie & Invernochtie (MS 3175/928 ) shows Jo Kellas (father of John Kellas?) tenant of half of Lenardach (Lynardoch in Glen Ernan), with Jo Downey tenant of the other half. Probably Christian was his daughter? |
| Note 12 | The 1798 Tax Schedule (National Archives of Scotland, E 326/15/1) shows about fifty of the more substantial tenants of Strathdon paying the horse tax, including John Kellas in Struan or Stroin in Glencarvie. John Kellas in Tomachon had died by then, so was this his son John, who contributed to the gravestone but leaves no other trace - except Note 7 above? |
| Note 13 | So is
John Kellas in Struan father of John Kellas m Ann Fife who had a son c
William on 27 May 1807 in Semile [estate of Newe] in Strathdon and John b 1811and Margaret b 1815
both in Logie Coldstone (info via Jeanette Dall). John Kellas or Gillas 1811-1896 is understood to be 2ggf of Lynne Leard who lives in Victoria, BC Alexander Kellas in Logie-Coldstone later may have been another son of this couple. |
| Note 14 | Arthur Kellas in Ordachanichen appears in a list of reek hens collected on the estate of Edinglassie (MS 2769/I/17 above), but who was Hary Kellas who prepared the list for Edinglassie? |
| Table 3 | Children | and Grandchildren of |
| John Kellas (could be John c 21 July 1746 son of William Kellas) in Midtown of Culquhary m Isobel Watson [Note 15] | ||
| Margaret c 11 March 1772 in Midtown (OPR) d 1869 in Midtown (registered 1870) living in 1841 with Eliza Kellas | ||
| John Kellas
c 15 June 1774 in Midtown, m Isobel Forbes, farmer in Glen Carvie, d 1855 in Glen Carvie, [information from his 1855 death certificate and Strathdon MIs - Note 15 below] |
||
| John b 7 Feb 1820 in Tomanchaple d 1835 [Strathdon MIs] | ||
| Mary b 1821 d Aberdeen in 1891[Strathdon MIs] | ||
| Alexander 1823 farmer in Glen Carvie, died there in 1906 [Strathdon MIs] | ||
| James b 1825 living in 1855 [father's death cert] | ||
| Ann b 1826-27 living aged
28 in 1855 [father's death cert] m 1861 Alexander McRobert daughter Ann Kellas McRobert b 29 Nov 1861 living in 1881 in household of Alexander Kellas above |
||
| Ann c 15 March 1778 in Midtown of Culquhary | ||
| James c 9 July 1780 in Midtown | ||
| Arthur c 20 May 1782 in Midtown | ||
| ? Isabel 1787-1850 who married John McRobert, farmer in Tomachon [Strathdon MIs] | ||
| Elisabeth 1797-1874 died at Mains of Glen Carvie, death reported by Mary Kellas niece | ||
| Note 15 | In MS 2769/I/17, rentals of New (later Newe), there is isolated mention of Elspet Kellas in Semile in 1750. Then no Kellas is apparent in New until Jonathan or John Kellas becomes tenant of Midtown of Culquhary (south of the Don and just east of the kirk) from a date between 1769 and 1777. So it is likely that he is one of the Newton family, especially as Isobel Watson is a Glen Nochty name. In 1791 Alexander Ross was tenant of Midtown but a John Kellas is tenant there in 1801. |
| Note 16 | Strathdon MIs: John Kellas late farmer Glencarvy, d 1855 aged 81; wife Isabel Forbes d 1853 aged 71; daughter Mary Kellas d Aberdeen 1891 aged 70; son Alexander farmer Glencarvy d there 1906 aged 83 |