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| My Mother's Scottish family WHY I AM INTERESTED IN THIS FAMILY: Waters is an old Caithness name. My ancestor Barbara Waters (1783-1872), who married Malcolm Calder, is a daughter of Alexander Waters and Janet Manson. The puzzle is to clarify the parentage of children as there are three sets of parents with the same names! Thanks to Moira McLellan and Suzanne Eaton for their help. © Randy Saylor, 2005, updated 2016 |
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| 1. OVERVIEW My direct ancestor, Barbara Waters, is a daughter of Alexander Waters and Janet Manson. Barbara married Malcolm Calder and there is more on her and their children on this separate web page. It appears that there are 3 couples with the names Alexander Water and Janet Manson in the Olrig Parish, Caithness, Scotland. No marriage has been found for the first couple. They have 4 children; Mathew, George, Margaret and Janet from 1775 and 1781. Janet is born 1 March 1781. On the same page in the parish register is a birth, three months later on 6 Jun 1781, of William Water to parents Alexander Water and Janet Manson. How unlikely is that?! It must be concluded that this is a second couple with the same names in the same parish. The entry also states that William is "a child begotten in antenuptial Fornication by Alexr Water & Janet Manson in West Murkle." Murkle is in the Olrig parish. On 8 Dec 1780 an Alexander Water and Janet Manson of Olrig were married, 6 months before William was born. It is assumed that this couple is the same as the parents of William, the illegitimate child above. William was born 6 months after they got married but the illegality was still noted! John Water, the next child, is lawfully born 31 Oct 1782 and is from Mid Murkle so it is assumed he belongs to this second couple. With two couples with the same names it makes it hard to distinguish the parentage of the later children. Barbara Watter is born 13 May 1783, 7 months after baby John above. Therefore it is concluded that she belongs to the first couple. The next child, Donald, is born in 1785 and could belong to either couple. However he is of Olrig, as are the two later children, so it is more likley they all belong to the first couple. Suzanne Eaton emailed in 2016 about a Daniel Waters, son of Alexander Waters and Janet Manson, born 1782, who dies at the southern tip of the Orkneys. He is not in the baptisms in the parish registers along with the others. However his civil death register from 1859 names his parents as Alexander Waters and Janet Manson. Daniel's birth year is calculated from his age at death and thus born in 1782. He would compete with baby John so he would more likely be a son of the first couple as John is born in Oct 1782. However, after considering other evidence, it is concluded that Daniel is NOT the son of Alexander and Janet even though his death record says he is. See the Daniel section below for more details. There is a gap in years before more children show up in the baptism register. David (1793) and Anne (1796) "of Olrig" could be from either couple but probably the first. Within my own family there is a story about David Waters, who was a younger brother of Barbara. A second cousin of mine, Moira McClennan, who lives in Inverness, met my Aunt Harriet Bannerman who traveled to Scotland a few times beginning in the 1960's. Harriet was given a silver serving spoon by one of her Aunt Calder's (a daughter of Barbara Water's son) that belonged to the Rev'd David Waters. The spoon is marked "DW". Moira did some digging and found David in Burghead in Morayshire. David was a minister of the Free Church from 1843 to 1887 when he died. His wife was Elizabeth MacPherson who died in 1892 and there were no children. See the David section for the full story. In 2006, Moira speculated that there may have been two couples of the name Alexander Waters and Janet Manson and gets credit for first raising the issue of multiple couples of the same names. She wrote that, "There seems to be at least two Alexander Waters and Janet Manson in Olrig parish at the same time. The marriage in 1780 I don't think is ours as the next birth - William is described as "a child begotten in ante-nuptial fornication" and all the previous births are described as lawful children. That William and John are both born in Mid Murkle so I think they are brothers and the others are all "our Waters" I have had a look at probable marriages for most of them and the children's names seem to fit." In 1797 a third couple with the names Alex Waters and Janet Manson got married in Thurso Parish. The children named to date would not belong to this couple. A quick search of the records did not reveal any children after 1797. In 2011, Georgia Whitson emailed with an hypothesis that brothers David Waters and William Waters ended up in Quebec. See the William section for the details. At this point, because of the above spoon story in my family, I doubt that the David Waters found by Georgia is the same David Waters that is the brother of Barbara Waters of my lineage. All the records are in section 3 below in chronological order. This is all food for thought and comments from others are welcome. |
| 2. CHILDREN of the three couples at a glance Alexander Water was probably born in Olrig, |
| 3. CHRONOLOGICAL RECORDS in the names of Alexander Water & Janet Manson PARENTS The parents and birth records of Alexander Water and Janet Manson have not been found. OLRIG PARISH REGISTERS The Olrig parish records are indexed on Family Search and can be searched via the batch number C11039-2 for the film 990553. The actual images are also available from Scotland's People for a fee. The images give more information. MATHEW WATER 1775: Mathew, lawfull son to Alexr Water & Janet Manson in Olrick was born 10 Jan [1775] & baptised the 12th. Witnesses Donald Bain & Violet Manson Source: Olrig Parish Register, from Scotlands People, 039/00 0010 0120, image obtained Mar 2016 GEORGE WATER 1776: George lawfull son to Alexr Water & Janet Manson in Olrick was born 11 Nov [1776] & baptised the 12th. Witnessess Donald Bain & Margt Bain Source: Olrig Parish Register, from Scotlands People, 039/00 0010 0122, image obtained Mar 2016 MARGARET WATER 1778: Margaret lawfull Daughter to Alexr Water & Janet Manson in Olrick was born 10 Oct [1778] & baptised the 11th. Witnessess George Manson & Anna Water Source: Olrig Parish Register, from Scotlands People, 039/00 0010 0125, image obtained Mar 2016 JANET WATER 1781: Janet lawfull Daugr to Alexr Water & Janet Manson in Olrick was born 1 March [1778] & baptised the 3rd. Witnessess Donald Bain & Isabel Clyn Source: Olrig Parish Register, from Scotlands People, 039/00 0010 0128, image obtained Mar 2016 MARRIAGES 1780: Alexander Water & Janet Manson both in this Parish were matrimonially contracted Nov 4th & married Dec 8th. [8 Dec 1780] Source: Olrig Parish Register, image from ScotlandsPeople, 039/00 0010 0262, by Suzanne Eaton, Mar 2016. See also IGI Search, Batch No. M110395 1766 - 1820, call 0990553, Film 6903138 WILLIAM WATER 1781: William, a child begotten in antenuptial Fornication by Alexr Water & Janet Manson in West Murkle was born 6 June & baptised the 7th. Witnesses Alexr Swanson & John Manson Source: Olrig Parish Register, from Scotlands People, 039/00 0010 0128, image obtained Mar 2016 JOHN WATTER 1782: John lawfull son to Alexr Watter& Janet Manson in Mid Murkle was born 31 Oct [1782] & baptised 7 Nov. Witnesses John Manson & Margaret Bain Source: Olrig Parish Register, from Scotlands People, 039/00 0010 0130, image obtained Mar 2016 BARBARA WATTER 1783: Barbara, lawful Daugr to Alexr Watter & Janet Manson in Olrick was born 13 May [1783] & baptised the 16th. Witnessess William Manson & Elizabeth Budge Source: Olrig Parish Register, from Scotlands People, 039/00 0010 0131, image obtained Mar 2016 DONALD WATER 1785: Donald, lawfull son to Alexander Water & Janet Manson in Gothigill was baptized 5th April [1785]. Donald Bain & Geo Manson witnessess Source: Olrig Parish Register, from Scotlands People, 039/00 0010 0134, image obtained Mar 2016 DAVID WATER 1793: David lawful son to Alexander Water and Janet Manson in Olrick was born 26 Feb [1793]. Witnessess at ??? George Manson and William Manson Source: Olrig Parish Register, from Scotlands People, 039/00 0010 0149, image obtained Mar 2016 ANNE WATER 1796:Anne, L[awful] D[aughter] of Alexr Water and Janet Manson in Olrick was born 26 Nov [1796]. Wits at her baptism Dond Bain & [smudged out] Source: Olrig Parish Register, from Scotlands People, 039/00 0010 0155, image obtained Mar 2016 MARRIAGE 23 Dec 1797: Alexander Water, weaver in Stempstaid? Bower? and Janet Manson in Griese. Witnessess Jo Water in Stempsterand?, Alexander Gray in Horse Event Date: 23 Dec 1797, Thurso, Caithness, Scotland Source: Source: Thurso Parish Register, image from Scotlands People, 041/00 0040 0183, by Suzanne Eaton, Mar 2016. See also, Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910," database, FamilySearch, FHL microfilm 990,555; 990,556. MILITARY The Alexander Waters from Olrig that I discovered made it from sergeant to ensign in the British army c.1807, a pretty giant step, but this man was exceptional. He saved the life of Colin MacKay of Bighouse at the battle of El Hamet on 21 March (or April) 1807 and alone in a small clump of men got through a hellish battle unscathed. His report of the event and the aftermath exists but few folk know about it. It forms a small but important part of the book I have being reading at present. Note: There is no proof that this Alex Waters is the same man who married Janet Manson. Source: email, Dec 8, 2008 , john g. gibson |
| 4. DAVID WATERS "David was Barbara's brother and he was a minister of the Free Church from 1843 to 1887 when he died. His wife was Elizabeth MacPherson who died in 1892 and there were no children." BIRTH DAVID WATER, Birth: 26 FEB 1793 Olrig, Caithness, Scotland Source: IGI search, Extracted birth or christening record for the locality listed in the record, Parents for all are stated as Alexr Water and Janet Manson. Batch No.: C110392 Dates: 1699 - 1854, Source Call No.: 0990553, film: 6903137 SPOON STORY "I really enjoyed reading about the Macintosh family as I had heard so much about them from Aunt Alice when I was little. John Macintosh sounds like a lovely man -- no wonder Harriet forgave him. Towards the end of last year I had started to have a closer look at the Waters family and was intrigued by the story of the silver spoon. I remember Dad giving it to Harriet Bannerman but had forgotten who it had belonged to. Jean thought it had something to do with the Macintoshs. So we went in search of David Waters and Jean found him in Burghead in Morayshire. He was Barbara's brother and he was a minister of the Free Church from 1843 to 1887 when he died. His wife was Elizabeth MacPherson who died in 1892 and there were no children. His Will is mostly concerned with the setting up of a bursary for boys wishing to become Free Church Ministers but a codicil leaves his library, manuscripts and papers to his niece Jane Ann Calder. I can not find a Barbara Calder married to a William Calder but will keep looking." "There seems to be at least two Alexander Waters and Janet Manson in Olrig parish at the same time. The marriage in 1780 I don't think is ours as the next birth - William is described as "a child begotten in ante-nuptial fornication" and all the previous births are described as lawful children. That William and John are both born in Mid Murkle so I think they are brothers and the others are all "our Waters" I have had a look at probable marriages for most of them and the children's names seem to fit." Source: email from Moira Maclennan, Feb 22/06. Note: I have lost touch with Moira and if she reads this please contact me. |
5. DANIEL WATERS - another son of Alexander and Janet Daniel Waters dies in 1859, age 77, at Sumburgh Head, Orkneys and it is recorded in the register that his parents are Alexander Waters and Janet Manson. In 2016, Suzanne Eaton came forward with the record of Daniel Waters and after lot of consideration she writes. "The deeper I get into this the more I am convinced that Alexander Waters and Janet Manson are NOT my Daniel's parents regardless of what was written on the death record of the Daniel who is definitely my ancestor. I know records can be wrong, and someone once told me that death records were the least reliable because the person who knew the details is dead! "I know that my Daniel married Catherine Murray (Katherine) in St Cuthberts, Edinburgh, Midlothian in 1811. I found the birth of a Daniel Waters, 18 Feb 1785 baptized in St Cuthberts. I think these are the same people. And this Daniel has parents by the names of Benjamin Waters and Margaret Dundas. They too were married in Edinburgh." Given that Daniel was married in Edinburgh and there is a Daniel who was born there, and whose parents were born there, it seems a reasonable assumption that the statement in the death register is wrong. See the transcribed records below: Daniel (b. 1782), worked on building Bell Rock in Abroath, a Robert Stevenson Lighthouse. His son David b 1818, my third great grandfather grew up to be principal lighthouse keeper at lighthouses all over Scotland. I've done a lot of research on him and it's an interesting trip to follow him. The last census record we have before his death in 1898 he was an superannuated lighthouse keeper, living with his daughter Jane. Jane was married to Nevin Kerr who himself was a principal lighthouse keeper. My Waters line ended up in the US shortly before the US Civil War when Daniel, son of David the lighthouse keeper, left Scotland, traveled briefly to Australia and ended up in the US. After fighting in the Civil War he made his way to Prince Edward Island and met and married Jane Thorne, daughter of John Thorne from New Brunswick. Daniel and Jane settled in Woburn, MA. They were my great great grandparents. Daniel Lee Waters born in Massachusetts in 1880 married Margaret Melissa Lidstone, daughter of Corinda Almira Van Buskirk and Samuel Ebenezer Lidstone. I'm wondering if you've come across their names in any of your PEI research. They were from Cape Wolfe and Freetown, I think." Source: reworked from emails from Suzanne Eaton, Mar 2016 Marriage of parents 1 Sept 1783; Benjamin Watters, Taylor from Kirk Parish & Jean Spence same Parish, daughter of the deceas'd William Spence late farmer in Fifeshire Source: Edinburgh Parish Register, image from ScotlandsPeople, 685/01 0510 0259, by Suzanne Eaton, Mar 2016 Birth of Daniel 26 Feb 1785, Benjamin Waters, Taylor in Cross Causeway, and Margt Dundas his spouse, had a son Born Friday, the 18th inst, Name - Daniel. Wits The Congregation of West Kirk. Source: Source: St Cuthbert's Parish Register, image from Scotlands People, 685/02 0100 0466, by Suzanne Eaton, Mar 2016 Marriage of Daniel 10 Aug 1811, Daniel Waters, wright, Leithwalk and Katherine Murray daug of David Murray, residing in the Cannongate, gave up their names for proclamaker Banns Matrimonial Source: Source: St Cuthbert's Parish Register, image from Scotlands People, 685/02 0180 0346, by Suzanne Eaton, Mar 2016 Death of Daniel Daniel Waters, widower, died 15 May 1859 at Sumburgh Head, age 77 yrs, parents Alexander Waters, Janet Waters, maiden name Manson [a line is drawn from this to the words "McLennan Registrar" which implies certifying the maiden name.], died of old age, no medical attendant, buried in church yard of Dunrossness, not certified, informant is David Waters, son, registered 17 May 1859 at Boddom [Aberdeenshire], McLennan Registrar. Source: Deaths in the Parish of Dunrossness in the County of Orkney & Shetland, pg 4, no. 12, statutory death 003/010012, image of the Civil Register page obtained from Scotland's People by Suzanne Eaton in 2010. |
| 6. WILLIAM WATERS "Anne and my husband descend from brothers William and David Waters who lived in The Cedars, now St. Joseph de Solanges, Quebec." BIRTH WILLIAM WATER, Birth: 06 JUN 1781, Christening: 07 JUN 1781 Olrig, Caithness, Scotland Source: IGI search, Extracted birth or christening record for the locality listed in the record, Parents for all are stated as Alexr Water and Janet Manson. Batch No.: C110392 Dates: 1699 - 1854, Source Call No.: 0990553, film: 6903137 I received a note today from Anne Bienjonetti in regards to a posting I made in October 2006. I am writing to you because I just found your page on Alexander Waters, b. ca 1755 in Caithness. Anne and my husband descend from brothers William and David Waters who lived in The Cedars, now St. Joseph de Solanges, Quebec. Williams death record (he was born ca 1781) says he was born in Caithness, Scotland. David, his brother, was born between 1790 and 1800. William's first son was Alexander. I just thought this was very co-incidental. Source: email, Feb 2011, Georgia Whitson FILE sent by Georgia Whitson Children of UNKNOWN WATERS are: 2.i.WILLIAM2 WATERS, b. Abt. 1781, Caithness, Scotland; d. Bet. 1852 - 1854, The Cedars (now St. Joseph de Soulanges). 3.ii.DAVID WATERS, b. Bet. 1790 - 1800; d. 14 Apr 1843, The Cedars (now St. Joseph de Soulanges). Generation No. 2 2. WILLIAM2 WATERS (UNKNOWN1) was born Abt. 1781 in Caithness, Scotland, and died Bet. 1852 - 1854 in The Cedars (now St. Joseph de Soulanges). He married CATHERINE FRASER 1816 in St. Gabriel's Presbyterian Church, Montreal, Quebec, daughter of JOHN FRASER and ISABELLA FRASER. She was born Abt. 1787, and died 02 Sep 1856 in St. Joseph de Soulanges. Notes for WILLIAM WATERS: WATERS William 1816 Montreal: Jury Lists (census - 1815 or later) National Archives of Canada, Microfilm Reel No. H-1758 (RG4B19Vol1a), Page 1 living in Montreal ________________________________________ DEATH Old Fort Cemetery Coteau du Lac (?) In memory of William Waters a native of Caithness Scotland who departed this life 28th October 1851 aged 73 years. ____________________________________ More About WILLIAM WATERS: Occupation: 1816, Gunsmith Notes for CATHERINE FRASER: In April 1807 Alexander’s younger sister Catherine Fraser, who declared herself unable to sign, married, as her first husband, Farquhar Matheson, Sergeant in the Canadian Regiment. Witnesses: John Fraser father, Donald Fraser brother. A document dated 26 Sep 1815 relating to the tutorship of the minor children of Farquhar Matheson is witnessed by Paul Fraser, uncle to the minor children. In May 1816 Catherine married secondly, William Waters, Gunsmith, by whom she had seven more children. Catherine Fraser was buried 4 Sep 1856 in St Joseph de Soulanges, aged 68 years, widow of William Waters, Bailiff. More About WILLIAM WATERS and CATHERINE FRASER: Marriage: 1816, St. Gabriel's Presbyterian Church, Montreal, Quebec Children of WILLIAM WATERS and CATHERINE FRASER are: 4.i.HELEN3 WATERS, b. Abt. 1822; d. 1891. ii.ALEXANDER WATERS, b. 1817, Quebec; d. Aft. 1901; m. FEEBEE (__); b. Abt. 1815, Quebec. Notes for ALEXANDER WATERS: Household: Name Marital Status Gender Ethnic Origin Age Birthplace Occupation Religion Alexandre WATERS M Male Scottish 62 Q <Quebec> Bourgois Catholique Febee WATERS M Female English 65 Q <Quebec> Catholique More About ALEXANDER WATERS: Resided: 1881, Les-Cedres, Soulanges, Quebec iii.JOHN F. WATERS, b. 1820; d. 1821. iv.MARY JANE WATERS, b. 1825; d. Aft. 1901. 5.v.JOHN RAMSEY WATERS, b. 1829; d. 1893. 6.vi.WILLIAM HENRY WATERS, b. Abt. 1831; d. 1923, Yakima, Washington. 3. DAVID2 WATERS (UNKNOWN1) was born Bet. 1790 - 18002, and died 14 Apr 1843 in The Cedars (now St. Joseph de Soulanges)2. He married ANN MCMARTIN 1831 in St. Gabriel's Presbyterian Church, Montreal, Quebec3, daughter of (MALCOLM?) MCMARTIN. She died 1849. Notes for DAVID WATERS: Description of "The Cedars" location, as yet undiscovered...hints "The trip to the Cedars was taken in a coach (from Montreal), at that time known as the stage, the sole mode of travelling to distant places. It was drawn by four horses accommodating about sixteen passengers. The steamboat that carried the travelers from Montreal and other quays along the line, reached the Cascades' wharf about two in the afternoon." Helen MS __________________________ David Waters found in: Immigration Records: Scottish Immigrants to North America, 1600s-1800s Listed in: Scots in the and Canada, 1825-1875 _______________________________________ "The Cedars" is now known as St. Joseph de Soulanges ____________________________________________ Land Records of Ormstown & Jamestown, Seigneury of Beauharnois Family Relationships of Beauharnois, Huntingdon & Chateauguay Counties Ovide Leblanc, Notary No 3401 July 22, 1835 Obligation David Waters of St Joseph de Soulanges; Uriel Hawley Orvis of Messina, St Lawrence County, NY __________________________________________ More About DAVID WATERS: Funeral: 1843, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Lachine, Quebec4 Notes for ANN MCMARTIN: somehow related to Anne: Alexander McMartin (1788-July 12, 1853) was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada. He was the first person born in Upper Canada to serve in its Legislative Assembly. He was born in Charlottenburgh Township in 1788, the son of a United Empire Loyalist who settled on the Raisin River. The settlement that formed around his father's mills was first known as MacMartin's Mills and later Martintown. McMartin served with the Glengarry militia during the War of 1812 and the Lower Canada Rebellion in 1838. He was elected to the 6th Parliament of Upper Canada in 1812 representing Glengarry and represented the county until 1824. During the 1820s, McMartin took over the mill operations. In 1827, with a partner, he took on a contract to clear land for a section of the Rideau Canal. As the project proceeded, he found that their costs were going to be much greater than the value of the bid. Despite verbal assurances from Colonel John By, he was not compensated for his losses on the project. In 1828, he was elected again as Glengarry's representative and served until 1834. He also served as justice of the peace, postmaster for Martintown and sheriff for the Eastern District. He died at Martintown in 1853. More About DAVID WATERS and ANN MCMARTIN: Marriage: 1831, St. Gabriel's Presbyterian Church, Montreal, Quebec5 Children of DAVID WATERS and ANN MCMARTIN are: i.HELEN3 WATERS, b. 18 Sep 1837. ii.ANNE WATERS, b. Aft. 1837. 7.iii.DAVID MALCOLM WATERS, b. 21 Mar 1843, Quebec; d. 1914. |
| 7. OTHER RECORDS My WATERS details are William Waters m. Isabella Angus. Daughter, MARGARET WATERS bap. 1777 Stainland, Thurso Parish m. JAMES DURRAN on 28 May 1798 in Thurso parish. Source: email from Sandra Norton, Oct 23/02 Image not seen - from the index at Scotlands People
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