Thomas Stephen (Methlick)

[unklee]

Ah, now I enter "Arthise" I see this information, don't know why I didn't see it before - perhaps it was on the third or fourth page of output, and I didn't check that far. That is very useful and convincing information.

I checked the testament records (yes, that was a little more expensive than other records, but still not too bad) but it didn't tell us anything that we didn't know, except that Thomas died intestate, the name of his pub (Aberdeen Arms), and the extent of his estate (£230, worth somewhere between £17,000 and £250,000 today depending on the criterion used). But thanks for the idea.

I'll just have to wait for the Kirk Session records to go online.

[Currie]

There was an Aberdeen Arms Inn in Tarland owned by James Milne, the New Deer one appears to have been the Earl of Aberdeen Arms Inn.

Aberdeen Weekly Journal, Wednesday, January 17, 1877
NEW DEER – Ploughing Match – A match was held on Monday on the farm of Mr Thomas Steven, Earl of Aberdeen Arms Inn ………..”

According to scattered references in the newspapers Arthur appears to have been running his Coffee Rooms from as early as August 1855 to beyond March 1864. Fresh oysters were on the menu.

In this article in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday, November 14, 1855, it sounds more like he’s running a Pub.

PUBLIC HOUSE CASES.
Arthur Stephen, 19, Market Street, was charged with keeping open house on 30th Oct., after 11 P.M. The charge was admitted – Mr Cooper, advocate, explaining, on behalf of the accused, that one of the candidates for the Council, with a few friends, had been in the house discussing electioneering matters, and there was, of course, a delicacy in putting them out, though no drink was sold after 11 – nor was this charged – only keeping open house. This was the first offence. Penalty, 25s, 5s expenses.

Alan

[unklee]

Thanks Alan for that extra information. It is just fascinating how much information is out there - and how much I haven't been able to find, but others have.

The Hotel is called simply the Aberdeen Arms on the testament, but I can well believe they abbreviated it and you are correct - certainly, "Earl of Aberdeen Arms" is the name I find when I google it. But here's a strange one - a newspaper report in 1872 shows a Thomas Stephen selling this hotel, yet in 1881 and 1882 at his death he owns it again.

I had come across another ploughing match where Thomas Stephen came third, but there was no way to identify if he was the same person - he was then living elsewhere. But your reference is almost certainly the same person, despite the different spelling.

And the court case for Arthur is interesting also - makes me think the family may have all been rogues! But the connection of both Arthur and Thomas to Market St seem to make the identification of that Thomas Stephen with the father of Jane Stephen almost certain, which is a great step forward, for which I thank everyone who has given me help.

[nelmit]

Thanks Alan for that extra information. It is just fascinating how much information is out there - and how much I haven't been able to find, but others have. ......snipped

I had come across another ploughing match where Thomas Stephen came third, but there was no way to identify if he was the same person - he was then living elsewhere. But your reference is almost certainly the same person, despite the different spelling.

And the court case for Arthur is interesting also - makes me think the family may have all been rogues! But the connection of both Arthur and Thomas to Market St seem to make the identification of that Thomas Stephen with the father of Jane Stephen almost certain, which is a great step forward, for which I thank everyone who has given me help.

In a winners list from 1851 where Thomas Stephen, servant, Mains of Tulloch came 6th, one of the judges is Gray, Mains of Tulloch. Since the Thomas we have been following worked for Mr Gray at Tullo House I'd say it's the same person. I also read another snippet where Thomas himself hosted a ploughing match at the Inn on Monday February 18th 1878 - sounds like he was a good host.

I hope you are able to verify that this is your Thomas.

Regards,
Annette

[unklee]

Thanks Annette, all that is very interesting - it's fascinating really to get an insight into life at that time. I never knew there were ploughing matches until now.

[nelmit]

Found them in 1871 at Ancestry - a look at the original is definitely in order.

Elizabeth Rae 20 born Domestic, Aberdeensh
Jonas Steven 8
Mary Ann Herdon 7
Jane Moir 4
Eliz Moir 27 daughter
Isabella Walt 17

Regards,
Annette

[unklee]

Hi,

I started this thread 3 years ago, obtained some very useful help, but didn't fully resolve my problem. I think I know the answer but I just need to "prove" it. I have let things go for a while, but now I'm back on the case, and am wondering if anyone here can help me again please.

Briefly, one of my wife's ancestors (Thomas Stephen) was born to Elspet Moir in 1862 in Aberdeen (under the name Thomas Henry Stephen Moir), but we can't be sure of the father. He later said his father was also named Thomas Stephen, but there are two possible fathers by that name.

I believe the father was Thomas Stephen, born in 1826 in Auchterless, Aberdeenshire, to Thomas & Jane Stephen - he was the father of a previous child of Elspet's (named Jane, same as Thomas' mother), and his brother lived in the same street as Elspet, at the address Thomas gave on Jane's birth certificate. So it looks quite possible.

But there is another Thomas Stephen who could have known Elspet. He was born near Methlick, Aberdeenshire in 1836, to William and Isobel Stephen, and was therefore about 3 years younger than Elspet, who also grew up near Methlick, so they could have known each other. This Thomas was still in Methlick with his parents at the 1851 census when he was 14, the year before Elspet married John Sangster. (Elspet had 2 children with John, but he died young and she never re-married but had 4 more children, including those mentioned above.)

If I could find out more about the Methlick Thomas Stephen, I might be able to eliminate him, but my searching on Scotland's People, Ancestry and FindMyPast has not given me anything yet. Previously, people here were able to trace ancestors that I couldn't. so I'm hoping someone may have something to offer here agin please.

Thank you.