The Logie-Coldstone Leys
"Don't Leys Me Out!"
Gordons o' Girnoc
'Camlet John'
The Girnoc Farms
Past Research
Location Map
Gordon Tombstones
Sources
The realization that Leys folk domiciled this parish (and indeed the neighbouring parish of Birse) came within the lists of grave transcriptions for both Logie and Birse Churchyard. In the former one can find three monuments to the 'Leys' in the latter just one. They appear as follows:
Logie tombstones (3):
Fallen Stone: JOHN LEYS died Aberdeen 26th June 1809 aged 65 years, daughter ISOBEL LEYS died June 1808 aged 18 years, JAMES LEYS3 died 9th April 1836 aged 40 years (w. ELIZABETH DUNCAN died November 1857 aged ? years)
(On the memorial immediately adjacent to the above) JAMES LEYS, cattle dealer, died Bellabeg, Braes of Cromar, 3rd February 1887 aged 53 years, w. ISABELLA ANDERSON born 22nd February 1841, died 19th February 1867 aged 26 years, son WILLIAM LEYS died in infancy.
Interred here (separate from above stones) JOHN McLAGGAN died Newgrodie, w. MARGARET LEYS, son WILLIAM McLAGGAN died 20th March 1794 aged 28 years.
Birse Tombstone (1):
1866. Erected in memory of JOSEPH LEY farmer Percie died 28th May 1852 aged 71, MARGARET STEWART his spouse died 25th October 1865 aged 80. Their two daughters; ELIZABETH spouse of JAMES BROWN gardener Edinburgh died 6th June 1844 aged 31, HELEN spouse of ARCHIBALD COUTTS died 30th August 1860 aged 46 and lies in the churchyard of Fordoun.
TOMBSTONE ONE:
So taking the first and oldest of the three Logie tombstones, we find remembrance of a John Leys who died in Aberdeen in 1809. At the time of death he was 65 years, so that calculates back to a date of birth circa 1744.
JOHN LEYS died Aberdeen 26th June 1809 aged 65 years, daughter ISOBEL LEYS died June 1808 aged 18 years, JAMES LEYS died 9th April 1836 aged 40 years (w. ELIZABETH DUNCAN died November 1857 aged ? years)
Now, reviewing the IGI returns, a likely candidate emerges for this John: "John Ley, son of William Ley and Jean Gordon was christened 23rd June 1744 Glenmuick" There was only one other recorded John Ley of this time period, son of James Ley and Margaret Gordon - christened 4th February 1735 (thus 9 years out making him much more unlikely as John Ley1)
Whatever it seems highly plausible to suggest the mother of John Ley was a Gordon? Hypothesising a stage further: was she related to the Mary Gordon who was married to Francis Ley?
1783 December 2 Day? John Leys in the parish of Tullich and Elizabeth Duncan in this parish was matrimony (sic) contracted and consigned pledges for abstinence and performance.
Children of John Leys and Elizabeth Duncan (married 12th November 1783)
1) John Leys christened 28th March 1790 in Glenmuick
2) Isobel Leys born circa 1790 - died 1808
3) James Leys born circa 1796 - died 1836
4) Jane Leys born circa 1810 - died 1881 (married John Begg - Lochnagar Distiller)
5) William Leys - speculative (married to Elizabeth Morrsison)
The following lists of bairns born to 'John Ley' appear in the IGI list - all born 'Glenmuick' �.it seems very reasonable to speculate that this is the John Leys who narried Elizabeth Duncan. If this is correct a further, and most important family group has emerged. For clarity this family shall be deemed FAMILY GROUP SIX: JOHN LEY and ELIZABETH DUNCAN. This family was it appears the 'key' to understanding the Leys within Logie-Coldstone.
Barbara Ley christened 9th August 1777 Glenmuick - father was John Ley
William Ley christened 12th June 1787 Glenmuick - father was John Ley
James Ley christened 26th June 1794 Glenmuick - father was John Ley
Francis Ley christened 17th May 1795 Glenmuick - father was John Ley
Jane Leys
Married to John Begg, Distiller and Farmer
Died: 5th July 1881 at 6.15am
At Lochnagar Distillery, Crathie
Age: 71years
Father: John Leys - farmer (D)
Mother: Elizabeth Duncan (D)
Died from: Pneumonia (6 days)
Informant: Alexander Jamieson (Farm Manager - present)
Elizabeth Duncan left an Aberdeen Inventory:
Elizabeth Leys, Mrs 28/12/1858 alias Duncan, residing in Aberdeen Aberdeen Sheriff Court Inventories
The following death of young Jane Leys at Lochnagar suggests that her father, William Leys (ship builder) was a further son of John Leys and Elizabeth Duncan:
Jane Leys
Single
Died 29th July 1867 at 1.45am
At Lochnagar Distillery
Age: 24yrs
Father: William Leys(D) - Ship Builder
Mother: Elizabeth Leys m.s. Morrison
Death cause: Unknown - not certified
Informant : Alexander Jamieson - Residenter the house, witness the death
TOMBSTONE TWO:
Now there is a stone in Logie immediately adjacent to the above memorial to John Leys and Elizabeth Duncan. Given this embracing proximity surely this can be taken to signify that they are all 'of family?'
JAMES LEYS, cattle dealer, died Bellabeg, Braes of Cromar, 3rd February 1887 aged 53 years, w. ISABELLA ANDERSON born 22nd February 1841, died 19th February 1867 aged 26 years, son WILLIAM LEYS died in infancy.
So here the patriarch is James Leys of Bellabeg, born circa 1834 (it was actually 1831 - see below). Immediately this confirms that he could NOT be a son of John Leys and Elizabeth Duncan (of the neighbouring stone), for John Leys died in 1809! This calculation took the writer, back, once again to Register House:
James Leys
Cattle Dealer - widower of Isabella Anderson
Died 3rd February 1887 at 11.10pm
At Bellabeg, Braes of Cromar, Glenmuick
Age: 53yrs
Father: William Leys (D) - Agricultural Labouer
Mother: Margaret Leys m.s. Anderson (D)
Death cause: Phthisis pulmonalis)
Informant : George Grant (neighbour)
1881 census - Bellabeg, Glengairn
James Ley, Widower, Head, Householder, age 48 years, born Glenmuick
Catherine McLean, Mother-in-Law, Housekeeper, Widow, age 64 years, born Strathdon
Testament and Inventory:
James Leys: 20/5/1887 cattle dealer, Bellabeg, Braes of Cromar, United Parishes of Glenmuick, Tullich, and Glengairn, d. 03/02/1887 at Bellabeg, testate, unmarried Aberdeen Sheriff Court Inventories
Yet again confusion was amassing and splitting an already aching cerebrum! For here James Leys of Bellabeg was not just married to an Anderson, but also the son of an Anderson. Furthermore his father was William Leys� not all together what had been anticipated!
James Leys has with his wife Isabella Anderson only one child registered for christening: the reason becomes all so sadly transparent when you put the dates of death of mother, and her infant son together: for in 1867, in confinement, childbirth or postnatally, young mother Isabella Anderson, age 26 years died along with her first child William. One can feel Bellabeg's pain even now.
Children of James Leys and Isabella Anderson
1) William Leys christened 4th November 1866 - died in infancy
So now the challenge of placing the father of James Ley of Bellabeg presented itself. In late September 1826, William Leys married Margaret Anderson, and four children later, in 1831 James Leys of Bellabeg was born.
Children of William Leys and Margaret Anderson (married at Logie-Coldstone 29th September 1826)
1) William Ley christened 13th March 1825 Logie-Coldstone
2) Margaret Ley christened 16th February 1828 Logie-Coldstone (married Mgt Mitchell 1856)
3) George Ley christened 27th September 1829 Logie-Coldstone
4) James Ley christened 14th December 1831 Logie-Coldstone
5) Marjory Ley christened 9th May 1834 Logie-Coldstone
6) Mary Ley christened 13th November 1838 Logie-Coldstone
7) Charles Ley christened 5th June1841 Logie-Coldstone - died 1856
8) Francis Ley christened 6th October 1845 Logie-Coldstone
Yes, the writer need not point out the names of the children of William Leys and Margaret Anderson - yet he must: Charles!; Francis!; Mary!, Marjory! etc. etc�. all of course 'indicator' names of our Leys family of further up the river Dee.
Now thanks to the longevity of William Leys, and the finding of his death certificate, it can be said, with certainty, that yes we have here a branch of the Leys of up river! His father was John Ley and his mother Margaret Dinnie: a couple whose children were ALL born in Glenmuick parish (see below):
William Leys
Widower of Margaret Anderson
Died 25th September 1874 at 4am
Age: 83yrs
At Old Groddie, Logie-Coldstone
Father: John Leys (D) - Farmer
Mother: Margaret Dinnie (D)
Death cause: Erysipilas in right arm (1 week)
Informant : James Ley (son)
Margaret Anderson (wife of above)
Labourer's wife - married to William Leys
Died 18th July 1863 at 2.00am
Age: 58yrs
At Old Groddie, Logie-Coldstone
Father: James Anderson (D) - Farmer
Mother: May McPherson** (D)
Death cause: Disease of heart (several years)
Informant : William Leys (husband)
**It is perhaps worth noting here that neighbouring Bush and Crathienaird in the mid 19th century was a family of McPherson, helmed by Murdoch McPherson (a Roman Catholic and Chelsea Pensioner)
Marriage of George Leys to Margaret Mitchell
On 5th December 1856 at Auchandryne, Marriage was solemnized between:
George Leys, age 28 years, of Corrybeg, Farm Servant, Bachelor
Father: William Leys (agricultural labourer)
Mother: Margaret Anderson
Margaret Mitchell, age 33 years, of Auchandryne, Domestic Servant, Spinster
Father: Peter Mitchell - Farmer (D)
Mother: Mary Bowman (D)
Witnesses: Henry Mitchell, James Bowman & William Mitchell
Charles Leys (son of above)
Farmer's Boy - single
Died 25th April 1856 at 6am
Age: 14yrs
At Old Groddie, Logie-Coldstone
Father: William Leys - Farm Labourer
Mother: Margaret Anderson
Death cause: Typhus Pneumonia (10 days)
Informant : William Ley (father) - marked by 'X'
Conclusions here cannot be straightforward: but surely John Ley (1744-1809) of Logie Tombstone One and this John Ley (the grandfather of James of Bellabeg - of Logie Tombstone Two) MUST be cousins?
So (and apologies if this is hard to follow) the following hypothesis:
1) John Ley (1744-1809) was the son of William Ley and Jean Gordon (Glenmuick)
2) John Ley(married to Mgt Dinnie) was the son of James Ley and Mgt Gordon (Glenmuick)
Children of John Ley and Margaret Dinnie (Downie?)
1) William Ley christened 27th December1791 Glenmuick
2) Margaret Ley christened 28th May 1794 Glenmuick - died 1890 (married Peter McConnach)
3) George Ley christened 22nd December 1799 Glenmuick
Margaret Leys
Widow of Peter McConnach (Farmer)
Died: 14th December 1890 at 6pm
At Longfold, Logie-Coldstone
Age: 93 years
Father: John Leys - farmer (D)
Mother: Margaret Dinnie (D)
Died from: Supposed Old Age
Informant: William McGregor (Grandson - Brankholm Cottage)
This last child to be mentioned, George Ley born 1799, was most likely to be the progenitor of the following family� the memorials to whom appear in Crathie Churchyard as follows:
Crathie Tombstone:
In loving memory of MARGARET MITCHELL wife of GEORGE LEYS died Cairnaqueen Cottage, Crathie 11th January 1902 aged 78, and said GEORGE LEYS died 6th September 1908 aged 79. Their son WILLIAM LEYS Lieut. Naval Volunteers died Calcutta, India 23rd December 1909 aged 49 and interred in Scottish cemetery there. Pte. GEORGE A. DOWNIE who was killed in action at Arras 27th September 1918 aged 33. Their daughter MARGARET LEYS wife of JOHN McDOUGALL died 25th July 1925 aged 62 years. Base: Also WILLIAM GEORGE LEYS son of WILLIAM LEYS and husband of EVELYN ELIZABETH MOYERS died 17th June 1959 aged 70.
Crathie Tombstone (next to the one to George Leys who died September 1909):
To the memory of PETER LEYS husband of HELEN MURRAY, for 46 years estate carpenter in Glen Tannar died Aberdeen 11th May 1931 aged 72 years. Said HELEN ISABELLA MURRAY died Ballater 17th May 1936 aged 69 years. EFFIE HARVEY GIBB died Aberdeen 2nd September 1958 aged 62 wife of GEORGE MURRAY LEYS M.A.,Ed.B., Headmaster in Aberdeen. Their son PETER GIBB LEYS died accidentally in Aberdeen 26th February 1960 aged 28. Said GEORGE MURRAY LEYS died 4th May 1967 aged 71 years.
Children of George Leys and Margaret Mitchell
George Leys christened 19th April 1857
William Leys christened 27th August 1860 - died 23rd November 1909 in India
Margaret Leys christened 10th May 1863 - died 25th July 1925 (married John McDougall)
Joan Fisher Leys christened18th December 1864
Peter Leys christened 21st November 1858 - died 1931(married Helen Murray)
1881 census - Greystone, Glenmuick Tullich & Glengairn
George Leys, Head, Married, Farmer, age 52 years, born Logie Coldstone
Margaret Leys (nee Mitchell), Farmers Wife, age 57 years, born Crathie
William Leys, unmarried, age 20 years, Farmers Son , born Crathie
Johanna Leys, unmarried, age 16 years, born Crathie
Francis Gibb, nephew, age 15yrs, Shepherd, born Aboyne
THE BIRSE TOMBSTONE of JOSEPH LEY (1776-1852):
Just one Ley stone can be found within the walled confines of Birse Churchyard - and that is the following memorial which was dedicated to the remembrance of Joseph Ley farmer of Percie and his wife Elizabeth Stewart:
Birse Tombstone:
1866. Erected in memory of JOSEPH LEY farmer Percie died 28th May 1852 aged 71, MARGARET STEWART his spouse died 25th October 1865 aged 80. Their two daughters; ELIZABETH spouse of JAMES BROWN gardener Edinburgh died 6th June 1844 aged 31, HELEN spouse of ARCHIBALD COUTTS died 30th August 1860 aged 46 and lies in the churchyard of Fordoun.
1851 census - Percie
Joseph Ley, Head, Married, age 75 years, Farmer 23ac, bornAboyne
Margaret Ley, wife, age 65 years, born Birse
Jean Ley, daughter, unmarried, age 33 years, born Aboyne
James Stewart, Servant on Farm, unmarried, age 28 yrs, born Birse
Joseph Diinie, Servant and Scholar, age 13 yrs, born Aboyne
Fanny Coutts, Servant, age 10 yrs, born Aboyne
Probably a sister - living next dwelling
Janet Ley, Head, unmarried, age 63yrs, Stocking knitter, born Aboyne
Inventories:
Joseph Ley 22/1/1866 Farmer in Percie in the parish of Aboyne, also Ley Aberdeen Sheriff Court Inventories
Leys Margaret, Mrs 22/1/1866 alias Stewart, widow of Joseph Leys, residing at Percie in the parish of Aboyne Aberdeen Sheriff Court Inventories
It seems most likely that Joseph Ley married twice: first to Mary Coutts in 1802; and second to Margaret Stewart in 1806. One postulates that Joseph's first wife died from a complication of confinement or childbirth.
1802
Contracted Joseph Ley in parish of Aboyne and Mary Coutts in this parish and after regular proclamations and no objections made married 30th March.
November 29th 1806
Contracted Joseph Ley in Persie in the parish of Aboyne and Margaret Stuart in Blackhole in the parish of Birse and after regular proclamations and no objections made married December 25th.
Children of Joseph Ley and Mary Coutts (married 30th March 1802 in Birse):
No children recorded: did Mary Coutts die young, leaving Joseph Ley to remarry? It appears so.
Children of Joseph Ley and Margaret Stewart/Stuart* (married 25th December1806 in Birse):
1) Margaret Ley born c1807 - died 1897 (married to John Michie)
2) Agnes Ley Christened 30th January 1823 Aboyne
Margaret Stewart*
Widow of Joseph Ley farmer
Died: 25th October 1865 at 5hr 30m pm
At: Percie Aboyne
Age: 80 years
Father: Peter Stewart farmer (deceased) Margaret Stewart m.n. Brawns (deceased)
Cause: cancer of the uterus - uncertain as cert by James McHardy LFPSG
Informant: Christian Malcolm, dau, Balfour Birse (present)
Registered: 1865 October 31st at Aboyne Andrew Gray Registrar
Margaret Ley (daughter of above)
Widow of John Michie, Sawyer
Died 16th February 1897 at 11am
At Woodend Melgum, Logie-Coldstone
Age: 90yrs
Father: Joseph Leys (D) - Farmer
Mother: Margaret Stewart (D)
Death cause: Senile changes
Informant : Peter Summers (son-in-law - present)
From the tombstone inscription one can deduce an approximate date of birth for Joseph Ley of 1781. This does not fully tie-in with the 1851 census which would give a date of circa 1776. What appears to have ocurred is the mistaken reading of a worn tombstone: age '71 years' being read instead of 'age 77.' Easily done when a tombstone is old and worn.
The IGI confirms this with:
JOSEPH LEY
Christened 28th March 1776 Aboyne
Father recorded as: JAMES LEY
There is also Janet Ley christened Aboyne 23rd September 1789, father James. This ties in most neatly with the sister Janet, unmarried and living next door to Joseph in Percie.
A decade earlier appears the christening record of another child to (presumably the same) James Ley:
Francis Ley christened 26th April 1778 at Aboyne to James Ley.
Now if this writer was a betting man he would for sure, say that James Ley, father of Joseph, Francis and Janet was again from up the river. For sure!
This Francis Ley, born in 1778, appears on the 1792 Lists prepared by the Reverend Joseph Smith of Birse:
Living at Kinminity
Widow Jean Harper (6) with Fras (3) Ley and Margaret Ley (3) - brackets indicate age in approx decade
At Glencatt
Wm Ley (6) -m- Helen Stuart (6)
Ann Ley (2) and Peter Ley (2)
The Gordons were known at various times to domicile remote Glencatt (pers comm. PJG)
UNIDENTIFIED LOGIE-COLDSTONE LEYS:
Much remains to be done in sorting out various strands of the Ley family, including:
Annie Leys
Married to James Roy, Blacksmith (journeyman)
Died: 20th September 1883 at 2pm
At Ellenfesie, Braemar
Age: 28 years
Father: John Leys - farmer
Mother: Janet Williams (D)
Died from: Typhoid Fever (1 month)
Informant: John Leys (brother - of Woodend, Logie-Coldstone)
This poor lad may never be traced - yet his name was Francis and his mother was Mary Leys!
Francis Donaldson (Leys)
Farm Servant (single) - illegitimate
Died: 16th February 1885 at 6pm
At Bon?, Logie Coldstone
Age: 26 years
Father: Alexander Donaldson - farmer (D)
Mother: Mary Leys - Domestic Servant (D)
Died from: Phthisis Pulmonalis
Informant: Francis Donaldson (Uncle - present)