ALEXANDER PETER AND ANN ( ROSE ) PETER - Scotland and Iowa - 1800's

ALEXANDER PETER and ANN ( ROSE ) PETER - Scotland and Iowa - 1800's

Parents of James Russell Peters

Compiled by LaVere Peters


Alexander Peter was born December 31, 1838, at Old Deer Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He was the first of six children of John Peter and his first wife, Ann Duncan.

Alexander's christening is recorded in the parish records, as follows: " John Peter in Brae of Biffie, by his wife Ann Duncan, had a son born 31 December, 1838, and baptised January 15 following, named Alexander. Witnesses, John Rettie and Wm. Thomson, both in Biffie." [Data from the LDS IGI and the Old Deer Parish Register, LDS Film #0993350]

Ann Rose was born December, 1833-36 at Forres Parish, Morayshire, Scotland. Her parents were John Rose and Margaret McPherson, both deceased by 1862. [Data from various censuses and Ann's marriage certificate. I haven't found her in the IGI or parish records]

Alexander and Anne were married May 30, 1862, at St. Nicholas Church (170 1/2 Gallowgate) in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, after Banns according to the Forms of the Scottish Church. Witnesses were William Thomson, Minister, John Peter, and William Tubb.

Alexander was listed as a gamekeeper, age 23, living at Kinninmonth.

Ann was listed as a servant, age 28, living at Littlewood. [Data from New Register House, Edinburgh, 1862 Dist 168 1, Ent. 103]

Alexander was employed as gamekeeper of Aden at Old Deer; I don't know when he started this employment. The family lived in the South Lodge of Aden. In my reading of the 1861 census for Old Deer, I did not find Alexander listed. Maybe I should read it again.

I did find Alexander's father, John and his second wife Jane, along with two of Alexander's siblings and a half-brother.

I did find two Rose families, but none that I could identify with Ann.

I noticed that in 1861 there was a different gamekeeper of Aden and a different occupant of the South Lodge.]

It appears that in 1861 a major industry of Aden was the woolen mill, along with weaving and knitting. Other occupations were related to farming, the railroad, and domestic service. There were many paupers and a large number of people living in the Poor House. Many of the children were listed as scholars, but some as young as 11 years old were employed.

Aden is now a Historic Centre, where visitors can view farming as it was done a hundred years ago. [I have photographs of the remains of the South Lodge]

[The only censuses that I have read for Old Deer are 1861, 1881 and 1891. I need to read 1841, not 1851(illegible), 1871, and maybe 1901.

I have been able to identify, from the IGI, eight of the children of Alexander and Anne. There was a ninth child, according to Anne's declaration on the 1900 U.S. federal census; at that time six of the children were living.

The children were all born in Old Deer.

1. Alexander 19 Feb 1863 - 11 Apr 1949, Wenatchee, WA

2. Jessie Ann 19 Feb 1863 - after 1881 census

3. John 7 Sep 1864 - 7 Jul 1866

4. James Russell 9 Jul 1866 - 12 Jan 1958, Wenatchee, WA

5. John 28 May 1868 - after 1900 census

6. Keith Slesser 13 May 1871 - after 1881 census

7. Margaret Jane 12 Jul 1873 - after 1881 census

8. Henry 22 Oct 1875 - after 1891 census)

1881 census for Old Deer:

"The District has four local subdivisions, viz.

1. The lands of Clackriach;

2. The lands of Bemrells;

3. The Village of Crofts of Bulmark;

4. The Village of Banks.

The District possesses an Established Church with mission bounds attached: a Presbytery Hall; 2 Schools (1 Boys & 1 Girls); 1 Meeting- house; a Grocer & General Merchant; Carpenter; Blacksmith; Shoemaker; Tailor, etc.'

Alexander and Anne were living in the East Lodge of Aden with five of their children. The house is described as having six rooms with windows.

[On both the 1861 and 1881 censuses I found the Aden Manor House (with 47 windowed rooms) and thought I might be able to identify the "laird of the manor". But, in both instances, nobody was there but the "gentleman's servants". I've since learned that the Russell family had, owned the Aden Estate since 1758, and that the resident was James Russell, Esq.]

The Peter Household at Aden in April 1881:

Alexander 43 Gamekeeper Dom. Serv.

Anne 47

Alexander 18 Under-Gamekeeper Dom. Serv.

John 12 Scholar

Keith S. 9 "

Margaret J. 7 "

Harry 5 " (Henry on IGI & 1891 census)

Living nearby at West Clackrich was son James R. Peter, age 14, servant, in the home of Keith H. and Mary (Duncan) Slesser. Mary was James' great-aunt.

Daughter Jessie Ann, age 18, was employed as a domestic in Aberdeen.

In 1889 the older sons, Alexander, James. R., and John came to America, settling near Estherville in Emmet County, Iowa.

1891 census for Old Deer lists the family living in the gamekeeper;s lodge at Aden in April:

Alexander PETER 52 Gamekeeper

Ann PETER 55 Wife

Henry PETER 15 Scholar

In 1891, after the April census, Alexander and Ann left Scotland and went to Emmet County, Iowa, near their older sons. I don't know which of the other children came to Iowa with Alexander and Anne in 1891. The three younger children would have been 15, 17, and 19 years old. Family tradition is that one of the brothers died in Death Valley, California.

1900 U.S. federal census, Lincoln Township, Emmet Co., Iowa:

Alexander Peter, age 61, farmer, imm. 1891, nat., farm owned & mortgaged

Ann Rose Peter, 63 1891 [She fibbed about her age.]

Married 38 years. They both could read, write, and speak English

Two sons living nearby:

Alexander Peters, age 37, farmer, married 8 yrs., imm. 1889 (illegible)

Anna Peters 39, 1892 from Scotland

Edith Rose Peters, 3 born in Iowa

Mabel Peters 1 born in Iowa

John Peters age 32, farmer, married 7 yrs, imm. 1889

Maggie Peters 32 1893 from Scotland

George Peters 6 born in Iowa

James Peters 4 born in Iowa

John Peters 2 born in Iowa

Sydney (m) 1 born in Iowa

We know that James Russell Peters was in Douglas County, Washington by 1900, but he seems to have been missed by the census-taker.

Perhaps the younger brothers, Keith and Harry, had come west too;

Margaret Jane may have married.

It's my guess that Alexander and Anne died in Iowa. [I have a photograph of Alexander and Anne. The props indicate that it was taken at the studio in Peterhead]

13 Oct 1995 Prepared by LaVere Peters

1995/96 Edited


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