MURDOCH, Alexander Violin Maker

  General Notes:

In the 1851 census for Glenbucket, Aberdeenshire, Alexander Murdoch and Isabella Ingram were living at Belnaboth with their four daughters: Margaret, isabella, Jean and Mary, the last two of whom were aged 2 years, apparently twins. By occupation Alexander was recorded as a cart and plough wright.

In 1861 the census recorded the family living still in Glenbucket but at Delfrankie. The couple had six children: Jean aged 12 years, May aged 10 years, Hellen 8 years, William 5 years, Ann 3 years and Lydia 1 year of age. Alexander Murdoch was noted as a master house carpenter.

By the time of the 1871 census Alexander Murdoch was recorded by the census as a 'fiddle maker'. He with his wife and family were living at 8 Minister Lane, Aberdeen. The household consisted of Alexander aged 56 years, Isabella 49 years, their children Jane 22 years, Mary 20 years, Helen 18 years, Jessie 12 years, and Elizabeth 9 years. Alexander Duguid, a 9 year old schoolboy born in Glenbucket also lived in the household as a boarder, as well as Robert Stewart, a joiner, aged 23 years, born in Banff.

The census of 1881 recorded the Murdoch family living at 23 Blackburn Street, in the Govan Church parish of Lanarkshire. Alexander Murdoch, a man of 65 years of age, was noted as being a master violin maker. He lived with his wife, Isabella, now recorded as 60 years old, and one of his daughters, Lydia who was 21 years old. Alexander's son in law George Williams, a house carpenter aged 28 years and born in Towie also lived there. A grandson William Thom, 8 years old, and born in Aberdeen was resident there too. ^{2 3 4 5}

Alexander married Isabella INGRAM on 18 August 1842 in Glenbucket Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. (Isabella INGRAM was born on 29 April 1821 and was baptised on 6 May 1821 in Rothiemay Parish, Banffshire, Scotland.)