STRACHEN, Mary ^{2 3}

   Cause of her death was senility (ie old age).

   Other names for Mary were HARDIE, Mary,^{4 5 6} HARDY, Mary and STRACHAN, Mary.^{1 2 3 6 7 8}

   User ID: M175.

  General Notes:

"STRACHEN
MARY
JAMES STRACHEN/ANN MCKENZIE FR73 (FR73)
F
09/01/1805
200/ 10 213
Glenbucket"

"STRACHEN
MARY
JAMES STRACHEN/ANN MCKENZIE FR158 (FR158)
F
09/01/1805
200/ 10 70
Glenbucket"

from Births and Baptisms



Old Parish Registers
Glenbucket parish Aberdeenshire
Baptisms

"9 January 1805
Said day James Strachen in Drumnagarie & Ann McKenzie his spouse had a daughter baptised called Mary before witnesses"

Another entry for this baptism records the information above and adds:
" (witnesses) John Christi in Belnacraig & James Strachen elder in Drumnagarie"


UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current wrongly records 9 January 1805 as the birth date of Mary when what we know of it is that it was her baptism date.

The 1841 census for Methlick in Aberdeenshire recorded Mary Hardie with her husband and seven children living at Auchencrieve. She was aged in the 20-24 years age group. She answered 'Yes' to being born in Aberdeenshire.
Note: The census entry quite clearly shows '20' for Mary's age, even although the next entry, her eldest child, reads '15'!

Mary Hardie was living at Goosepools in Methlick Parish, Aberdeenshire, when the 1851 UK census was taken. She had nine children to care for, from William aged 19 years, to the baby 5 months old. Mary was recorded as 35 years old and had been born in Glenbucket, Aberdeenshire.

The census of 1861 recorded Mary Hardie living with her husband and children and two boarders at Auchencrieve, in the parish of Methlick, Aberdeenshire. Her birthplace was recorded as Glenbucket, Aberdeenshire, and her age as 42 years. Seven of her children were recorded, the eldest being James S. Hardie, at 26 years of age, and the youngest William Hardie at 4 years of age.

The 1871 census for Methlick, Aberdeenshire, found William and Mary Hardy [sic] living and working at Auchencrieve. Mary Hardy was recorded as 50 years of age and her birthplace as Glenbucket, Aberdeenshire. With them lived their daughter Eliza, aged 23 years, their son, William, aged 15 years, and their grandson, Charles Mackay, aged 6 years.

In 1881, Mary Hardie was living with her husband in a household of five at Auchencrieve, Methlick, Aberdeenshire. She was recorded as 60 years of age and had been born in Glenbucket.

The 1891 census for Methlick, Aberdeenshire, found William Hardie senior no longer there. He had died in 1884. His son, William, was now the farmer and head of the household of eight at Auchencrieve: William and his wife Isabella, their four children, William's mother Mary Strachan Hardie, and a general servant, Isabella Henderson. Mary Strachan Hardie was recorded as 80 years of age and she was an annuitant. She had been born in Glenbucket.

In the census of 1901 Mary was living at Auchencruive, now the household of her son William and his family:
"William Hardie 43
Isabella Hardie 39
John Hardie 14
Bella Hardie 12
Maggie Hardie 11
Fredrick Hardie 9
Annie Hardie 3
Mary Hardie 92"

from 1901 UK Census

Mary Hardie died in 1910 at the recorded age of 105 years. In her death certificate she was recorded as the "widow of William Hardie farmer". Naturally, both of her parents were deceased. ^{3 4 5}

  Research Notes:

LONGEVITY ANF FERTILITY

Mary Strachen died at the recorded age of 105 years. She died in 1910, and there is little if any doubt she was born in 1805. It is just possible she was born in December 1804. Her thirteenth and last child, William, was born on 1 May 1856, by which time she was 55 years old. She must have aged slowly: the 1841 census recorded her in the 20-24 years age group. This is a little unusual since she married in 1833, and by 1841 had given birth five times! The 1851 census recorded her as 35 years old. In 1861 her age was recorded as 42 years, and by 1871 she was recorded as a mere 50 years old. In 1881 she was recorded as 60 years old, and in 1891 as 80 years old.

  Medical Notes:

Alexander Forbes MB CM certified the cause of death.

James Cameron, son-in-law of the deceased woman, gave notice of her death before the registrar, John Kellas, at Inverurie on 10 December 1910.

Mary married William HARDIE Farmer, and Fiddler, son of Peter HARDIE of Dunkeld, Weaver and Musician and May HUTTON, on 19 May 1833 in Methlick parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.¹ (William HARDIE Farmer, and Fiddler was born about 1797 in Caputh parish, Perthshire, Scotland,^{9 10} died 4 June 1884 at 9.15 am in Auchencrieve, Methlick parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland and was buried in 1884 in Methlick parish Churchyard, Aberdeenshire, Scotland ^{4 11}.). The cause of his death was old age and exhaustion.

  Marriage Notes:

"STRACHAN
MARY
WILLIAM HARDIE/
19/05/1833
221/ 40 289
Methlick"

from Index of Marriages



Old Parish Registers
Methlick parish Aberdeenshire
Marriages

"1833
19th May
eodem die
Hardie and Strachan
William Hardie & Mary Strachan both in this parish signified their purpose of marriage & consigned pledges etc" ¹