Person:William Maitland (9)

William Maitland was born on 9th December 1816 and baptised later that month at Chapel of Garioch in Aberdeenshire. He was the son of Margaret Johnston and her husband John Maitland, a road contractor. The family lived at Fordmouth, a farm or small hamlet shown on old maps as lying in the parish of Chapel of Garioch between the hamlet of Pitcaple and the River Urie near Mill of Durno. There are no buildings at Fordmouth anymore – the site is now farmland and a small wood.

William’s mother died some time before 1836, when his father was married again, to a Margaret Scorgie in Aberdeen.

On 9th June 1838, aged 21, William married Elizabeth Wilson at Fintray, about ten miles south-east of Chapel of Garioch. At the time of their marriage he was described as a farm servant. Elizabeth already had a daughter who was about two years old, to whom William became stepfather. Shortly after their marriage, William and Elizabeth moved into Aberdeen, having another six children there between 1838 and 1851.

The 1841 census finds William, Elizabeth and their children (including Elizabeth’s daughter from before her marriage) living at Park Street in Aberdeen. William was described as a labourer. By 1851 they had moved to 5 Princes Street and William was working as a watchman.

Elizabeth’s mother came to live with her and William in Aberdeen, dying at their home at 30 Gerrard Street in 1857.

By 1861, William, Elizabeth and their children had moved to 1 Farquhars Court on Upperkirkgate in the centre of Aberdeen, with William working as a police officer. Living with them were three Wilson children, who may well have been Elizabeth’s nephew and nieces.

William’s father died in Aberdeen in 1863, and William was the informant for the death. His address at this time was given as 6 Broad Street in the centre of Aberdeen.

William died three years later on 9th July 1866 at 6 Broad Street in Aberdeen. He was 49 years old. His death certificate described him as being a constable in the City Police. Elizabeth survived him by nearly 26 years, supporting herself by working as a nurse.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Chapel of Garioch baptisms, in Scotland. Old Parish Registers, Births & Baptisms. (Edinburgh, Scotland: ScotlandsPeople (National Records of Scotland))
   179/10 167.

   1816 / Maitland / John Maitland in Foordmouth had a son born of his wife Margaret Johnston December 9th 1816 Baptised the 23d of said month and named William - in presence of Alexander Watson in Pitcaple Inn and William Middellon[?] in Foordmouth

2. ↑ General Register Office for Scotland. 1841 Scotland Census. (Edinburgh)
   168/A 2/57, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Park Street, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
   Will Maitland, male, 25 [1811-16], Labourer, born in county
   Elizabeth Maitland, female, 25 [1811-16], born in county
   Elizabeth Morrison, female, 4 [1836/7], born in county
   Marg[are]t Maitland, female, 2 [1838/9], born in county
   W[illia]m Maitland, male, 5mo [1840/1], born in county

3. ↑ General Register Office for Scotland. 1851 Scotland Census. (Edinburgh)
   168/A 10/21, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: 5 Princes Street, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
   William Maitland, head, married, male, 33 [1817/18], Watchman, b. Chapel of Garioch, Aberdeenshire
   Beatrice W. Maitland, wife, married, female, 36 [1814/15], b. Methlic, Aberdeenshire
   Margaret Maitland, daughter, female, 12 [1838/9], Scholar, b. Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
   William Maitland, son, male, 10 [1840/1], Scholar, b. Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
   John Maitland, son, male, 8 [1842/3], Scholar, b. Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
   James Maitland, son, male, 6 [1844/5], Scholar, b. Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
   Barbara Maitland, daughter, female, 3 [1847/8], b. Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
   Elizabeth Morrison, wife's daughter, unmarried, female, 15 [1835/6], Scholar, b. Methlic, Aberdeenshire
   N.K., daughter, female, 1w, b. Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire

4. ↑ General Register Office for Scotland. 1861 Scotland Census. (Edinburgh)
   168/1 16/17, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: 1 Farquhars Court, Upperkirkgate, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
   4 rooms with windows
   William Maitland, head, married, male, 44 [1816/17], Police Officer, b. Chapel of Garioch, Aberdeenshire
   Elizabeth W. Maitland, wife, married, female, 47 [1813/14], Police Officer Wife, b. Methlic, Aberdeenshire
   John Maitland, son, unmarried, male, 18 [1842/3], Brass Finisher (ap[prentice]), b. Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
   Jean Maitland, daughter, unmarried, female, 10 [1850/1], Scholar, b. Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
   Lewis Wilson, boarder, male, 9 [1851/2], Scholar, b. Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
   Helen Wilson, boarder, female, 7 [1853/4], Scholar, b. Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
   Margaret Wilson, boarder, female, 2 [1858/9], b. Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire

5. ↑ Death register, in General Register Office for Scotland. Civil Registration.

   1866 DEATHS in the District of St. Nicholas in the Burgh of Aberdeen
   No. 778
   Name and Surname: William Maitland
   Rank or Profession, and whether Single, Married, or Widowed: Constable (City Police) married to Elizabeth Wilson
   When and Where Died: 1866 July ninth 6h5m A.M., 6 Broad Street Aberdeen
   Sex: M
   Age: 49 years
   Name, Surname, & Rank or Profession of Father: John Maitland, Road Contractor (deceased)
   Name, and Maiden Surname of Mother: Margaret Maitland M.S. Johnston (deceased)
   Cause of Death, Duration of Disease, and Medical Attendant by whom certified: Pulmonary Consumption Duration uncertain as cert. by Francis Ogston M.D.
   Signature & Qualification of Informant, and Residence, if out of the House in which the Death occurred: John Maitland son and Inmate, present
   When and where Registered, and Signature of Registrar: 1866 July 9th at Aberdeen, John Watt, Registrar