| Mary Ross |
| c. 1794 - 11th October 1872 |
The baptism of Mary Ross was recorded in the Birse (Aberdeenshire) Parish Register of Baptisms, in an entry dated
7th January 1794:
James Rofs in the Ennachy a daughter Mary witnefses William Rofs and John Rofs
At the time of her marriage to Robert Stuart in 1821, Mary Ross was in Birse Parish. On the day on which the wedding took place, Robert’s younger brother, Harry Stuart, confided his verdict on his new sister-in-law in a letter to his aunt, Elizabeth Catanach:
Robert... is getting a girl of unexceptionable character both as to herself and friends, and I am much better pleased, than if she had been a Lady of fortune. There (sic) small farm cannot afford but moderate things, and as she is a respectable farmer’s daughter and has been brought up in that way, with a competent education, she seems to me to be only one in that place he could have taken.
Mary Stewart (sic), widow of Robert Stewart, farmer, died on 11th October 1872, at 8h
15m am, at Balgair Cottage, Bridge of Dee, Aberdeen. Her age was entered as 78. The causes of death were
certified as old age and gastric irritation, from which she had been suffering for six weeks. The informant on the
following day at Aberdeen was the deceased’s son, John Stuart, entered as present. For some reason, one form of the
surname was entered for his mother, and another for John himself, as had been the case when he performed the same
office for his father, eight years earlier.
The www.findagrave.com
transcript of the family memorial stone in Tarland Kirkyard confirms the date of death for Mary Ross, widow of
Robert Stuart, as well as the age at which she died.
Harry Stuart to Elizabeth Catanach, 27 December 1821
| Forebears |
When Mary was baptised in 1794, her father was styled ‘James Rofs in the Ennachy’.
When Mary Stuart MS Ross died in 1872, her parents were recalled as James Ross, farmer, Mid Struth, Birse, and Janet
Ross MS Rome, both deceased.