1909
January
1st House all in a pish of drops after the fresh with the snow being drifted in cleaned out snow of house & mill & thrashed a.m. Gordon away & I at Howbog at sheep & sorted beasts p.m. Jas Reid here p.m. a fine fresh day.
2nd Gordon & I dressed ram & he to Howbog to see sheep a.m. he pulling neeps p.m. I at Mary Jane Gordon of Banks funeral a right fine warm day a lot of the snow away thrashed tonight.
3rd A fine day I brought home sheep from Howbog tonight Elsie down with a letter to A Duncan from me her sweetheart John Duncan came home with her & came into the house for the first time tonight.
4th a right fine fresh day Gordon & I dipped all the sheep 135 with Robertsons Highland poisonous 16 lbs to 60 gallons. Old Love not well today.
5th Gordon & I took in a rick of clean ground corn & pulled some neeps... John Robertson Keithmore shooting hares... slept with me all night.
6th Gordon carting home neeps a.m. & I at ploughing match at Auchmair Jas Law has won the cup to keep Alexr Yeatts the gold watch for harness.
7th A very stormy day. ewes all mixed up with Bodiebaes last night with Robertsons leaving the gate open
8th A wild stormy day... Gordon looking after beasts Old Love none better. Adam Green over for dips gave him 32 lb of Highland poisonous to dip Bodiebae hoggs.
9th Love had fallen down none better cant eat nor drink. Gordon bedded cots & put Love outover.
10th Elsie at Church..old Love some better
11th Gordon to Rhynie with Bob to be shod & two socks to be sharped gave him 15/- of his wages not home at 12 p.m. not good a wild stormy night & drifting I sorted beasts & at Howbog at sheep at night. Thrashed bruised corn p.m.
12th Gordon had landed sometime this morning lay in his bed all day & never looked up I had to sort beasts thrash & twice at at sheep stormy looking tonight stormy looking tonight Howbog
13th Gordon came up at 8.30 a.m. & I paid him off & I sorted beasts then to Howbog John Souter here p.m. I engaged him to do whatever from now till term @ £11”10 He to look tosheep & I sorted beasts at home.
14th John Souter to Dufftown for meal to himself I looking after beasts Maggie to look to puting the sheep not good a wild stormy night & drifting Elsie & I thrashed
15th ... I made a rug to Love..
16th Jock Souter to old McCombie of Burntrebles funeral aged 88 years also John Sheed of Dufftown 47 years.. Jockie Ingrahim here to fee.
... Jock came about 10a.m. .. I writing.. vis Wm Smith Jr & A. Kelman Howbog & John Duncan Kirkton
18th ...Lizzie Jane Daun & I thrashed ...
19th .. at Howbog thrashed out a rick had Poll & Wm Smiths horse Wm Jnr drove horse Maggie loused I fed & Jock made straw...
20th ... man & boy from Muirend wanting to fee..
21st ... Willie & Johnnie at Howbog with me..
22nd Wm Beattie shot Poor Old Love at 10.30 a.m. & John Souter shot George Gordon Elricks old dog both buried in back park I am so sorry for good old faithful Love She is the last of my dear cousin Wm Souters beasts & liked her best of any beast I ever saw. Poor old Love Poor Lovey.
24th I at Howbog at sheep morning & put them to hill... Jock sorted beasts.. Willie in house all day with sore leg.
30th ... told Jock to take in a rick but he did not do it just sorted beasts & out a load of neeps to sheep for tomorrow..
31st...7a.m before John Duncan got home to Kirkton from his sweetheart Elsie
February
7th Jock townkeeper Elsie going to have tea with her good mother afternoon her sweetheart John Duncan in bed with her last night, left this morning
9th Jock Souter did not get up till 8.30 a.m. I had to sort beasts
14th ..Jock sorted beasts then away to Auchmair. Jock Duncan left Elsie this morning at the stroke of 6 o’clock
20th Jock Souter to Aberdeen to his sister Annies daughters funeral aged 14 months...
21st I sorted beasts & sheep onto neeps a.m. Jock has not come this morning
24th... Lizzie sorted beasts..
26th Dod here working for Jock he away at ploughing match. I at Dufftown with my hares sold 15 white .. Peter McConnachie has the cup 1st for feering, ploughing , finish & straightest furrows, 2nd John Horn 3rd Robertson Tomnaven 4th Shenval 5th A. Yeatts
27th Jock Souter has not turned up to his work today..
28th Jock has not turned up from match yet So I have to look after beasts he is an awful man my Jock Souter stormy day.
March
1st no Jock Souter appeared landed about 1p.m.
3rd Jock Souter left this morning for having to get up so soon in the morning 6.30. .. Wm Wilson & carried rick in & helped us to thrash
4th Jas Reid here forenoon. Sent a letter to G Gordon to come inover. Jock Souter to Dufftown sales to buy cow for his mother was behind sales took too long in his bed as usual
5th Dod here in good time...
6th Dod & I sorted beasts....
7th A fearful wild stormy day... doors drifted up
8th ... Dod not come today yet...
9th ... Wilson helped us to thrash noon..
10th ... Wilson helped us to thrash... Alick Shand came here 5 p.m.
11th ... Alick plucking neeps
12th Alick sorted beasts..
13th Alick sorted beasts
14th Snowing & drifting all day. Alick Shand sorted beasts & neeped sheep. I in bed near all day with a sore leg. Alick Shand lay in kitchen bed last night with Elsie Bruce both got out of bed at 6.30a.m.
19th Alick pulling neeps I gave Meg mare first of worm powders
20th ... Alick at neeps
21st Alick sorted beasts then down home. I sorted them rest of the day. Elsie to Bracklach Jas Reid here. I caught Jock Duncan in bed with Elsie Bruce this morning at 4 a.m. but he did not leave till 5a.m.
22nd I at Thomas Robertsons funeral aged 68 years
23nd .. Alick & Wilson to clearing of Rhynie road
24th ..vis here tonight Jock McBain Wm smith A Kilman Jas Milloy Jock Duncan & Nelly Raffan
25th Alick & Elsie with each other last night both arose out of bed at 5.25 a.m. Engaged Wm Duncan to term at £4”12
28th Very frosty this morning . Sheep down in good time & over among Wilsons. Ewe lambed this morning lamb dead. ..Jock Duncan up seeing Elsie tonight.
30th ... Alick left p.m. I paid him 35/- & a white hare
April
4th Sunday Strong wind & fresh Sheep neeps I in bed forenoon .My sheep out on to end of dillet p.m. Willie like a fool tried to take Wm Beatties through the water & it big. Wildie dressed him. Raffan here tonight Duncan home with her.
5th Sheep neeps then Willie pulling p.m. . Took in some hay & he cleaning out cots & I took out 2 strainer holes innlow down gate inti back park. A fine day but frosty Wm Beattie ploughing all day. Duncan home from the raffan at 5 a.m.
11th I up at 5a.m got Jock Duncan in bed with Elsie both sleeping & Willie he came home from Kirkton at 6 a.m. I busy amongst ewes lambing got a ewe dead in back park ditch drowned Strong fresh today. J Reid up Lizzie & Daughters at Powneedp.m. Wm Beattie up at night left him with Elsie at night..
12th Sheep neeps then filled in midse over the burn with Poll & down iron harrows ready to break in then I helped him to yoke Bob & started to plough clean ground going fine Jock Reid & wife landed tonight wanting stopping.
18th I amongst ewes by 4.30 a.m. Lizzie at Church Duncan at Rhynie Jock sorting beasts. Helen Reid & girls up p.m. with Lizzie from Church Jock Souter at Howbog a fine day.
23rd Jas Reid Lizzie annie & baby away to Carney to see the Shearers with Dasey in gig...
24th Duncan finished breaking lea on Culwine then Wilson helped us to winnow seed a.m. Wilson sowed Elsie carried Duncan harrowed. Then Wilson helped me to put up nets & let ewes on to neeps p.m.
25th Sunday Jas Reid Lizzie & bairns home by 3 p.m. they were at Corsemaul all night left Adams yesterday...
30th A wild stormy day snowing & driffting a fearful day on ewes & lambs. Mains Dod here we ironed some hoggs with Buck iron 92 of them ... Elsie at Aldunie with Jockies boot & my clog . Elsie 10/-
May
9th Sunday I at Church... Jock Duncan & Elsie on top of Buck...
14th A wild cold stormy day Farquharson & man Leslie from Ellon here & bought Bob horse at £40 I am to give him £1 back of luck . I at Willie Kellas sale bought 5 prize hens @ 1/10 each ... pot at 2/- bridle 1/8 grindstone 6d Willie ploughing all day.
15th... Willie at Rhynie 6 teething powders & boots to Annie from Angus no use too big
18th Dod & I at Laggan sale delivered Bob Dod rode him over & home new horse a dear sale.. Willie ploughing with Poll & grey mare p.m.
24th I at Rhynie market I feed Jock Gordon Elrick @ £15
26th Wednesday... Wm Duncan left tonight
28th Dod here mucked 4 dreels 7 set them7 covered in taties I have 13 dreels Reid 3 & Jockie 2 all my seed. Poll turned ill in plow & lay down very bad for awhile I made up a drench & gave her Elsie away noon Jock souter here I paid him £3 & Elsie £5”10 Wilson at laggan with Dod mare.
29th Dod of Elrick has my horse today laying his taties
June
2nd No Jock he left last night about 11 p.m. tried Dod to go with him. I sent Dod to post with letters
3rd Dods Charlie this morning he grubbing I working in garden delved sowed carrots & pease & set cabbage..
4th Charlie spring tining & harrowing I in Rhynie... got Lizzie bad in bed when I came home Willie was with me had to make his own supper wash dishes milk cows & feed chicks&C a fine day
5th Charlie by 8 a.m harrowing & linking Poll served with Briery side...
7th I harrowing & linking back park... besom Jamie here & stayed all night
8th ...besom Jamie failed to come back ... served Meg mare with Royal Charlie
15th I grubbed ... motor car race through Cabrach
16th Charlie Dod & I gathering weeds..
21st I spring tined with Poll & Dod harrowed with Jock Charlie harrowing & linking ...Mains I shot his old bitch & buried her tonight Jim Reid came
26th I with Jock Reid in moss a.m. him & Tinie in moss p.m. I sowed Purple Top neeps p.m. A great PicNic on Buck today from Aberdeen & Dufftown held by Keithmore folks & their friends Teaed at Bodiebae a fine afternoon.
28th Lizie not well in bed ... I doing housework Jock & his wife in moss..
July
4th I at church at Sacrament Adam Shearer & wife came up here to dinner Adam had to go home tonight Mary & her 2 boys stayed at Cottage a fine day
8th I at Dufftown sales... engaged a chap Wm Leslie from now till term @ £11. Dod had left as soon as I went away.
9th Willie Leslie came tonight
10th Willie Leslie to Dufftown with Poll for his kist. I at PicNic with boys.
11th Vis. Mrs shearer & her 2 boys Adam & Edward Dod Gordon & Dod Duncan
12th Willie setting peats Jock Reid finished casting his 2000 barrowfuls 12 breast peats each Paid him £1”6”6 before 13/6 off £2 off to Ardwell him & teenie & got drunk
14th ... I set Macpherson on Jockie Gordon
16th Thrashed & Willie away to his sisters marriage. Clipped ewes & cut lambs Jane Daun Harry Nicol George Duncan Wm Beattie Wm Gordon Wm Wilson Jock Reid & I
17th I at Wm Beatties marriage at Bridge of Alford 2 p.m. Willie Leslie & his sister came & took away his kist.
29th Thursday Jock Harry (Nicol) & I hoeing... Cabrach market a lot of drunks
31st ... I to Bridgend for Adam shearers mother paid her fair 1/- Nell Reid Jane Spence & Bell away with Mutch to DR...
August
1st Sunday Willie Annie & baby very bad with whooping cough
5th Jock on spree this morning ... is to stop till term @ 11/- per week meal & milk
6th ... dipped 172 ewes 109 lambs 42 wedders 5 rams Lizzie in bed all day Jane Cameron milked
10th Jock & Harry cutting hay all day Harry a scythe from Wm Beattie. T at Keith Show home a fine berrie pan to Lizzie supper at Laggan home 11p.m a fearful warm day.
16th Jock Reid & Teenie off this morning. Advertised for a man . Engaged Alexr Davidson or Gunnie for a week at 11/-
17th Gunnie turning peats & I finished hoeing of neeps & cut dockings in cornyard.
19th Gunnie Jane Daun 2 tramps & I gatherred & stooked up hay
20th... I to Rhynie with Dasey to meet my brother Alexr & his daughter Mary
21st ... Engaged Wm Duston @ 12/- per week from now till the term
29th ... got a brace of grouse & a hare from Paget
30th Willie started to take home peats. Alic & I gutted James old house & Willie carted it home here
31st...... Wm Beattie had a fight with 2 tinker women on way home from Maryfair Gillies had a race to top od Buck from Lodge & back Bob Duncan won.
September
2nd ... Deston to Mill of Noth for meal & took up his wife baby & furniture had the 2 carts... Alick & Mary to Auchmair to visit Sandy & Nelly kept out of sight....
5th Sunday Willie at Rhynie for druggs to his baby
7th A fearful day all day Finlay from Agriculture College here seeing about hay experiment... 14 sheep drowned at Bracklach crossing end of Alt water Harry & Wilson helped to skin & dress them
9th Diston pulling juniper in Kinny burn Lizzie & Willie pulling berries & Wilson Jockie & I looking for sprotts a fine afternoon.
15th Diston & I sorting peat road... I met William Nicols funeral above Howbog 1.30 aged 34 years Findlater here tonight fiddling
17th Willie carting peats... I at Charlie Nicols funeral aged 58 years Dufftown a big funeral
18th Willie carting peats I drove to Adam Shearers place Raemurrick with the 2 boys Willie & Johnnie got a good day
19th Sunday Up early Adam & I round his hill his hill is 300 feet lower than our house & his house 600...
October
6th Tom Robertson & I at Huntly sales I looking at a binder Woods New Century 4 years old price to be £11... Willie spent the day dressing 2 ricks.
11th Willie & I took out the reaper & I put her together ... we got a fearful steeping I had to change shirt & all
15th cutting corn below the garden Jane daun gathering her first day
29th diston at Rhynie with mare Meg to be shod & to send up th Dr to Mary Jane .. he thinks it is nettle rash
November
13th Saturday.. Such a destruction since last night cart shed blown down all but the walls into cornyard hay ricks & hewks down gigs to Bodiebae Dod & Wilson helped us with shed roof. Such a smash
14th ... I had to meat beasts Diston never looked up.
16th ... Dod of Elricks cow dead this morning he to Bridgend & got Jock horse sharped & sent telegram to Douglas brae to come for his cow. I gave Diston £1
17th Diston & I to Dufftown market I engaged a man G Rennie @ £15. Diston did not fee
29th Wm Diston & his wife left in the morning Dod of Elrick took his furniture to Dufftown
December
1st ...Rennie to Dufftown station for his kist
11th A very bad day ... I herding sheep a.m. on top of Buck p.m. got nothing never fired a shot Wilson shot 3W. hares. Rennie gathering bedding & pulling neeps.
13th Gordie linking lea.
29th ... Alex Sheed of Aldunie married to Isa McBain at Bentons dinner laid on for 93. Gordie took in a rick it took him all day to do it which could have been done in 1.5 hours.
no word of a bannock night this year
The first mention of Gordie who features almost daily in the following months. It is G. Rennie 1910 cash account 28th May Gordie Rennie £14”15
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