William Key farm servant

Barnhill Cemetery
where William Key is buried

Parents:

• (Child) Birth*: William Key farm servant was born on 28 October 1807 at Lammerton, Monifieth, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; 1807 page 46/47, Key, William, lawful son to George Key and Isabel Law in Lammerton born 28th of October and baptised the 1st of November.^1,2
• He was the son of George Key and Isabel Law.
• Baptism: William Key farm servant was baptised on 1 November 1807 at Monifieth, Forfarshire, Scotland, .²
• (Groom) Marriage*: He married Elisabeth Myers, daughter of John Myers and Sarah Napier, on 9 December 1838 at Balmossie, Monifieth, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; Key & Myres; William Key farm servant Balmossie and Elisabeth Myres servant same place were proclaimed Dec 2nd & 9th 1838.³
• (Deceased) Death*: William Key farm servant died on 12 April 1899 at Bayfield Lodge, West Ferry, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, , at age 91 1899 deaths in the district of St Andrew in the burgh of Dundee, William Key farm grieve widower of Elizabeth Myres, 1899 April twelfth 9h 10m am Bayfield Lodge West Ferry parish of Dundee, m, 91 years, parents George Key estate joiner (dec) and Isobel Key ms Law (dec), cystitis chronic exhaustion as cert by James Gowans MBCM, William Key son 17 Park Avenue Dundee; registered 1899 April 13th at Dundee Jas Murray registrar.⁴
• (Interred) Burial*: He was buried with William Key farm servant on 14 April 1899 at Lair no 123, section E, Barnhill Cemetery, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, , Proprietor of Lair is George Key, harbour porter, 17 Park Avenue; William Key buried on 14 April 1899 age 91 years, widower of Elizabeth Kay, son of George Key and Isobel Low.⁵

• (Informant) Birth: He registered the birth of Helen Key powerloom weaver on 24 June 1855 at East Denside, Monikie, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; 1855 births in the parish of Monikie in the county of Forfar; Key, Helen not present, female, 1855 June twenty-fourth 7h 10m pm; East Denside Parish of Monikie Forfarshire; father William Key farm servant aged 44 years born Monifieth; married 1838 Monifieth, 3 boys and 3 girls living 1 boy and 1 girl deceased; mother Elizabeth Key ms Mires, her 9th child, aged 35 years, born Marykirk; informant William Key father; registered 1855 July 11th at Monikie William Alexander registrar.⁶
• (Informant) Death: William Key farm servant registered the death of James Key on 15 February 1873 at 32 Dallfield Terrace, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; 1873 deaths in the district of St Clement in the burgh of Dundee, ref 83; James Key machine fitter journeyman married to Isabella Robertson, 1873 February fifteenth 7h 15m pm 32 Dallfield Terrace Dundee, male 33 years, parents William Key railway surfaceman and Elisabeth Key ms Myres, hepatitis 15 weeks asciles 7 weeks dysentery 12 days as cert by Thomas Richardson MD, signed William Key father Monifieth, registered 1873 February 18 at Dundee Dav Scott registrar.⁷
• Photograph*: William Key farm servant and Elisabeth Myers are in this photograph taken say 17 December 1888.⁸
  

  say Golden Wedding 17 Dec 1888; William Key & Elisabeth Myres
• Newspaper Article*: William Key farm servant and Elisabeth Myers were mentioned in a newspaper article on 17 December 1888; GOLDEN WEDDING - Mr William Key and Mrs Key, who have resided in Monifieth for about 20 years, celebrated their golden wedding on Saturday evening. The aged couple had with them on the occasion three daughters with their husbands, and one son and his wife, together with thirteen grandchildren. The company spent a very enjoyable evening in a manner appropriate to the interesting event. It may be mentioned that Mr Key is in his 82nd year, while Mrs Key is 72 years of age, and both are hale and hearty. Besides the above mentioned members of their family, they have a daughter in America, and a son engaged as a missionary in China who together have eight children. Mr and Mrs Key have twenty-three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.¹⁰
  
• (Spouse) Death: His spouse Elisabeth Myers died on 25 April 1894 at Gibson's Cottages, Monifieth, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; 1894 deaths in the parish of Monifieth in the County of Forfar, ref 61, Elizabeth Key married to William Key general labourer, 1894 April twenty-fifth 6h 0m pm Gibson's Cottages Monifieth, f, 76 years, parents John Myres seaman RN (dec) Sarah Myres ms Napier (dec), cause abdominal ulcerated tumour 6 months, haemorrhage exhaustion 1 day as cert by Robert Sinclair Smith LRCPCN, signed George Key son 17 Park Avenue Dundee present, registered 1894 April 26th at Broughty Ferry Robt Morrison registrar.¹¹
• Photograph*: William Key farm servant is in this photograph taken say 1898.⁸
  

  say 1898 William Key
• Newspaper Article*: He was mentioned in a newspaper article Broughty Ferry - Death of a Nonagerian. - Yesterday morning there passed away at the residence of his son-in-law, Bayfield Lodge, West Ferry, one who was perhaps the oldest resident in the burgh - namely, Mr William Key, who was 91 years of age last October. Deceased in his younger days was a ploughman, and was engaged on several farms in the northern part of the parish for many years, the later period of his life previous to coming here to reside being spent in Monifieth. Mr Key, whose wife predeceased him some years ago, brought up a family of sons and daughters. One of his sons, William, has laboured for many years in China as a missionary, and he only arrived here from that country on Monday last, just in time to see his aged father before he expired. on 13 April 1899.¹²
  

Census & Directory Entries

Head of Household	6 June 1841	He and Elisabeth Myers and James Key were listed in the 1841 census at Ashludie, Monifieth, Forfarshire, Scotland, . Ashludie, Key William, m, 33, Farm Servant, Angus; Key Elisabeth, f, 23, Outside Census County (1841.)13
Head of Household	30 March 1851	He was listed as head of household in the 1851 census at Greenlawhill Cottar Houses, Barry, Forfarshire, Scotland, . William Key, head, mar, 42, farm serv foreman, Forfar Monifieth; Elisabeth Key, wife, mar, 33, Mearns Marykirk; also in the household were Elisabeth Myers, James Key, George Key, Margaret Key, Sarah Key and Ann Key.14,15
Head of Household	7 April 1861	He was listed as head of household, along with spouse Elisabeth Myers in the 1861 census at North Powrie Farm Cottage, Murroes, Forfarshire, Scotland, . William Keay, head, mar, 57, ag lab, Forfarshire Monifieth; Elisabeth M Keay, wife, mar, 43, Kincardinshire Marykirk; 2 children in school; 2 rooms with windows; also in the household were Sarah Key, Ann Key, Helen Key powerloom weaver and William Key missionary.16
Head of Household	2 April 1871	He was listed as head of household along with spouse Elisabeth Myers in the 1871 census at Burnside Cottage, Monifieth, Forfarshire, Scotland, . William Kay, head, mar, 59, labourer, Forfarshire Monifieth; Elisabeth Kay, wife, 52, labourer's wife, Kincardineshire Marykirk; 1 child in school; 1 room with window. Header information for this census record reads 'County of Forfar, registration district of Monifieth, enumeration district no 9, name of enumerator John M Walton. Description of enumeration district : N By Seaview and road leading to Nursery and Ashlude, S River Tay, E Parish of Monikie, W By road from South Grange to River Tay. This district comprises the Village of Monifieth.'; also in the household were William Key missionary and Elisabeth Key.17,18
Head of Household	3 April 1881	He was listed as head of household in the 1881 census at Barries Land, Monifieth, Forfarshire, Scotland, . Willm. Key, head, mar, 72, gen labourer, Monifieth; Elizabeth Key, wife, 64, Maryburgh Kinross; Elizabeth Key, gdaug, unm, 16, millworker, Memus; Wm Stewart, lodger, unm, 28, labourer unemployed, Monifieth; Wm Petrie, lodger, wid, 42, mason, Monikie; Thos Gow, lodger, unm, 41, mason, Caputh Perthshire; also in the household were Elisabeth Myers and Elisabeth Key.19
Head of Household	5 April 1891	He was listed as head of household along with spouse Elisabeth Myers in the 1891 census at Gibson Cott, Monifieth, Forfarshire, Scotland, . William Key, head, 83, retired, Monifieth; Elizabeth Key, wife, 73, Marykirk Kincardine; also in the household were Elisabeth Key.20