John Cattanach

John Cattanach
1834-1914
picture taken at his Diamond Wedding event on 6 February 1913

Parents:

• Birth*: John Cattanach was born on 18 February 1830 at Aberlemno, Forfarshire, Scotland, .
• He was the son of Charles Cattanach and Charlotte Fyfe.
• (Groom) Marriage*: John Cattanach married Mary Stirling, daughter of David Stirling linen handloom weaver and Jessie Smith, on 6 February 1853 at Dunnichen, Angus, Scotland, .
• (Deceased) Death*: John Cattanach died on 29 August 1914 at Letham, Forfarshire, Scotland, , at age 84 died from cystitis aged 84 years.¹

• (Witness) Birth: He witnessed the birth of Charlotte Fyffe Cattanach on 29 January 1855 at Dunnichen Village, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; certs held; 1855 births in the parish of Dunnichen in the county of Forfar registered by Wm Macfarlane registrar; Catanach Charlotte Fyfe not present, female, January twenty-ninth 10h 0m am Dunnichen Village, John Catanach farm servant 25 years Aberlemno, 1853 Dunnichen 1 boy living, Mary Catanach ms Stirling her 2nd child 20 years Dunnichen, John Catanach father, 9th February 1855 at Dunnichen Wm Macfarlane registrar.
• Newspaper Article*: John Cattanach and Mary Stirling were mentioned in a newspaper article LETHAM DIAMOND WEDDING
  Mr and Mrs John Cattanach.
  The 60^th anniversary of their wedding was celebrated on Saturday by Mr and Mrs John Cattanach, South View, Letham, when there was a family gathering. The only son, Charles, is in America and could not therefore be present. Mr Cattanach was only 9 years old when his father took the farm of East Mains of Dunnichen, and he has spent practically all his days in Dunnichen parish. He was born in Aberlemno in 1830, and is now 83 years of age.
  Mrs Cattanach was born in Letham in the very house where the couple have spent most of their married life. She is her husband’s junior by four years. Her maiden mane was Mary Stirling, and it is an interesting fact that the Stirlings have been in Letham for many generations. They were married at Drummietermont, Dunnichen on 11^th February 1853 by the Rev. Alexander Ross, parish minister of Dunnichen.
  Both husband and wife are tall, and the minister remarked at their marriage that while he had married bridegrooms as tall and brides as tall, he had never married a couple where both bride and bridegroom were so tall and handsome.! There have been six of a family, five of whom still survive. There are 16 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
  At the gathering on Saturday all the family who could be present did honour to the old couple. The Rev. Hugh Macmaster presided, and voiced the feelings of all Mr and Mrs Cattanach’s numerous friends. In name of the descendents at home and abroad and other friends he presented the worthy couple with a well-filled purse of sovereigns, expressing the hope that they still be spared to one another for some years. Mr Cattanach feelingly responded, and thanked the family and friends for their kindness. on 8 February 1913 at South View, Letham, Forfarshire, Scotland, .²
  
• (Witness) Memorial Inscription: John Cattanach is commemorated on the headstone erected in August 1914 at Dunnichen Parish Church, Letham, Angus, Scotland, . Inscription reads In sacred memory of John Cattanach died 25th August 1914 aged 84 years and his wife Mary Stirling died 17 November 1914 aged 80 years. Also their daughters Ellen died 25th January 1879 aged 15 years, their son Charles died at Islay, Alberta, Canada 31st July 1930 aged 76 years, Mary died 24th April 1943 aged 83 years, Johanna died 3rd February 1944 aged 73 years, Charlotte wife of John Wilkie, USA, died 16th April 1923 aged 89 years. And their children who died in infancy. Their daughter Ellen died 17th February 1950 aged 71 years.³
  

  Dunnichen Churchyard John Cattanach Mary Stirling

  

  Dunnichen Churchyard John Cattanach Mary Stirling

Census & Directory Entries

Member of Household	6 June 1841	John Cattanach was listed along with Charles Cattanach in the 1841 census at East Mains, Dunnichen, Forfarshire, Scotland, . Catanach Charles m 45 agricultural Angus; Catanach Charlotte f 40 Angus; Catanach John m 11 Angus.4,5
Member of Household	30 March 1851	They was listed as a member of the household of Charles Cattanach in the 1851 census at East Mains, Dunnichen, Forfarshire, Scotland, . John Cattanach, son, 21, farmer's son, Aberlemno; Charles Cattanach, head, mar, 61, farmer of 91 acres employing 5 labourers, Aberlemno; Charlotte Cattanach, wife, 51, Rescobie.6,7
Head of Household	7 April 1861	He was listed as head of household, along with spouse Mary Stirling in the 1861 census at 7 Guthrie Road, Dunnichen, Forfarshire, Scotland, . John Catanach, head, 31, quarrymaster, Aberlemno; Mary Catanach, wife, 26, Dunnichen; also in the household were Charles Cattanach, Charlotte Fyffe Cattanach and Mary Kinnear Cattanach.8
Head of Household	2 April 1871	He was listed as head of household along with spouse Mary Stirling in the 1871 census at Guthrie Road, Dunnichen, Forfarshire, Scotland, . John Catanach, head, 41, ag lab, Aberlemno; Mary Catanach, wife, 36, Dunnichen; also in the household were Charles Cattanach, Mary Kinnear Cattanach, Helen (Ellen) Cattanach, Jane Stirling Cattanach and Johanna Cattanach.9
Head of Household	3 April 1881	He was listed as head of household along with spouse Mary Stirling in the 1881 census at Guthrie Road, Dunnichen, Forfarshire, Scotland, . John Catanach, head, mar, 51, general labourer, Aberlemno; Mary Catanach, wife, mar, 46, domestic duties, Dunnichen; also in the household were Jane Stirling Cattanach, Johanna Cattanach and Hellen (Ellen) Wilkie.10
Head of Household	5 April 1891	They was listed as head of household in the 1891 census at Guthrie Road, Dunnichen, Forfarshire, Scotland, . John Cattanach, head, 61, gen lab, Aberlemno; Mary Cattanach, wife, 57, Dunnichen; also in the household were Mary Kinnear Cattanach, Johanna Cattanach, Hellen (Ellen) Wilkie and James Forman.11
Head of Household	31 March 1901	He was listed as head of household along with spouse Mary Stirling in the 1901 census at Guthrie Road, Letham, Forfarshire, Scotland, . John Cattanach, head, mar, 71, general labourer, working on own account, Aberlemno Forfarshire; Mary Cattanach, wife, mar, 66, Dunnichen Forfarshire; also in the household were Johanna Cattanach.12