John Davidson and Ann Smith were my great-great-grandparents and lived for many years in the Rossie Braes area of Craig near Montrose.
My connection to them comes through their daughter Isabella Davidson, who married Robert Clyne, a lighthouse keeper. Their daughter Mona Isabella Clyne later became my paternal Granny.
From records I knew that John Davidson was born in 1822 in Little Brechin to parents William Davidson and Helen Low. John moved to Craig near Montrose as a boy and there he learned his trade as a mason working as an apprentice. He was engaged in the construction of Sunnyside Asylum earning just 12s (shillings) a week and walking the three or four miles between home and work each day.
Ann Smith was born at Baldovie near Montrose in 1823. She was the daughter of David Smith, a fish curer in Montrose and Isabella Mill or Milne. Fish curing at that time being an important part of Montrose’s maritime economy.
Ann married John on 2 March 1849 at Lower Ferry Street in Montrose, beginning a marriage that would last for over fifty years.
Together they raised a large family of five sons and two daughters. Many of the family dispersed from Montrose with William in Bridge of Allan, John, Alexander and James in Edinburgh, David moved to Broxburn having learned his draper’s trade in Montrose, Mary married Davy Dures and they lived in Brechin. Isabella, my great grandmother, would move around the country as husband Robert received his lighthouse postings.
John and Ann celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary in 1899 with many of the family present.
Despite advancing age the article notes that Mr Davidson is still able to keep his hedge and garden so well that they are always admired by passers-by.
Ann died in 1907 following a short illness recorded in her death certificate as apoplexy. John died just over a year later following a long illness which had left him paralysed and confined to bed for 2 years.
In his obituary John was remembered as “true, honest, straightforward and kind” who carried out whatever work was entrusted to him faithfully and remained interested in the people around him even during illness.
Craigachan 