Glenbuchat Heritage

173 Murdoch Family of Belnaboth

Murdoch Family Belnaboth

The pictures above show

1 A post card found in a house in France referring to Jane Murdoch Belnaboth dated 1951
2 William and Bessie Murdoch
3 John Murdoch Senr. Wife Mary Ann Beattie and two children Mary Ann Murdoch and Jane Murdoch
4 Sgt John Murdoch with his sisters Mary Ann Murdoch and Jane Murdoch
5 Jane Murdoch 1925
6 1911 Census return for Belnaboth
7 Registration of death of Jane Murdoch

This Article came about from the receipt of an email from Terry Davidson who has connections to Belnaboth in Towie.

Terry wrote the following:
“I recently came across this postcard in a sideboard clearing out my parent's house in Arnac Pompadour in France. A unit that they bought here in France. I assume the unit may have come from the farm at some point perhaps in an antiques sale or otherwise. Unfortunately, the unit was badly damaged while being removed due to extended sun /heat damage. I've been looking for photos of it pre damage unsuccessfully but if I come across one I'll pass it on.

It's nothing important in real terms but still an artifact maybe of interest to a certain people. -looks like a receipt of receiving an order for poultry but dated 1951. It started life in Kittybrewster and was sent to Jean Murdoch at Belnaboth. Before being found again in the middle of France some 75 years later - it was trapped between the frame and top work surface of a carved wood 2-piece sideboard with a large 3 section mirror top section found when it disassembled itself, leaving the house.

Normally I wouldn't think anything of this except that we are descendants of the Kelmans of Belnaboth, Towie/ Glenkindie and hence I found your site looking for information on Jean Murdoch and finding out there was Belnaboth Glenbuchat a few miles up the road.

Feel free to post it on your site if you feel it's a relevant artifact.”

Why this 1951 Post Card about the supply of pellets for poultry feed should appear in a sideboard in France is not apparent. Perhaps some readers of this article may have some ideas


Belnaboth was the site of up to 12 homes in the early maps but by the 1900’s there were two houses remaining east and west Belnaboth. It is probable that the Murdoch family occupied what is West Belnaboth s it has farm steadings close to the house.

I am grateful to the Family Tree made up by Murdoch Henderson who is a relation of the family and phots from his site and from the other pages in this web site.

Jane Murdoch is titled Miss and was never officially married. It appears however from the family trees that she did have a partner John McGregor Petrie and a son John (Jack) Petrie 1919–1984

The family tree for Jane Murdoch is as follows:

William Murdoch
Birth 26 Mar 1764 Newbigging, Towie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Death 12 Jul 1815 Belnaboth, Glenbucket, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Parents
John Murdoch
Helen Reid
Spouse
Jane Milne 1764–1859
Children
Margaret Murdoch 1798–1865
Agnes Murdoch 1800–1867
John Murdoch 1802–1869
William Murdoch 1804–1881
Barbra Murdoch 1806–1888

William Murdoch
Birth 26 Nov1804 Glenbucket, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Death 13 Jul 1881 Belnaboth, Glenbucket, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Parents
William Murdoch 1764–1815
Jane Milne 1764–1859
Spouse
Janet Mcdonald 1822–1902
Children
Jane Murdoch 1855–1925
William Murdoch 1857–1874
John Murdoch 1859–1935
James Murdoch 1862–1932
Spouse 2
Mary Leslie 1820–
children
John Murdoch 1840–1850

John Murdoch
Birth 22 Aug 1859 Glenbucket, Aberdeen
Death 5 Apr 1935 Belnaboth, Glenbuchat, Aberdeenshire
Parents
William Murdoch 1804–1881
Janet Mc Donald
Spouse
Mary Ann Beattie 1860–1938
children
John Murdoch 1882–1971
Mary Ann Murdoch 1896–
Jean Murdoch 1898–1966

Jane (Jean) Murdoch
Birth 14 SEP 1898 Belnaboth, Glenbucket, Aberdeenshire,
Death 20 DEC 1966 Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire,
Parents
John Murdoch
John Murdoch 1859–1935
Mary Ann Beattie 1860–1938
Spouse (not Married)
John McGregor Petrie
children
John (Jack) Petrie 1919–1984

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