James REACH
1846 - 1910 (64 years)
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Name James REACH Birth 26 Mar 1846 Alyth, Perthshire 
[1, 2] Baptism 29 Mar 1846 Alyth, Perthshire [2] Gender Male Reference Number V694 Individual Note He had a road contracting business at Alyth and Glenisle. He had a least 2 sisters (1 buried at Cartachy Cemetry) and 1 brother [3] Death 25 Apr 1910 [4] Burial Liff and Benvie Church, Liff, Dundee [3] Person ID I694 VaughanDavies Last Modified 29 Jan 2025
Father James REACH, b. 1805, Forfarshire d. 15 Nov 1882 (Age 77 years) Relationship natural Mother Helen DOIG, b. 1816, Alyth, Perthshire d. 11 Sep 1879 (Age 63 years) Relationship natural Notes - There are elements about the family that are not clear.
The gravestone for Helen and James (erected by a child of Ann Cownie Reach) also mentions Betsy, assumed to be their daughter and says "Betsy Reach or Anderson", from which it might be assumed that she marries an Anderson. In 1861 when she is 11, is James and Helen's grandson William ANDERSON aged 1, born in Alyth, and so clearly not Betsy's son. In 1871, William is there, along with James, also described as a grandson, aged 8 at that date. There are other granchildren in 1871, who will need investigation.
Then in 1881 is William REACH, still a grandson, aged 20, and in all likelihood the same person as William ANDERSON in the 2 previous Censuses. There is also Catherine HALKETT, aged 11. The above gravestone mentions Katie Halkett, Ann's neice, and so presumably the same person as Catherine, dieing 26/7/1885, aged 16.
Note that all the Censuses up to and including 1881 imply that both Ann and Betsy are unmarried, and both have the surname REACH.
Is the most likely thought that William and James are sons of the older sister Ann, and maybe a father named Anderson, but that it is Betsy who adopts the children when she is older? Ann does marry William GALLOWAY, but not sure when this is at the moment.
Family ID F296 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family Esther MITCHELL, b. 1850, Lintraethen, Forfarshire d. 1935, Deerfield, Massachusetts, USA (Age 85 years) Marriage 28 Jan 1865 Lintraethen, Forfarshire [5] Children 1. Helen D. REACH, b. Jun 1871, Perthshire [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]2. Esther Mitchell REACH, b. 7 Aug 1870, Bendochy, Perthshire d. 17 Jul 1952, "Wellfield", Lilliesleaf, Roxburghshire (Age 81 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]3. Alfred REACH, b. 8 Apr 1890, Muirloch, Forfarshire [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]4. John REACH, b. 19 Jun 1865, Lintraethen, Forfarshire d. 19 Dec 1919, 75, Dalkeith Rd., Edinburgh (Age 54 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]5. Mary REACH, b. 1868, Alyth, Perthshire [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]6. Jessie Mitchell REACH, b. 1877, Forfarshire [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]7. David REACH, b. 1872, Perthshire d. 6 Oct 1899 (Age 27 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]8. William REACH, b. 20 Mar 1889, Glen Isla, Forfarshire d. 1940 (Age 50 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]9. Agnes REACH, b. 7 Nov 1874, Glen Isla, Forfarshire d. 5 Jun 1937, Greenfield, Massachusetts, USA (Age 62 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]Family ID F252 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 29 Jan 2025
- There are elements about the family that are not clear.
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Event Map 
Birth - 26 Mar 1846 - Alyth, Perthshire 
Baptism - 29 Mar 1846 - Alyth, Perthshire 
Marriage - 28 Jan 1865 - Lintraethen, Forfarshire 
Burial - - Liff and Benvie Church, Liff, Dundee = Link to Google Earth
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Photos 
James and Esther (Mitchell) Reach
Based on parallel pictures, this is assumed to be taken between 1905 and 1910
James Reach
Based on the photographers address, this was taken between 1906 and 1910
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Notes - Family information is that" he had a road contracting business at Alyth and Glenisle. He had a least 2 sisters (1 buried at Cartachy Cemetry) and 1 brother". Note that the Censuses identify more than 1 brother.
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Sources