Helen DOIG

1816 - 1879  (63 years)

• Name	Helen DOIG
  Birth	5 Jan 1816	Alyth, Perthshire   [1]
  Baptism	6 Feb 1816	Alyth, Perthshire   [2]
  Gender	Female
  1851 Census	Back Burn, Alyth, Perthshire   [1]
  	At 1851 Census, she is 35, occ "Weaver"
  1861 Census	Meethill, Alyth, Perthshire   [3]
  	At 1861 Census, she is 45, occ "Jute weaver", and described as married
  1871 Census	Meethill, Alyth, Perthshire   [4]
  	At 1871 Census, she is 52
  Reference Number	V695
  Death	11 Sep 1879  [5]
  	aged 63
  Burial	Alyth Cemetery, Perthshire   [5]
  Person ID	I695	VaughanDavies
  Last Modified	9 May 2026

  
  

  Family	James REACH,   b. 1805, Forfarshire d. 15 Nov 1882 (Age 77 years)
  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.
  Children	1. James REACH,   b. 26 Mar 1846, Alyth, Perthshire d. 25 Apr 1910 (Age 64 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   2. John REACH,   b. 4 Jun 1838, Alyth, Perthshire  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   3. Ann Cownie REACH,   b. 6 Jul 1840, Alyth, Perthshire d. 31 Jan 1918, 2, Silver Terrace, Lower Bank St., Alyth, Perthshire (Age 77 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   4. David Bone REACH,   b. 1843, Alyth, Perthshire  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   5. Betsy REACH,   b. 1851, Alyth, Perthshire d. 27 Jul 1920 (Age 69 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   6. Alexander REACH,   b. 1855, Alyth, Perthshire  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   7. George REACH,   b. 19 Jul 1857, Alyth, Perthshire  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
  Family ID	F296	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	9 May 2026

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 5 Jan 1816 - Alyth, Perthshire Baptism - 6 Feb 1816 - Alyth, Perthshire 1851 Census - At 1851 Census, she is 35, occ "Weaver" - - Back Burn, Alyth, Perthshire 1861 Census - At 1861 Census, she is 45, occ "Jute weaver", and described as married - - Meethill, Alyth, Perthshire 1871 Census - At 1871 Census, she is 52 - - Meethill, Alyth, Perthshire Burial - - Alyth Cemetery, Perthshire  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  Parents were William and Agnes (Fyffe)

  
  

• Sources

  [S1324] 1851 Census :- Back Burn, Alyth, Perthshire. [S1450] Birth and Bapt transcript :- Helen Doig (1816). [S1326] 1861 Census :- Meethill, Alyth, Perthshire. [S1329] 1871 Census :- Meethill, Alyth, Perthshire. [S1325] Gravestone :- Annie Cownie Reach et al.