James REACH

1805 - 1882  (77 years)

• Name	James REACH
  Birth	1805	Forfarshire   [1]
  Gender	Male
  1851 Census	Back Burn, Alyth, Perthshire   [1]
  	At 1851 Census, he is 46, occ "Weaver"
  1861 Census	not with the family at the 1861 Census  [2]
  1871 Census	Meethill, Alyth, Perthshire   [3]
  	At 1871 Census, he is 63, occ "Farm servant"
  1881 Census	Back Burn, Alyth, Perthshire   [4]
  	At 1881 Census, he is 79, occ "Farm servant unemployed"
  Reference Number	V696
  Death	15 Nov 1882  [5]
  	aged 83
  Burial	Alyth Cemetery, Perthshire   [5]
  Person ID	I696	VaughanDavies
  Last Modified	30 Jul 2025

  
  

  Family	Helen DOIG,   b. 1816, Alyth, Perthshire d. 11 Sep 1879 (Age 63 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. John REACH,   b. 1838, Alyth, Perthshire  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   2. 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]   3. David Bone REACH,   b. 1843, Alyth, Perthshire  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   4. James REACH,   b. 26 Mar 1846, Alyth, Perthshire d. 25 Apr 1910 (Age 64 years)  [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	30 Jul 2025

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 1805 - Forfarshire 1851 Census - At 1851 Census, he is 46, occ "Weaver" - - Back Burn, Alyth, Perthshire 1871 Census - At 1871 Census, he is 63, occ "Farm servant" - - Meethill, Alyth, Perthshire 1881 Census - At 1881 Census, he is 79, occ "Farm servant unemployed" - - Back Burn, Alyth, Perthshire Burial - - Alyth Cemetery, Perthshire  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  If the place of birth in the 1881 Census is correct, ie Cortachy, and this is consistent with an element of family lore, then the most likely baptism is in Cortachy on 11/2/1802, which fits the range of birthdates presumed from Censusses and the gravestone. Parents were John REOCH and Jean ADAMSON (or maybe ADAMS).

  
  

• Sources

  [S1324] 1851 Census :- Back Burn, Alyth, Perthshire. [S1326] 1861 Census :- Meethill, Alyth, Perthshire. [S1329] 1871 Census :- Meethill, Alyth, Perthshire. [S1330] 1881 Census :- Back Burn, Alyth, Perthshire. [S1325] Gravestone :- Annie Cownie Reach et al.