This family line is listed a D2 in the 1929 Mutch Genealogy, where Alexander's birth year is given as 1800. His parents are given as John + Margaret Sim. The IGI marriage record shows Elizabeth's surname as Bowers, while the birth/christening records and the book show it as Bouys - I have assumed this to be the same couple.

The family with the three eldest boys are shown as farming at Smithyseat, Tyrie in the 1841 census.

I found Alexander's death registration in Scotland's People. The informant was son William and he lists his mother's name as Elizabeth Boyes - yet another spelling!

I also found the registration of son Alexander which gives his mother's name as Jane Dickie and his wife's name. The informant on this record was his uncle, John Dickie.

Nick Carter has contacted me with the following information on the family of Eliza, daughter of son William + Mary Adams:

After struggling with a very bad copy of an 1882 birth certificate for my first cousin twice removed, John Manson, I have finally found out that his mother was Eliza Mutch (b. 1862), dau of William Mutch and Ann Adams.

Eliza must have died before 1887 because her husband John Manson remarries and has 3 more kids between 1887 and 1894 with a woman named Margaret. They lived in Dumfriesshire and then Birmingham, but Eliza's son John was never with them. I have recently discovered (80 pages of WWI records) that the John who was Eliza's son was raised from infancy by my great great grandfather (also John Manson, 1840-1931) and his spinster daughter May in Stromness.

Eliza's son John migrated to Australia in late 1910-early 1911 and farmed in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. In 1916 he joined the Autralian Imperial Forces, and was killed a year later (3 May 1917) at the second battle of Bullecourt, France.

Today I purchased John's and Eliza's marriage cert, and Eliza's death cert from Scotland's People. Marriage: 19 Jan 1882 at Whomsley, Stromness (possibly the farm her folks were living?). Eliza states her usual residence is Sandwick. Son John born 13 Aug 1882. Eliza dies at Deepdale, Stromness (probably at John's parents' farm) 3 Nov 1883 of typhoid fever. She was 21 yrs old.

I did some research in the census records for Orkney. This family moved there in the mid 1850s and rented farms in Stromness. Sons William and George raised families there, but by 1901 there are no Mutches listed for Orkney.

David Dickie contacted the website to say Jane Dickie was his Great Grand Aunt. He has provided details of the family of son Alexander Mutch and Mary Anderson.

Heather Smith has sent a transcript of son William's marriage and death registrations:

In the Parish of Crimond in the Co. of Aberdeen:
On 31st day Oct 1857 at Crimond married after banns was solemnised between us according to the forms of the established Church of Scotland - (Sgd) William Mutch, 22, Tillydaff, St Fergus, bachelor (Parents - Alexander Mutch, farmer and Elizabeth Mutch ms Boyes) - Sgd (with X) Ann Adams, 27, no address(Parents - James Adams, farmer and Ann Adams ms (?Will). Signed by Alexander (?...), Minister of Crimond and Witnessed by William Henderson and John Adams.

William Mutch, general labourer, married to Ann Adams, died 27th December 1911 at 0h 15m am, 6 Church Street, New Pitsligo (Tyrie). Sex - M; Age - 76y. Father - Alexander Mutch, farmer, dec.; Mother - Elizabeth Mutch ms Boyes, dec. Cause of death - senile gangrene of leg, 2 mo. 10 days as cert. by Alexander Baxter, MB. Informant - Eustace Hadden, son-in-law, (?84) High Street (Present). Reg. 27th December 1911 at New Pitsligo. George Matthew, Registrar.

Allan Lannon(?) contacted the website with details of another child for son George. He wrote:

Re. George Mutch born 6 August 1839 in the parish of Tyrie - died 1905.

Just found that this George had an illegitimate son James Mutch to Jane Sim in 1868 - paternity declared by court.